The purpose of this book is to acknowledge who GOD is, what He is, who He is, where He is, and what He has done. GOD is all mighty. GOD is all powerful. GOD created all things seen and unseen. There is nothing that can replace Him, nor anything that can be done without Him. The great mystery is that GOD is three in one: FATHER, SON, and HOLY SPIRIT. I don't attempt to define it, just accept it. Many things are above our understanding and this is one of them. This book of the Triune GOD has some redundancy of scripture due to clarification of the subject. ALL of the scripture has been taken from the NEW KING JAMES VERSION OF THE BIBLE, unless otherwise indicated. There are other information gleaned from sources as indicated in the references and credits, All this book is designed to show that GOD is real and still working. He has a plan for this earth and will continue His plan until He is finished. He is in charge!

To God Be the Glory

By David Wray

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2012 David Wray
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4772-0946-2

Contents

PREFACE................................................................................xiCHAPTER 1 IN THE BEGINNING CREATION...................................................1CHAPTER 2 IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH......................10CHAPTER 3 HEBREW FOREFATHERS..........................................................55CHAPTER 4 THE APOSTLES OF JESUS.......................................................83CHAPTER 5 DISCIPLES...................................................................114CHAPTER 6 END TIMES...................................................................131CHAPTER 7 THE WRATH OF GOD............................................................146CHAPTER 8 NOTES.......................................................................175REFERENCES AND CREDITS.................................................................187OTHER REFERENCES STUDIED...............................................................188ABOUT THE AUTHOR.......................................................................189

Chapter One

IN THE BEGINNING CREATION

FIRST DAY

In the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1 Torah)

NOTE: GOD never creates anything half-way. If GOD created it, it was perfect.

The earth was without form, and empty; with darkness on the face of the depths, but GOD's Spirit (wind) moved on the water's surface. (Genesis 1:2 Torah)

NOTE: Here we find that the earth was without form, empty, and in darkness. This is thought to have occurred with the fall of Lucifer. (Isa. 14:12-21, Luke 10:18)

GOD said, " BE LIGHT"; and light came into existence. [Shekinah Glory?]. GOD saw that the light was good; and GOD divided between the light and the darkness. GOD named the light "DAY", and the darkness He named "NIGHT". It was evening and it was morning one day. (Genesis 1:3-5 (Torah)

NOTE: Darkness (Isa 13:10; Matt 24:29) also is a symbol of the judgment that falls on mankind as a punishment. It is also a symbol of misery and adversity (Job 18:5; Ps 107:10; Isa 8:22; Ezek 30:18).

SECOND DAY

GOD said, "THERE SHALL BE A SKY" IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WATER, AND IT SHALL DIVIDE BETWEEN WATER AND WATER." GOD (thus) made the sky, and it separated the water below the sky from the water above the sky. And it was so (or it happened.) GOD named the sky "HEAVEN." It was evening and it was morning, a second day. (Genesis 1:6-8 Torah)

THIRD DAY

GOD said, "THE WATERS UNDER THE HEAVENS BE GATHERED INTO ONE PLACE, AND DRY LAND SHALL BE SEEN"; and it happened. GOD names the dry land "EARTH", and the gatherings of waters He named "Seas". GOD saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:9-10 Torah)

NOTE: GOD made the dry land in the seas. At this point of time, the Earth was one large continent No separations as we see it now. Archeology and geology tells us that the earth over a long period of time had several large volcanos, and had also been hit by meteors. The later meteor created an ice age that lasted over two or more years, probably the one that destroyed the dinosaurs and other large land animals. The earth has had several ice ages that would have destroyed living earth animals. This in itself would rule out the evolution of man, and other land animals.

GOD said, "THE EARTH SHALL SEND FORTH VEGETATION. SEED BEARING PLANTS, AND FRUIT TREES THAT PRODUCE THEIR OWN KIND OR FRUITS WITH SEEDS SHALL BE ON THE EARTH". It happened. The earth sent forth of vegetation, plants bearing their own kind of seeds, and trees producing fruit containing their own kinds of seeds. GOD saw that it was good. It was evening and it was morning, a third day. (Genesis 1:11-13 Torah)

NOTE: Vegetation produced only seeds after their own kind, not evolving from one thing to another.

