For God so Loved the World...
Pastor Jerry Wilhite,
author
There is a big debate between those of Christ and other religions especially the Jews. There is also a debate on Christ between that of the physical and the spiritual. Many do not understand God's love for all mankind because of these debates. All they have achieved is confusion and victories for Satan.
First let's look at the overall picture from Adam to Revelation.
Adam had only one comand given to him from God.
Genesis 2
17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
God did not say you and Eve or you and your descendants, but just that Adam alone could not eat of the tree. God comanded both Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28 to be fruitful and multiply. "Replenish the earth" basically means "to fill" the Earth. The point is that God knew (even if Adam did not) in Genesis 2:17 that there would be eventually more people than just Adam and God is always very specific.
Genesis 3
3. But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Where did Eve get the idea they could not touch? God never said that. Either she came up with it or Adam added it, which is more likely.
In Genesis 3 after Adam ate of the fruit, Eve and Satan were punished as well even though it was Adam who sinned. Satan sinned in deceiving Eve and Eve sinned in not being fruitful and multiplying. How did I come up with that? Because the only comand she was given was this and then her punishments were in childbearing and desiring her husband, which were all related to her original comand.
Before we get into the history of mankind and God let's look at the fact that God does love us. He knew ahead of time that Lucifer would cause problems and mankind would fall. It would require more from Him (God) than any of us can imagine, but He still went forward even with the knowledge of this. How we know some of this is that Michael and his angels are warriors and will battle with Lucifer/Satan and his fallen angels. Next even when sin was at a height never before seen and fallen angels and daughters of man were marrying and having children (perverting the flesh) God still did not do away with all of mankind. He found one perfect, not perfect spiritually but in the flesh, one that was born prior to the perversion. God used this one, Noah, to save mankind. Long afterwards incest became a problem and in time could no longer be permitted due to problems in the flesh.
In verse 2 below the expression "sons of God" is only used here and in Job. In Job it refers to angels and we know it was not angels who rebelled in this manner so it had to be fallen angels. This act would help Satan divide mankind from God again, first in the spirit with the sin of Adam and now in the flesh due to this perversion. Remember sin can not exist in the presence of God and before this men could stand in His presence without harm. After Cain slew Able he stated, "your punishment is too harsh" what punishment? The punishment was that Cain no longer could be before God. After the flood no one could be in His presence even Moses could only see His backside without being destroyed.
Genesis 6
1. And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
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.
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.
Even with all of this God still worked with mankind, Adam sins, mankind is perverted, etc. Those of you who wonder how God could put up with so much and call apostles to Jesus that would betray Him, know that God loves us so much He tolerates a lot and He knows not one of us is perfect. Even from the attacks of Satan or evil, God turns them around to good such as with Peter. When Peter denied knowing Jesus 3 times and even cursed His name, Jesus gave Peter a chance to repent in the end of the Gospel of John when Jesus asked Peter 3 times if he loved Him. The third time it was different, as was the third time Peter denied knowing Jesus and even cursed His name.
From Adam's sin to the ministry of Jesus God planted His word into the earth using those He could. The Old Testament is about the One, the One through whom God could find to work. God had to also give a law to point out sin and a way to keep people somewhat protected from themselves and sin. It took centuries to get enough of His word to grow faith for one to agree with Him to bring the Christ into the earth.
Luke 1
38. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
One did agree and The Christ was born unto her. Since she was a virgin the one born was not conceived as all others by the seed of man and sin, but sin free.
Jesus grew and at age 30 started His ministry and taught about the kingdom of God.
He did not come to heal and feed; those were side products of the power He had being the Christ.
1 Corinthians 1
24. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Jesus took upon Himself all sin and was crucified died and buried, descended into Hell where He spent 3 days. One day for each of His years of ministry, when He reached Hell the sin that was on Him could not remain since it was not His and it fell off and He could not remain in Hell but crossed the gulf and joined those in paradise (Abraham's Bosom).
The following is scripture of Hell and paradise and those there and notice it is not a parable but a true story of those involved.
