theology

Angel Activity in the Nativity

Posted on November 19, 2023 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I had posted all last week different essays about Angels according to the Bible. I’d presented biblical evidence on who angels are, what they do, and so on. It is a huge subject. In fact, there is one whole section of systematic theology called Angelology in which people have studied for years. So my few essays didn’t cover nearly a surface level of the topic. But with Advent coming up, I’d wanted to give some context and background to the truth of angels.

Tradition has given us some false notions about angels, like, they’re babies flying around in diapers, or, they have wings. Nope, lol. They are considered majesties in the Bible, says 2 Peter 2:10-14.

The first herald of the coming Messiah was not brought by a group of angels appearing at night to the shepherds in the field. That is the one we think of first, but the initial announcement of the Lord’s coming was angel Gabriel’s announcement to Zacharias that the Forerunner in the spirit of Elijah was coming first.

Gabriel told both Zacharias and Mary his name, which, being familiar with the Old Testament, would know this angel Gabriel had appeared to Daniel long ago and had delivered incredible messages.

Gabriel revealed his name to Zacharias in verse 19. But here in Luke 1:11-17 we read the announcement,

And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. 13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 14“You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15“For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. 16“And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17“It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Six months later, this same named angel named Gabriel appeared to young Mary. She had been betrothed to Joseph. A betrothal was considered the same as a marriage, minus the consummation. Here is Gabriel speaking to Mary, commonly known as the Annunciation: (Luke 1:26-33,

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. 30The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

In both appearances the angel assured the person not to be afraid. It must have been startling for Mary, doing whatever she was doing, to look up from it and suddenly see a supernatural being before her. As for Zacharias, he was ministering in the temple, and was equally in need of assurance, yet if there is ANY place one might expect a heavenly visitation it’d be as priest ministering unto the Lord in His house! But Zacharias was startled and sinfully doubtful.

Now we turn to Matthew 1:18-25 for the next angel appearance in the Nativity. The Bible doesn’t record this angel’s name. Some commenters believe it “must” be Gabriel, and it likely is, but since it’s not recorded we cannot be dogmatic. It’s an angel sent from God to bring a message.

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22Now all this took place so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: 23“BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN WILL CONCEIVE AND GIVE BIRTH TO A SON, AND THEY SHALL NAME HIM IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.” 24And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he named Him Jesus.

How blessed Joseph is to be eternally named in the Bible as righteous! The appearance of the angel to Joseph wasn’t in person but in a dream. He was asleep. We know this because verse 24 says Joseph “awoke from his sleep”. However, Joseph knew it was real and immediately did as he had been commanded.

Now we turn from Luke 1 to Luke 2. The Babe is born! The myriad of angels appeared to the Shepherds in the field by night, and made the blessed announcement.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12“This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” 15When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

Watercolor Illustration to Milton’s *On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity*, by William Blake, 1806

It was by night, and the next phrase said the glory of the Lord shone all around. What a contrast! The darkness of night providing the backdrop of the bright glory of the Lord. We know these are beings from heaven, because verse 15 said they went back into heaven. (As if there could be any doubt!)

Notice that the Shepherds said ‘let us go immediately’. Just as Joseph obeyed, the Shepherds also took immediate action.

We turn to Matthew 2:13-14. The nativity story continues a year or two later. The babe is now called a Child.

Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.” So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt.

“Flee to Egypt”, 13th-century mosaic, Florence Baptistry By © Marie-Lan Nguyen / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5,

Again, we do not know the name of this angel. Perhaps Gabriel, perhaps another.

There are two items to note about these and other biblical angelic messages: first, the angels say “Fear not!’ as an introduction. They are powerful beings who can perform supernatural things such as sudden appearances and disappearances. They can stand on the sun, hold back the winds of earth, fight in the second heaven against powers and dominions opposing God. If an angel appeared as an angel and not as a man as they also sometimes did, I am sure we would need the assurance not to be afraid!

Bible verses: Angelic appearances that frighten the person, Fear Not spoken.

Secondly, the recipient of the angelic message from God obeyed immediately. They obeyed right away. No thinking about it, no negotiating, no putting off the appearance saying “I’ll get to you later”, no casual “How you doin’?” The Bible people, as opposed to those claiming an angelic visitation in these apostate days, fell down, they listened, then they obeyed. All angelic appearances in the Bible are like that, not just the Nativity.

Here are links to other angel essays I’ve written during Angel Week. I pray you consider all the characters in the Nativity story from the main characters of Mary and Joseph, to the 3 Kings, Zacharias the priest, Herod the King, and the angels, and of course Jesus. Plus Anna and Simeon. They each are mentioned for a reason, as we enter Advent. Consider their placement in this true narrative, and how it forms the truest and best story there ever as or will be.

Angels are an amazing part of the Nativity story

Angels: Their many ministries

Angels part 1 of 2 parts

Angels part 2 of 2 parts

About entertaining angels unawares…

Great Biblical Doctrines: The Good Angels

Great Biblical Doctrines: The Bad Angels

theology

Street preacher shot in head while preaching Good News (donate button inside)

Posted on November 18, 2023November 18, 2023 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Hans Schmidt, Outreach Director at Victory Chapel in Phoenix AZ, was preaching about an upcoming service at his church. The former military combat medic was standing with a megaphone on a busy street corner, a frequent activity in which he engaged, when police received reports a man had been assaulted. Initially unaware that the assault was a gunshot, Hans was transported to the hospital where a CT scan revealed he had been shot in the head.