FOURTH DAY

Then GOD said, "THERE SHALL BE LIGHTS IN THE FIRMAMENT OF THE HEAVEN TO DIVIDE DAY AND NIGHT. THEY SHALL SERVE AS OMENS (AND DEFINE) FESTIVALS, DAYS AND YEARS. THEY SHALL BE LIGHT IN THE HEAVENLY SKY, TO SHINE ON THE EARTH." It happened. GOD (thus) made the two large lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the smaller light to rule the night. (He also made) the stars. GOD placed them in the heavenly sky to shine on the earth, to rule by day and by night, and to divide between the light and the darkness. GOD saw that it was good. It was evening and it was morning, a fourth day. (Genesis 1:14-17 Torah)

NOTE: Up until this time GOD's glory was the illumination that dispelled the darkness, but GOD was still on His timetable. Then GOD created the Sun, Moon, and Starry Host which was for the benefit of mankind, that by it we might see his works and his glory in them.

FIFTH DAY

GOD said, "THE WATER SHALL TEEM WITH SWARMS OF LIVING CREATURES. FLYING CREATURES SHALL FLY OVER THE LAND, ON THE FACE OF THE HEAVENLY SKY". GOD created the great sea monsters, along with every particular species of living thing that crawls, with which the waters teem (whales or dragons), and every particular species of winged flying creature. GOD saw that it was good. GOD blessed them, saying, "BE FRUITFUL AND BECOME MANY, AND FILL THE WATERS OF THE SEAS. LET THE FLYING CREATURES MULTIPLY ON THE LAND". It was evening and it was morning, of the fifth day. (Genesis 1:20-23 Torah)

SIXTH DAY

GOD said, "THE EARTH SHALL BRING FORTH PARTICULAR SPECIES OF LIVING CREATURES, PARTICULAR SPECIES OF LIVESTOCK, LAND ANIMALS, AND BEASTS OF THE EARTH." It happened. GOD made particular species of beasts of the earth, particular species of livestock, and particular species of animals that walk the land. GOD saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:24-25 Torah)

NOTE: Now that all the ingredients of creation had essentially been completed, now GOD desired to make a creation like Themselves, the crown of creation. "WE WILL MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE AND LIKENESS." Thus man is a microcosm of all the forces of creation. Of all creation, only man resembles GOD in having free will. (We refer to the Trinity, GOD the father, the Son (JESUS), and the HOLY SPIRIT.) This does not mean that man has all the powers of GOD, but is His likeness. Man has a body, soul, and spirit.

GOD said, "LET US MAKE MAN WITH OUR IMAGE AND LIKENESS.' ` LET HIM DOMINATE THE FISH OF THE SEA, THE BIRDS OF THE SKY, THE LIVESTOCK ANIMALS, AND ALL THE EARTH—AND EVERY LAND ANIMAL THAT WALKS THE EARTH." GOD CREATED MAN IN HIS IMAGE. IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, HE CREATED HIM, MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM. GOD BLESSED THEM, GOD SAID TO THEM, "BE FERTILE AND BECOME MANY."'

NOTE: This blessing was GOD's way of preserving mankind.

GOD said, "BEHOLD, I HAVE GIVEN YOU EVERY SEED BEARING PLANT ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH, AND EVERY TREE THAT HAS SEED BEARING FRUIT. IT SHALL BE TO YOU FOR FOOD. FOR EVERY BEAST OF THE FIELD, EVERY BIRD OF THE SKY, AND EVERYTHING THAT WALKS THE LAND, THAT HAS IN IT A LIVING SOUL, ALL PLANT VEGETATION SHALL BE FOOD." It remained that way. GOD saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. It was evening and it was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1:26-31 Torah)

THE SEVENTH DAY, THE SABBATH

Heaven and earth, and all their components, were completed. With the seventh day, GOD finished all the work that He had done. He ceased (rested) on the seventh day from all the work that He had been doing. GOD blessed the seventh day, and He declared it to be holy, for it was on this day that GOD ceased from all the work that He had been creating [so that it would continue} to function. (Genesis 2:1-3 Torah)

NOTE: Now comes a very interesting part of the creation story. Within ten generations, mankind had grown to be a very large number of people and left to their own desires, they forgot GOD and did as they pleased. They became very sinful and not only had turned away from GOD, but did all sorts of abominable things from worshiping idols, to anything that offends the spiritual, religious, or moral sense of a person that would cause extreme disgust, hatred, or loathing to the righteous person GOD decided to put an end to this situation. GOD had no other alternative but to destroy mankind and start over. Remember this point as we approach the end of the age! The earth will be ruled by satanic forces before JESUS returns. GOD wanted people like Him to love Him and be a type of companion with Him. Man became obsessed with material things and in themselves, and had no thought of the creator. Remember, GOD created mankind and He can destroy them!

