Teachings

Statement of Faith

The Faith of Yeshua Hamaschiach (Jesus Christ)

Preface. This is the Statement of Faith for the 21st Century Church of Christ. It is written for the purpose of edifying each believer in “spirit and in truth.” The Statement of Faith represents the doctrinal position of 21st Century Church of Christ.

This Statement of Faith is a distilled overview of the basic topics of what we believe to be the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) regarding the fundamentals that a discerning Church and growing Christians should be aspiring toward. We acknowledge that every Christian is ever-growing and ever-learning in the Christian life (Philippians 3:12); and we acknowledge that in this life we all “see in a mirror dimly” (1 Corinthians 13:12). We are all in progress and growing in knowledge (2 Peter 1:5-8).

As such, we recognize the reality that every believer has a learning curve and is on the continuum of biblical understanding based on maturity, experience, upbringing, and many other variables. The purpose of the Statement of Faith is not to exclude and isolate true believers, but rather to provide a common ground of truth which serves as the basis of common worship, fellowship and service to Christ as one spiritual Body and family in the local church (3 John 3-4).

Below is a brief summary of the faith as outlined in God’s Word, the Bible:

• The faith is the belief in the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ.
• Those who have faith are baptized via water immersion.
• "Called out" to join the body of Christ, which is referred to as the Church.
• Participates in the eating of bread (Christ's body) and the drinking of wine (Christ's blood).
• Those in the faith receive "grace" or unmerited favor by God.
• Faithful believers are able to receive forgiveness of sins by praying in the name of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ).
• The faith requires obedience to GOD in harmony with the Holy Scriptures.
• We honor and keep the Ten Commandments written by the finger of Yahweh himself, and this includes the 7th day Sabbath from creation

NOTE: The day upon which Yahweh himself rested is not to be confused with the sabbath requirements given to the Israelites in the Mosaic Law.

The Scriptures Inspired

The Bible is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to men, the infallible rule of faith and conduct, and superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 1 Pet. 1:23-25; Heb. 4:12).

We teach the Bible is Holy Scripture and consists of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments. The Bible alone is the Word of God, verbally inspired by God, without error in the original manuscripts, and the complete, sufficient, and only infallible rule of faith, life, and practice for every believer (2 Timothy 3:16- 17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:19-21; John 10:35; Revelation 22:18-19).

The whole counsel of God is either expressly stated in Scripture or may be deduced from them; and nothing at any time is to be added by man, by new revelations, or from the traditions of men. At the same time, we affirm that the inward illumination by the Spirit of God is necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word of God. The Bible is wholly self-consistent and is to be read and understood in a normal, literal, face-value manner. Whereas there may be several applications of any given passage of Scripture, there is but one true interpretation (John 6:45; 7:17; 16:12- 15; Galatians 1:8-9; 1 Corinthians 2:7-15; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 1 John 2:20).

We teach the grammatical-historical method of interpreting Scripture. Formally, this means interpreting the Bible in light of the details of the grammar and syntax as well as the historical context. Informally, this means taking the Bible at face-value, reading it normally as one would read other forms of common literature. The Bible was written in the “language of the people,” and as such should be understood that way. The following interpretive priorities are paramount when studying the Bible: (1) the Holy Spirit enables a person to understand Scripture; (2) the goal in Bible study is to determine the author’s original intent; (3) context determines meaning; (4) the Bible does not contradict itself; (5) the modern culture does not determine the meaning of a Bible passage; (6) the text will have one meaning, although it may have many applications; (7) the Bible relates true history; (8) ideally, one should study the original languages (Hebrew and Greek) to get the clearest meaning of Scripture.

The books commonly called the Apocrypha, not being divinely inspired, are not part of the Canon of Scripture, and hold no authority. Rather, they are to be viewed as being on the same level as other books of merely human origin.

The One True God

There is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), who is infinitely perfect (Matthew 5:48), existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Jesus Christ is the true God and the true man (Philippians 2:6-11). He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Luke 1:34-38). He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust (1 Peter 3:18), as a substitutionary sacrifice (Hebrews 2:9), and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood (Romans 5:9). He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures (Acts 2:23-24). He is now at the right hand of Majesty on high as our great High Priest (Hebrews 8:1). He will come again to establish His kingdom, righteousness and peace (Matthew 26:64)

The one true God has revealed himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM," the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10,11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22).  Elohim or "God" is a title that in the ancient Hebrew literally translates into the English word, "powers". These powers (GOD) are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each has no beginning or no end.

