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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”
Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively. Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior.
Before doing any Bible studying, it is useful to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This webpage could be periodically updated. If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated. Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.
Below are links related to archived copies of this webpage.
web.archive.org/*/John314-16.com
Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.
Regarding praying, all prayer must be addressed to God the Father. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself indicated that all prayer must be addressed to God the Father. The content of Matthew 6:1–13 covers the Lord giving an example about how to pray. In that regard, the content of Matthew 6:9 covers the Lord commanding that prayers be addressed to God the Father. The content of Luke 11:1–4 also covers the Lord giving an example about how to pray. In that regard, the content of Luke 11:2 covers the Lord commanding that prayers be addressed to God the Father.
Also, God the Father will only answer prayers that are in accordance with HIs will. Because believers lack omniscience [ahm-NISH-uhns] [all-knowingness], there can be occasions on which a believer will be uncertain as to whether a particular request is in accordance with God the Fatherʼs will. In that regard, the believer who has such uncertainty can still make that request; nonetheless, that believer should be unsurprised if that request goes unfulfilled. In that regard, the believer needs to recognize that if whatever a believer requests in a prayer is not given to that believer, it could be that the prayer was inconsistent with God the Fatherʼs plan. Also, whenever a believer makes requests to God the Father when that believer is out of fellowship with the Trinity, whatever that believer requests might not be given to that believer.
In order for prayers to be answered, the believer must be in fellowship with the Trinity. Once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.
Below are some details regarding the mechanics of prayer.
A good way to start a prayer is as follows: “Dear Heavenly Father.”
Listed below are four steps for praying.
(1) Confession: One must be in fellowship with the Trinity when praying to God the Father. Once a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged all known unconfessed post-salvation sins—confessing only one time for each sin —fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.
(2) Thanksgiving: One should thank God the Father for His graciousness. Thanking Him for sending the Lord Jesus Christ to be judged on the cross for oneʼs sins and the sins of humanity is a good example of thanksgiving.
(3) Intercession: One can pray to God the Father on behalf of others.
(4) Petition: One can pray to God the Father on behalf of oneself.
There are no verses in the Bible that list that sequence for praying; nonetheless, it makes sense to make sure that one is in fellowship with God the Father before proceeding with any further communication, to then express appreciation to Him before making any requests, and to treat others as more important than oneself by making requests for them before making requests for oneself. Sometimes, there is obviously only sufficient time for a short prayer without all of the steps. In such a case, step 1 is still a necessary step because if one has committed known post-salvation sins for which one has not yet confessed to God the Father, one needs to confess those sins to Him before proceeding with the rest of the prayers.
Also, at the end of any prayer, it is good to say something like the following: “In the Lord Jesus Christʼs name, amen.” The word amen can be translated into English as “I believe it.” If the Lord Jesus Christ had not been judged on the cross for our sins, we would be unable to pray to God the Father. When one prays in the Lord Jesus Christʼs name, one is calling attention to His work on the cross that made praying to God the Father possible. Finishing a prayer in this way should even be done when confessing oneʼs sins without asking for anything.
Also, when asking God the Father for something—in other words, when praying to Him—whatever the believer requests must be consistent with God the Fatherʼs plan. Of course, details of God the Fatherʼs plan are at times unknown to a believer. In that regard, the believer needs to recognize that if whatever a believer requests in a prayer is not given to that believer, it could be that the prayer was inconsistent with God the Fatherʼs plan. Also, whenever a believer makes requests to God the Father when that believer is out of fellowship with the Trinity, whatever that believer requests might not be given to that believer.
When a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ prays to God the Father, that believer has a desire or motive behind that prayer. In that regard, how God the Father answers prayers can be categorized into four categories involving what God the Father answers positively and what He answers negatively. Listed below are those four categories regarding God the Fatherʼs answers to prayers.
1. Positive-Negative: God the Father gives a yes answer to the prayer but a no answer to the desire behind that prayer. For example, if a believer were to pray for a million dollars because that believer is seeking happiness from money, God the Father could permit that believer to have a million dollars, but God the Father could refrain from making that believer be happy. In such a situation, God the Father permits such a believer to experience self-induced misery.
2. Negative-Positive: God the Father gives a no answer to the prayer but a yes answer to the desire behind that prayer. For example, if a believer were to pray for a million dollars because that believer wants to help people with that money, God the Father could refrain from permitting that believer to have a million dollars, but God the Father could enable that believer to help people in some other way or ways.
3. Positive-Positive: God the Father gives a yes answer to both the prayer and the desire behind that prayer.
4. Negative-Negative: God the Father gives a no answer to both the prayer and the desire behind that prayer.
When praying for someone, it is important for a believer to keep in mind the content of 1 John 5:16. The content of that verse covers the topic of when a believer should refrain from praying for another believer. In that regard, below is content related to that verse.
1 John 5:16
If anyone sees his brother sinning sin not unto death, he shall request, and He shall give to him life to those sinning not unto death. There is sin unto death; I do not say that he should make request concerning this.
Note: In the phrase sinning sin not unto death in this verse, there is an absence of a definite article in front of the noun sin. Likewise, in the phrase There is sin unto death in this verse, there is also an absence of a definite article in front of the noun sin. In that regard, rather than this verse referring to some particular sin that is categorized as the sin unto death, this verse refers to sinning in general that results in what can be referred to as the sin unto death.
The sin unto death involves an early physical death. For a believer who physically dies after the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst], that early physical death involves an early departure to Heaven. The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age. The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē]. That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.” Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. The Church Age will end with the Rapture. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during September or October of 2025. The departure to Heaven of a believer who experiences the sin unto death is an early departure in the sense that it occurs at an earlier time than it would have occurred if the believer had regularly remained in fellowship with the Trinity. In that regard, if after a believer sins, that believer refrains from confessing/acknowledging that sin to God the Father, then that believer will remain out of fellowship with the Trinity. A believer who remains out of fellowship eventually becomes a reversionist. Such a believer reverts back to acting like unbelievers. Being a reversionistic believer is known as being involved in reversionism. Ultimately, if a believer continues to refrain from confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer will experience the sin unto death. The amount of unconfessed post-salvation sins that results in the sin unto death can vary. It is even possible that a single sin on a single occasion is so bad that the believer committing that sin experiences the sin unto death. Based on the content of the Bible, it is logical to conclude that such a sin would be something egregious—in other words, something very bad.
Regarding a believer praying for a believer who is sinning, the believer doing the praying can pray to God the Father that God the Father have God the Son and God the Holy Spirit take care of the matter such that the believer doing the sinning will have opportunities to become a believer who studies and obeys the Word of God regularly. Regarding refraining from praying for a believer who is at the point of the sin unto death, it is possible that a believer might be unaware of whether a believer who is sinning is at the point of the sin unto death. In that regard, the believer doing the praying can pray to God the Father that if the believer doing the sinning is not at the point of the sin unto death, that God the Father then have God the Son and God the Holy Spirit take care of the matter such that the believer doing the sinning will have opportunities to become a believer who studies and obeys the Word of God regularly. Praying in that manner gives the sinning believer the benefit of the doubt while at the same time applying the principle of not praying for the believer who is at the point of the sin unto death.
Regarding sinning, it is important for a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to be alert for temptations. With regard to being alert, levels of alertness can be categorized in terms of a mindset color code that involves four colors. The mindset color code describes states of awareness. The mindset color code can be utilized for matters outside oneself; for example, the color code can be applied to both physical dangers and also to the dangers of stumbling blocks that can lead a Christian to sin. Also, the color code can be utilized introspectively with regard to the temptations that can originate from oneʼs old sin nature (OSN). Every human except the Lord Jesus Christ has acquired an old sin nature, and each humanʼs old sin nature is in the body of that human. The old sin nature, which is referenced in Ephesians 4:22 with the term old man, can also be referred to as the sin nature. It is also referenced using the word flesh in Ephesians 2:3 and Galatians 5:16. The content of Romans 6:6 associates the sin nature with peopleʼs bodies, and the content of Romans 7:17–18 references the sin nature being in peopleʼs bodies. Adam and Ishshah [ish-SHAW] (the name of Eve before Adam renamed her Eve) were created without old sin natures, and they acquired old sin natures when they sinned. All other human beings have been conceived. Only the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived without an old sin nature. All the other humans that were conceived have been conceived with old sin natures. Likewise, all humans in the future will be conceived, and the conceiving of each of them will involve each of them receiving an old sin nature at the moment that each of them will be conceived. Below are the conditions of alertness of the mindset color code and descriptions of them.
Condition White: |
Unaware and unprepared, one is totally oblivious to what is going on. |
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Condition Yellow: |
Relaxed alert—no specific threat is detected, but one is “taking in” surrounding info—the mindset in which one is aware that one might have to deal with danger today. |
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Condition Orange: |
Specific alert—something is not quite right and has oneʼs attention. It might be something having to be dealt with right now. One gets mentally prepared to act, just in case. |
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Condition Red: |
The potential danger of Condition Orange is determined to be a real danger. It is definitely something having to be dealt with right now. One acts immediately. |
In being alert regarding temptations to sin, it is useful to be aware of different categories of sins. In that regard, sins can be categorized in various ways. There are three broad categories of sins: mental-attitude sins, verbal sins, and overt sins. Verbal sins can also be referred to as sins of the tongue. They can also be referred to as communicative sins because that category also encompasses non-verbal communication that involves sinning. Communicative sins can also involve physical means of communication such as facial expressions, other forms of body language, tone of voice, and demeanor.
