“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, and for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
If you don’t study Genesis, you miss out on a lot of important knowledge. It’s easy to get confused if you don’t have a proper foundation of truth to stand on. The first verse of Genesis is loaded with information.
“In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).
First of all, there was a beginning, and God was there. He was there before anything was created. Something that you miss when reading the verse in English is that the word “God” is from the Hebrew word “‘ĕlōhîm.” This is a plural. In the Hebrew language, a plural is at least three. That helps us to understand the Trinity.
If that isn’t clear enough, verse two says, “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2).
The rûaḥ, (the Spirit of God) moved, or hovered, upon the face of the waters. After that, God spoke all things into being. If we turn to the New Testament, we see who spoke. “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. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:1-3).
Jesus spoke, the Spirit hovered, and the Father was over all. When I read these verses, I get a peace knowing that God (the Triune God) sent Jesus (the second person of the Trinity) to purchase our redemption through the shedding of His blood, and the Holy Spirit indwells us. Praise ‘ĕlōhîm…the one God in three persons. He was there in the beginning, and He will be there in the end.
What about the rûaḥ (the Spirit)? His role is very important, but He mostly works behind the scenes. The Spirit draws people to God and leads all who come to faith, but was also active in the Old Testament. Some examples are found in Numbers 11:25, Judges 3:10, Judges 6:34, Judges 11:29, and many, many more. In Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit would come upon people, and they would do great things for the Lord, but then the Spirit would go from them. King Saul is a good example of this. The prophet Samuel anointed him as king and told him many things that would happen.
Samuel said, “And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man” (1 Samuel 10:6).
All that Samuel said came to pass. “And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them” (1 Samuel 10:10).
Saul was changed, and people saw the change; but Saul had many problems, and often an evil spirit took over. In Old Testament times, the Spirit came upon people but didn’t indwell them and could depart from them. It happened to Saul.
“But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him” (1 Samuel 16:14).
Saul was a very mixed-up person and lost favor with God. The Holy Spirit protected Saul from evil, but once the Spirit departed, evil was able to cause him trouble.
Eventually, David became king over Israel, and David loved the Lord. He wasn’t perfect, but when he sinned, he didn’t make excuses for his actions. One of the most anguished pleas for forgiveness is seen in Psalm 51. David had committed great sin. He impregnated the wife of one of his most loyal soldiers (sin 1), then he made sure that soldier was killed in battle (sin 2). Then he went on as if nothing was wrong (sin 3). His sin was brought to his attention, and David was brokenhearted over it. David went to God for mercy and cleansing.
“For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me” (Psalm 51:3).
He knew he sinned, but he also knew the sin was against God. David was a man after God’s own heart, not because he never sinned, but because he desired to please God and live righteously before Him.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me” (Psalm 51:10-11).
David knew the seriousness of his sin and was justifiably afraid of the Holy Spirit departing from him. Then David made a promise: “Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee” (Psalm 51:13).
He knew he couldn’t live a life of sin and honor God at the same time. David wrote many Psalms, and his life is still an example of a man who served God. We can all learn from David. We must ask the question, “If the Holy Spirit could be taken away from David, can the Holy Spirit be taken away from us today?”
Remember, David, Saul, and all the prophets lived before the Cross. The prophets spoke God’s truth by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and He is in the world today. He still draws people to God; He speaks through those who are willing to speak for God, but His ways have changed. David could have lost his anointing, and the Holy Spirit could have been taken away. Today we are blessed in a way that David could only dream of. We cannot lose the Holy Spirit. Our salvation is secure from the moment we truly believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
“Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).
When a sinner (that’s all of us) first realizes that we are bound for Hell unless we turn to Jesus for redemption, then repents (truly repents) of the sin that condemns all of us and asks Jesus to forgive our sin, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit.
“That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, and the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:12-14).
Sealed. The Greek word is sphragizō, and it means to make secure. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one” (John 10:27-30).
That’s security. Have you asked God to forgive your sins? Did you mean it? Too often we make big promises when we feel threatened, but after the danger passes, we revert back to worldly ways. If you meant the words, then live the promise. David desired that he could teach others of God’s love and forgiveness.
“Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee” (Psalm 51:13). Are you teaching others?
Study the words Jesus spoke to His disciples prior to His crucifixion. He knew what was going to happen and wanted them to find peace.
“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:15-17).