Hans is a husband and father of two. He remains in critical condition. In an update, his church stated that ‘Hans desperately needs a miracle.’ Police are asking for help in finding the person who shot Hans.

Officer Gina Winn, the public information officer for Glendale, AZ police.

Officer Gina Winn, the public information officer for Glendale police, stated, “It is unknown at this time how Hans was shot. We are seeking the public’s assistance in obtaining any information regarding what could have happened.“

What is especially scary is that the Officer said that the particular corner is a busy one, with lots of cars and pedestrian traffic.

So, dear friends, that someone would be bold enough in bright daylight on a busy place, to simply shoot a man. The Glendale police want help from any witnesses or any information.

Or you can call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS, or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish speakers.

Waning Restraint

It IS a horrible offense. The Rule of Law used to restrain people from walking up or driving up to a person and shooting them because you don’t like what they are saying or doing (motive is not stated by LEO but is assumed by me). If you believe this happened in a faraway state and has nothing to do with you, think again. The Rule of Law via a government isn’t enough any more to stop people from doing the unthinkable. Those restraining bonds, ones established by God in His wisdom and mercy, along with the family and the church, are frayed so terribly they are like gossamer strands unable to withstand even the smallest pull.

Victory Chapel has established a donation button if you would like to contribute to medical expenses for Hans on behalf of his family.

Church website, find the donate button by scrolling down- Victory Chapel, Phoenix: https://www.vccf1phx.com/

or the church donate button leads here: https://www.givelify.com/donate/NjI3NDk=/donation/amount

I donated myself to test the safety of the donation to Victory Church. If you scroll down the options to dedicate your donation, there is a tab that has been added to donate for Hans’ Medical Expenses.

WHY?

We should not be surprised that this happens. The world hates Christ and as a result, hates His people. The only surprise should be that we in America have been shielded from it for so long.

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you. (1 Peter 4:12).

Verses on persecution

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. (John 15:18).

And you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. (Matthew 10:22).

You have seen how quickly the world began to hate the Jews again when Hamas started the current Middle East war. It rose quickly, and didn’t stay a mere internal emotion but became active and living in protests, marches, and even terrorizing and killings outside the war.

“Recent antisemitism is also a reflection of destructive forces tearing at American and western European societies, where stability and democracy are already under pressure.” Source:
A new wave of antisemitism threatens to rock an already unstable world

It should not surprise us that the hatred for God’s people the Jews and Christians rose so quickly. The entire world is under the temporary dominion of the evil one. He is god of this age. (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Picture this: Satan has laid over the entire earth a deep layer of hay. Brittle, combustible, it lays there, waiting. Satan then goes about roaming up and down upon the earth, fomenting hatred, bitterness, and evil among chosen targets. He doesn’t need to work too hard, unsaved people are already sinners through and through. When he has enough of a critical mass, satan lights them up like a candle, their dark hearts pouring forth hatred. They in turn ignite the hay surrounding that portion of the earth. A conflagration of evil and sin erupts.

Sin is always at the ready to ignite. At any and every moment.

Paul said as time goes on, that evil men will wax worse and worse.

Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil people and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:12-13).

Paul in the next verse gave the instruction of how we Christians are to behave in light of this truth:

You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:14-15).

The key to that verse, of course, is HAVE YOU LEARNED? This is not the time or place to wallow in biblical illiteracy. It is not the era of undiscernment. It is imperative, imperative, to know His word, so as to be able to stand on the Rock when trouble comes.

I surmise that Mr. Hans Schmidt probably never thought that though he successfully stood on that same street corner preaching with his megaphone, that THIS day, THIS moment was the one where out of seemingly nowhere, he would be shot in the head for preaching righteousness.

But he was and so can we all be entering the next moment of the time of trouble, distress, or persecution. Each day that passes it is more likely, “even” here in America. As if America is exempt from the biblical promise that trouble and persecutions will come. We are not exempt, and in fact, the national character of the people of the United States in general is one that seems to be incurring its due judgment for our national sins.

Pray for the Schmidt family and their church family. Donate if you feel led. Become situationally aware, stay in the word, and know that some blessed day, Jesus will return and stop all this.

theology

Angels! Part 2 of two parts

Posted on November 15, 2023 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Part 1 here

Angels figure very, very prominently in the NT. People don’t really know this, or they overlook angels in the created order. At the other end of the scale, some are so preoccupied with angels they nearly fall into angel worship.

Once you start studying angels, you realize how frequently they are mentioned in the New Testament. And as for the nativity story, they figure prominently, making many appearances! So let’s get to know these incredible beings better.

I first looked at angels the other day with scriptures, gave some links to credible essays and links to proper discussions of angels (there is so much bad out there regarding these creatures) and spent a short amount of time discussing the unholy angels.

There is so much more that could be said about angels both holy and unholy. Certainly these two short blogs and some others I’ve written are not a comprehensive look at these amazing creatures. In fact, there is an entire section of theology called Angelology that focuses on studying them.

Angels appear throughout the Bible. They first appear in the Bible chronologically in Genesis 3:24, where God sent a Cherubim with flaming sword to guard the way back in to the Garden of Eden.

The word ‘angels’ comes from a word meaning messenger, and could be applied to any messenger such as human pastors or even events such as pestilences, says the Easton Bible Dictionary.

“But its distinctive application is to certain heavenly intelligences whom God employs in carrying on his government of the world. The name does not denote their nature but their office as messengers.” Source Easton, M. G. (1893). In Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature.”