A right thing must be done in a right way. Only a right thing done in a right way is acceptable to God the Father. Below is a list of right and wrong things.
A right thing done in a wrong way is wrong.
A wrong thing done in a right way is wrong.
A wrong thing done in a wrong way is wrong.
A right thing done in a right way is right.
Regarding praying on behalf of others, one can pray on behalf of animals. Regarding animals going to Heaven, I am hopeful that because God the Father graciously sent God the Son to be born as the Lord Jesus Christ and because God the Father judged Jesus for the sins of humanity so that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Savior Who was judged for the sins of humanity will have eternal life, as per John 3:16 and Ephesians 2:8–9 (“…for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” and “…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast”), that God the Father is and will continue to be gracious towards animals. My hope regarding the graciousness of God the Father towards animals is bolstered by God the Fatherʼs graciousness when a person who has believed in Jesus as the Savior then later sins and and after sinning, confesses/acknowledges to God the Father all of that personʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins because the content of 1 John1:9 indicates that God the Father then forgives those known confessed post-salvation sins and also the unknown post-salvation sins of that person (“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”).
“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”
Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively. Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior. Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:
“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Note: The heart refers to the mind.
It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:
“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”
It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”
A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned. In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher. Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:
If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship: whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.
Note: Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites. Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM]. The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges. The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity. The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god. Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.
The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind. In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests. The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:
Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession. Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:
Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.
The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:
Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. Also, it is still much more evident: that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. Indeed, it is attested: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
Note: The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body. The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.
Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest. In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family. Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:
However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE. You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
Note: Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people. In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people. The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23. In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.
Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Put succinctly: itʼs the message rather than the messenger. In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
*Note: The word says is in the Greek historical present tense. By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.
Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated. That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:
The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.
Note: The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”
Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. While it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during September or October of 2025, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur on a day other than the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah.
The below collection of content could be useful to review every morning. Some of the content involves summaries. The details associated with those summaries are located after the part with the summaries.
Isaiah 41:10
‘Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your 'Elohiym / Godhead. I have strengthened you. Surely, I have helped you. Surely, I have upheld you with My righteous right hand.’
The essence of the Trinity:
Sovereignty |
Omnipotence |
Righteousness |
Omniscience |
Justice |
Omnipresence |
Love |
Immutability |
Eternal life |
Veracity |
Sovereignty: The Members of the Trinity have authority over all creation.
Righteousness: The Members of the Trinity are perfectly good.
Justice: The Members of the Trinity are perfectly fair.
Love: The Members of the Trinity have perfect goodwill toward creation.
Eternal life: The Members of the Trinity have always existed and will always exist.
Omnipotence: The Members of the Trinity are totally powerful.
Omniscience: The Members of the Trinity know everything.
Omnipresence: The Members of the Trinity are everywhere.
Immutability: The Members of the Trinity never change.
Veracity: The Members of the Trinity are always truthful.
Philippians 4:19
Moreover, my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 13:5
Let your your lifestyle be free from the love of money, being content with what you have, for He Himself has said, “I will never leave you, nor will I ever forsake you,”
1 Corinthians 10:13
No testing/temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man, and God is faithful, Who will not allow you to be tested/tempted beyond what you are able but with the testing/temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden upon Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, and He sustains you. He never allows the righteous to be shaken.
1 Thessalonians 5:15
See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.
Note: In this verse, the phrase one another refers to fellow believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. What is good for believers is learning and obeying the Word of God. In that regard, a believer must learn the Word of God while in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and then apply the Word of God while in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit. Once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again, in fellowship with the Trinity again, and ready to learn and obey the Word of God again.
In this verse, the phrase and for all people refers to everyone other than those who are categorized in the category described by the phrase one another. In other words, the phrase and for all people in this verse refers to unbelievers. What is good for unbelievers is the gospel—in other words, the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life. John 3:14–16 and Ephesians 2:8–9 are some verses that are useful for communicating that.
1 Thessalonians 5:16
Always rejoice.
Note: Rather than a believer rejoicing only when circumstances seem pleasant, a believer should always rejoice. Regarding a believer having an attitude of rejoicing regardless of circumstances, there is power in the form of positivity that comes from a proper understanding of the Word of God. In that regard, believers should cease feeling sorry for themselves with regard to seemingly suboptimal circumstances.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Continually pray.
Note: The word continually refers to that which occurs at regular intervals. A helpful way to remember that is that both the word continual and the word interval end with al.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
In everything give thanks, for this is Godʼs will for you in Christ Jesus.
Note: Rather than a believer being thankful to God the Father only for certain things, a believer should be thankful to God the Father for everything.
Romans 8:28
Moreover, we know that God works all things together for good for those who love / exhibit benevolence toward / exhibit goodwill toward God [one early manuscript reads all things work together for good to those who love / exhibit benevolence toward / exhibit goodwill toward God], for those who are called according to predetermined plan
Note: In Romans 8:28, the phrase those who are called refers to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Also, in Romans 8:28, there is an absence of a definite article in front of the noun that is translated as “predetermined plan.” The absence of a definite article in front of a noun is known as an anarthrous construction [an-AR-thruhs kuhn-STRUK-shuhn]. When there is an anarthrous construction, the quality of the noun is what is being emphasized in the grammar of the Koine Greek. In that regard, the quality of the predetermined plan is being emphasized in this verse. In the content of Romans 8:28, God the Father is being referenced; therefore, the predetermined plan is God the Fatherʼs predetermined plan.
Regarding the roles of the Members of the Trinity, God the Father does the planning, God the Son executes the plan, and God the Holy Spirit reveals the plan. Regarding God the Holy Spirit revealing the plan of God the Father, God the Holy Spirit makes the Word of God understandable to a believer who is learning the Word of God while in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit. Regarding being in fellowship with the Trinity and filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.
1 Peter 5:5
You younger ones, likewise, be subject to πρεσβυτέροις [pres-boo-TEH-royss] / presbyterois / elders [pastors]. Also, all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.
Note: The Koine Greek noun πρεσβυτέροις [pronounced pres-boo-TEH-royss and transliterated as presbyterois] is a plural inflected form of the root word πρεσβύτερος [pronounced pres-BOO-teh-rahs and transliterated as presbyteros]. The context of the content of 1 Peter 5:1–4 is such that the word presbyterois, which is translated as “elders” in 1 Peter 5:5, refers to pastors of various congregations. In that regard, the phrase be subject to in 1 Peter 5:5 refers to paying attention to and heeding the Word of God, which is taught by pastors. Also, the context of 1 Peter 5 is such that the adjective that is translated as “younger ones” in 1 Peter 5:5 refers to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who are taught by pastors who are more spiritually mature than the believers being taught. The content in uppercase letters in 1 Peter 5:5 references Proverbs 3:34.
Koine Greek words referring to different functions of a man who has the gift of pastor-teacher are listed below. Regarding the below, it is important to note that the authority of a pastor is within the scope of teaching rather than within the scope of trying to force people to make certain decisions. Trying to force people to make certain decisions is spiritual bullying. Rather than being a spiritual bully, a pastor needs to be grace-oriented. With an attitude of grace orientation, a pastor must communicate the Word of God so that people can be well-informed when they use their volition (free will) to make the decisions that they make. In that regard, a pastor must respect the free will of others to make their own decisions without any coercion whatsoever. Making clear the truth and permitting others to make their own decisions about whether or not to make use of the truth is a manifestation of a grace-oriented ministry.
• πρεσβύτερος [pronounced pres-BOO-teh-rahs and transliterated as presbyteros]: elder / old man from the standpoint of rank and authority rather than age. The word presbyteros is the title of the pastor-teacher as the man in charge of the congregation. In that regard, the word presbyteros emphasizes the rank of the pastor as the authority of the congregation. Regarding elders, there is nothing in the New Testament indicating that Church Age believers should have a hierarchical structure other than a pastor having the authority to communicate to a congregation and to oversee the administration of the congregation. In that regard, there is an absence of anything in the New Testament indicating that there should be a hierarchy of authority or rank in a congregation.
• ἐπίσκοπος [pronounced eh-PEE-skah-pahs and transliterated as episkopos]: overseer. This is a word of authority that emphasizes the function of leadership of a pastor as the overseer of the administration of the congregation. Each pastor oversees the congregation to which he communicates. This is the functional title of the pastor-teacher that emphasizes work and function. The English word bishop is derived from the Greek word episkopos.
• οἰκονόμος [pronounced oi-kah-NAH-mahs and transliterated as oikonomos]: steward, an administrator with authority. The board of deacons or any other administrative board is subordinated to the pastor, who is the steward of the congregation. Deacons function in administration under the authority of the steward. In that regard, the function of deacons is to help the pastor with administrative tasks.
• ποιμήν [pronounced poi-MAYN and transliterated as poimēn]: pastor / shepherd. The word poimēn refers to shepherding in the sense of helping the members of the congregation—who metaphorically are sheep—to refrain from straying. In that regard, the word poimēn refers to the spiritual gift of pastor-teacher.