The Father

• He is the Almighty Sustainer, Sovereign Lord (Adonai in Hebrew) of everything in existence.
• His name is Yahweh (YHWH), which means "to cause to be or exist."
• He is greater than the Son, Jesus Christ (Messiah Yeshua).
• He cannot lie.
• He is an eternal spirit.
• There is no other GOD before Him.
• He is loving, merciful, and slow to anger.

Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; 83:18; Isaiah 43:3,15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 14:28; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7. ; Titus 1:1

The Son

Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator  in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord.

• Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Father Yahweh.
• He was resurrected in bodily form.
• Jesus Christ came to earth and redeemed us from our sinful lives.
• Anyone who believes in Jesus has the promise of everlasting life.
• He has existed alongside the Father for eternity.
• He left the right side of the Father to come to earth to be born as a human to a virgin named Mary.
• Jesus led a sinless, perfect life, and set the perfect example of how to worship God in truth and have genuine love for mankind.
• Jesus sole purpose is to glorify God, His Father.
• All things were created through him and by Him, including the heavens and the earth.
• He sacrificed His life for us on the Cross (T-shaped stake or tree).
• He rose from the dead after three and a half days.
• He ascended back to heaven to sit at the right hand of His Father.
• His once for all time blood shed for our sins gives us permanent forgiveness and reconnects us to God, the Father.

Genesis 18:1ff.; Psalms 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16,27; 17:5; 27; 28:1-6,19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18,29; 10:30,38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11; 16:15-16,28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20,28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5,20; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8,24-28; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; 8:9; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15,24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9; 2 John 7-9; Revelation 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16.

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.

• He is the spirit (immortal being) of the Father and the Son.
• He inspired the writers of scripture.
• He leads us to the Father and the Son.
• He teaches and convicts us to worship the Father.
• He gives us spiritual gifts and talents.
• He was sent to comfort, strengthen, and correct the Church.
• He bears witness of Christ and through the Holy Scriptures leads the Church in all truths.
• He speaks as an individual being, not an active force.
• He calls faithful servants to God's service and takes them under his wing.

Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalms 51:11; 139:7ff.; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10,12; Luke 1:35; 4:1,18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17,39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Romans 8:9-11,14-16,26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11,13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 Timothy 3:16; 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:14; 3:16; Hebrews 9:8,14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Revelation 1:10; 22:17.

Creation

We teach that all things were created by God out of nothing (Genesis 1:1-31). The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were all present and active at the time of creation. Angels were created as ministering spirits (Hebrews 1:14), though some, under the leadership of Satan, who is a real spirit and is incorrigible, fell from their sinless state to become agents of evil. We teach that Genesis 1-2 is a historical narrative that provides an accurate account of how God brought the universe into existence. Accordingly, we teach that the universe was created in six literal days, and was very good, and is continuously sustained by God; thus it both reflects His glory and reveals His truth (Exodus 20:11; Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:18-20). Human beings were directly created in the very image of God, and are not the product of any evolutionary process (Genesis 1:1-2:25).

Man's Fall and Redemption

Man was created good and upright, for God said, "Let us make man in our image and after our likeness." Man, by voluntary transgression, fell, and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Gen. 1:26-31; Gen. 3:17; Ro. 5:12-21).

Man

We teach that humanity began when God created Adam and Eve directly and immediately in His image and likeness, in the beginning, as male and female (Genesis 1:27). Man was created as a finite being, free of sin with a rational nature, intelligence, volition, self-determination, and moral responsibility to God (Genesis 2:7; 15-25; James 3:9). We teach that God intends humanity to glorify Him, enjoy His fellowship, live his life according to God’s will, and by this accomplish God’s purpose for humanity in the world (Isaiah 43:7; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11). We teach that Adam was a real man, and through his sin of disobedience to the revealed Word of God, man lost his innocence; incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death; became subject to the wrath of God; and became inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to God apart from divine grace. With no recuperative powers to enable him to recover himself, man is hopelessly lost. Man’s salvation is thereby wholly of God’s grace through the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-19; John 3:36; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 2:13-14; 1 John 1:8). We teach that because all men were in Adam, a nature corrupted by Adam’s sin has been transmitted to all people of all ages, Jesus Christ being the only exception. All people are thus sinners by nature (from conception), by choice, and by divine declaration (Psalm 14:1-3; 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:9-18, 23; 5:10-12).

The Salvation of Man

Conditions of Salvation

The Grace of God, which brings salvation, has appeared to all men, through the preaching of repentance toward God and through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; man is saved by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, and being justified by grace, has become heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 2:11; 3:5-7; Ro. 10:13-15; Luke 24:47).