‘Heavenly intelligences’ is a good way to describe them. They are not human, but they are living, God-created creatures with intelligence, personal will, and power. Angels are a class of beings that are not human and not part of the Trinity. They have superior power and abilities than humans, but are not human. When humans die, they do not turn into angels. We should stop saying things like “Heaven gained another angel with the death of…”

Angels are spirit beings (Hebrews 1:14) but sometimes when they appear to humans they appear as flesh and blood men (the Bible always refers to angels as men, it never describes a female angel). We don’t know how they change to flesh-and-blood looking men when they appear on earth but suffice it to say that part of it is a mystery. Angels have personal will (otherwise Lucifer & Co. would not have fallen). They also have emotions.

But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him an abusive judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9).

There seem to be hierarchies of angels, or, at least, different classes. They are referred to as “hosts” which is a way of organizing them militarily. Ephesians 6:12 says,

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

If you notice in Revelation, it is the angels who perform the judgments at God’s command. They carry it out. All through the Bible you begin to notice angels performing the commands of judgment God wants: slaying Israel in a plague and about to render wrath on Jerusalem (2 Samuel 24:16), and the Passover angel, destroying Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim and so on. They were also present at the creation, (Job 38:7), at the giving of the Law (Deuteronomy 33:2; Galatians 3:19).

There are so many of them!

These superior beings are very numerous. “Thousand thousands,” etc. (Dan. 7:10; Matt. 26:53; Luke 2:13; Heb. 12:22, 23). They are also spoken of as of different ranks in dignity and power (Zech. 1:9, 11; Dan. 10:13; 12:1; 1 Thess. 4:16; Jude 1:9; Eph. 1:21; Col. 1:16).
(2.) As to their nature, they are spirits (Heb. 1:14), like the soul of man, but not incorporeal. Such expressions as “like the angels” (Luke 20:36), and the fact that whenever angels appeared to man it was always in a human form (Gen. 18:2; 19:1, 10; Luke 24:4; Acts 1:10). Source: In Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature.

The holy angels praise God, perform His will, minister to humans (remember the angel helping Elijah in 1 Kings 19:5-7), render His judgments, learn (“angels long to look into these things” 1 Peter 1:12), and so much more!

When you read your Bible, pay close attention to the activities of Angels. What’s incredible to me is that even though they are powerful enough to hold back the wind (Revelation 7:1), stand on the sun, (Revelation 19:17), and reap the entire earth in but a moment, (Revelation 14:16), we believers will judge them! (1 Corinthians 6:3 says, but probably only the unholy angels, and probably only to the extent we align with God on HIS pronouncement upon them).

A word of caution: Hebrews 13:2 says we entertain angels unaware. If as Revelation 12:3–4 seems to suggest that a third of the angels fell, and are now demons, isn’t there a 1 in 3 chance that when we entertain an angel it might be an unholy one, masquerading as righteous? (2 Corinthians 11:15). Seems so.

Angels are powerful and majestic. Far from being little flying babies, remember that the first words of an angel appearance to a human is usually, ‘Fear not!’ Angels are terrifying. (Matthew 28:4, Matthew 28:5, Daniel 10:7). But the believer can take comfort in the fact that God sends the holy angels to help and comfort us, even when we are not aware. His sovereign care of His people, His Son’s Bride, is magnificent and perpetual. Angels are an interesting part of His creation, and we will see them one day! What a day that will be.

theology

Angels! Part 1 of two parts

Posted on November 14, 2023 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

The Bible shows that there is another life form among us. God created the world with animals, sea creatures, flying animals. He then created humans. But before that, and we don’t know how long before, He created angels.

Like the world and like the humans, at first it was very good. The angels were holy and worshipful. They shouted in praise when God made the world (Job 38:7).

Some of the angels chose to follow Satan (probably Lucifer) in his rebellion, and they became unholy.

But whether holy or unholy, angels are among us. The holy angels obey God by performing tasks He sets out for them to do. The unholy angels perform tasks their leader satan sets out for them to do, which is whatever opposes God.

The two innocent-looking cherubs seem harmless. They’re from an excerpt of the larger piece called Sistine Madonna by Raphael. Angels are not cherubic babies. But satan and his demonic horde would like you to think so.

The Bible is rife with angel activity. They do a lot. Yet Renaissance art shows them as babies with wings, diminishing their august beauty and power. Since they are among us unawares, people tend to forget they exist. Yet the Bible shows them doing a myriad of things for God and on behalf of humans.

Angels. They exist. They were created by God and they serve God. There are multitudes and multitudes of them. (Hebrews 12:22).

The Bible shows us that angels appear on earth as men, sometimes looking like ordinary men (Joshua 5:13-14; Mark 16:5), and at other times looking like something other-worldly. So other-worldly they looked, that the people gazing upon them were gripped with fear, as in Matthew 28:3, who looked like this, “his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow”

And the keepers of Jesus’ tomb were so frightened, they ‘became as dead men when they saw an angel of the Lord’ (Matthew 28:4).

In these appearances, the first thing the angel says is “Fear not.”

When they appear to people on the earth sometimes they take on human form like in Genesis 18:1-19. Jesus and two angels appeared as men and actually ate a meal with Abraham. Later two of the angels went on to Sodom and slept overnight at Lot’s house. So we know they can incarnate, appear as men, and spend a period of time on earth.

No. Just no. Raphael’s depiction of putti (common in Renaissance art) at the bottom of the Sistine Chapels Madonna painting does not depict angels accurately. They are powerful and fearsome.

