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FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS OF THE CHURCH OF GOD

BELIEFS 26, 27, 28

BELIEF 26 -  WE DO NOT CELEBRATE BIRTHDAYS
 

Members of God’s Church do not celebrate birthdays. 

With His thirty-three years and a half of life lived on earth as a human being, Jesus Christ set the perfect example on how human beings should live. We are to follow His example. Paul the apostle said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be you followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” 

Everything of importance that we are to follow in the life of Jesus Christ, the apostles and other great servants and prophets of God is recorded for us in the Bible. 

Celebrating one’s birthday is one of the most important “joyous” annual events in the lives of most people. If joyously celebrating birthdays was important to God, many examples of Jesus Christ and servants of God celebrating birthdays would have been recorded in the Bible. But we find not a single incident of Jesus Christ, the apostles, prophets or other great servants of God celebrating Jesus’ birthday or their own birthday with their family and friends. We in God’s Church follow Christ’s example and do not celebrate birthdays. That was also the judgment HWA made, and we adhere to it. 

Mainstream Christianity celebrates Jesus’ birthday on Christmas. But the word Christmas is not even mentioned in the Bible, leave alone commanded to be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus Christ. Birth date of Jesus Christ or any of God’s servants is not recorded in the Bible. It definitely was not on December 25thbut sometime in autumn and not in the winter. On December 25, pagans celebrated the birthday of the Sun-god Mithra whose origin is from Persia, but the cult was widely adopted by Roman soldiers. 

Only two examples of birthdays being celebrated are provided in the Bible, both by pagans, with both ending in executions. First is the example of a Pharaoh in Egypt celebrating his birthday in which he hanged his chief baker (Gen. 40). The second example is that of Herod who on his birthday was so pleased with the dancing of the daughter of his wife Herodias that he granted her request to have John the Baptist beheaded in prison and his head given to her on a platter (Matthew 14:6-10). 

There is another possible example of birthday celebrations, that of Job’s sons. Job had 7 sons and 3 daughters. Job 1:4-5, 19, “4 And his [Job’s] sons went and feasted in their houses, everyone his day [most of the commentaries say these were birthdays, as in Job 3:1 he referred to his birthday as his day]; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually...19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell you.” 

Most of the commentaries state that Job’s sons celebrated their birthdays with feasting, but Job himself did not celebrate his birthday. In this incident also, all ten of Job’s children died. Job was apparently concerned about these activities of his children such that after their feasting "Job sent and sanctified them... and offered burnt offerings... for Job said, 'It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.'" It is also noteworthy that either Job was not invited to these feasts because his sons knew that he would not attend or he chose not to attend. 

Job actually cursed his birthdate when he was going through his pain and suffering in Job 3:1-3, “1 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. 2 And Job spoke, and said, 3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.” 

The Jews in Jesus’s day did not celebrate birthdays. Josephus, the first century Jewish historian wrote: "Nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the births of our children..." (Against Apion, book II, §26).   

The following discussion is from an article by Kenneth C. Herrmann titled “Should Christians Celebrate Birthdays?” in the December 1959 “Plain Truth” magazine published by the WCG in the days of HWA. Here is a link to that article: https://www.hwalibrary.com/cgi-bin/get/hwa.cgi?action=getmagazine&InfoID=1407844261 

People in the world celebrate birthdays using the Roman calendar which is of pagan origin. Of course, those born on February 29 have the problem of celebrating their birthday once in four years. This anomaly affects one in 1461 persons in the world [(365x4)+1]. If one were to use the Hebrew calendar or God’s calendar for celebrating birthdays, one in eight persons would be affected because it has three months that vary in length from 29 to 30 days in a complicated pattern. This irregularity affects three times as many people. Another irregularity in the Hebrew Calendar that affects the day on which birthday is to be celebrated is the insertion of a 13th month in the 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, and 19th years of a 19-year cycle.    