Evidences of Salvation

The inward evidence to the believer of his/her salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Ro. 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of holiness (1 Thess. 4:7, 2 Tim.1:9).

The Promise of the Father

All believers should ardently expect and earnestly seek the Promise of the Father, which is the baptism in the Holy Spirit. With it comes the infilling of power for life and service, and the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 1 Cor. experience of the New Birth (Acts 2:38; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9).

Sanctification Process

By the power of the Holy Spirit we strive to obey the command, "Be ye holy, for I am holy." Sanctification is the will of God for all believers, and should be earnestly pursued by walking in obedience to God's Word (Heb. 12:14; 1 Pet. 1:15, 16; 1 Thess. 5:23, 24; 1 John 2:6).

The Church

The church is the holy Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer is an integral part of the church, and their names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. (I Thess. 2:4).

We teach that the Church is the Body of Christ and began on the day of Pentecost, fifty days after Jesus’ death (Acts 2:1 ff.), and consists of a living spiritual body of believers who will be made complete at the coming of Christ. The Church is thus a unique spiritual organism designed by Christ, made up of all born-again believers in the present age. The church is distinct from Israel, being a mystery not revealed until this age. (1 Corinthians 10:32; 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Ephesians 2:11-3:6; 5:32). Christ is the Head and Lord of the Church (Ephesians 4:15; Colossians 1:18).

The Church of Christ exists as both a world-wide fellowship of the family of God as well as in specific local congregations (1 Corinthians 11:16), consisting of a community of believers in Jesus Christ who are committed to obedience to Him. Local church congregations have two formal constituted offices of qualified male elders and deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9). The visible Church is composed of the redeemed and unredeemed, and subject to error; and some have so degenerated so as to become difficult to recognize as a Church. Nevertheless, there will always be a true Church on earth to worship God according to His will (Matthew 13:18-23; 36-43; 47-50; 16:18; Revelation 3:1-3; 14-19).

Believers in a local church are called by God to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, the teaching of the Word of God, discipleship, observance of baptism and communion as ordinances established by Jesus Christ, and to fellowship and to minister to one another in love and unity through the development and use of talents and spiritual gifts (Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Matthew 28:19-20; Ephesians 4:11- 13; Galatians 6:10). God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, beginning in their own communities and reaching to the uttermost parts of the world (Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:16-20).

Ministry

Divinely called and Scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a two-fold purpose: (1) The evangelization of the world, and (2) The edification of the Body of Christ (Mark 16:15, 20; Eph. 4:11-13).

Divine Healing

Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement of Christ and is the privilege of all believers (Isa. 53:4, 5; Matt. 8:16, 17; Mark 16:18; John 5:14).

The Blessed Hope

The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation, together with those who are alive and remain unto the Lord, is 6:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Cor. 15:51,52).

The Millennial Reign of Jesus

The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, the salvation of national Israel, and the millennial reign of Christ on the earth are Scriptural promises and our hope (2 Thess. 1:7; Rev. 19:1l-16; Ro. 11:25; Rev. 20:l-7).

The Lake of Fire

The devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, and whosoever is not found written in the Lamb's Book of Life shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Rev. 19:20; 20:10-15).

The New Heavens and New Earth

We, as promised in the Scriptures, look for a new heavens and a new earth wherein righteousness dwells (2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21: l).

Ordinances

We teach that there are three ordinances instituted by Christ during His ministry, baptism and the Lord’s Supper (or communion). They are to be regularly celebrated by the Church until Jesus returns and are to be administered by those who are called and qualified, according to the commission of Christ (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 4:1; 11:23).

Baptism in Water

The ordinance of baptism by immersion with Christ should be observed (as commanded in the Scriptures) by all that have repented of their sins and in their hearts have believed on Christ as their Savior and Lord. In doing so, they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they have also been released to walk with Him in newness of life (Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:4).

Baptism is a symbol to the party baptized of the following: of fellowship with Christ in His death and resurrection; of being grafted into Him; of the forgiveness of sins; and of purposing before God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life. It does not save, but is an outward symbol of an inward cleansing. Those who can comprehend the gospel—who actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to, our Lord Jesus Christ, are the only proper subjects of this ordinance. The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, wherein the party is to be baptized by immersion, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Immersion is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12; Galatians 3:27; Mark 1:4; Acts 22:16; Matthew 3:13-16; 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38- 39, 41; 8:12, 36-39; 18:8; John 3:23).

The Lord's Supper (Communion)

The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements, bread and fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing in a memorial to His suffering and death, and a prophecy of His second coming, and is enjoined to all believers "until He comes" (John 6:48,51,53-57; Luke 22:19,20; 2 Pet. 1:4; 1 Cor. 11:25).

