[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

A Time of Troubles

The COVID pandemic has wreaked havoc all over the world. Think about how far reaching its effects have been, in a relatively short time. It’s destroyed businesses. It’s weakened whole economies. And stimulus packages have caused national debts to rise higher than ever. COVID’s effects have been seen in the political arena as well. COVID policies have caused controversy in local and national politics. Frustration has erupted into public protests and even riots. And of course, the disease has taken the lives of millions of people. It has caused the suffering of people in virtually every corner of the globe, being especially hard on the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.

As time goes on, many are putting their hope in vaccines to turn the tide on this crisis. And vaccines are being rolled out and distributed, to the relief of many. Others are resigned to riding it out until populations reach herd immunity, when most people will have been exposed to the disease. In either case, many believe at some point things will get back to normal.

But will they?

What if the COVID pandemic goes on longer than we expect? What if new, more contagious strains develop that are resistant to vaccines? Or, what if this is only the beginning of far worse diseases we have never dreamed of?

This program isn’t going to forecast never-ending doom and gloom. That’s not our belief or our focus. There is a lot of good news to talk about. God has a plan for our world. But we also must be realistic and face the future honestly. Something that is all too rare today.

We tell you the truth at Tomorrow’s World. And that truth involves warnings about perilous times to come, and the hope that springs from the pages of your Bible.

Long Term Effects of COVID-19 on the World

At the beginning of 2020, the COVID pandemic hit with a vengeance. Within a matter of months, nations all over the world were scrambling to react to the crisis. The pandemic has been blamed for a multitude of problems, including a spike in mental illness. Notice what the New York Times magazine reported on January 21, 2021:

“Even before we entered this darkest of winters, when Covid-19 is relentlessly causing more and more sickness and death — not to mention additional stress, isolation and economic pain — there was evidence suggesting that significantly more people have thought about ending their lives during the pandemic than in recent years” (Will the Pandemic Result in More Suicides?” NYTimes.com, January 21, 2021).

Only time will tell how greatly this pandemic has affected the mental health of people all over the world. But early signs are not good.

The COVID pandemic also punched massive holes in economies around the world. How bad is it? Notice what was reported in The Economist magazine on January 9, 2021:

“The economic toll of the covid-19 pandemic is incalculable... The semi-annual Global Economic Prospects report released this week... calculates that the world economy probably shrank by 4.3% in 2020, a setback matched only by the Depression and the two world wars. But this dramatic figure still understates the cost. It measures the world economy’s fall from where it was before the pandemic, not from where it would have been had the virus not spread” (“What is the economic cost of covid-19?” Economist.com, January 7, 2021).

How bad will it get? The article goes on to say the crisis could ultimately be responsible for $10 trillion of lost revenue in economies around the world, in 2020 and 2021. These are not theoretical numbers. Most of us have friends or family who have lost businesses or wages. We’ve seen it first-hand. Or, we’ve experienced it ourselves. It’s a serious crisis.

And, of course, the disease itself has taken the lives of people all over the world. The “Our World in Data” website tracks this. According to their figures, 2.47 million people have died around the world because of COVID, as of February 21, 2021 (“Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19),” Statistics and Research, OurWorldinData.org). Most of us have been touched by this disease to one degree or another. Maybe you’ve watched a friend suffer or even die. Perhaps your own spouse, or a parent. You may have contracted it yourself. We can’t overstate the suffering some have experienced because of this disease.

We can all agree, this crisis has been a crushing blow to millions around the world. The hope is that the worst is behind us. But even if it is, even if new variants don’t arise, what about the future? Will it really be over?

As I said in the beginning, we need to look squarely at reality. Scientists expect more extreme diseases to come, from viruses we’ve never faced. Back in 2018, the Economist ran an article that talked about “disease X.” Disease X was a theoretical pathogen, named by the World Health Organization, to represent a yet unknown disease. The author states:

“By listing Disease X, an undetermined disease, the WHO is acknowledging that outbreaks do not always come from an identified source and that, as it admits, “a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease” (“What is Disease X?” Economist.com, May 23, 2018).

What a statement! Who would have known, back in 2018, what we’d be going through today. What the WHO was trying to do was prepare not just for diseases they knew about, but those that are as yet unknown. But what is that saying? What that means is they expected new diseases to arise. And the lesson recent history has taught us is a new virus can plow into the world like a tornado. What about the next one?

In more recent times, other virus hunters have echoed the same thing. Peter Piot (“Pea - Uht”), is a special advisor on the coronavirus to the European Commission President. He’s a well-known micro-biologist from Belgium who has spent much of his life studying viruses. His most notable work was playing a role in discovering the ebola virus. On September 23, 2020 an interview of him was posted by the Politico website. It was entitled, “Belgian virus hunter warns of looming ‘age of pandemics’.” Notice what Mr. Piot said in this interview:

“The frequency of epidemics is ‘really increasing,’ he noted, with many of these viruses — like SARS and Ebola — coming from animals. Viruses that might have remained local could be spreading more easily due to widespread travel, he suggested. ‘But now, something happens in a city that most people never heard of — Wuhan — and boom, goes to the whole world,’ he said... Piot said that he spent the last six years giving speeches titled: ‘Are we ready for the next pandemic?’” (“Belgian virus hunter warns of looming ‘age of pandemics,’” Politico.eu, September 23, 2020).