• διδάσκαλος [pronounced dee-DAH-skah-lahs and transliterated as didaskalos]: teacher. The word didaskalos refers to feeding the Word of God to the congregation. This word can be combined with poimēn to form poimēn-didaskalos, which can be translated as “pastor-teacher.”
• διάκονος [pronounced dee-AH-kah-nahss and transliterated as diakonos]: minister. The word diakonos is used in the sense of the pastorʼs authority, communication of the Word of God, and policy-making. The word diakonos can also be used to refer to administrators. In that regard, the English word deacon is derived from the Greek word diakonos. The men who are deacons are the administrative staff of the congregation. One of the spiritual gifts is the gift of administration. That spiritual gift facilitates the running of the day-to-day activities of the congregation so that the pastor can have time to study and teach.
Content in Acts 20 involves the use of some of the above words to refer to pastor-teachers. In Acts 20:17, pastors of various churches in Ephesus are referenced as being elders / old men. In Acts 20:28, those same pastors are referenced as being overseers, and they are each commanded by the apostle Paul to shepherd each pastorʼs flock. which is a sheep-related metaphor referring to the congregation for which each pastor was responsible. Below is content related to Acts 20:17 and Acts 20:28.
Acts 20:17
From Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and called to him the pastor-elders / old men of the Church.
Note: The elders were the pastors of various churches in Ephesus. The Koine Greek word that is translated as “pastor-elders / old men” in this verse is πρεσβυτέρους [pronounced pres-boo-TEH-roos and transliterated as presbyterous]. The Koine Greek word presbyterous is a plural form of the root word presbyteros. If the word presbyterous as used in Acts 20:17 were to refer to anything other than pastors, then the content of this verse would be indicating that Paul was excluding pastors from the meeting. In that regard, it would be illogical to exclude pastors from that meeting and to instead include people other than pastors at that meeting. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that the word presbyterous as used in Acts 20:17 refers to pastors.
Regarding the word Church with a capital C in Acts 20:17, the Koine Greek word translated as “Church” in this verse is ἐκκλησίας [pronounced ek-klay-SEE-ahs and transliterated as ekklēsias]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word ἐκκλησία [pronounced ek-klay-SEE-ah and transliterated as ekklēsia]. In addition to being used to refer to a collection of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, the word ekklēsia can be used to refer to an assembly of people. For the sake of clarity when referring to Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, the word church with a lowercase c can be used to refer to a specific collection of Church Age believers rather than to all Church Age believers collectively, and the word Church with a capital C can be used to refer to all Church Age believers collectively.
The usage of ekklēsias in the context of Acts 20:17 refers to all Church Age believers collectively rather than to a specific congregation of Church Age believers. In that regard, the content of Acts 20:17 involves believers of multiple congregations. Because the content of Acts 20:17 involves believers of multiple congregations, the usage of the word ekklēsias must refer to all Church Age believers collectively rather than to a specific congregation of Church Age believers. In that regard, the usage of presbyterous in Acts 20:17 refers to pastors from more than one congregation.
Acts 20:28
“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God which He purchased with the blood of His Own.
Note: Each pastor oversees the congregation to which he communicates. In this verse, feeding refers to communicating the Word of God. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is to Whom the phrase the blood of His Own refers. In that regard, the word blood is a metaphorical reference to the Lord Jesus Christ being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity.
The topic of the spiritual gift of pastor-teacher being given to men is referenced in Ephesians 4:11–14. The spiritual gift of evangelist being given to men is also referenced in those verses. The spiritual gifts of apostle and prophet are also referenced in those verses, and the fact that certain communication spiritual gifts such as the spiritual gift of prophet ended when the Bile was completed is referenced in 1 Corinthians 13:8–10. In that regard, below is content related to Ephesians 4:11–14 and 1 Corinthians 13:8–10.
Ephesians 4:11
Also, He gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers
Note: The content of this verse references some spiritual gifts. In this verse, the Koine Greek noun that is translated as “apostles” is ἀποστόλους [pronounced ah-pah-STAH-loos and transliterated as apostolous]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word ἀπόστολος [pronounced ah-PAH-stah-lahs and transliterated as apostolos]. The noun apostolos can refer simply to a male messenger or specifically to a male messenger who had the spiritual gift of apostle. The spiritual gift of apostle was a specialized gift involving communication and authority before the Canon of Scripture was completed. In the context of Ephesians 4:11, the noun apostolos refers to a male messenger who had the spiritual gift of apostle.
While the New Testament was being written, God the Holy Spirit revealed information involving the Word of God to believers who had the gift of apostle and to believers who had the gift of prophecy. Regarding the reference to the gift of apostle and the gift of prophecy, while some believers in the Lord Jesus Christ had those gifts before the Canon of Scripture was completed, now that the Canon of Scripture has been completed, no believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have those gifts. Now that the Canon of Scripture has been completed, the Word of God is revealed in the Canon of Scripture rather than by any information from outside the Canon of Scripture; therefore, the gift of apostle and the gift of prophet are unnecessary. In contrast, evangelists and pastor-teachers share information that is in the Canon of Scripture; therefore, those gifts are still necessary.
The content of 1 Corinthians 13:8–10 covers the topic of the gift of prophecy ending before the Canon of Scripture was completed. In that regard, below is content related to 1 Corinthians 13:8–10.
1 Corinthians 13:8
Benevolence/goodwill [agapē (ah-GAH-pay) (ἀγάπη)] never fails, but if prophecies, they will be done away; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be done away.
Note: As with the content of 1 Corinthians 13:2, the content of 1 Corinthians 13:8 refers to spiritual gifts that stopped being available once the Bible was completed. As mentioned in the notes for 1 Corinthians 13:1, the Bible was completed within a century after the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity.
1 Corinthians 13:9
Indeed, we know in part and we prophesy in part,
1 Corinthians 13:10
but when the complete/perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
Note: In 1 Corinthians 13:10, the adjective that is translated as “complete/perfect” refers to the Bible. In that regard, in 1 Corinthians 13:10, the adjective that is translated as “complete/perfect” is in the neuter gender. Koine Greek has three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. The Lord Jesus Christ is a male; therefore, an adjective that refers to Him would be in the masculine gender. The neuter gender refers to a thing. In 1 Corinthians 13:10, the thing to which the adjective that is translated as “complete/perfect” refers is the completed Canon of Scripture—in other words, the Bible. In that regard, the content of 1 Corinthians 13:10 indicates that supernatural spiritual gifts stopped being available once the Canon of Scripture was completed. The Canon of Scripture was completed in the 1st century A.D. Also, the phrase the partial indicates that those spiritual gifts only revealed a portion of the Word of God that the Bible reveals.
The phrase pastors and teachers refers to pastor-teachers. In that regard, the phrase pastors and teachers is a hendiadys [hen-DIGH-uh-diss], which is a figure of speech in which two words joined by the word and are used to express a single thought when one of those words could be used to describe the other word. The gift of evangelism and the gift of pastor-teacher are only given to male believers. The content of 1 Timothy 2:11–14 covers that topic. In that regard, below is content related to 1 Timothy 2:11–14.
1 Timothy 2:11
A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness,
Note: The context of 1 Timothy 2:11 involves the teaching of the Word of God. One should refrain from applying that verse to contexts other than the teaching of the Word of God.
1 Timothy 2:12
but I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet,
Note: As with the content of verse 11, the context of 1 Timothy 2:12 involves the teaching of the Word of God. One should refrain from applying that verse to contexts other than the teaching of the Word of God.
1 Timothy 2:13
for it was Adam who was first formed, then Eve,
1 Timothy 2:14
and it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman, being deceived, has come into transgression.
Regarding the gifts of apostle, evangelism, and pastor-teacher being given to males only, absent from the Bible is anything indicating that a believer who has a gift that attracts attention will receive more blessings than a believer who lacks a gift that attracts attention. In that regard, God the Fatherʼs plan involves the blessing of humble, non-attention-getting, helping-others, servant-minded believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Such believers, while frequently unnoticed by much of the other people in the world, can be noticed by the angels, and such believers are certainly noticed by the Trinity. Worth noticing about such believers is their contrast with the characteristics of Satan, who is arrogant, seeks approbation, cares nothing about others, and is self-serving. It is possible that the blessing that unselfish believers will experience will occur only after they go to Heaven rather than before they go to Heaven.
The content of Ephesians 4:11 is repeated below for reference.
Ephesians 4:11
Also, He gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers
Ephesians 4:12
for the equipping of the saints / holy ones / set-apart ones for the work of service, to the building up / edification of the body of Christ;
Note: All believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are saints. In other words, they are holy, which means that they are set apart. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have a relationship with the Trinity, while unbelievers lack a relationship with the Trinity. At the moment of salvation, a believer becomes a saint / holy one / set-apart one. Also, the English word edification is the building up of the truth of the Word of God in the soul of a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. The body of Christ is all Church Age believers collectively.