We know that some angels fell, meaning, they sided with Satan in the angelic rebellion and were cast from their places in heaven. Satan’s fall is described in Isaiah:

“How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!” (Isaiah 14:12)

A third of the angels fell with satan:

“Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.” (Revelation 12:3-4).

Though satan lost his high position as the covering cherub of God, he is god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4) at the permission of God. Therefore, being cast out doesn’t interfere with his intent to deceive us. He still pretends to be on God’s side when interacting in human activity, as seen here. “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14).

Note the word ‘masquerades’ and ‘light’. Masquerade means “An involved scheme; a charade; as in wearing a mask or disguise”. Of course he would pretend he is one of the good guys to an unsuspecting unbeliever, or even to a Christian. His underlings pretend to be on the good side, too. His servants are the fellow angels that followed satan in the war against God and also pretend to be one of the good angels. But they only want to deceive.

“It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 11:15).

Hebrews 13:2 says we sometimes entertain angels unawares.

So the point is, if you were beset by an angel of light, how would you know he is one of the good guys, or one of the bad guys? There is a 1 in 3 chance he is one of the bad ones. How would you know? Would you be so gripped with fear that you just accept what the angel says? Would you be so filled with pride that one of these beings was sent to you that you would accept what he said without question? Would you be so entranced by their light that you unquestioningly accept they are from God?

The only way to know is to know the Word of God. John and Peter both warned of false teachers, and Jesus said they may come to us in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15; 1 John. 4:1; 2 Peter 2:1). John said our duty is to “test the spirits,” and Paul said: “Test everything. Hold on to the good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

Not all angels come in peace. Some are your enemy. Be watchful and test all things!

But what do the holy angels do? More on those powerful created beings next time!

Angels: Their many ministries

Posted on November 13, 2023November 24, 2023 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Angels figure prominently in the NT. People don’t really know this, or they overlook angels in the created order. At the other end of the scale, some are so preoccupied with angels they nearly fall into angel worship.

With Christmas coming up, we will be singing about angels. “Angels We Have Heard on High,” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” and “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” come to mind.

Once you start studying angels, you realize how frequently they are mentioned in the New Testament. And as for the nativity story, they figure prominently, making many appearances!

So this is “Angels Week” here on the blog! Let’s get to know these spirit-beings so as to have a better understanding of them when we meet some of them during Advent studies.

In Dr RC Sproul’s two lectures available on angels, part 1 & 2, he said the Greek word for angel appears in the NT more often than does the Greek word for sin (hamartanó). It also appears more often than the Greek word for love (agape). Wow.

In the lectures, Sproul taught from Hebrews and Colossians and also 2 Kings, and said it was obvious given the texts devoted them that there had been a problem in the first century of people giving them junior deity status and ascribing worship to them, with even Paul & Silas being mistaken for angels.

But with all the warnings not to overestimate angels in their position, neither does the NT deny the importance of them, Sproul said.

He also said something interesting,

Part of the problem we have with angels, is that we tend to associate angels with the supernatural realm. We think of the angels as being a supernatural being. In one sense it is correct to call angels a supernatural being. In another sense it’s quite dangerous to refer to them as supernatural beings, because the one thing that’s clear in the scriptures about the nature of angels is that they belong to nature. They belong to the created order. Angels are not divine. Angels are creatures, part of the original creation that God made. In THAT sense, angels are natural beings.

The reason they are looked at as supernatural beings is because of their constituent nature. The Bible tells us they are creatures, but they differ from us and animals and plants in that their nature is a spirit nature rather than a physical or a material nature. Because they are spirit beings under normal circumstances, they remain invisible to the naked eye. Unless they manifest themselves in a kind of angelophany, their basic nature is invisible, dwelling in a realm that is invisible to us.
Lecture here

How often do we think of angels? Of course we’re not to adore them, or be preoccupied with them, but we are to give them due meditation, as they are an important part of the order and are referred to frequently in the Bible. He said we need to be thinking about why there is such a heavy concentration of angels at certain times in history.

This was something that was brought to my attention back some years when I listened to John MacArthur preach through Revelation. It was an eye-opening series in many ways.

Sproul’s lectures focused on the angels as messengers and angels as ministering spirits. But that is not all they are. They enact the Law. (Acts 7:53). Angels are also vehicles of Judgment. It is angels who mainly bring the judgments of Revelation. For example,

Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. … Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them. The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. (Revelation 8:2, 6-7)

In addition to angels being part of the machinery of God’s providence, messengers, ministering agents, judgment-bringers, law-bringers, they are also warriors.

Archangel Michael fighting the Dragon, Albrecht Durer 1497

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven (Revelation 12:7)

When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:15-17)

Angels are an amazing part of the created order! I recommend both of the Sproul lectures. They are about 25 minutes each. They are free.

RC Sproul: Angels Part 1
RC Sproul: Angels part 2

Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones also has a series on angels, here
S. Lewis Johnson preached about angels from Hebrews 1:4-6, Angels Worship the Son!
John MacArthur preached “Angels- God’s Invisible Army“

Enjoy learning about angels, our ministering helpers, messengers of God, fighters against evil for our Holy Trinity.

theology

Prata Potpourri: Bubba Copeland, Elisabeth, God’s Will, Confronting a brother

Posted on November 7, 2023 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

The Halloween season is over (and a huge praise the Lord from all teachers!) and now we are looking at the blessed time of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I see the usual debates on when to decorate for Christmas (before Thanksgiving or after?), ham or turkey for the Thanksgiving dinner? Nativity sets should or should not contain Wise Men?

