THE GOD OF PEACE
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21
God gets a bum rap sometimes. But, the Churches of God are different. We do not teach that God is a monster, we teach that He is the God of Peace.
We do not teach that God is out to trip you up and hurt you bad. We do not portray God as a baby torturer, and yes, some religions actually do teach that God will send all rosy cheeked un-sprinkled toddlers to an ever-burning hell to experience never ending torment throughout the eons of time. Nice huh? That sounds more satanic than Godlike. Maybe because it is a Satanic concept. The Bible calls God the "God of Peace." This is not something a God of Peace would do.
The God that this world worships is Satan and they don't even know it. The Bible teaches in Revelation that Satan has deceived the whole world. How? In that they think this is God's world...but it certainly isn't. Even Christ told Pilate that His Kingdom was not of this world, or His servants would fight. "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." John 18:36
If this is not the Kingdom of God, whose kingdom is it? It is Satan's. Look around...the pedophiles, murderers, rapists, thieves and all evil people of this world are having a field day in their fathers world. This is assuredly not God's world. The whole world has been an evil place ever since the Garden of Eden. No wonder....Satan has ruled the roost for a long time. But, it is almost over for him. Satan is going to freak out when he realizes that his time is short. God will shortly put him out....for good. In the book of Revelation, we read that Satan has deceived the whole world, and that he is going to precipitate the final destruction of his evil world when he realizes that his "time is short." When he realizes that his reign of terror is almost over, he will become like a desperate crazed cornered animal, and he will pull out all the stops, but it will do him no good in the end. The Kingdom of God cannot be stopped.
SATAN HAS DECEIVED THE WHOLE WORLD
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he hath but a short time. Revelation 12:9 A short time until the Kingdom of God is established.
The Kingdom of God will be a utopia of utter and complete peace---ruled by the "God of peace." Even the very nature of the animals will be changed in the Kingdom of God. This will be a time when you will actually be able to sleep in the woods at night without fear of harm. You won't have to lock your doors at night. Isaiah 65:25 says, "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD." All this could be just around the corner.
All I can say is that it is going to be a rough ride temporarily, but just hold on. "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Romans 16:20
Online sermon:ONLINE STREAMING SERMON: God and Repentance
Sermon given by James E. Throgmorton
Copyrighted by the Churches of God Can You Repent?
2007