Does that give you comfort? It comforts me. English doesn’t give the full impact of what Jesus said. There are two Greek words that are translated “another,” and it’s important to know which word is being used. One word is “heteros,” which doesn’t mean anything specific. For instance, if I ate a plain donut and wanted another one, not necessarily a plain one, I’d ask for a heteros donut. On the other hand, if I asked for an allos donut, I would be asking for another of the same kind. I would want another plain donut. So, when Jesus said he would ask the Father to give another Comforter, He used the word allos…another of the same kind.
Go back to Genesis and understand that God is three persons. Each one is God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The Comforter which Jesus would ask for was like Him…God. This Comforter would indwell Christians. Instead of coming upon us and then leaving, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. What a blessing; what a comfort! Our salvation is secure. The Holy Spirit dwelling in us will guide us into a closer walk with our Lord. Heed His guidance.
Most Christians today deny the power dwelling within us. The Apostle Paul spoke of the times in which we live and explained why Christians seem so weak today:
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
Wow, that seems to describe many Christians today. We can’t say we’re Christians then live like worldly people and still have the power of the Holy Spirit. He isn’t weak, but we deny His power. We are in very troubled times, and it’s obvious that the end of days is swiftly approaching. What will happen to the Holy Spirit then? Remember that He was there in the beginning, and He will be there at the end. Just not like He’s indwelling us today.
The Rapture is a fact. Many Christians think that it’s a new interpretation of Scripture, but the truth is that it goes back to Genesis. No, it isn’t a new idea. Today, we see so much prophecy unfolding that points to the end of days that we can be certain that the Rapture will happen very, very soon. Once Christians have been taken away from the horrors that will unfold during the Tribulation, the Holy Spirit will continue His work in the same way He worked during the Old Testament.
Paul was very upset with those in Thessalonica because they believed a false letter stating that the Rapture had already happened. “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2).
Those words need to be heeded by those who think there will be no Rapture of the Church. Certainly, unsettling things will happen prior to the Rapture, and we see those events today. Prophetic wars are happening, and the world is turning against Israel. Zechariah had a lot to say about all nations turning against Israel, as did Isaiah and Ezekiel. We see earthquakes, pestilence, famine, and more. Jesus told His disciples about the end times and what to look for. He knew what He said was for a future time, not theirs.
He told them, and us, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).
Christians have been purchased with a price that only Jesus could pay, and we’ve been sealed until the time of redemption. Jesus will call His bride Home very, very soon.
Once Christians have gone Home, then God will turn His attention back to Israel. No, the church has not replaced Israel. In fact, the Tribulation is what will cause Israel to call upon the Lord for help in their fight.
There will be people who choose to reject Christ for salvation prior to the Rapture, who will come to salvation after the Rapture, but they aren’t part of the church; the Holy Spirit will have drawn them to faith, just as He did in Old Testament times. They won’t be indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but their faith will be real. They’ll face very troubling times because they must keep true to God and not worship the Beast nor take his mark. It will be very trying times, and a strong commitment to God is required. Only God can restrain evil, and the man of sin can only be revealed after Christians are in Heaven. Being indwelt with the Holy Spirit creates a restraint against pure evil.
“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way” (2 Thessalonians 2:7).
The English word “letteth” is from the Greek katechō, meaning to hold back, restrain. It’s the Holy Spirit indwelling Christians that restrains full demonic evil. When we are called Home, the Anti-Christ will be able to work his evil in the world.
When Jesus was about to ascend into Heaven, He spoke with His disciples and gave them marching orders. He knew they were equipped for the battle ahead of them. They would face persecution and martyrdom because of their faith. He told them:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20).
They could only do this through the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling them. The day of Pentecost would come, and the Holy Spirit would be poured out upon them. The word “world” is from the Greek word “aiōn,” meaning “age.” At the end of the “church age” (at the Rapture), the Holy Spirit will no longer indwell people but will still be active in drawing people to faith. Most translations use age instead of world. The disciples had their marching orders; they obeyed through the power of the Holy Spirit, and we are blessed today because of them. We have those same marching orders and the same Holy Spirit dwelling in us. We need to get busy. The end of the church age is coming.
The Holy Spirit was there in the beginning, and He will be there at the end. Don’t deny His power, and heed the marching orders from Christ. Preach the word.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
Recommended prophecy sites:
All original Scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).