God in His wisdom has given mankind a calendar that is not conducive to observing birthdays or anniversaries. That’s why no birthdays are recorded in the Bible, none of God’s people celebrated their birthdays and as noted by Josephus, Jews in Jesus’s days knew that God’s law did not permit them to celebrate birthdays. 

“It is true that some Jewish people, following pagan customs, attempt to use this ancient [Hebrew] calendar to observe their birthdays. A rather intricate set of human rules governs whether to move the celebration ahead or back one day, or back one month in the absence of the 13th month. Differing regulations are applied, and the practice is not uniformly followed by all.”  

Important question is: What should be our attitude towards our days of birth and death? 

The answer was provided by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 7:1-2, “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. 2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.” 

Solomon in his wisdom said the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth, and it is better to attend a person’s funeral rather than a person’s birthday celebration. Why is that so? 

Paul the apostle provided the answer in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, "I have fought a good fight [in overcoming his human nature in this life and be considered worthy of eternal life], I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth THERE IS LAID UP FOR ME A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day [the day of Christ's return when the dead saints will be resurrected to eternal life]; and not to me only, but unto all of them also that love His appearing."  

The day Paul began his carnal human life as a baby could hardly be compared in importance with the day, he at death, made sure of his reward of eternal life as God’s literal son by enduring the trials and tribulations of life as a Christian to the end! That’s why the day of death is better than the day of one’s birth.  

Human life does not begin at birth but at conception. And at present humans are mortal, subject to death. The day of one’s human birth can hardly be as important as the day of our new birth into God’s kingdom at the return of Jesus Christ and our resurrection to eternal life.  

It is very clear why members of God’s Church as true Christians should not celebrate birthdays. However, I am disappointed to say that organizations that split from the Worldwide Church of God such as the LCG, RCG and PCG while still continue to say that birthdays are not biblical and don’t advise celebrating them, they have started adding comments like they are not prohibited in the bible. That attitude has creeped in because all their leaders and ministers have cemented their relationship with the German masquerader side by murdering a genuine member of God’s Church. That’s why they are engaged in subtly deceiving genuine members with their writings, opening the door slightly to pagan celebrations. UCG now says that celebrating birthdays is a matter of personal choice. COGWA does not address the question of birthday celebrations in their literature. I know for a fact that members in UCG now openly celebrate birthdays because they are German masqueraders or their allies. Please do not follow them or fellowship with them if you are a genuine member of God’s true Church. We should not celebrate birthdays.

 

 


 

BELIEF 27 – OUR BELIEFS CONCERNING HEAVEN AND HELL

[FOR A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING ON THIS SUBJECT, I RECOMMEND READING THE UNITED CHURCH OF GOD BOOKLET TITLED “HEAVEN OR HELL: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE REALLY TEACH” AVAILABLE FREE OF COST TO READ ONLINE OR DOWNLOAD OR REQUEST A PRINT COPY AT https://www.ucg.org/learn/bible-study-aids/heaven-and-hell-what-does-bible-really-teach...]  

God’s Church believes that when a person dies, he neither goes to heaven if righteous nor is sent to an ever-burning hell to be tortured forever if unrighteous. Eternity in heaven or hell are not the rewards for any human being. Heaven exists where God and Jesus Christ dwell at present with the angels, but no ever-burning hell exists where souls of sinners are being tortured for eternity. The Bible teaches that humans don’t have an immortal soul. The soul who sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:4, 20) and not live forever. But a person who has sinned (and “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23) can repent, accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as payment of the death penalty on his behalf and can qualify to receive the gift of eternal life as God’s literal son through a resurrection to be forever with Jesus Christ and reign with Him on earth in God’s kingdom, and not go to heaven. After God’s plan of salvation for all of mankind is complete, even God the Father will dwell on a new earth with His immortal children. 