GOD sought a righteous person to start over. He found a righteous man by the name of Noah, son of Lamech, grandson of Methuselah. Noah was a bachelor until he was five hundred years old. GOD was going to destroy mankind and he needed a family to replenish the earth. GOD told Noah to take a wife, which he did. He had three sons, which in turn obtained wives. GOD was beginning a new start with mankind with His chosen family.. Then GOD told Noah to build an ark, which was a very large boat.

"MAKE YOURSELF AN ARK OF GOPHERWOOD; MAKE ROOMS IN THE ARK, AND COVER IT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE WITH PITCH. AND THIS IS HOW YOU SHALL MAKE IT: THE LENGTH OF THE ARK SHALL BE THREE HUNDRED CUBITS (450 FEET), ITS WIDTH FIFTY CUBITS (75 feet), AND ITS HEIGHT THIRTY CUBITS (45 feet). YOU SHALL MAKE A WINDOW FOR THE ARK, AND YOU SHALL FINISH IT TO A CUBIT (18 INCHES) FROM ABOVE; AND SET THE DOOR OF THE ARK IN ITS SIDE. YOU SHALL MAKE IT WITH LOWER, SECOND, AND THIRD DECKS. AND BEHOLD, I MYSELF AM BRINGING FLOOD WATERS ON THE EARTH, TO DESTROY FROM UNDER HEAVEN ALL FLESH IN WHICH IS THE BREATH OF LIFE; EVERYTHING THAT IS ON THE EARTH SHALL DIE." (Genesis 6:14-17)

NOTE: First He allowed all His saints to pass from the earth. (Methuselah died the same year as the flood). The only living saint left was Noah. This is an indication of how GOD will protect His people before He brings His wrath upon sinful mankind. Reference to the Rapture to come.

Noah was six hundred years old when the flood waters were on the earth. (Which means that the construction of the ark took a hundred years.) And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. The waters prevailed fifteen cubits (about 22 feet) upward, and the high hills were covered. And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. (Genesis 7:6-22)

NOTE: Several things happened in this chapter.

1. The earth did not have rain, a mist came up from the ground to water the earth.

2. The flood waters covered the whole earth even all the mountains.

3. The whole earth was one large continent, and therefore all the earth was covered with water. How do we know this, the Bible tells us this a little further on.

NOTE: A little side note about GOD's curse of the ground.

Then to Adam He said, "BECAUSE YOU HAVE HEEDED THE VOICE OF YOUR WIFE, AND HAVE EATEN FROM THE TREE OF WHICH I COMMANDED YOU, SAYING, `YOU SHALL NOT EAT OF IT': "CURSED IS THE GROUND FOR YOUR SAKE; IN TOIL YOU SHALL EAT OF IT ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE. BOTH THORNS AND THISTLES IT SHALL BRING FORTH FOR YOU, AND YOU SHALL EAT THE HERB OF THE FIELD IN THE SWEAT OF YOUR FACE YOU SHALL EAT BREAD TILL YOU RETURN TO THE GROUND, FOR OUT OF IT YOU WERE TAKEN; FOR DUST YOU ARE, AND TO DUST YOU SHALL RETURN." (Genesis 3:17-19)

And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, "I WILL NEVER AGAIN USE THE GROUND FOR MAN'S SAKE, ALTHOUGH THE IMAGINATION OF MAN'S HEART IS EVIL FROM HIS YOUTH; NOR WILL I AGAIN DESTROY EVERY LIVING THING AS I HAVE DONE. (Genesis 8:21)

And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.