Ephesians 4:13
until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the epignōsis knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness [literally: of the fullness] of Christ
Note: The phrase epignōsis knowledge found in the above translation and the phrase true knowledge found in the footnotes of the New American Standard Bible 1995 translation of Ephesians 4:13 are translations of the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek noun ἐπιγνώσεως [pronounced eh-pee-KNOW-seh-ohs and transliterated as epignōseōs]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word ἐπίγνωσις [pronounced eh-PEE-know-sees and transliterated as epignōsis (some people leave the macron off the o and transliterate the word as epignosis)]. In the New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB 1995) translation of various verses, the word epignōsis is translated as “knowledge,” “real knowledge,” and “true knowledge.” Sometimes, the NASB 1995 translation also has a footnote indicating that epignōsis can be translated as “recognition.” When precisely translated, rather than simply referring to knowledge, the word epignōsis refers to that which is above or beyond ordinary knowledge. The Koine Greek word for ordinary knowledge is γνῶσις [pronounced KNOW-sees and transliterated as gnōsis or gnosis]. In the Bible, epignōsis is used to refer to knowledge of the Word of God.
The fullness of Christ refers to being unselfish like the Lord Jesus Christ as often as possible. In that regard, a believer whose thinking is filled with the Word of God will be unselfish frequently if that believer obeys the Word of God that is in the thinking of that believer. Also, the reference to fullness in verse 13 is connected to the filling referenced in verse 10.
Ephesians 4:14
so that we will no longer be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming [literally: with regard to the scheming of deceit].
The content of 1 Peter 5:5 is repeated below for reference.
1 Peter 5:5
You younger ones, likewise, be subject to πρεσβυτέροις [pres-boo-TEH-royss] / presbyterois / elders [pastors]. Also, all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.
1 Peter 5:6
Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,
1 Peter 5:7
casting all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober; be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:9
Whom resist, firm in your faith/doctrine, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren [literally: brotherhood] who are in the world.
Note: Rather than indicating that a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should rebuke Satan, the content of 1 Peter 5:9 indicates that believers should resist Satan. The means of resisting is keeping the faith that is based on Bible doctrine. Bible doctrine is the Word of God. Keeping the faith can only be done if a believer has learned the Word of God and if the believer is then in fellowship with the Trinity while that believer is trying to apply what he or she has learned from the Word of God.
Psalm 56:4
In 'Elohiym / the Godhead—I praise His Word. In 'Elohiym / the Godhead I have put my trust. I do not fear what man / flesh / בָשָׂר / basar [bah-SAHR] can do to me.
Note: The Hebrew noun בָשָׂר [pronounced bah-SAHR and can be transliterated as basar] can refer to humans and also to animals.
Matthew 7 mentions not judging people.
Philippians 2 mentions treating people as though they are more important than oneself. Thatʼs what the Lord Jesus Christ did. He laid aside His privileges as a Member of the Trinity and took on the form of a bondservant. This is called the doctrine of kenosis [keh-NOH-siss]. The word kenosis is derived from the Koine Greek verb κενόω [pronounced keh-NAH-oh and transliterated as kenoō].
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Seed of the woman; therefore, He was born without an old sin nature. Also, He never acquired an old sin nature because He never sinned. Because He has never had an old sin nature, He was qualified to be judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. Genesis 3:14–15 covers the topic of the Lord being the Seed of the woman.
The Lord Jesus Christ volunteered to be judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. He did so in accordance with God the Fatherʼs plan. God the Father is so benevolent that He sent the Lord Jesus Christ to be judged on the cross for the sins of humanity.
John 3:16
…for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Ephesians 2:8–9
…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.
Philippians 2:9–11 indicates that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ will bow down to the Lord on the occasion of the Rapture, acknowledge that He is Lord, and thereby give glory to God the Father.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 covers the topic of the Rapture.
After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation. The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic.
Believers need to be ready for the Rapture. In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation. In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer needs to confess/acknowledge to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins in order to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again. Also, below are the conditions of alertness of the mindset color code and descriptions of them.
Condition White: |
Unaware and unprepared, one is totally oblivious to what is going on. |
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Condition Yellow: |
Relaxed alert—no specific threat is detected, but one is “taking in” surrounding info—the mindset in which one is aware that one might have to deal with danger today. |
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Condition Orange: |
Specific alert—something is not quite right and has oneʼs attention. It might be something having to be dealt with right now. One gets mentally prepared to act, just in case. |
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Condition Red: |
The potential danger of Condition Orange is determined to be a real danger. It is definitely something having to be dealt with right now. One acts immediately. |
During the time that the Tribulation will be occurring on the earth, Church Age believers will be evaluated by the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ, which is also known as the Bema [BAY-muh] Seat. That evaluation is referenced in the content of 1 Corinthians 3:11–15 and also in 2 Corinthians 5:10.
During the Tribulation, fallen angels will cause trouble on the earth, the topic of which is covered in the content of Revelation 9. Some fallen angels will be released from a place of imprisonment under the surface of the earth. At first, no fallen angels will kill any people. Instead, the fallen angels will cause suffering like that caused by a scorpionʼs sting. The content of Revelation 9:11 references the fallen angel who will be the leader of those fallen angels. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and his name in Greek is Apollyon. The name Abaddon means “destruction.” The syllabification of that name is A-bad-don. In Koine [KOI-nay] Greek, that name is pronounced ah-bahd-DOHN and is transliterated as Abaddōn. The Koine Greek name Abaddōn is derived from Hebrew. The name Apollyon means “destroyer.” The syllabification of that name is A-pol-lyon. In Koine Greek, that name is pronounced ah-pahl-LOO-ohn and is transliterated as Apollyōn. A false god of Greek and Roman mythology is named Apollo. The similarities of the name Apollo and the name Apollyon might be a mere coincidence, although in mythology involving Apollo, he is associated with both curing and causing pestilence, and causing pestilence involves causing destruction. Therefore, it is possible that there is a play on words regarding the content of Revelation 9:11 containing the reference to the name Apollyon being the Greek name of the fallen angel who leads the fallen angels who will be released from a place of imprisonment under the surface of the earth.
After five months, fallen angels will be released from a place of imprisonment at the Euphrates River, and those angels will kill people. There will be approximately 200 million fallen angels doing so. Unspecified in the Bible is what the population of the earth will be at that time. One third of mankind, the population of which will already have been reduced to a level 75% of what it had been at the time of the Rapture, will be killed by the fallen angels. That 75% level will be a result of one fourth of mankind being killed by means of fighting, famine, an unspecified cause of death simply referred to as death, and animals. That latter topic is covered by Revelation 6:8. In that verse, the reference to fighting involves the use of a word that can be translated as “sword,” which can be a metaphorical reference to fighting involving weaponry. After the fallen angels will kill the people remaining after the deaths caused by fighting, famine, an unspecified cause, and animals, the population of mankind will be approximately 50% of what it had been at the time of the Rapture. After all of those deaths, there will be people who remain on the earth who will choose to refrain from changing their ways. That topic is covered by Revelation 9:20–21.
Revelation 9:20–21
The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent / change their minds regarding the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk, and they did not repent / change their minds regarding their murders nor their pharmakōn [fahr-mah-KOHN] nor their porneias [pohr-NAY-ahs] nor their thefts.
Note: The word pharmakōn is a plural form of the word pharmakeia [far-mah-KAY-ah]. The word porneias is a plural form of the word porneia [pohr-NAY-ah]. The Koine Greek noun that is transliterated as pharmakeia [far-mah-KAY-ah] is φαρμακεία. That noun refers to the use or the administering of drugs and what people claim to be magical spells (“sorcery”). The foregoing can be related to each other and can be all wrapped up together. The Koine Greek noun that is transliterated as pharmakeia is derived from the Koine Greek noun φαρμακεύς [pronounced fahr-mah-KYOOS and transliterated as pharmakeus]. The noun transliterated as pharmakeus refers to a person who prepares things such as drugs, things such as poisons, and things such as potions that are claimed to involve magical spells. Such a person can also be referred to as a druggist or a pharmacist. The Koine Greek noun that is transliterated as pharmakeus is derived from the Greek noun φάρμακον [pronounced FAHR-mah-kahn and transliterated as pharmakon]. The noun transliterated as pharmakon refers to a drug such as a potion, including one that is claimed to be somehow associated with a magical spell. The English word pharmacy is derived from the Greek word pharmakon.
Regarding pharmakeia [far-mah-KAY-ah] used in reference to drugs, that usage of pharmakeia can refer to either the use of drugs or the administering of drugs. In that regard, the use of mind-altering drugs can be similar to spell-casting. Regarding pharmakeia and magical spells, pharmakeia can involve activities associated with idolatry. Also, the use of mind-altering drugs could potentially make an unbeliever susceptible to demon possession, which is control of an unbeliever by one or more demons. Demons are also known as fallen angels. Fallen angels are con artists. Like the human villains in Scooby-Doo cartoons, fallen angels pretend to be things other than what the fallen angels really are: manipulative narcissists. Ways in which fallen angels could be like human villains in Scooby-Doo cartoons include the fallen angels pretending to be ghosts, good spirits, gods, and extraterrestrial visitors other than what the fallen angels really are (including pretending to be ancient human astronauts or other human spacefarers). Also, fallen angels pretend to be good angels, as per the content of 2 Corinthians 11:14–15. In addition, fallen angels mix truth with lies, and they omit information. Satan did that to Ishshah [ish-SHAW] (the name of Eve before Adam renamed her Eve).
With regard to whether any given substance or concoction of substances can be categorized as pharmakeia [far-mah-KAY-ah], the connotation of that word involves things that are claimed to have beneficial effects when those things lack such claimed beneficial effects. In addition, the connotation of pharmakeia can involve a substance or concoction of substances that is toxic. The connotation of pharmakeia can even involve a level of toxicity that can be described as poisonous. Regarding the matter of poisonousness, it is possible that pharmakeia can be used to refer to a substance or concoction of substances that is inadvertently poisonous or to a substance or concoction of substances that someone deliberating designs as a poison.