Luke 16
19. There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23. And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28. For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Now how do we know He preached while in paradise? The only way those who had died by then could rise from the dead with Jesus was they had heard the word and believed. Notice it states many not all rose with Him and then appeared in the holy city.
Matthew 27
52. And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
They appeared in the Holy City to confess Jesus as Lord:
Romans 10
9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
What the law could not do Jesus did on the cross and then arose from the dead.
That which the law failed to do Jesus finished on the cross:
John 19
30. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
From His resurrection and ascension He left it all for us, not for Him to do, but for us to do.
Some other interests of the history are the other covenants of God with men. One such was with Job. NO, GOD did not cause Job's problems; God removed His protection so Satan could do as he does and tempts Job to curse God. But God knew Job would not and had to show that we could all do this and even returned to Job twice over all he lost. Job could have avoided the 9 months of agony and suffered a lot less time if he had just asked God for help instead of listening to his friends and wife. Which is exactly what we do today; instead of seeking God we seek others who have not a clue about life and what it is all about.
Job 1
1. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
2. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
4. And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
6. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.
7. And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
8. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
9. Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10. Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
12. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.
God is about love but even more salvation is about being reunited with God. It’s not a physical life of pleasure and enjoyment, but a spiritual life of love and joy in God.
John 14
26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
No matter what you believe the above verse says it all and Jesus said it. We are to be taught all by God not man. Not just taught that of God, but taught all we need to know and grow by via the Spirit which is God.
John 4
23. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
So if God is love how can He allow Hell and people to go there? Hell is where God is not. What He has done out of love is cause a place where He is not for those who do not want a relationship with Him.
Is Hell fire and torture? No, the lake of fire is fire, but Hell is not fire and it is not torture it is torment. In the eyes of God and those of God to want or desire to be removed from God would be torment. And of course there will those who I would not ever want to be in the same city with much less than the same area such as those like rapists, evil doers and violent people.
Revelation 20
10. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.
How many are lost and will go to Hell? No one can say but I believe I have an idea due to something that happened to me in 1985 and what I have seen in the nursing home I ministered to and at for 9 years. What I am talking about is I believe that at the last microsecond of life as we die if we are not of Christ God gives us one last chance. Look at how many who have stated their life had flashed before their eyes during a near death experience. What if this is God's way of showing one what and who they are to give them one last chance to be saved? How can in such a short time that it can not even be measured one have all this happen? God told Joshua that he would win the battle before the sun set. So as the sun started to set God stopped the sun from setting for almost 24 hours until he won the battle. Remember anything is possible for God.
How then does Satan believe he can win a battle or the war with God? Satan believes God's love for us is His weakness and this is what will give Satan the chance. Satan sees God limiting Himself due to us, that to save us God would allow even Satan power to overcome us.
Yes, God could just be rid of Satan and all evil but then He would not be God because to do so He would have to go against His own words and cause us to be robots without free will. God is willing to wait it out to get what He wants, us. Satan thinks the longer there is the more his chances increase and we give him that idea by our lifestyles. Remember Satan is not as powerful or omnipresent as is God. Satan can only tempt us and we either accept it or not.
Luke 4
13. And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
14. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
After Jesus resisted all temptation from Satan He returned in the power of the Spirit.
Satan is a liar and he is the prince of deception but he can not lie and deceive us all. Instead he plants thoughts in a person here and there who can carry them further to others. Satan plants the seed of sin and evil in the form of imaginations.
2 Corinthians 10
5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
So if you have asked Jesus into your life, start casting down all imaginations that go against the knowledge of God and take all thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ. After mastering this you are half way there. The other half is asking God to help you hear from Him and then daily spending time listening to hear God's voice in you and then be obedient to Him.
Remember that John told us to test the spirits we hear from to be sure it is God and not Satan who likes to imitate God.
1 John 4
1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
For those of you who argue OT Vs NT read Daniel 12:2 below and I Thessalonians 4 and see how much they say the same thing.
Daniel 12
2. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
1 Thessalonians 4
15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
For over 1000 years the church of this world has taught Hell and the fear of Hell to get people to return to the church. The only true fear that we should have is that of losing God due to the ways of the flesh and the world.