SCRIPTURES 

According to the Bible in Acts 4:12 (NIV): “Salvation is found in no one else [other than Jesus Christ], for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” 

More than 75% of the world’s population are non-Christians. In the history of mankind, perhaps more than 90% of humans ever born have been non-Christians. Many interpret this verse to mean that these people are condemned without hope of eternal life, besides the vast numbers of Christians who may not qualify for salvation because of their conduct in this life. They are condemned to be tortured forever in a burning hell according to the most popular teaching, supposedly based on the Bible. That implies God is a cruel monster Who created humans to mostly fail, and that Satan who deceives humanity is winning the “contest” between God and Satan. But nothing could be further from the truth ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE. 

Do Humans Have an Immortal Soul

Almost every religion in the world believes that humans have an eternal soul that never dies, and the souls of righteous people go to heaven, though different religions have a different version of what heaven or “paradise” is. Even Christians who believe they go to heaven when they die admit that there is very little in the Bible that indicates what they can look forward to enjoying or doing in heaven. If God is offering heaven as the reward for the righteous, He has revealed very little about it in His word. British historian Paul Johnson says, “Heaven... lacks genuine incentive. Indeed, it lacks definition of any kind. It is the great hole in theology" (The Quest for God, 1996, p. 173). 

The Hebrew word translated soul in the Bible in English is nephesh. It simply means a “breathing creature.” In the creation account in Genesis 1, the term is applied to land animals, sea life, birds, reptiles and insects. In Genesis 2:7 (KJV), nephesh is applied to humans, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Thus, the term soul is applied to any living creature in the Bible, whether man or animal. Soul is identified as a physical being and not an eternal spirit entity capable of existing independently outside the physical body. 

The idea of the eternal soul entered Christianity from the Greek philosopher Plato. The Old Testament does not teach it. Ezekiel 18:4 states, “The soul who sins shall die.” The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia explains: "We are influenced always more or less by the Greek, Platonic idea that the body dies, yet the soul is immortal. Such an idea is utterly contrary to the Israelite consciousness and is nowhere found in the Old Testament" (1960, Vol. 2, p. 812, "Death"). 

Ecclesiastes 9:5 tells us that the dead have no consciousness: "For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing." Jesus compared Lazarus’s death to sleep before he raised him to life (John 11:11-14). In 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, the apostle Paul refers to the righteous dead who will be resurrected to meet Christ in the air as being "asleep": "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep...” 

Daniel 12:2 describes the dead as "those who sleep in the dust of the earth," who later "shall awake" through a resurrection.  

Clearly, the Bible compares death to sleep, but unlike normal sleep, there is no thought, brain activity or life whatsoever. However, some misunderstand some scriptures to mean that they support the immortal soul belief. 

Matthew 10:28 : "And do not fear those who kill the body (the Greek word is soma) but cannot kill the soul (Greek word psuche, which denotes a conscious physical being, equivalent of the Hebrew word nephesh). But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." 

Here Jesus is not saying that humans have an immortal soul. He is saying that the soul can be destroyed. He was saying that a person killed by human beings is not lost because God can make him alive as Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead or resurrect him to physical life. But God can permanently destroy a person in “hell.”  

“Hell” in this verse is translated from the Greek word “gehenna” which is derived from two Hebrew words gaiand hinnom which mean “Valley of Hinnom,” a valley in the south side of Jerusalem where pagan deities were worshipped but later was used to burn trash by the Jews. Hence the term gehenna was used to denote a site used for disposal of useless things. Therefore, in Matthew 10:28 Jesus was saying that only God can utterly destroy human beings without any hope of ever gaining consciousness through a resurrection as stated in Malachi 4:3.  

In 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Paul wrote, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit (Greek word pneuma), soul (psuche), and body (soma) be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."  

In this verse Paul was not discussing “immortal” soul. The word spirit denotes the non-physical component in human beings that combines with the human brain to form the human mind which imparts intellect to humans with the ability to reason, analyze, create, appreciate music and art. It is the spirit in man that makes humans different from animals. “Spirit in Man” as contrasted with the holy spirit will be discussed in another belief. 