Regarding the matter of the reference to pharmakeia [far-mah-KAY-ah] in Revelation 9:21, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from using mind-altering drugs. Rather than giving the user of such drugs something akin to magical powers, those drugs incapacitate a person. A believer needs to be sober minded instead of being incapacitated.
Also, if a person is looking for happiness from the sensory experience or any other effects of any substance, that person is looking for happiness from something other than the Trinity. This applies whether the substance is categorized as a drug or categorized as something else. Looking for happiness from something other than the Trinity is a form of idolatry. In addition, drugs and other substances can be addictive. Whether a person is using a drug in order to experience something akin to magical powers or in order to try to find happiness from the sensory experience of using the drug, the addiction that results can cause a domino effect of negative consequences for the life of that person. In that regard, trying to make oneʼs happiness dependent on substances is self-destructive. In addition, drug use can cause a domino effect of negative consequences for people other than the one who uses drugs or misuses substances of any kind, including sugar. In that regard, using drugs and misusing substances of any kind are self-absorbed activities—in other words, they are narcissistic activities.
Also regarding the matter of the reference to pharmakeia [far-mah-KAY-ah] in Revelation 9:21, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from designing, producing, selling, recommending, or doing anything else that involves people using a substance or concoction of substances that can be categorized as pharmakon [FAHR-mah-kahn]. Furthermore, a believer should refrain from making false claims about the benefits of a substance or concoction of substances, whether that believer designs, produces, sells, recommends, or does anything else involving those substances or concoctions of substances. A person who does any of the things described in those two preceding sentences is guilty of participating in the deception of pharmakeia.
The Koine Greek noun that is transliterated as porneia [pohr-NAY-ah] is πορνεία. That noun can be translated into English as “fornication.” The term fornication covers a broad category of sins. In that regard, there are various types of fornication. Also, porneia-related sins are self-destructive. Regarding the self-destructiveness of porneia-related sins, it is important to be alert for the temptations to commit porneia-related sins so that one can nip the problem in the bud by avoiding the mental-attitude sins that can result in a domino effect of even more sins. With regard to being alert, levels of alertness can be categorized in terms of a mindset color code that involves four colors. The mindset color code describes states of awareness. The mindset color code can be utilized for matters outside oneself; for example, the color code can be applied to both physical dangers and also to the dangers of stumbling blocks that can lead a Christian to sin. Also, the color code can be utilized introspectively with regard to the temptations that can originate from oneʼs old sin nature (OSN). Every human except the Lord Jesus Christ has acquired an old sin nature, and each humanʼs old sin nature is in the body of that human. The old sin nature, which is referenced in Ephesians 4:22 with the term old man, can also be referred to as the sin nature. It is also referenced using the word flesh in Ephesians 2:3 and Galatians 5:16. The content of Romans 6:6 associates the sin nature with peopleʼs bodies, and the content of Romans 7:17–18 references the sin nature being in peopleʼs bodies. Adam and Ishshah [ish-SHAW] (the name of Eve before Adam renamed her Eve) were created without old sin natures, and they acquired old sin natures when they sinned. All other human beings have been conceived. Only the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived without an old sin nature. All the other humans that were conceived have been conceived with old sin natures. Likewise, all humans in the future will be conceived, and the conceiving of each of them will involve each of them receiving an old sin nature at the moment that each of them will be conceived. Below are the conditions of alertness of the mindset color code and descriptions of them.
Condition White: |
Unaware and unprepared, one is totally oblivious to what is going on. |
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Condition Yellow: |
Relaxed alert—no specific threat is detected, but one is “taking in” surrounding info—the mindset in which one is aware that one might have to deal with danger today. |
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Condition Orange: |
Specific alert—something is not quite right and has oneʼs attention. It might be something having to be dealt with right now. One gets mentally prepared to act, just in case. |
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Condition Red: |
The potential danger of Condition Orange is determined to be a real danger. It is definitely something having to be dealt with right now. One acts immediately. |
During the Tribulation, Satan and the other fallen angels who have access to Heaven will be kicked out of Heaven and banished to the earth. Revelation 12:7–9 covers that topic. Regarding those verses, the content of Revelation 12 metaphorically refers to the devil as a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven diadems on the heads.
There will also be evil people causing trouble on the earth during the Tribulation. Among those evil people will be the king of the North, the king of the South, the kings of the East, the king of the West, a group of corrupt powerful people collectively referred to as Babylon, and possibly a dictator of Palestine. The term Babylon is a metaphorical reference in the context of the Tribulation. The king of the West is known as the Antichrist with a capital A. He is also known as the beast and the first beast. The false prophet is known as the second beast. Also, the king of the West will have ten subordinates who will help him defeat the group of corrupt powerful people collectively referred to as Babylon. Unspecified in the Bible are the identities of any of those aforementioned people. Also, unspecified in the Bible is the number of kings of the East. Likewise, unspecified in the Bible is the number of people in the group known as Babylon.
The king of the North is known as Gog of Magog. In ancient times, there was an Israelite named Gog who was a descendant of Reuben, one of the sons of Jacob. Also, there was a grandson of Noah named Magog who was the son of Japheth, one of the sons of Noah. The king of the North will start a world war in which the forces of the king of the North, the king of the South, the kings of the East, and the king of the West will end up in Israel.
The king of the West is known as the Antichrist with a capital A. He is also known as the beast and the first beast. The false prophet is known as the second beast. Content related to the king of the West being referred to as the first beast is in Revelation 13:1–12. The content of Revelation 13:11–18 references the false prophet. Either the content of Daniel 11:36–40 indicates that there will be a dictator of Palestine, or the content of Daniel 11:36–40 references the Antichrist.
Revelation 17 and Revelation 18 reference the group of corrupt powerful people collectively referred to as Babylon. Content in Revelation 17 also metaphorically refers to that group as the great harlot, and content in Revelation 18 references that metaphor. In addition, Revelation 17 references the king of the West and subordinates of him defeating the group known as Babylon. The destruction of the group known as Babylon is referenced in Revelation 18:20–24.
Revelation 18:20–24
“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints / holy ones / set-apart ones and apostles and prophets, because God has judged your judgment of her / pronounced judgment for you against her.” Then one strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence and will not be found any longer. Then the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer, and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer, and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer, and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer, and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer, for your merchants were the great men of the earth because all the nations were deceived by your pharmakeia [far-mah-KAY-ah]. Then in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints / holy ones / set-apart ones and of all who have been slain on the earth.”
Note: All believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are saints. In other words, they are holy, which means that they are set apart. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have a relationship with the Trinity, while unbelievers lack a relationship with the Trinity. At the moment of salvation, a believer becomes a saint / holy one / set-apart one. Also, the word apostles in this verse refers to the apostles in the early part of the Church Age when the Canon of Scripture had not yet been completed. The gift of apostle and the office of apostle had ended by the time that the Canon of Scripture was completed. The word prophets in this verse refers to prophets during the Age of Israel. Because the Tribulation is the last seven years of the Age of Israel, the gift of prophecy will be active again. In that regard, Revelation 11 references two prophets who will be in the Tribulation. Also, the word pharmakeia is described in detail in the notes for Revelation 9:20–21.
The content of Ezekiel 38–39 covers the topic of the king of the North starting a war and sending his forces into the land of Israel. Daniel 11:40–45 references the forces of the king of the North invading Israel and invading Africa. The king of the South invading Israel is mentioned in Daniel 11:40. Revelation 16:12–16 references the forces of the kings of the East crossing the dried-up Euphrates River and invading Israel. The kings of the East are also referenced in Daniel 11:44.
The forces of the king of the North, the king of the South, the kings of the East, and the king of the West will fight in the land of Israel during the Battle of Armageddon. That topic is covered in Revelation 16:12–16. The Lord Jesus Christ will then return to the earth on the occasion of the Second Advent. In that regard, the content of Revelation 19:11 indicates that the Lord will be riding a white horse on the occasion of the Second Advent. Unspecified in the Bible is whether the Lord will be riding a literal horse or a vehicle that from the perspective of the apostle John could be described as a horse, including a flying vehicle that might resemble a flying motorcycle. In that regard, the visions that John had were described by John with words that were part of Johnʼs vocabulary. Also, when the Lord will be returning to the earth on the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will be amongst clouds. That topic is covered in Matthew 24:30; Matthew 26:64; Mark 13:26; Mark 14:62; and Luke 21:27. In contrast to the content of Revelation 19:11, the content of Revelation 6:2 indicates that the king of the West will seem to be a hero riding on a white horse. In that regard, the king of the West is a pseudo-savior—in other words, a false savior.
When the Lord Jesus Christ will return to the earth on the occasion of the Second Advent, He will land on the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem and defeat the forces of the king of the North, the king of the South, the kings of the East, and the king of the West. On that occasion, the Mount of Olives will split in half such that one part moves north and the other part moves south, and people will flee eastward through the valley that will result from the splitting of the Mount of Olives. Also on the occasion of the Second Advent, day will be darkened, and night will be illuminated. The topic of the Lord Jesus Christʼs return is covered in Zechariah 14:1–7. It is also covered in Revelation 19:11–21.