There will be a new earth and heaven because this first earth is corrupted by sin. When we leave here we will no longer be of the physical as we are now. Remember you are born in this life the same way you leave it with nothing. Everything in between does not matter because you can not take it with you. So what would matter is what your life is about not what you have in it.
Is your life full of physical pleasures and ways of the flesh or of the Spirit? Satan is deceiving you if you believe in the flesh over the Spirit. Satan has planted his seed of deception, lies and the ways of the world/flesh into every aspect of this world and life.
It is not easy to overcome all there is here but it can be done only if you are of the Spirit listening to God and following Him and not man.
Revelation 21
1. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Remember since the beginning there have been more people against than for God. From the tower of Babel which was a form of Satan as Lucifer (in building a tower to shoot an arrow to God was not possible, but what it represented was what Lucifer became as Satan and why) to present day acceptance of sin and the flesh over the Spirit.
God is love and Tribulation is proof of it. He will allow mankind to see the downside of not having God in mankind's life. God uses Tribulation as a farmer does with a two by four in between the eyes of a stubborn mule. Those not of the Spirit are like the mule, they are too stubborn to see the truth.
So God removes Himself from the world and allows mankind to rule mankind without God to show this is not the way. Of course the antichrist makes matters worse but it is due to God removing Himself that the antichrist is able to take over. Then the last half of Tribulation is for those who are even more stubborn than the first group. In this time Satan/Evil rules to show them that without God and with Satan is not the way to go.
1st Rapture
Genesis 5
24. And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
2nd Rapture
2 King
11. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
3rd Rapture
Since those below are not here any longer and were not seen after this one-day they must have been removed via rapture.
Matthew 27
52. And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53. And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
4th Rapture was Jesus
5th Rapture will be those of Christ pre-tribulation:
1 Corinthians 1
24. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
The power that restrains the iniquity (Antichrist) is removed the iniquity will not be revealed and that with the power is that of Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2
7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
6th Rapture will be those of Christ mid-tribulation, those who during the first half come around and get it right.
7th Rapture will be those of Christ end-tribulation. At the end of tribulation will be the war (wrath of God) and those who remain will be two groups. Group one accepts and worships the image of the beast (666). Group two does not and after the one-hour war this group will remain and for the next 1000 years. They will grow, marry, have children under the rule of Christ until Satan is released from the pit to tempt whomever he can one last time before judgement day.
No matter what, it is God's patience and love for us that has given us the chance to live now and eternally with Him in the next life. If you have read all of the above you have to understand His infinite patience, which Satan does not have, and that is one of the key points of Satan's downfall. If I were God I doubt we would have even made it out of the garden much less to today or beyond.
God will mourn for 30 minutes. There will be quiet in Heaven this will be after the war and all who died and did not make it will cause His mourning. This is true love, to mourn those who have rejected Him so often, so much and with such effort. We have all sinned and fallen short, but in Christ, in Jesus we have a second chance. With forgiveness we have a third, fourth, etc chances as long as we are trying and not fooling ourselves.
History and Proof of Genesis 1-7
Before I get into Genesis I just want to help some of you with Paul's writings especially Timothy. Every one of the 26 books of the NT except the 2 to Timothy are titled along with the author of the book or to a certain land mass or area. In Timothy Paul is addressing a person. Now remember 3 facts:
Actually it is a good idea to have the law taught to those who have no base to establish any kind of knowledge of sin in their life until they are of grace. Also 2000 years ago most people attended church of sorts. They did not have, as modern churches, a nursery or anywhere for the children to be kept so the mother would remain home with the children. Then the father would come home and teach the mother.
Now about Genesis we will look at the difference of man and woman in Genesis 1 and then again in 2. Where Eden may be the chance of evolution in creation and the reason for some differences between Genesis 4 and much later in Genesis and the rest of the OT.
Some say there were two creations because of the two accounts in Genesis 1 and 2 of man and woman. In Genesis 1 they are together and in 2 the man is then the woman.
Genesis 1 is an accounting of generalities not specifics, sort of an outline of things to come. Then Genesis Chapter 2 backs up to the end of 1 and gives a more detailed account of man and woman and what life was like for them.