I found a sweet and simple nativity myself, made of popsicle sticks. But the manger scene is just adorable. Joseph even holds a teeny tiny staff! I plan to put it in my classroom.

Hopefully this holiday season is a time we can step back, let twitter wars and Facebook resentments go, embrace those around us with love and enjoy the time of year.

Yet, sin still stalks the world and sad and weird news still happens. There’s cuteness and joy too. To that end, here are a few items for your perusal-

Mayor F.L. ‘Bubba’ Copeland, who was also pastor of First Baptist Church, was outed as a transgender women who had posted photos of himself in racy underwear, his wife’s clothing, authored transgender erotica as well as posting trans porn, killed himself two days after he was outed. “What I do in private life has nothing to do with what I do in my holy life” he had said. No. This is an error. There is no separation between the private and public man. Try to, and it’s spiritual shipwreck! Sadly, he killed himself 😦 he leaves a wife and three children.

Alabama mayor ‘Bubba’ Copeland’s friends worried about his mental health prior to apparent suicide

News story here: Alabama preacher F.L. ‘Bubba’ Copeland kills himself after being outed as ‘transgender curvy girl’

We truly don’t know the secret sins some people hide. Yet, the Bible says,

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully matured, it brings forth death. (James 1:14-15).

Sometimes we must confront a brother or sister. Matthew 18:15 says so. “Now if your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have gained your brother.” Proverbs 25:9 too. Luke 17:3. Galatians 6:1. Sensitive stuff. It needs to be handled rightly. Paul Tautges at Counseling One Another gives some advice in his essay, Ten Questions to Ask Yourself Before Confronting a Brother or Sister in Christ

God’s will is inscrutable sometimes. We know His revealed will for all humans, as we read His word. He has revealed Himself there. He has revealed himself in general to all humans through His creation. But His personal will for each of his children, we do not know from day to day how He will sovereignly care for us. Just that He will and He does, even through the most traumatic of events. If a tragedy occurs in our life we often ask, “Why, WHY, Lord?” and we cannot see the ‘good’ in it. But all that God does is good.

This is an anecdote from the early adult life of Elisabeth Elliot, who was not married to Jim Elliot at the time, but was working on mission in Ecuador before she was even engaged to him.

When God’s Sovereign Will Seems Inscrutable – Elisabeth Elliot

Seek what is good, what is true, and what is beautiful. Enjoy the outdoors and God’s creation today. Pray, love, and be patient. God loves you.

theology

What happened to the man who allegedly called in a bomb threat at G3 Conference in September?

Posted on November 6, 2023 by elizabethprata

By Elizbeth Prata

On a Friday evening on September 22, 2023, thousands of conference-goers were settling into their seats at the G3 Conference, ready and eager to view the premiere of The Essential Church documentary. G3 stands for ‘Gospel-Grace-Glory’ and the conference was founded by Atlanta-area pastor Josh Buice of Pray’s Mill Baptist Church.

Suddenly a person came on stage to announce there had been a bomb threat, and everyone must evacuate the cavernous building, the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC). Similar warnings were being issued in the adjacent vendor area. It’s a massive venue and it took a few moments for people to process the information and then act by moving toward exit doors.

Then dozens and hundreds of Law Enforcement and other first responders continuously checked and cleared the massive building for the few hours. Meanwhile, many of the attendees who were lodging at the next door hotel, congregated in the lobby.

A threat caller wants to disrupt normal activities by creating anxiety and panic. Well, the threat did disrupt activities, but it did not create fear or panic. The attendees simply streamed out of the GICC, went their separate ways, and prayed. Those who were lodging in the next-door hotel gathered in the Library and…sang.

They sang Great is Thy Faithfulness and the sound reverberated in the marble lobby and into the hearts and memories of many who were there. It moved those who viewed the recording later, too. Great IS thy faithfulness, Lord!

Bomb Threat at the G3 2023 Conference Led Us Back to the Hotel Lobby Where We Worshiped God in Song

The conference continued the next morning with only 1 minor adjustment to the schedule and concluded later that day as scheduled without incident.

The perp was arrested that very evening in the parking lot of the Conference Center, according to reports, Timothy Mixon, a 33-year old, was arrested and removed from the scene.

GICC LifeSafety Guide source

“Bomb threats create significant operational and psychological impacts.” FMI source

So what happened AFTER? I’ve been tracking the court case. The case in Clayton County Magistrate Court was filed the next morning, with a ‘Warrantless Arrest Affidavit Against MIXON, TIMOTHY MATTHEW.’ The charge was “False Public Alarm.”

A judge was assigned and Mixon’s first appearance was 09/24/2023 via ZOOM. Mixon’s bond was set $5000.00 with special conditions, and an application for indigent counsel was filed.

The next month, on October 24, there was a preliminary hearing via ZOOM. The next day a waiver of hearing was filed, with a case disposal.

The disposition of the case as of October 25, 2023 was that the case was “Bound Over to St. CT., Waver – Cnt 1 Warrantless.”

I’m not a lawyer but I believe this translates to being bound over from Magistrate Court to State Court.