And the Lord said; "INDEED THE PEOPLE ARE ONE AND THEY ALL HAVE ONE LANGUAGE, AND THIS IS WHAT THEY BEGIN TO DO; NOW NOTHING THAT THEY PROPOSE TO DO WILL BE WITHHELD FROM THEM. COME, LET US GO DOWN AND THERE CONFUSE THEIR LANGUAGE, THAT THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND ONE ANOTHER'S SPEECH." So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth. (Genesis 11:4-9)

NOTE: The Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth. This is significant because the Earth was still one continent and the people could be spread out over all the land area.

Eber lived thirty-four years, and begot Peleg. After he begot Peleg, he begot Reu. (Genesis 11:16-18)

PELEG [PEE leg] A descendant of Noah through Shem and a son of Eber (Gen. 10:25). Peleg was an ancestor of Jesus (Luke 3:35). He was named Peleg (meaning "division"), because "in his days the earth was divided" (Gen. 10:25), probably referring to the scattering of Noah's descendants as GOD's judgment following the attempt to build the tower of Babel (Gen. 11:8).

Here we find that the earth was divided, not only scattering the people upon the land, but further dividing the people by land mass. This would keep the people from ever coming together again to oppose GOD. Something to consider! Many biblical scholars refer to the separation, not of the land mass, but of the different people due to their language. This is questionable because the people separated themselves when their language was confused.

NOTE: If you think this could not happen, look up the battle of Joshua where the Earth stood still (Jos 10:12-14) and where the Earth backed up (Isa 38:11). GOD is not a small, insignificant, puny GOD, He is the creator of the whole universe, nothing is impossible or improbable for Him.

Chapter Two

IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH.

WHO IS THIS GOD?

GOD — the creator and sustained of the universe who has provided humankind with a revelation of Himself through the natural world and through His Son, JESUS CHRIST.

The Bible does not seek to prove the existence of GOD; it simply affirms His existence by declaring, "In the beginning GOD " (Genesis 1:1)

GOD has revealed Himself through the physical universe

The heavens declare the glory of GOD; And the firmament shows His handiwork. (Ps 19:1) because what may be known of GOD is manifest in them, for GOD has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. (Rom 1:19-20)

By observing the universe, one can find positive indications of GOD's existence. The orderly existence reveals the results of a universal mind that devised a master plan and executed it. It is easier to accept the idea of GOD as Creator of the universe than to assume that our orderly universe came into existence through evolution. The greatest revelation of GOD, however, comes through the Bible, The only reliable source of the history of the world and it's people. Through the inspired written record, both the existence of GOD and the nature of GOD are revealed in and through JESUS CHRIST. JESUS stated in (John 14:9) "HE THAT HAS SEEN ME, HAS SEEN THE FATHER."

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (John 1:1-4) The Word became Jesus!

And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. (John 21:25)

Although the full revelation of GOD was in Jesus Christ, the human mind cannot fully understand GOD. One reason is the limitation of the human mind. How can our finite minds understand the infinity of GOD? It is not possible. Although we cannot fully understand GOD, we still can know Him. We know Him through a personal relationship of faith and through a study of what the Bible teaches about His nature, His Son JESUS CHRIST .and the HOLY SPIRIT.

NOTE: Alright, we can describe what GOD has done, where He began in the formation of earth, etc. But absolutely no one other than Jesus can describe His father GOD! How can you conceive of a living being that is all loving, all powerful, totally pure, and for no other adjectives, does what He wants.

First of all, describe love. You can't! Is it a feeling? Partially. Is it a desire? Partially. Is it enrapture? Partially. Etc. The Romans have several descriptions of love, depending on their use, however, none really describe what love is. GOD is love, and when you have His love, you have an all enveloping peace. Puny man can only bathe in it!

Secondly, GOD is all powerful. At His word, heavens can be created. Angels can be created. People can be created. Planets can be created. Any thing He desires, can be created. Puny man can only be awed by it, but never can explain it. There is only one way we can witness GOD, and that is through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus shows us how GOD works and His character.

GOD CREATED MAN

Why did GOD make man? You can develop all kinds of reasons, such as He wanted someone to worship Him, as if the angels don't do it. He wanted someone to govern, and control, as if He doesn't have that authority already, if He so desires. To get a little insight, let's look in the first book of the Bible, Genesis.

And they heard the sound of the Lord GOD walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord GOD among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord GOD called to Adam saying, "WHERE ARE YOU?" (Gen 3:8-9)

(Continues...)

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