The key thing to remember is that the earth was not created for the plants & animals but for mankind. This does not mean we do not have responsibility in maintaining it and that does not mean we should go over board the other way as well. Some balance between nature, technology and mankind needs to be maintained.
God created mankind in His own image, not physically but the soul the mind, will, and emotions. Then the soul was perverted 2 times in the first 6 chapters of Genesis as was the body in chapter 6.
How could God create all in 6 - 24 hour days? If He wanted to He could do it in one minute. But for those who buy into the age of the earth and the universe let's look at scripture and what it states a day is to God.
Psalms 90
4. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
2 Peter 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.
In Psalms 90 Moses says an evening is as a thousand years and that would make a day between 3 and 4 thousand years. Then Peter says a day is as a thousand years; he does not state a day as 24 hours so it could be a day and night would be 2 thousand years. Either way the first 7 days were longer than 24 hours each.
Did God create Adam and Eve as babies or toddlers? No, He created them mature, so would He not as well create the entire universe mature so the time for everything to grow would not be needed. Yes, I know I am now giving credit to evolution but as far as the universe some evolution as well as with the earth was needed. Remember God is the master mathematician so He would have known exactly what was needed to bring life here as He wanted it. He did develop all we see for us so we could exist and grow and multiply.
Another area of debate is in Genesis 1:28 with the word "replenish". If correctly translated from the Hebrew to modern language we would say, "to fill". Now I believe the Bible is the breathed word of God. God dictated to mankind and mankind wrote what He said starting with Moses.
Satan wanted nothing more than to hurt God and to do that the best place to start was by separating mankind from God. Satan started by getting Adam to eat of the fruit and the first part of the separation happened. We know in Genesis 2 God told Adam that when he ate of the fruit he would die. We know God does not lie, but Adam did not die physically or in his soul so that just leaves the spiritual connection that died. But at this time sin had not yet entered the body and perverted the flesh. How do we know this?
Genesis 4
13. And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
Even after killing Abel, Cain still could be in the presence of God as could Adam and Eve after they ate of the fruit.
Genesis 5
24. And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Enoch walked with God so Enoch as well was in the presence of God.
Satan sent his fallen angels to mate with the daughters of men and this perverted the flesh.
Genesis 6
1. And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
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.
The expression "sons of God" from verse 2 is only used one other time in the OT as it is here and that is in Job 1-2 talking about the angels. We know the angels would not do this so it had to be the fallen angels. To what purpose you ask? Well, if we no longer had a spiritual connection and then could not be in His presence. Our belief in Him would die as well.
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.
Some believe in verse 3 that the hundred and twenty years is how long that mankind has a lease on the earth before it ends. The year of jubilee (also know as the year of the Lord) which is every 50 years for us multiplied by the 120 means our lease ends after 6,000 years which we are rapidly approaching. I believe this as well but not as strongly as the rest. I do believe the reference to our being flesh is a reference to our perversion and that with this perversion we are more like the fallen angels in the flesh, meaning lustful and full of the world.
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.
5. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
8. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
9. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
Noah was a man and perfect in his generations, not perfect in spirit because that connection had ended, but perfect since it referred to his generations in the flesh. He was born before the sons of God mated with the daughters of mankind, so his bloodline was pure.
10. And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
14. Make thee an Mark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the Mark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
15. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the Mark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
16. A window shalt thou make to the Mark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the Mark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
17. And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
18. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the Mark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.
19. And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the Mark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.
Now if you look at the fact that Moses could only see the backside of God as He passed otherwise would have been destroyed and before Genesis 6 mankind was in His presence something changed. Sin can not exist in the presence of God. So, when sin entered the flesh it meant no one could be in His presence without being destroyed.
So God worked hard getting His word into the earth to bring His Son here to save us.
John 1
1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2. The same was in the beginning with God.
14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
In order for the word to enter this life sin free it required a woman with great faith to agree with God. This could only come about by God’s planting His word in the earth through one at a time until it built to a point that one could have the faith needed.
Luke 1
38. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
So why didn’t God just remove Satan and evil from us or give us the ability to see the truth? He did both. He gave us His Son and through His Son we can have Satan and evil removed from our life and see the truth, but not based on religion or the church of this world but based His church.