On the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will remove all unbelievers from the earth. This is called the Baptism of Fire, which is either a metaphorical description because fire can be used to represent judgment or a literal reference to the use of fire in the judgment of unbelievers on the occasion of the Second Advent. The Baptism of Fire is referenced in Matthew 3:11–12; Luke 3:15–17; and 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9.
Also on the occasion of the Second Advent, the two beasts—the king of the West and the false prophet—will be cast into the Lake of Fire. This is mentioned in Revelation 19:20. Furthermore, on the occasion of the Second Advent, Satan will be cast into the place of incarceration known as the abyss, where he will be imprisoned during the 1,000 years of the Millennium. This is mentioned in Revelation 20:1–3. Unspecified in the Bible is whether the other fallen angels will be cast into the abyss. Regardless of whether they will be cast there along with Satan, the fallen angels wonʼt be causing any trouble during the Millennium.
During the 1,000 years of the Millennium, the Lord Jesus Christ will reign on the earth with perfect justice. While Satan will be imprisoned during the Millennium, there will be perfect environment on the earth, just as there was perfect environment in the Garden of Eden for Adam and Ishshah [ish-SHAW] (the name of Eve before Adam renamed her Eve). At the end of the Millennium, Satan will be released from the abyss, and he will lead the Gog and Magog Rebellion (also known as the Gog and Magog Revolution). He will have followers as numerous as sand on a seashore [literally: as numerous as the sand of the sea]. The Lord Jesus Christ will defeat the Gog and Magog Rebellion / the Gog and Magog Revolution.
The Lord Jesus Christ will then conduct the Great White Throne Judgment of unbelievers. The unbelievers will then be cast into the Lake of Fire. The fallen angels will also be cast into the Lake of Fire.
Then the Lord Jesus Christ will create new heavens and a new earth after destroying the current heavens and current earth. Those heavens might be the first heavens, which is the atmosphere of the earth, or those heavens might refer to the atmosphere of the earth and outer space, the latter of which is the second heavens. Those heavens donʼt seem to refer to the Third Heaven (also known as Third Heavens or simply as Heaven), which is where the throne room of God the Father is located. There is nothing in the Bible indicating that the Third Heaven is anything less than perfect; therefore, it is possible that it is unnecessary for the Third Heaven to be replaced.
What kind of people should we be knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ will destroy the current heavens and current earth? We should be reverential towards the Trinity and unselfish towards people. For example, Ephesians 4:29 covers that topic.
Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome word [literally: no rotten word] proceed from your mouth but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need [literally: of the need] of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from grieving or quenching the Holy Spirit. When a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Likewise, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.
Ephesians 4:30
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by means of Whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Note: The phrase sealed for the day of redemption is a reference to the eternal security of all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers can never lose their eternal life. The day of redemption is the Rapture, which is the occasion on which all Church Age believers will receive resurrection bodies. Receiving a resurrection body is known as ultimate sanctification.
1 Thessalonians 5:19
Do not quench the Spirit.
When a believer sins, that believer grieves and quenches the Holy Spirit, at which point the believer should confess/acknowledge to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins in accordance with 1 John 1:9.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.
Below are the details for content referenced in the summaries.
Matthew 7 mentions not judging people.
Matthew 7:1–5
Do not judge so that you will not be judged, for in the way you judge, you will be judged, and by your standard of measure [literally: by what measure you measure], it will be measured back to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brotherʼs eye but do not notice the log that is in your own eye, or how can [literally: will] you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brotherʼs eye.
Philippians 2 mentions treating people as though they are more important than oneself. In that regard, the Lord Jesus Christ laid aside His privileges as a Member of the Trinity and took on the form of a bondservant. This is called the doctrine of kenosis [keh-NOH-siss]. The word kenosis is a theological term that refers to the Lord Jesus Christ refraining from using His divine essence for the purpose of glorifying Himself, sustaining Himself, or helping Himself in any way, shape, or form during the Incarnation (the First Advent). The word kenosis is derived from the Koine Greek verb κενόω [pronounced keh-NAH-oh and transliterated as kenoō].
Note: Inside the square brackets below, the letters i.e. are used to represent the phrase that is. The two letters are an abbreviation for the Latin words id est, which mean “that is.” When one reads those two letters, one can either say, “eye ee” or “that is.” If one is reading out loud, and if any hearers of that reading are unaware of what the letters i.e. represent, it is best to say “that is.” Also, the letters i.e. need to be followed by a comma.
Philippians 2:3–8
Do nothing from [literally: according to] selfishness [or contentiousness] or empty conceit but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in [or among] yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped [i.e., utilized or asserted] but emptied Himself [i.e., laid aside His privileges], taking the form of a bondservant and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on [literally: of] a cross.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Seed of the woman; therefore, He was born without an old sin nature. Also, He never acquired an old sin nature because He never sinned. Because He has never had an old sin nature, He was qualified to be judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. Genesis 3:14–15 covers the topic of the Lord being the Seed of the woman.
Note: In Genesis 3:14, the phrase Because you have done this refers to the serpent—whether the references to a serpent in Genesis 3 are metaphorical references to Satan appearing in a form other than that of a serpent or of something like a serpent or whether the references to a serpent in Genesis 3 are literal references to Satan appearing in the form of a serpent or of something like a serpent or whether the references to a serpent in Genesis 3 are literal references to Satan controlling a literal serpent—tricking Ishshah [ish-SHAW] (the name of Eve before Adam renamed her Eve) into eating the fruit that she was supposed to refrain from eating.
Genesis 3:14
Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One 'Elohiym/Godhead says to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you more than all cattle and more than every beast of the field. On your belly you go, and dust you eat all the days of your life.
Note: In this verse, the use of a present tense in the phrase says to the serpent is a reference to what has occurred in the past. Such a use of a present tense has a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the past can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine past events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.
The uses of a present tense in the phrases you go and dust you eat are references to the future. Such uses of a present tense have a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the future can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine future events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.
Genesis 3:15
I put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her Seed. He bruises/crushes your head, and you bruise/crush His heel.”
Note: The uses of a present tense in the phrase I put, the phrase bruises/crushes your head, and the phrase bruise/crush His heel are references to the future. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the Seed of the woman because He was born without a human father. Bruising/crushing the head of the serpent is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christʼs strategic victory of defeating Satan in the angelic conflict. That strategic victory occurred when the Lord was punished on the cross for all of humanityʼs sins. The bruising/crushing of the Lordʼs heel is also a reference to the Lord being punished on the cross for all of humanityʼs sins. The Lord suffered that punishment as a human being and then died physically, but He was later resurrected.
The Lord Jesus Christ volunteered to be judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. He did so in accordance with God the Fatherʼs plan. God the Father is so benevolent that He sent the Lord Jesus Christ to be judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. For example, John 3:16 covers that topic.
John 3:16
…for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Ephesians 2:8–9
…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.
Philippians 2:9–11 indicates that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ will bow down to the Lord on the occasion of the Rapture, acknowledge that He is Lord, and thereby give glory to God the Father.
Philippians 2:9–11
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of heavenlies and of earthlies and of under-the-earthlies, and that every tongue will acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Note: On the occasion of the Rapture, angels will accompany the Lord to the atmosphere of the earth, going there from Heaven. Those angels will bow down to the Lord at the Rapture. The believers in the Lord Jesus Christ alive on the earth on the occasion of the Rapture will meet the Lord in the clouds of the earthʼs atmosphere and bow down to the Lord then. Also, the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who have died since the Day of Pentecost and before the Rapture will also meet the Lord in the clouds of the earthʼs atmosphere and bow down to the Lord on the occasion of the Rapture.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 covers the topic of the Rapture.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation. The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic.
1 Thessalonians 5:1–11
Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober. Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Note: In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent. In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context. Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!” In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness. The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture. In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation. Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.
With regard to being alert, levels of alertness can be categorized in terms of a mindset color code that involves four colors. The mindset color code describes states of awareness. The mindset color code can be utilized for matters outside oneself; for example, the color code can be applied to both physical dangers and also to the dangers of stumbling blocks that can lead a Christian to sin. Also, the color code can be utilized introspectively with regard to the temptations that can originate from oneʼs sin nature. Below are the conditions of alertness of the mindset color code and descriptions of them.
Condition White: |
Unaware and unprepared, one is totally oblivious to what is going on. |
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Condition Yellow: |
Relaxed alert—no specific threat is detected, but one is “taking in” surrounding info—the mindset in which one is aware that one might have to deal with danger today. |
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Condition Orange: |
Specific alert—something is not quite right and has oneʼs attention. It might be something having to be dealt with right now. One gets mentally prepared to act, just in case. |
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Condition Red: |
The potential danger of Condition Orange is determined to be a real danger. It is definitely something having to be dealt with right now. One acts immediately. |
During the time that the Tribulation will be occurring on the earth, Church Age believers will be evaluated by the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ, which is also known as the Bema [BAY-muh] Seat. That evaluation is referenced in the content of 1 Corinthians 3:11–15 and also in 2 Corinthians 5:10. Both 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians were epistles from Paul to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. In that regard, the content of those verses refers to believers.