Other verses interpreted as providing support for an “immortal” soul are Revelation 6:9-10, "When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?'" (Revelation 6:9-10).  

The best explanation is provided in UCG booklet “Heaven and Hell: What Does the Bible Really Teach?”: 

“To understand this scripture, we must remember the context. John was witnessing a vision while he was "in the Spirit" (Revelation 4:2). Under inspiration he was seeing future events depicted in symbolism. The fifth seal is figurative of the Great Tribulation, a time of world turmoil preceding Christ's return. In this vision, John sees under the altar the martyred believers who sacrificed their lives for their faith in God. These souls figuratively cry out, "Avenge our blood!" This can be compared to Abel's blood metaphorically crying out to God from the ground (Genesis 4:10). Though neither dead souls nor blood can actually speak, these phrases figuratively demonstrate that a God of justice will not forget the evil deeds of mankind perpetrated against His righteous followers. 

“This verse does not describe living souls that have gone to heaven. The Bible confirms that "no one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven [Jesus Christ]" (John 3:13). Even righteous King David, a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22), was described by Peter as being "dead and buried" (Acts 2:29), not alive in heaven or some other state or location (Acts 2:34).” 

Are Sinners Punished Forever in “Hell”

Would a loving God punish sinners by being tortured forever in an ever-burning hell while the righteous enjoy heaven? The idea of a loving God who tells us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44-45) does not reconcile with the idea of a God who would be so cruel as to torture human beings in hell for eternity.  

And how would those in heaven feel joy when they know perhaps their unbelieving parents, spouses, children or babies or best friends are suffering torture in hell? Would God be fair to condemn billions of non-Christian unbelievers who died never knowing God or Jesus Christ and received no opportunity to be saved? 

Bible Mentions Three "Hells" 

In the Bible three hells are mentioned, translated from one Hebrew word and three Greek words. The Hebrew word sheol and the Greek word hades are translated as “hell” and mean simply the grave. Examples are Psalm 16:10 and Acts 2:27. In the King James Version (KJV), the Hebrew word sheol is translated "grave" 31 times, "hell" 31 times and "pit"—a hole in the ground—three times. The Greek word hades is translated as “hell” in all cases except in 1 Corinthians 15:55, where it is translated "grave." 

The second Greek word translated “hell” is tartaroo, used only in 2 Peter 2:4 and applied only for demons and refers to their condition of restraint on earth, such as not being able to manifest themselves to humans, communicate with them through loud speech but only by putting words or thoughts into their minds, and not harm humans directly physically but can only influence humans to lead them to destructive tendencies and harming each other.  

The Expository Dictionary of Bible Words explains that "Tartaros was the Greek name for the mythological abyss where rebellious gods were confined" (Lawrence Richards, 1985, "Heaven and Hell," p. 337). 

Peter used this reference to contemporary mythology to show that "...God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell [tartaroo], and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment,” meaning that the sinning angels are currently restrained while awaiting judgment for their rebellion against God and for leading humanity astray to cause pain, suffering and death.  

The third Greek word translated “hell” is Gehenna which refers to the “Valley of Hinnom” where human sacrifices were made in idolatrous worship which in Jesus’s time had been made a trash dump where refuse, carcasses of dead animals and criminals were thrown and were consumed by the constantly burning fires. Jesus used this word to tell his listeners that this was the fate of unrepentant sinners.

Jesus’s words in Mark 9:47-48 may cause confusion: “47 And if your eye offends you, pluck it out: it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48 Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.”  

Some interpret these verses to mean that this refers to ever burning hellfire which is not quenched. Jesus was quoting Isaiah 66:23-24 about what happens to the dead bodies of sinners. Worms or maggots feed on the dead bodies and when the bodies are set on fire which is not quenched, the bodies are completely consumed by the fire. Then the fire dies out.  