According to Michael M. Hawkins, a Criminal Defense Attorney in Atlanta, GA, speaking not about this case but answering a question as to what “bound over” means,

“Bound over simply means the case is being sent forward in the court system to be prosecuted. A bind over can be from a municipal court to a state court, or from a magistrate court to a state court where there is a probable cause hearing. It is a normal step a case takes in the criminal justice system. The next step will be arraignment, where [defendant] will be advised of the charges pending against her, and will be given the opportunity to enter a plea of guilty (where [defendant] will go to sentencing), or not guilty (where [defendant] will be scheduled for trial).“

The case does not appear yet on the State Court website, so no further information is available at this point. I will update when it is filed and the public can view it. Meanwhile, no motivation for Mixon’s act has been publicly presented as far as I can detect, but certainly the man needs prayer.

theology

“God is watching how we care for children”

Posted on November 5, 2023November 5, 2023 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

This weekend has been a sober one, not sad exactly, but I’ve had a troubled spirit and been in deep ponderings about children.

Sometimes I get that way, maybe it’s the gift of discernment and the Spirit stirring my heart, or maybe it’s just normal observation of the things happening in the world, or maybe both. But it has been a furrowed brow weekend.

As you may know, I work with children. I teach children reading in small groups in levels from kindergarten to third grade, or age 5 to about 9. Because of my job, I’m aware and observant of anything that relates to children in the wider world.

On Friday, I wrote on Twitter,

“IMO you can detect how stable or unstable a society is by how they treat their children. In the US, our society is collapsing.“

My feeling of spiritual concern, my propelling drive to protect and love these children has increased of late. But I feel like the man on the starfish beach, seeing all the thousands of starfish washed up with no way to get to their safe haven of the ocean. The man came across a boy putting the starfish back into the water, one by one. The man scoffed, saying, “What are you doing? You can’t save them all! What you’re doing can’t possibly make a difference!” The boy looked at the starfish in his hand and calmly replied, “Yes, but I can make a difference to this one.”

I just have to keep remembering to be the boy, and make a difference to the ones in my sphere. Who I am able to help, I need to help.

Then in God’s providence, I came across John MacArthur’s latest sermon on Youtube. It was from October 29, 2023 and titled “Grace for the Children.“

MacArthur began the sermon by telling his congregation that the little booklet they received had a note in it about his new upcoming book, which is at the printer’s now and will be available in January: “The War on Children.” It is an apt title and crystallized things for me. Yes, it IS a war on children. I need to be a good soldier and remember that children are both targets in this war and collateral damage. They are helpless, vulnerable, and at-risk every moment. Most children.

“Just Say No” isn’t a motto for being against drugs anymore, it’s a motto for children against their parents’ authority. EPrata

Not like the old days when children were protected and cherished. Even in today’s good families, there is high risk. Just last week Robert Card of Lewiston Maine entered a bowling alley on a Family League night and shot people, one of whom was a 14 year old. The younger children who were present and survived still must deal with the trauma of being involved in such a horrific event.

Next, MacArthur said that he wants the church to renew their commitment to children.

“It was the process of going through that book and taking stock of what is happening to the children of our culture that I felt that we as a church needed to affirm our commitment to children. That is a stewardship, obviously, that God has given to us and we need to take it seriously. … What is happening to the children is horrific and it is disastrous temporally and eternally.” ~John MacArthur

This was good for me to hear. I need to re-affirm my commitment to children.

Then MacArthur launched into the main body of the sermon. He doesn’t whitewash the truth. It is the truth and it needs to be said, whether it’s “good” or “bad”. There are no primrose paths for us to tread in this day and age. Evidenced by how this society is treating its children, it is obvious God has moved in judgment of us. What is the next generation going to be like, we wonder? MacArthur answered,

“Biblically? It’s going to be worse. Because the Bible says evil men grow worse and worse. It doesn’t get better, it gets worse. And that means the people who will make this culture worse are the children of this generation.”

Not the news I wanted to hear, but it’s news that is true and informs my conscience and my behavior. I had also earlier noted on Twitter that it has been getting harder and harder to impress upon children to be responsible for their behavioral choices, to own up to them.

I see a lot of bucking authority and ignoring authority in society today. As I’m out and about I see children ignore or refuse their parents’ directions. “Just Say No” isn’t a motto for being against drugs anymore, it’s a motto for children against their parents’ authority.

I watch Youtube videos of people getting arrested for drunk driving or shoplifting. The younger ones, in their late teens or early 20s who are caught, absolutely refuse the Law Enforcement Officer’s orders. They completely ignore or reject his authority. It’s startling to see this, having grown up in the 1960s where the cultural revolution was happening but people still by and large protested peacefully, or law and order was maintained because of a more widespread acceptance of parental and law enforcement authority.

Then MacArthur spent time in Matthew 11 and exposited the meaning of several verses and parables involving children. He spent about half an hour in different verses. I couldn’t wrap my head around his point. I began wondering, since he is 84 1/2 years old after all, is he losing it? The sermon isn’t coalescing. Is there a point?

And YES of course, toward the end, there was a point that wraps the sermon up into a bow. He isn’t losing it. He came to a crescendo that pierced me. I have exactly seen what he started to talk about as he came to a close.

He said that when children are in their tender years, 5,6,7 they are very receptive to the things of God. They are eager and take them as normal and true. But after a certain point, which some call the Age of Accountability, they close down. They become hostile to the things of God. He said you will know when the child reaches that age,

“because accepting the Gospel is difficult. Submitting to the Law of God, a struggle to confront their sin, turn from their sin and submit their lives to Christ.”

