Discerning Scripture

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[Matthew 18:10]

"Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in Heaven their Angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven."

I pick this particular verse because on the face it seems that there is a physical place called Heaven and that Angels abode there in some physical form. Anyone who has read my piece on Angels know that this is not true. First lets define Angels in its simplest meaning as being one with an assignment from our Father or one doing the will of our Father knowingly or not {messenger} {such an Angel} {wrath of God}. Lets look at the verse again: "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in Heaven their Angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven." Who are these "...little ones..."? You can read Matthew 18:6 and verify that "...these little ones..." are the children that believe in Jesus. Now lets move on to the more weightier part of the verse which is: "...in Heaven their Angels..." Most view Heaven as a physical place and really cannot grip intellectually that Heaven is actually just Truth. Since this concept of Heaven is so commonly used in order to give that "Babe in Christ" something to hold on to while growing in The Word, we'll explore it even deeper. Jesus because of his disciples measure of faith said, "What and if ye shall see the son of man ascend up to where he was before?" Prior to this He was teaching on the subject of living for ever literally and most of His disciples, but not the twelve Apostles, walked off in unbelief saying "This is a hard saying; who can hear it?" But remember our Father Himself said: "I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth..." [Ezekiel 18:32]. What are we going to do with that but believe it as "Christians" should, knowing the power of God (Matthew 19:26 "...but with god all things are possible."). Jesus confirming their ideal of Heaven by actually acting it out and ascending in the clouds as to ascend to a actual place was all done to confirm the measure of faith that they did have; previously teaching them that He would bring back to their memory everything that He taught them. Lets go over some of those teachings. 1) "I go to the Father and you see me no more." What part of "...no more..." is not understood? 2) "The kingdom of God (Heaven) does not come by observation (seeing, touching), but is within (realizing Truth)." Why is it that after all these years Heaven is still considered a physical place somewhere? 3) "And no man has ascended to Heaven except Him who has descended from Heaven." I'll ask, did Jesus descend from Heaven in a physical form? The answer is no! The body of the babe/man Jesus was born here on earth and given the Spirit without measure from our Father (John 3:34). Notice how He says no one has ascended, but Himself; yet, while He said that He had not been glorified yet; that's because once He was given the Spirit it made Him one with our Father, and that's the *true ascension. And that brings us to the second half of His words in this group, "...in Heaven their Angels..." their Angels.

When you are baptized in Jesus' name, that is to receive and believe His Word, being born again, you immediately become one with our Father whom is in Heaven/The Truth. That's *your ascension. Remember Jesus said "When you see me you see the Father." Same goes for the individual who receives Jesus, they become one; hence: "...that in Heaven their Angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven." These are humans here on earth doing the will of our Father, being it delivering the gospel, enforcing His vengeance or proving the existence of His power. Note: All Angels do not necessarily live forever because of humans iniquity; Angels can be permanent or temporary bringing a blessing or a curse, hence: "Take heed..." Now lets confirm this by their own state of being while in hell: "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" And Jesus response to this was "I never knew you: depart from me , ye that work iniquity (not doing or delivering the whole Truth)." That alone puts one in opposition to our Father and the results, well, hell unlike Heaven, but the same as earth, is very much a physical place. Had Adam and Eve never sinned they would have been here on earth today. Death came by sin and sin sends one to hell. Death is a punishment and not a reward of some kind or a calling from our Father. Remember our Father saying: "I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth..." Jesus said in John 14:16 "And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another comforter (His Word/the Truth), that He may abide with you forever;" So I ask, does the Comforter abide with us forever in a place called Heaven or sent back to us/brought back to our memory here on earth where it was supposed to like with Adam and Eve before they sinned?

To sum it all up look at the last words in that verse: "...Father which is in Heaven." Then observe this verse at John 3:13: "And no man has ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from Heaven, even the son of man (Jesus) which is in Heaven." Wait a minute, did He say Himself "...which is in Heaven."? YEP! even though He was in the earth He was also in Heaven, being in agreement with the Father making them one. Same goes for any Angels beholding the face of our Father: "... behold the face of my father which is in Heaven." See, not that they are physically in a physical place called Heaven, but rather in agreement with The Truth while here on earth. On that tip, I'll add another one; "The Second Coming." Look at Acts 1:11; "Ye men of Galilee, (spoken to them by two men in white apparel) why stand ye gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven." Realize this, that the same "...like manner..." would be going up not coming down. See as He was ascending His Truth, because His work was finished was coming into operation, unfolding; it was His Holy Spirit that was coming (descending) as He, His physical body was ascending. "Why stand ye gazing...?" See, you will not see his return, you will know it. And it was happening then regardless if it was understood or not. Note: Matthew 24:34 "Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." Most "Christians" are waiting on things that already happened over 2000 years ago; and yes also His return! See Him and the Comforter/Holy Spirit are the same and have been here since His departure. You need to pick up on this in order to move forward spiritually so that you will not be teaching or sharing a lie, becoming a stumbling block to "these little ones." In closing you might be wondering where is His physical body that rose from death? The Truth is He did actually die for our sins and the physical ascension He performed in order to give us time to grasp it all was for our lack of faith or lack of understanding. It would be fair to say that our Father caused Him to sleep while he ascended up till His flesh was no more. "I go to the Father and you see me no more." In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God; and The Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and then went back to His own natural state; John 16:10, "Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;..." He has never forsaken us, all power has been given Him in Heaven and in earth and he has been with us since his departure in the flesh, but in Spirit and In Word, just like in the beginning. In the beginning was the Word and that's His natural state and He is God; and the same was in the beginning with God. “He is God.”

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