The Lord’s Supper is for the remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice and death, the confirmation of the faith of believers in all the benefits of His death, their spiritual nourishment and growth in Him, and their further engagement in and to all duties which they owe to Him; and to be a bond and pledge of their communion with Him, and with each other. In this ordinance, Christ is not offered up to His Father again, nor is any real sacrifice made at all for forgiveness of sin of the living or dead; nor is Christ present in, with and under the elements in any physical way. Rather, the bread and the cup symbolize the body and blood of Christ, and give a visible symbol to believers that Christ was truly sacrificed once for all, and is truly present spiritually in the midst of and in the hearts of His people. All those who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and who are living lives of obedience worthy of Christ, whether members of our local fellowship or not, may partake of the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 21; 11:23-26; Matthew 18:20; John 14:17, 23; Colossians 1:27; Hebrews 9:24-26; 10:11-14).

Unbelievers cannot experience real communion with Christ, and are therefore unworthy of the Lord’s Supper, and cannot, without great sin against Him, partake of these elements while they remain in a state of unbelief and/or disobedience to Christ. Whoever shall receive the elements in an unworthy manner, are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, eating and drinking judgment on themselves (1 Corinthians 11:27, 29-30).

Foot Washing

The ordinance of shall be observed as seen fit by all established places of worship, as enjoined in the Scriptures (John 13:1-17; Luke 7:36-50).

‍Future Events and Eternity

We teach the promised Messianic Kingdom of the Old Testament comes to the world in two aspects. Christ instituted its spiritual aspect at His first coming (Acts 2:30-36; Hebrews 1:2), yet its physical aspects will be fulfilled in a future earthly Millennial Kingdom (1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Revelation 12:10) over all the earth in fulfillment of Old Testament promises of a restored Israel (Jeremiah 23:3- 8; Isaiah 11:11-12; Romans 11). We teach the premillennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ personally and bodily as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Matthew 24:29- 31; 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-21). This return is presented in the New Testament as both near (Revelation 22:12) and distant (Matthew 25:19), yet its exact timing is unknown to men (Matthew 25:13; Mark 13:32; 1 Peter 1:10-11; Acts 1:7). The New Testament teaching on the certainty of Christ’s return is intended to promote encouragement (John 14:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 4:18), hope (Titus 2:13), purity (1 John 3:3), and faithful stewardship among believers (Matthew 25:14-30) and repentance and accountability for unbelievers (Acts 17:30-31).

The Two Witnesses

Through the power of Yahweh and His Messiah, the two witnesses will arrive. Being sent by Jesus, these two prophets will testify on behalf of our Savior. The two witnesses will have power to smite the earth with plagues, and they will be able to annihilate their enemies. Jesus, during His earthly existence, allowed the apostles to see a vision of the two witnesses who are symbolically “Elijah” and “Moses”.

This vision can be understood because of the deliberate use of “fire coming out of their mouths” and ‘striking the earth with all plagues.” These two anointed ones or (sons of oil literally translated from the Hebrew) were selected by Christ Himself as the “two olive branches who stand beside the lord of the whole earth.” Zechariah 4:11-14; Revelation 11; Matthew 17: 1-13.

With the above understanding from the book of Zechariah, we see that the two witnesses cannot be the old and new testaments because of the Hebrew. It was the error of the translation that has caused this prophecy to be misinterpreted. Any Hebrew scholar will confirm that this is truth. Also, there is no scriptural support for the witnesses being the actual Moses and Elijah. The Scriptures actually prove otherwise.

Once the testimony of Jesus Christ has come to an end, the beast that “comes out of the bottomless pit” will wage war against these prophets of God and kill them. Yet, after three and a half days, these men will be resurrected and will amaze the world by ascending to heaven at the sound of loud voice! Then soon afterward, a great earthquake will cause a tenth of Jerusalem to fall and kill seven thousand people.

Those who survive give glory to the God of heaven. Scripture tells us the resurrection of the two witnesses, the great earthquake in Israel, and the survivors who praise God ends the second woe to the earth! Revelation 11: 7-14.

The Kingdom of God and the Seven Churches

At the sound of the seventh trumpet, the Father and the Son have proclaimed the Kingdom of Heaven on earth…kingdoms of the earth will be their kingdoms. No more false predictions and wolves in sheep’s clothing in the Church. Yahweh has allowed Jesus Christ to commend and/or reprove the Church to keep it clean and Holy.