1 Corinthians 3:11–15
Indeed, no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious [or costly] stones, wood, hay, straw, each manʼs work will become evident, for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire. Therefore, the fire itself will test the quality of each manʼs work [literally: of what sort each manʼs work is]. If any manʼs work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any manʼs work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved—yet so as through fire.
2 Corinthians 5:10
Indeed, we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for the things through the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Note: The Koine Greek noun translated as “Judgment Seat” in this verse is βήματος [pronounced BAY-mah-tahs and transliterated as bēmatos]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word βῆμα [pronounced BAY-mah and transliterated as bēma]. The word transliterated as bēma is the word from which the term Bema Seat is derived.
During the Tribulation, fallen angels will cause trouble on the earth, the topic of which is covered in the content of Revelation 9. Some fallen angels will be released from a place of imprisonment under the surface of the earth. At first, no fallen angels will kill any people. Instead, the fallen angels will cause suffering like that caused by a scorpionʼs sting. The content of Revelation 9:11 references the fallen angel who will be the leader of those fallen angels. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and his name in Greek is Apollyon. The name Abaddon means “destruction.” The syllabification of that name is A-bad-don. In Koine [KOI-nay] Greek, that name is pronounced ah-bahd-DOHN and is transliterated as Abaddōn. The Koine Greek name Abaddōn is derived from Hebrew. The name Apollyon means “destroyer.” The syllabification of that name is A-pol-lyon. In Koine Greek, that name is pronounced ah-pahl-LOO-ohn and is transliterated as Apollyōn. A false god of Greek and Roman mythology is named Apollo. The similarities of the name Apollo and the name Apollyon might be a mere coincidence, although in mythology involving Apollo, he is associated with both curing and causing pestilence, and causing pestilence involves causing destruction. Therefore, it is possible that there is a play on words regarding the content of Revelation 9:11 containing the reference to the name Apollyon being the Greek name of the fallen angel who leads the fallen angels who will be released from a place of imprisonment under the surface of the earth.
After five months, fallen angels will be released from a place of imprisonment at the Euphrates River, and those angels will kill people. There will be approximately 200 million fallen angels doing so. Unspecified in the Bible is what the population of the earth will be at that time. One third of mankind, the population of which will already have been reduced to a level 75% of what it had been at the time of the Rapture, will be killed by the fallen angels. That 75% level will be a result of one fourth of mankind being killed by means of fighting, famine, an unspecified cause of death simply referred to as death, and animals. That latter topic is covered by Revelation 6:8. In that verse, the reference to fighting involves the use of a word that can be translated as “sword,” which can be a metaphorical reference to fighting involving weaponry. After the fallen angels will kill the people remaining after the deaths caused by fighting, famine, an unspecified cause, and animals, the population of mankind will be approximately 50% of what it had been at the time of the Rapture. After all of those deaths, there will be people who remain on the earth who will choose to refrain from changing their ways. That topic is covered by Revelation 9:20–21.
Revelation 9:20–21
The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent / change their minds regarding the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk, and they did not repent / change their minds regarding their murders nor their pharmakōn [fahr-mah-KOHN] nor their porneias [pohr-NAY-ahs] nor their thefts.
Note: The word pharmakōn is a plural form of the word pharmakeia [far-mah-KAY-ah]. The word porneias is a plural form of the word porneia [pohr-NAY-ah]. The Koine Greek noun that is transliterated as pharmakeia [far-mah-KAY-ah] is φαρμακεία. That noun refers to the use or the administering of drugs and what people claim to be magical spells (“sorcery”). The foregoing can be related to each other and can be all wrapped up together. The Koine Greek noun that is transliterated as pharmakeia is derived from the Koine Greek noun φαρμακεύς [pronounced fahr-mah-KYOOS and transliterated as pharmakeus]. The noun transliterated as pharmakeus refers to a person who prepares things such as drugs, things such as poisons, and things such as potions that are claimed to involve magical spells. Such a person can also be referred to as a druggist or a pharmacist. The Koine Greek noun that is transliterated as pharmakeus is derived from the Greek noun φάρμακον [pronounced FAHR-mah-kahn and transliterated as pharmakon]. The noun transliterated as pharmakon refers to a drug such as a potion, including one that is claimed to be somehow associated with a magical spell. The English word pharmacy is derived from the Greek word pharmakon.
Regarding pharmakeia [far-mah-KAY-ah] used in reference to drugs, that usage of pharmakeia can refer to either the use of drugs or the administering of drugs. In that regard, the use of mind-altering drugs can be similar to spell-casting. Regarding pharmakeia and magical spells, pharmakeia can involve activities associated with idolatry. Also, the use of mind-altering drugs could potentially make an unbeliever susceptible to demon possession, which is control of an unbeliever by one or more demons. Demons are also known as fallen angels. Fallen angels are con artists. Like the human villains in Scooby-Doo cartoons, fallen angels pretend to be things other than what the fallen angels really are: manipulative narcissists. Ways in which fallen angels could be like human villains in Scooby-Doo cartoons include the fallen angels pretending to be ghosts, good spirits, gods, and extraterrestrial visitors other than what the fallen angels really are (including pretending to be ancient human astronauts or other human spacefarers). Also, fallen angels pretend to be good angels, as per the content of 2 Corinthians 11:14–15. In addition, fallen angels mix truth with lies, and they omit information. Satan did that to Ishshah [ish-SHAW] (the name of Eve before Adam renamed her Eve).
With regard to whether any given substance or concoction of substances can be categorized as pharmakeia [far-mah-KAY-ah], the connotation of that word involves things that are claimed to have beneficial effects when those things lack such claimed beneficial effects. In addition, the connotation of pharmakeia can involve a substance or concoction of substances that is toxic. The connotation of pharmakeia can even involve a level of toxicity that can be described as poisonous. Regarding the matter of poisonousness, it is possible that pharmakeia can be used to refer to a substance or concoction of substances that is inadvertently poisonous or to a substance or concoction of substances that someone deliberating designs as a poison.
Regarding the matter of the reference to pharmakeia [far-mah-KAY-ah] in Revelation 9:21, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from using mind-altering drugs. Rather than giving the user of such drugs something akin to magical powers, those drugs incapacitate a person. A believer needs to be sober minded instead of being incapacitated.
Also, if a person is looking for happiness from the sensory experience or any other effects of any substance, that person is looking for happiness from something other than the Trinity. This applies whether the substance is categorized as a drug or categorized as something else. Looking for happiness from something other than the Trinity is a form of idolatry. In addition, drugs and other substances can be addictive. Whether a person is using a drug in order to experience something akin to magical powers or in order to try to find happiness from the sensory experience of using the drug, the addiction that results can cause a domino effect of negative consequences for the life of that person. In that regard, trying to make oneʼs happiness dependent on substances is self-destructive. In addition, drug use can cause a domino effect of negative consequences for people other than the one who uses drugs or misuses substances of any kind, including sugar. In that regard, using drugs and misusing substances of any kind are self-absorbed activities—in other words, they are narcissistic activities.
Also regarding the matter of the reference to pharmakeia [far-mah-KAY-ah] in Revelation 9:21, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from designing, producing, selling, recommending, or doing anything else that involves people using a substance or concoction of substances that can be categorized as pharmakon [FAHR-mah-kahn]. Furthermore, a believer should refrain from making false claims about the benefits of a substance or concoction of substances, whether that believer designs, produces, sells, recommends, or does anything else involving those substances or concoctions of substances. A person who does any of the things described in those two preceding sentences is guilty of participating in the deception of pharmakeia.
The Koine Greek noun that is transliterated as porneia [pohr-NAY-ah] is πορνεία. That noun can be translated into English as “fornication.” The term fornication covers a broad category of sins. In that regard, there are various types of fornication. Also, porneia-related sins are self-destructive. Regarding the self-destructiveness of porneia-related sins, it is important to be alert for the temptations to commit porneia-related sins so that one can nip the problem in the bud by avoiding the mental-attitude sins that can result in a domino effect of even more sins. With regard to being alert, levels of alertness can be categorized in terms of a mindset color code that involves four colors. The mindset color code describes states of awareness. The mindset color code can be utilized for matters outside oneself; for example, the color code can be applied to both physical dangers and also to the dangers of stumbling blocks that can lead a Christian to sin. Also, the color code can be utilized introspectively with regard to the temptations that can originate from oneʼs old sin nature (OSN). Every human except the Lord Jesus Christ has acquired an old sin nature, and each humanʼs old sin nature is in the body of that human. The old sin nature, which is referenced in Ephesians 4:22 with the term old man, can also be referred to as the sin nature. It is also referenced using the word flesh in Ephesians 2:3 and Galatians 5:16. The content of Romans 6:6 associates the sin nature with peopleʼs bodies, and the content of Romans 7:17–18 references the sin nature being in peopleʼs bodies. Adam and Ishshah [ish-SHAW] (the name of Eve before Adam renamed her Eve) were created without old sin natures, and they acquired old sin natures when they sinned. All other human beings have been conceived. Only the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived without an old sin nature. All the other humans that were conceived have been conceived with old sin natures. Likewise, all humans in the future will be conceived, and the conceiving of each of them will involve each of them receiving an old sin nature at the moment that each of them will be conceived. Below are the conditions of alertness of the mindset color code and descriptions of them.