These are not “immortal” worms. “Where their worm dies not” simply means that the maggots turn into flies which lay eggs and are hatched into maggots again, thus perpetuating the cycle.  

When Jesus returns to earth people will fight against Him (Revelation 19:11-15). Their dead bodies are not buried but are consumed by worms or maggots. The burning in the gehenna fire takes place when God’s plan of salvation for all mankind is complete and the unrepentant sinners, even after they received their chance for salvation, will then be permanently put to death, called the second death (Revelation 20:7-15). Such sinners will permanently cease to exist, never to live again. They will not be permanently tortured in a hell fire. 

Is Heaven the Reward of the Saved

King David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). If a man deserved to go to heaven, surely it would be him. But Peter tells us in Acts 2:29, 34, “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day...34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens...” 

Then John the apostle writes in John 3:13, “No one [Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Elijah, David or any of the prophets] has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man [i.e., Jesus Christ]." That means the patriarchs and the prophets are buried like king David. We have already discussed that a person’s soul does not go to heaven on death. Human beings do not have an immortal soul. 

Another term that causes misunderstanding is use of the term “kingdom of heaven” by Matthew in his gospel. For example, Matthew 5:3 writes Jesus' words as: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." But Luke, in describing the same blessing, writes: "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God" (Luke 6:20). 

The reason is that the third of the Ten Commandments forbids taking God’s name in vain. Matthew probably wrote his gospel for Jewish audiences. Hence due to cultural sensitivity, he used the term “Kingdom of Heaven” whereas the other writers wrote for non-Jewish audiences and used the term “Kingdom of God.” The two terms were used synonymously. The phrase "kingdom of heaven" does not mean the Kingdom is in heaven, but that it is of God, who is in heaven.  

The kingdom of God will not be established in heaven but on earth. When Jesus Christ returns to earth to establish God’s kingdom, Zechariah 14:4,9 tell us, “And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east...And the LORD shall be King over all the earth." 

Speaking about the resurrected saints, Revelation 5:10 tells us: "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth" (NIV). 

After God’s plan of salvation for all mankind is complete, Revelation 21:1-5 tell us that the earth will be renewed and ultimately God the Father and the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, will descend to earth: “1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.” 

Thus, ultimately the renewed earth will be the place of God the Father’s throne, and He will dwell forever with mankind glorified as His immortal sons and daughters. But God’s sons and daughters will not be confined to earth. They will inherit all things (Revelation 21:7) as co-heirs with Christ, meaning the universe. Then what God has accomplished on earth, His sons and daughters will accomplish in the entire universe. In fact, God has already allotted the universe to various nations to colonize (Deuteronomy 4:19). 

More Commonly Misinterpreted Scriptures

In Philippians 1:23-24 Paul writes about his future: "For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you." 

Some interpret this to mean that Paul would join Christ in heaven after death. But now see 2 Timothy 4:6-8, "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." 

Those who love Christ’s appearing know that it will take place when Jesus Christ returns to earth and they are resurrected and will be with Him forever. Paul knew that when he died, he would be in the grave but will be resurrected to be with Christ at His return. 

2 Kings 2:11 records an incident in the lives of Elijah and Elisha the prophets: "Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." 

Some interpret this to mean that Elijah was made immortal and taken to heaven where God the Father lives. However, several years after Elijah was removed by the whirlwind, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat became king over Judah and proved to be a wicked king. A few years into his reign, and several years after Elijah's removal by the whirlwind, Jehoram received a letter from Elijah telling the king his sins and that he would die of diseases in 2 Chronicles 21:12-15, “12 And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus says the Lord God of David your father, Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah... 15 And you shall have great sickness by disease of your bowels, until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.” 

This letter proves that Elijah was still alive somewhere on earth some years after he was removed by the whirlwind and replaced as a prophet by Elisha. Clearly Ellijah did not go to heaven as John 3:13 says, “no one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man"? Obviously, sometime later Elijah the prophet died and was buried on earth though the Bible does not reveal where.  