I have seen kids age 5 or 6 burble about Jesus. The excitedly relate what they know and have interpreted. They speak of heaven and the cross. They say things like, “Jesus died on the cross for our sins and then came alive again and then he killed all the dinosaurs.” LOL. But they speak admiringly or positively about Jesus, especially during Thanksgiving time in November when you ask them what they are grateful for.

After about age 10, 11, 12…they don’t.

The point of his sermon is to be aware of this and during the years they are compliant and accepting, “Teach, teach, teach.”

“Because all that you teach them, all that input into their little minds will be available to them when they come to the point when the struggle begins. You want them filled up with the knowledge of scripture. You want them singing songs you heard today…because that truth in their heart is what mitigates against their fallen nature.”

In Literacy Education, we do something called “frontloading.”

Frontloading means punctuating the key learning points before an activity or experience takes place, rather than or in combination with, debriefing it afterwards.” (Source)

Frontload your children with hymns, scripture, God’s holy love, and be persistent in it. For me, working in a secular school, I can’t pointedly teach them about Jesus, but I can behave that way. I can live it. I can love, love, love in His name, and remember they are not the enemy. They are the enemy’s targets. I can counter the devil’s push with patience, love, and kindness acted out and expressed.

“God is watching how we care for children.”
John MacArthur

Here is the sermon. Please consider listening. My discernment radar is telling me things are getting very, very serious out there. I was not off track when I pondered these things on Friday and by Saturday night the Lord graciously led me to this sermon, where it is also obvious that JMac’s discernment radar is also going off.

When JMac’s book “The War on Children” is published in January, I want to buy it immediately.

Sermon audio, no transcript yet, at Grace Church: https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/81-161

Sermon on Youtube, with closed captions.

theology

Praying to the dead in heaven for intercession?

Posted on November 3, 2023 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Catholic believers pray to Mary. They think that since Jesus can’t resist His mother, that if they pray to Mary, whop passes it to her son, their prayers get more oomph. In addition, they have been told that Mary’s conception was immaculate, and therefore she is without sin, and is co-redeemer with Jesus. It’s why they pray to her.

For more on this topic, read here. Or here.

But praying to a saved sinner in heaven (which is what Mary is, a sinner just like the rest of us, and certainly not “Queen of Heaven”), isn’t something that only Catholics do. Protestants pray to departed relatives in heaven, too. It’s becoming more common to hear of non-Catholics praying to the dead in heaven.

We pray FOR others on earth, we do not pray TO others in heaven.

We’ve sadly seen the intrusion of Catholic practices into Protestantism. We saw Contemplative prayer sweep the denominations, Lectio Divina, labyrinth walking, books on prayers in ordinary time, and more. Now we see the beginning of praying to the departed friends or relatives in heaven, just like the Catholics pray to Mary.

Is this biblical? Let’s take a look.

In Hebrews 12:1, we read,

Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us,

If reading the verse at first pass, it looks like there is a balcony in heaven upon which sit the departed saints, viewing our movements and involved with us, at least emotionally and/or spiritually.

That is not what the verse means. The witnesses are the believers who lived before us and whose lives are recorded in the Bible for us to take example or encouragement from.

But folks who interpret the Hebrews verse the incorrect way, think that because the balcony is stuffed with watchers from above, and that since they are involved with us anyway, we can send up a prayer for them to pray for us to Jesus. Some people pray to the departed for them to give us aid or comfort, or whatever the person on earth is praying to them for. And, that they will hear those prayers and be able to do something about the need.

This activity is very close to the pagan practices of Ancestor Worship. Ancestor Worship is prevalent in Chinese religions such as Buddhism, Taoism, Eastern Orthodox, and is practiced widely in varioius places in India, Africa, and Asia.

Nations Online defines Ancestor Worship as:
“1. a religious practice based on the belief that deceased family members have a continued existence,
2. that the spirits of deceased ancestors will look after the family,
3. take an interest in the affairs of the world,
4. and possess the ability to influence the fortune of the living.“

Well, #1 is correct. The rest are false notions. Why?

The scripture says, “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,” (1 Timothy 2:5).

ONE mediator, not parents or aunts or friends who have passed into glory. There is only one mediator.

Mediator means: “one who intervenes between two persons who are at variance, with a view to reconcile them.” (Easton’s Bible Dictionary).

Humans and God are at variance, meaning, we are at enmity against Him and we need reconciling due to our natural hatred of God, holy living, and worshiping rightly. God established the Gospel in order to mediate Jesus and humans and reconcile us to Him.

Hebrews 8:6 ; 9:15 ; 12:24 also speaks to the Mediator.

Romans 8:34 says “Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”

The verse doesn’t include others to whom we may appeal for prayer. The Bible is clear we may only pray to God. Hebrews 4:16 tells us we may approach His throne with boldness. When He has made a way to approach him confidently, through His Son’s blood, WHY would anyone want to swerve from the direct path He has given us, to go away from God on His throne and approach a human for intercession?

Approach His throne boldly, and ONLY His throne

It makes no sense. It is true we who are believers are all called ‘saints’, and it’s true we are in a royal ‘priesthood’, but we mustn’t allow those biblical terms to become unbiblical by adding more to the office than is warranted. Only Jesus is the true intercessor, operating in His priestly function.

Why dilute Jesus’ priestly role by adding to the list of people in heaven who ALSO can intercede? Is the person praying to people other than Jesus, in that case, on earth believing in or proclaiming “a different Gospel’?