Condition White: |
Unaware and unprepared, one is totally oblivious to what is going on. |
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Condition Yellow: |
Relaxed alert—no specific threat is detected, but one is “taking in” surrounding info—the mindset in which one is aware that one might have to deal with danger today. |
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Condition Orange: |
Specific alert—something is not quite right and has oneʼs attention. It might be something having to be dealt with right now. One gets mentally prepared to act, just in case. |
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Condition Red: |
The potential danger of Condition Orange is determined to be a real danger. It is definitely something having to be dealt with right now. One acts immediately. |
During the Tribulation, Satan and the other fallen angels who have access to Heaven will be kicked out of Heaven and banished to the earth. Revelation 12:7–9 covers that topic. Regarding those verses, the content of Revelation 12 metaphorically refers to the devil as a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven diadems on the heads.
Revelation 12:7–9
Then there was war in Heaven: Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in Heaven. Then the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
There will also be evil people causing trouble on the earth during the Tribulation. Among those evil people will be the king of the North, the king of the South, the kings of the East, the king of the West, a group of corrupt powerful people collectively referred to as Babylon, and possibly a dictator of Palestine. The term Babylon is a metaphorical reference in the context of the Tribulation. The king of the West is known as the Antichrist with a capital A. He is also known as the beast and the first beast. The false prophet is known as the second beast. Also, the king of the West will have ten subordinates who will help him defeat the group of corrupt powerful people collectively referred to as Babylon. Unspecified in the Bible are the identities of any of those aforementioned people. Also, unspecified in the Bible is the number of kings of the East. Likewise, unspecified in the Bible is the number of people in the group known as Babylon.
The king of the North is known as Gog of Magog. In ancient times, there was an Israelite named Gog who was a descendant of Reuben, one of the sons of Jacob. Also, there was a grandson of Noah named Magog who was the son of Japheth, one of the sons of Noah. The king of the North will start a world war in which the forces of the king of the North, the king of the South, the kings of the East, and the king of the West will end up in Israel.
The king of the West is known as the Antichrist with a capital A. He is also known as the beast and the first beast. The false prophet is known as the second beast. Content related to the king of the West being referred to as the first beast is in Revelation 13:1–12. The content of Revelation 13:11–18 references the false prophet. Either the content of Daniel 11:36–40 indicates that there will be a dictator of Palestine, or the content of Daniel 11:36–40 references the Antichrist.
Revelation 17 and Revelation 18 reference the group of corrupt powerful people collectively referred to as Babylon. Content in Revelation 17 also metaphorically refers to that group as the great harlot, and content in Revelation 18 references that metaphor. In addition, Revelation 17 references the king of the West and subordinates of him defeating the group known as Babylon. The destruction of the group known as Babylon is referenced in Revelation 18:20–24.
Revelation 18:20–24
“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints / holy ones / set-apart ones and apostles and prophets, because God has judged your judgment of her / pronounced judgment for you against her.” Then one strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence and will not be found any longer. Then the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer, and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer, and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer, and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer, and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer, for your merchants were the great men of the earth because all the nations were deceived by your pharmakeia [far-mah-KAY-ah]. Then in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints / holy ones / set-apart ones and of all who have been slain on the earth.”
Note: All believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are saints. In other words, they are holy, which means that they are set apart. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have a relationship with the Trinity, while unbelievers lack a relationship with the Trinity. At the moment of salvation, a believer becomes a saint / holy one / set-apart one. Also, the word apostles in this verse refers to the apostles in the early part of the Church Age when the Canon of Scripture had not yet been completed. The gift of apostle and the office of apostle had ended by the time that the Canon of Scripture was completed. The word prophets in this verse refers to prophets during the Age of Israel. Because the Tribulation is the last seven years of the Age of Israel, the gift of prophecy will be active again. In that regard, Revelation 11 references two prophets who will be in the Tribulation. Also, the word pharmakeia is described in detail in the notes for Revelation 9:20–21.
The content of Ezekiel 38–39 covers the topic of the king of the North starting a war and sending his forces into the land of Israel. Daniel 11:40–45 references the forces of the king of the North invading Israel and invading Africa. The king of the South invading Israel is mentioned in Daniel 11:40. Revelation 16:12–16 references the forces of the kings of the East crossing the dried-up Euphrates River and invading Israel. The kings of the East are also referenced in Daniel 11:44.
The forces of the king of the North, the king of the South, the kings of the East, and the king of the West will fight in the land of Israel during the Battle of Armageddon. That topic is covered in Revelation 16:12–16. The Lord Jesus Christ will then return to the earth on the occasion of the Second Advent. In that regard, the content of Revelation 19:11 indicates that the Lord will be riding a white horse on the occasion of the Second Advent. Unspecified in the Bible is whether the Lord will be riding a literal horse or a vehicle that from the perspective of the apostle John could be described as a horse, including a flying vehicle that might resemble a flying motorcycle. In that regard, the visions that John had were described by John with words that were part of Johnʼs vocabulary. Also, when the Lord will be returning to the earth on the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will be amongst clouds. That topic is covered in Matthew 24:30; Matthew 26:64; Mark 13:26; Mark 14:62; and Luke 21:27. In contrast to the content of Revelation 19:11, the content of Revelation 6:2 indicates that the king of the West will seem to be a hero riding on a white horse. In that regard, the king of the West is a pseudo-savior—in other words, a false savior.
When the Lord Jesus Christ will return to the earth on the occasion of the Second Advent, He will land on the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem and defeat the forces of the king of the North, the king of the South, the kings of the East, and the king of the West. On that occasion, the Mount of Olives will split in half such that one part moves north and the other part moves south, and people will flee eastward through the valley that will result from the splitting of the Mount of Olives. Also on the occasion of the Second Advent, day will be darkened, and night will be illuminated. The topic of the Lord Jesus Christʼs return is covered in Zechariah 14:1–7. It is also covered in Revelation 19:11–21.
On the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will remove all unbelievers from the earth. This is called the Baptism of Fire, which is either a metaphorical description because fire can be used to represent judgment or a literal reference to the use of fire in the judgment of unbelievers on the occasion of the Second Advent. The Baptism of Fire is referenced in Matthew 3:11–12; Luke 3:15–17; and 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9.
Also on the occasion of the Second Advent, the two beasts—the king of the West and the false prophet—will be cast into the Lake of Fire. This is mentioned in Revelation 19:20. Furthermore, on the occasion of the Second Advent, Satan will be cast into the place of incarceration known as the abyss, where he will be imprisoned during the 1,000 years of the Millennium. This is mentioned in Revelation 20:1–3. Unspecified in the Bible is whether the other fallen angels will be cast into the abyss. Regardless of whether they will be cast there along with Satan, the fallen angels wonʼt be causing any trouble during the Millennium.
During the 1,000 years of the Millennium, the Lord Jesus Christ will reign on the earth with perfect justice. While Satan will be imprisoned during the Millennium, there will be perfect environment on the earth, just as there was perfect environment in the Garden of Eden for Adam and Ishshah [ish-SHAW] (the name of Eve before Adam renamed her Eve). At the end of the Millennium, Satan will be released from the abyss, and he will lead the Gog and Magog Rebellion (also known as the Gog and Magog Revolution). He will have followers as numerous as sand on a seashore [literally: as numerous as the sand of the sea]. The Lord Jesus Christ will defeat the Gog and Magog Rebellion / the Gog and Magog Revolution.
The Lord Jesus Christ will then conduct the Great White Throne Judgment of unbelievers. The unbelievers will then be cast into the Lake of Fire. The fallen angels will also be cast into the Lake of Fire.
Then the Lord Jesus Christ will create new heavens and a new earth after destroying the current heavens and current earth. Those heavens might be the first heavens, which is the atmosphere of the earth, or those heavens might refer to the atmosphere of the earth and outer space, the latter of which is the second heavens. Those heavens donʼt seem to refer to the Third Heaven (also known as Third Heavens or simply as Heaven), which is where the throne room of God the Father is located. There is nothing in the Bible indicating that the Third Heaven is anything less than perfect; therefore, it is possible that it is unnecessary for the Third Heaven to be replaced.
2 Peter 3:10–13
However, the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat and the earth and its works [literally: the works in it] will be burned up [two early manuscripts read discovered]. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening / desiring earnestly the coming of the day of God? Because of this, the heavens will be destroyed by burning and the elements will melt with intense heat! However, according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
Note: The word translated as hastening in some English translations of 2 Peter 3:12 can also be translated as desiring earnestly. With that in mind, one should refrain from assuming that 2 Peter 3:12 is indicating that people can speed up God the Fatherʼs timetable for human history.
What kind of people should we be knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ will destroy the current heavens and current earth? We should be reverential towards the Trinity and unselfish towards people. For example, Ephesians 4:29 covers that topic.
Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome word [literally: no rotten word] proceed from your mouth but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need [literally: of the need] of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from grieving or quenching the Holy Spirit. When a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Likewise, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.
Ephesians 4:30
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by means of Whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Note: The phrase sealed for the day of redemption is a reference to the eternal security of all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers can never lose their eternal life. The day of redemption is the Rapture, which is the occasion on which all Church Age believers will receive resurrection bodies. Receiving a resurrection body is known as ultimate sanctification.
1 Thessalonians 5:19
Do not quench the Spirit.
When a believer sins, that believer grieves and quenches the Holy Spirit, at which point the believer should confess/acknowledge to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins in accordance with 1 John 1:9.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.