To understand where Elijah was taken by the whirlwind, we should note that the Bible talks about three heavens. First heaven is the earth’s atmosphere consisting of gases where birds can fly, mentioned in Genesis 7:11-12; Job 35:11; Jeremiah 16:4. 

Second heaven is the space beyond the earth’s atmosphere consisting of the moon, planets, comets, asteroids, sun, stars and galaxies. David talked about this heaven in Psalm 8:3 and is also mentioned in Genesis 26:4, Deuteronomy 1:10 and Isaiah 13:10. 

The third heaven mentioned in the Bible is where God the Father resides (Hebrews 8:1) with millions of angels. It is referred to as the third heaven by Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:2. Heaven is specifically called God's dwelling place (Deuteronomy 26:15).  

Elijah was taken by the whirlwind into the heaven that is the earth’s atmosphere and later set down somewhere on earth to live the rest of his life. 

Other scriptures used as support for the view that the righteous go to heaven on death concern the life of Enoch. Genesis 5:24 tells us that "Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him."  

Hebrews 11:5 adds further details: "By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, 'and was not found, because God had taken him'; for before he was taken, he had this testimony, that he pleased God." This verse in the KJV is translated: “5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” 

The Greek word rendered “taken away” or “translated” can also mean “transferred elsewhere,” and the word rendered “so that he did not see death” is better translated “so that he would not see death” as in the New American Standard Bible (NASB) and some other translations. 

However, what is absolutely clear from other scriptures is that Enoch died on earth. Enoch is mentioned in Hebrews 11 as an example of faith with many others. Then verse 13 confirms: “13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises...” So, Enoch died like all the other heroes of faith. And no one has ascended to heaven except Jesus Christ as confirmed in John 13:3. 

Hebrews 11:39 says about all those who received a good report on faith, “39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise.” What is the promise they did not receive? It’s the promise of eternal life which Paul hoped for in Titus 1:2, “2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.”  

Therefore, Enoch has not received eternal life in heaven. Hebrews 11:40 tells us all those of faith will receive the promise at the same time, through a resurrection at the return of Jesus Christ: “40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” 

Genesis 5:21-23 tell us some more about Enoch’s life: “21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: 22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years.”  

Genesis 5 mentions the life spans of some individuals, ranging from the lowest for Enoch at 365 years and longest for his son Methusaleh at 969 years. Most lived above 900 years. But these all died. Enoch lived 365 years and no more. That means he died being 365 years of age. 

How then can we explain Genesis 5:24 that "Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him,"; and Hebrews 11:5 : "By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, 'and was not found, because God had taken him'; for before he was taken, he had this testimony, that he pleased God"? How can we reconcile the statement that “he did not see death, and was not found because God had taken him” with the fact that he died and did not go to heaven? 

While the Bible does not provide further details, there are several possible ways to reconcile these statements. 

Jude 1:14-15 tell us that Enoch, a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5) prophesied that Jesus was returning to execute judgment on all the ungodly. Such an unpopular message invited persecution. Enoch would have been killed at a particular time, but God had more work for him to do to warn the ungodly. Therefore, God rescued him at that time, by taking him away as He took Elijah (2 Kings 2:11) and Philip (Acts 8:39) away. That’s how Enoch did not see death and was not found because God took him away. 

Another possibility about Genesis 5:24 is that Enoch was finally martyred for his preaching. That’s why he died prematurely. Genesis 4:23-24 records Lamech’s (a descendant of Cain) boast to his two wives: "I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. If Cain be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold." Certainly, the Bible would identify the young man killed if it would record the boast. The only young man recorded is Enoch. It is reasonable to infer that Lamech killed Enoch for his preaching against the ungodly, Lamech being the most ungodly man of his time who had deified himself and is today known to us as the pagan “god” Zeus. 