Therefore, the seven churches are literally of the first-century faithful and symbolically of the 21st century; the seven churches are in existence during the events mentioned in the book of Revelation. Each of these Churches will receive judgment or praise according to their works. Revelation 11: 15-19; Revelation 2-3.

Remember, Satan and a third of the angels or “stars” will seek to destroy the Church; however, God will protect His people just as He did in the days of Moses and Elijah. Thus the woman (or Church in biblical symbolism) will be “carried away to the wilderness”. Revelation 12:1-6.

Remember, the time has come for us to make a stand for Christ. The 144, 000 anointed remnant of spiritual Israel are beginning to prepare mankind for the final days of this wicked world. We will explain to you what Christ has revealed to us by the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Soon, Jesus Christ will empower His people to do great things by enabling us to spread His gospel throughout the earth in a very rapid manner just as in the days of the first-century church.

Though Yah is ever-unchanging, He realizes that our generation has become inundated with technology; therefore, any appropriate method to do His will is totally acceptable as long as it is delivered in “spirit and in truth.” John 4:24.

The Remnant and the Great Multitude

Jesus Christ, or in Hebrew, Yeshua HaMashiach is now revealing the prophecies in Revelation.

Those of us close to Him have and shall continue to receive these prophecies. We will be able to see the prophecies with new light as the Holy Spirit feeds us with accurate knowledge. Acts 2:17; Joel 2:28-32; Proverbs 4:38.

For a time, we will trample upon our enemies with the power of the spiritual sword and the mightiness of His power! We will be protected for a time until the remnant are killed at the hands of the two beasts. The Great Crowd, whom St. John sees in his visions, will stand before the throne of God in heaven having left behind their physical bodies in exchange for spiritual ones.

The remnant (the 144, 000) are sealed before the great tribulation because of faith and blamelessness. John writes those who have this seal are like “virgins.” These 144,000 judges or priests will assist the Messiah by gathering the great multitude mentioned in the book of Revelation and ruling with Him during the millennial reign. The number 144,000 is a literal number of those chosen out of the tribes of Israel. Remnant or remaining piece of Israel come from those who are direct descendants from the tribes of Jacob.

The 144,000 literally sing a new song, which only they know. Remember, they are not a part of the great multitude. The bible clearly reveals the songs the great multitude will sing; yet the 144, 000 have a special song that only they will know. When the 144, 000 are united with Christ in Heaven during the first resurrection, they will sing this song triumphantly, for the Holy Spirit will give them the melody. The great multitude do not see death. No where in scripture do we find that they rule with Christ. They are the “other sheep”. We implore you to do biblical research to recognize this truth.

Revelation 7:1-8, 14:1-5, 20:4-6, 6:9-11.

The Great Tribulation, The Two Beasts, and the Rebirth of Babylon

During the Tribulation, underground worship will once again be the way we have to hear God’s Word. Think of Roman oppression or Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Many devoted servants of Christ are currently being persecuted or even killed for their faithfulness. The book of Revelation shows us that persecution becomes a worldwide epidemic as well as famine, disease, poverty, and death. There will also be many false Christ’s, prophets, and miracles to deceive many!

Jesus told us that conditions get so horrific that God must cut the days short for His people to survive!

The two beasts, who are wicked humans during and after the Great tribulation, will reestablish the Roman Empire to its former glory. These men are cleverly working with the leaders of the world. The two beasts have convinced the world that they are, in fact, acting for God and His Son! Look for an image or idol to be erected. All who are not in the book of life will worship the beast and its image.

We can easily recognize these beasts by the fruit they bear. The Vatican has boldly professed to change the times (days of the week), alter the Ten Commandments to allow pagan worship of idols, relics, statues, and rosaries! Even the leaders of this wicked church are receiving worship that rightfully belongs to God!

At Satan’s authority, this political ruler (or anti-Christ) and the false prophet will unite the world in a false sense of peace as Paul said 2,000 years ago. Worship as we know it now will change forever very soon. Consider this the time of Daniel, who prophetically foretold that this day would come for us in our time. After this declaration of peace, Christ will return visibly and as Apostle Paul writes, “instant destruction” will be poured upon the wicked.

Since Christ informs us that the gospel will be spread throughout the earth and then the end will come, the world’s declaration of peace, the abomination of desolation entering the temple, and Christ’s return will occur almost simultaneously. Matthew 24:9-15, 21-24, 29-31; Revelation 6:1-17 and 17:1-18, Daniel 3:1-7, 7:1-12; 8:1-27; 2:21, 7:25; 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Exodus 31:12-17.

Though our times will be filled with God’s power, we still have to endure until the end. Matthew 24:13.