Matthew 16
15. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16. And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Why the translators translated "Petros" in verse 18 as "Peter" a proper name instead of "piece of the rock" as it should be, baffles me because it is the only place in the King James where I have found they used the wrong word. It is not incorrect, Peter is the Proper name for Petros but the translation should be "piece of the rock".
The whole point of what Jesus was saying was that He was building His church upon the bedrock (Petra), and that to be a piece of this bedrock was possible when the Father revealed who Jesus is as the Son and the Christ and not be flesh and blood.
John 14
26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Satan did not end his work in Genesis 6. We know in the day of Jesus Satan tried to tempt Him.
Satan as a liar, deceiver, a and snake in the grass who started planting imaginations and thoughts in the minds of those he saw who would get it out the best and to the most.
2 Corinthians 10
5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Even in the past 50 - 100 years you can see this in ideas that are in our books, movies, television, etc. Shows like Star Trek, Earth Final Conflict, Andromeda and others (some more than others) constantly persist in stating that in their future time they know without a doubt that creation is not true and evolution is true.
I have said in the past that parents go to all kinds of extremes (or at least should) in checking out the baby sitter for their children, but then turn around and let them watch television (TELL - A - VISION - Who's vision?), movies, read books, play games. They have no idea of who is writing, programing, and directing these items. As far as they know they could be perverts, rapist, violent, prejudiced, or worse people and again they may not. But why are we not as careful in these areas? Because we use them as baby sitters now or we believe it all or we do not believe any of it and expect our children to be as enlightened.
Look at crime over the decades and how much younger it is getting especially violent crime, abortion, homosexuality and the decay of morality in general. You will realize that we should not abandon our innocent, malleable children to the TV for a nanny.
The idea of God’s creating man and woman for each other means man for man or woman for woman is a perversion. This does not mean we judge the person just the act. They can overcome the desires they have for same sex, as can child molesters for children and rapists for rape or murderers for murder, etc. It is called reason VS lust. If lust rules then reason goes out the window but if reason prevails then lust goes out the window. The problem is that with morality decaying then reason comes into question as well. So can you see how Satan has taken it to a new level of degrading us with God?
Until we get right with God, and that does not mean just doing good and attending the churches of this world, but actually coming to know God personally in a one on one basis, the morality will continue to decay until Sodom is present in the entire world. Of course that would mean tribulation has started.
I do not trust any movie, television, etc. That does not mean I bury my head in the sand so to speak. I watch some of these shows as well and see more and more of the problems.
It is like if you want to break up a large block of ice you chip away at the outside areas first until it all crumbles. That is what Satan has done for thousands of years and, as of the last 100, due to technology even more than ever before.
Before closing I would like to touch on the subject of the location of Eden.
Remember the flood; the heavens opened up for 40 days and nights. Scientist now believe that before the flood the earth was in a ball of water that kept the temperature the same year round and made the earth a much more beautiful place. Colors were brighter and sharper; greens were even more green and so on.
In the last 20 years or so, off the shores of the old-world, cities have been discovered as deep as a mile down. This means that at one time (pre-flood) sea level was at least a mile deeper than it is now. Also meaning oceans may not have existed and landmasses were the majority of the earth. So, if they wanted, people could have walked the entire earth with out a boat. It also means most populations would not have been where we are now. Actually where we call sea level now may have been extremely high and most if not all would have lived at least 1 mile lower than we do at our lowest. As such, Eden would be below our current sea level as well. This may explain why out of the four rivers described in Genesis 2 that only 2 can be found today. The other 2 may be below sea level and now part of the ocean instead. After this length of time Eden would be gone due to the pressures of the ocean over it.
One last thing - science uses carbon date testing to tell the age of anything. Carbon date testing requires certain rays of the sun to get through and if the earth was covered in a ball of water they would not have been able to penetrate, so that would mean anything pre flood could not be dated at all. So all of their dates saying this is 60 million years old or that is 80 million years old would be wrong. So God may very well created it all in 6 - 24 hour days after all!