God allowed Enoch to be martyred. But He would not permit his body to be desecrated or publicly displayed. God physically removed his body, very likely in the sight of his murderers — before they could defile it. That’s how it was publicly known that God took him. God took him and buried him just as He had buried Moses (Deuteronomy 34:6) “so that no one knows his sepulcher to this day.” The statement that he would not see death then is a separate matter and refers to his being resurrected to eternal life. The death he would not see is the permanent second death. 

Another scripture commonly misunderstood is Luke 23:43 where Jesus Christ hanging on the cross told one of the convicted criminals being crucified with Him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." Many people believe that Jesus assured the man that he would go to heaven with Him that very day. 

The problem here is the incorrect placement of the comma after "you" and before "today." In the original Greek and Hebrew texts no punctuation marks were used. To convey the correct understanding the comma should be placed after "today" rather than before: "Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise." 

Jesus Christ died and was buried in the grave for three days and was resurrected after three days. Clearly, He did not go to heaven on the day he died. So, Jesus could not have meant that the thief would be with Him in paradise that day that both died. 

 

 

 

BELIEF 28 – THE  SPIRIT IN MAN AND GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT

God’s Church believes that human beings have a spirit in them that imparts human intellect to their physical brains, creating the human mind that is far superior to animal brain. This spirit in man makes it possible for humans to have a relationship with God which animals cannot have. But human mind is limited to understanding knowledge of the physical universe. To understand and discern the things of God, meaning spiritual things, humans need God’s holy spirit.

 The spirit in man that makes humans far superior to animals in intellect was best explained by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:11,14, “ 11 For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man [let’s call it the HUMAN spirit or the ‘spirit in man’] which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God [God’s holy spirit]...14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Herbert W. Armstrong (HWA) explained these concepts in his booklet “What Science Can’t Discover about the Human Mind.” He wrote: 

“Man is composed wholly of MATTER. God says: "And the ETERNAL God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Gen. 2:7). The SOUL is composed of physical MATTER, not Spirit.  

“God's PURPOSE in creating man is to reproduce Himself — with such perfect spiritual CHARACTER as ONLY GOD possesses — who WILL NOT and therefore CANNOT ever SIN! (I John 3:9). Such perfect spiritual and holy character cannot be created by fiat. It must be developed, and that requires TIME and EXPERIENCE. 

“Such character is the ability in a single entity to come to comprehend and distinguish the true values from the false, the right way from the wrong, to choose the right and reject the wrong, and, with power of WILL, to DO the right and resist the evil. 

“Animals are equipped with BRAIN and instinct. But they do not have power to understand and choose moral and spiritual values or to develop perfect spiritual CHARACTER. Animals have BRAIN, but no intellect — instinct, but no ability to develop HOLY and GODLY CHARACTER. And that pictures the transcendental DIFFERENCE between animal BRAIN and human MIND. 

“But WHAT CAUSES that vast difference? 

“There is virtually no difference in shape and construction between animal brain and human brain. The brains of elephants, whales, and dolphins are larger than human brain, and the chimp's brain is slightly smaller. Qualitatively the human brain may be very slightly superior, but not enough to remotely account for the difference in output.

"What, then, can account for the vast difference?” 

“Man, composed wholly of matter, was made in the form and shape of God, to have a special relationship with God — to have the potential of being born into the FAMILY of God. And God is SPIRIT (John 4:24). To make it possible to bridge the gap — or to make the transition of MANKIND, composed wholly of MATTER, into SPIRIT beings in God's Kingdom, then to be composed wholly of Spirit, and at the same time to give MAN a MIND like God's — God put a spirit in each human. 

“In Job 32:8, we read, "There is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding. This is a great TRUTH, understood by but very few. 

“I call this spirit the HUMAN spirit, for it is IN each human, even though it is SPIRIT ESSENCE and not matter. It is NOT a spirit person or being. It is not the MAN, but spirit essence IN the man. It is NOT a soul — the physical human is a soul. The human spirit imparts the power of INTELLECT to the human brain. The human spirit does not supply human LIFE — the human LIFE is in the physical BLOOD, oxidized by the BREATH of life. 