Only Jesus does that can hear our prayers and act on them. Praying to anyone else than the Persons of the Trinity is inappropriate and wrong. The practice smacks of at best, a misunderstanding of Hebrews ‘cloud of witnesses,’ and at worst, a pagan practice the heathen perform.

Jesus is sufficient. He is our Priest and mediator.

theology

Is there a scriptural basis for discernment?

Posted on October 31, 2023May 19, 2024 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Part 1 here: Why are there so many false pastors?

In these biblically illiterate days, many people focus their anger on the person calling out false teachers. They become angry with those who are warning against false doctrines or movements. Discernment is important! But, is there a scriptural basis for discernment activity, such as calling out false teachers, or warning the brethren of faddish leaven-soaked movements?

Yes.

The fact of the Spiritual gift: Some in the faith have been given the spiritual gift of “discerning of spirits.” Some translations say “distinguishing of spirits.” This is embedded in the list of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.

The purpose of the spiritual gift: The reason some have been given this spiritual gift is to be a smoke alarm for the local body, an early warning system as it were. ALL spiritual gifts are to be employed for the good of the church and the glory of God. Discerners are to use their gift of discernment to warn others so that false doctrine does not creep in. False doctrine is deadly. It’s “leaven” that pollutes the whole loaf.

Did you know that every New Testament book except Philemon warns of false doctrine or false teachers and outlines the impact falsity has on the church? It is a HUGE issue. It is something the NT does not ignore, and we should not either. So the Spirit installed discerners to help keep His church pure.

Discerners do not have extra sensory perception, nor direct revelations from God. It’s not a mystical activity. They just know the Word so well, they can spot a counterfeit at 100 paces. It would insult the Spirit to have been given the gift of discernment by Him but to remain silent and not use it. Jesus rebuked the church at Thyatira in Revelation 2, for knowing the metaphorical Jezebel was teaching falsely, but did nothing about it.

Discernment for the layman: Though some do not possess the specific spiritual gift of discernment, ALL people in the faith are to work at honing their discernment. Hebrews 5:13-14 expects the believer to train in discernment. Acts 17:11 tells us all to be like the noble Bereans who consulted the word to compare whether what they were hearing was true or false. 1 John 4:1 tells us to test the spirits to see if they are from God.

So even if a person does not have the gift, they are to be working at being discerning themselves through constantly being in the Word and by training and practice of discernment.

Calling out the false: The folks that feel they possess the gift, or are pastors or teachers in charge of the sheep, have a DUTY to warn. Jude speaks to this, in just one of many examples. Jude 1:22 speaks of snatching some from the fire. Matthew 7:15 says to “beware” of false prophets that come in like hungry wolves. Beware is an action, we must be on guard. And many other verses…

So if one person who is more mature than another (Hebrews 5:14) sees that their friend is about to be devoured by a wolf, or led astray, or headed to a shipwreck (all allusions in the NT for what happens to the undiscerning), is it loving to look away, go home, and pray? Yes, prayer is effective (James 5:16). But paired with a gentle but direct warning, it is even more effective.

Discernment Police: The person who chides the discerner is usually one who likes their idols. They should be concerned with their own walk and its purity and holiness. Though I rarely receive this kind of reply, the reply I’d love to see is this:

“Oh no, you say So and So is false? Please tell me more. I want to honor Jesus with all my might, and would be crushed to think I’m polluting my faith by being unwary. Help me understand.”

THAT is the answer we all hope to get, SHOULD get, because Jesus is more important than anything.

People have too soft of an attitude toward false teachers and false doctrine. The serpent deceived Eve with one question. He tried to bamboozle JESUS of all people, tempting THE Word with the word of God. The concern for all of us should be holiness and purity of our walk, training in discernment, and being so knowledgeable of the word that we are immersed in truth as our armor.

Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14; 2 Timothy 3:5; 2 John 10 in some form or fashion tell us to mark and avoid the false teachers. These are commands. We cannot mark nor avoid if we do not know who they are. We should thank discerners for helping us to do this.

WHY are there so many warnings about false doctrine in the New Testament? Because it’s important! And because we are all easily deceived: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12

Balance: Now it is true that some people get so consumed with discernment that they wind up looking for the dirt rather than focusing on Jesus. They are imbalanced, spending too much time on discernment and not enough in the word and other spiritual disciplines. Discerners like that give the spiritual gift a bad name. Balance and moderation is key.

Resource: Balance in our theology is important

Grace: If someone is charging you dear reader, with being too active in discernment, is it because they’re concerned for your balance? Do they think you call out TOO much? On the other hand, are your naysayers uninformed of the verses on discernment, or uninterested in battling against the false in themselves or in their sphere? Are they misunderstanding the importance, given the time and space the NT gives to it? In that case, give them grace and help them learn why it’s important.

Proverbs 11:30, The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Resources:

Part 1 here: Why are there so many false pastors?

What does the Bible teach about Discernment?

John MacArthur, “Defining Discernment”

Ligonier (Sinclair Ferguson) “What is Discernment?”

Category: theology

Angel Activity in the Nativity

Street preacher shot in head while preaching Good News (donate button inside)

Waning Restraint

WHY?

Angels! Part 2 of two parts

Angels! Part 1 of two parts

Further Reading

Angels: Their many ministries

Prata Potpourri: Bubba Copeland, Elisabeth, God’s Will, Confronting a brother

What happened to the man who allegedly called in a bomb threat at G3 Conference in September?

“God is watching how we care for children”

Praying to the dead in heaven for intercession?

Is there a scriptural basis for discernment?