“It is that nonphysical component in the human brain that does not exist in the brain of animals. It is the ingredient that makes possible the transition from human to divine, without changing matter into spirit, at the time of resurrection.”  

This helps us explain what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:11, 14, “ 11 For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man [or the ‘human spirit in man’] which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God [God’s holy spirit]...14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 

No man could have the knowledge a man possesses, except by “the spirit of man which is in him.” In the same way, no man can comprehend the things of God, except by another spirit, the Holy Spirit of God.  

So, from birth God gives man the spirit in man which gives us the mind power. That completes the physical creation of man. But spiritual creation of man must follow which requires a second spirit, the Holy Spirit of God. As explained in belief # 5 and 7, a person receives God’s holy spirit on repentance from sin, baptism and laying on of hands by a God’s minister. 

Human reproduction pictures spiritual salvation which is God the Father reproducing Himself in the God family for humans to become His literal spirit born immortal sons and daughters. 

In human reproduction, the ovum in the mother is impregnated by the sperm from the father. To become a human, each of us was thus begotten by our human father to become a zygote which grows into an embryo. The embryo then grows in the mother and becomes a fetus. The fetus is nourished in the mother and begins to grow during the gestation period; human organs and the brain begin to form taking the form and shape of the human body. When the fetus has become large enough to become a human being, it is then born. 

God intended human reproduction to add human children into the human family. In the same way, spiritual salvation adds God’s children into the God family.  

Just as the father’s sperm impregnates the ovum in the mother and begets a human life, to be born again of the spirit, we must be begotten of the holy spirit from God the Father. This process is explained in Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit [of God] itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the [begotten] children of God: and if children, then heirs [not yet inheritors]; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ...”  

God’s holy spirit combines with our human spirit in the human mind, begetting the human with divine eternal life to grow and later be born into the God family as a divine being, composed wholly of spirit. The holy spirit also imparts to the human mind the power to comprehend spiritual knowledge, to understand the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:11). It also imparts God’s divine nature of love, joy, faith and power to overcome sin and Satan. 

The spirit-begotten Christian has the presence of God life within him or her. But he is not yet composed wholly of spirit. He is merely like the embryo and later fetus in human reproduction. Just as the fetus must be nourished in the mother and continue to grow and take on the form and shape of the human body, so holy and righteous character of God must begin to take form and grow in the spirit-begotten Christian. In the case of the Christian, God’s Church called Jerusalem above is the spiritual mother of the members (Galatians 4:26).   

God has chosen ministers in His Church to feed the flock: “12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12-13). 

In the Church, the spirit-begotten Christian must continue to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18) and develop God’s holy righteous character until Christ is fully formed in him (Galatians 4:19) just as the fetus continues to grow in its mother until he is formed into a full human being. Then the spirit-begotten Christian is born as a spirit being as a son or daughter of God at the resurrection just as the human baby is born of his mother as a flesh and blood human being.  

Those who develop God’s holy righteous character in themselves will become God’s children. Those who don’t will die the second permanent death and will be as though they had never been (Obadiah 1:16), just as occurs in a human miscarriage. That’s how human reproduction and being born into the human family is an exact parallel of humans being born into the God family. 

The spirit in man also functions like a hard drive in a computer to keep a record of all the experiences a human has gone through in his or her life. At death, the spirit in man goes to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7, “7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”) Again, the spirit in man is not a living immortal entity. It is a medium like the hard drive that records all life’s experiences. When that human is resurrected to physical life in the second resurrection, that spirit is put back in him so that he has memory of all his life experiences. 

 In the same way, a person who has received God’s holy spirit which combined with the spirit in him to produce God life, when he or she is resurrected in the first resurrection, that spirit is given to him or her with the preserved human life experiences.  

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