You may recall that our lead presenter Gerald Weston also explained the source of many of these viruses, on a previous telecast. It was entitled, “Why Does God Allow Pandemics?” In that telecast, he explained that many viruses come not just from animals, but from humans eating animals God never intended to be eaten. The Bible calls them “unclean.” If you’d like to review that telecast, you can find it on TomorrowsWorld.org.

Mr. Piot has been warning the world for years. Were we ready for COVID? Is he correct when he says we may be entering an age of pandemics?

This is not the first time we’ve been warned about diseases on the horizon. In the early 1990s, my wife had a microbiology college professor tell his class that he worried about the future. His concern was the overuse of antibiotics, and the growth of viruses resistant to antibiotics. He said, “We may come to a point where we are forced to go back to praying at the bedside of the sick.”

What a statement. Do you realize you don’t have to wait for a deadly illness to ask for God’s merciful healing?

Future Outbreaks Predicted

The experts tell us we should expect unknown diseases in the future. And frankly, they’ve been warning us for years. It’s not if, but when. And because of our modern transportation, it’s very difficult to limit an outbreak to one place. It quickly spreads all over the world.

I quoted from scientific experts in the last segment, but now let’s look at Bible prophecy. What do we learn from the Bible?

Way back at the time of Moses, God issued harsh warnings to the ancient nation of Israel if they would disobey Him. Notice what it says in Deuteronomy 28:58–59:

“If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues—great and prolonged plagues—and serious and prolonged sicknesses” (Deuteronomy 28:58–59).

Longtime viewers of Tomorrow’s World know the Bible shows many of our Western nations today are actually descendants of the ancient nation of Israel. And much of prophecy is dual. There is an end-time fulfillment, as well.

More and more Western cultures blatantly disregard biblical values of human life and sexuality and morality. Greed, pride, and violence are the norm. As our sins mount, God may allow more diseases to come on us to wake us up!

Now, does this mean every time someone gets sick and even dies, it’s divine judgment? No. We all age and will grow old if we live long enough! And all of us will suffer from SOME health issues at some point in our life. And we will even die—that’s part of life.

At the same time, we’ve got to realize, God in His word says He sometimes uses disease epidemics to get His people’s attention. Notice, going on, in Deuteronomy 28:60:

“Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the Lord bring upon you until you are destroyed” (Deuteronomy 28:60–61).

Bible prophecy also shows judgments coming on the whole world, as a result of sin. Toward the end of Jesus’ ministry, His disciples asked Him what would be the sign of His coming. After warning of deception and wars, notice what He said in Matthew 24:7–8:

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:7–8).

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines pestilence as:

“[A] contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating” (“Pestilence,” Merriam-Webster.com).

Note this carefully. This is not us claiming to know what the future holds; it’s a direct prophecy coming from the words of your Savior, Jesus of Nazareth. These are HIS words, and if we are a believer in Jesus Christ, we need to take note. Disease epidemics will come.

Now, He didn’t say we should be anxious and worried about it. In fact, in verse 6 He said, “See that you are not troubled.” Through Christ, we can have peace—even in difficult times to come. But we also must take His warning seriously.

Toward the end of the first century, the Apostle John saw a vision of the future. He recorded it in the Book of Revelation. After the prophesied seven seals, and the seven trumpet plagues, we read of the “seven last plagues.” Notice how the fifth plague is described, in Revelation 16:10–11:

“Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds” (Revelation 16:10–11).

We humans can be extremely hard headed. Even when the last plagues come, to wake up a sinning mankind, some will stubbornly refuse to repent of their sins.

Turning to God for Healing—How Strong is Your Faith?

So, what should we do?

Let’s face it, we are all physical. We all are subject to the ravages of time, age and at some point, disease.At some point we will die. It’s the normal cycle of life and death. But because we are physical, and our God is loving, He has also given us the blessing of divine healing.

When Jesus began His ministry, He immediately began preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God. But He also cast out demons and healed the sick. People came from all over to be healed. He saw their suffering and had compassion on them.

Let’s look at one particular case. A ruler came and asked Him to help his young daughter. She was sick and close to death. Jesus agreed to go with him, but on the way, something else happened. This is found in Mark 5:25–26:

“Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse” (Mark 5:25–26).

There are always those who are ready to prey on the vulnerable. That hasn’t changed, has it? At the same time, we know of outstanding examples in the medical field today who use their expertise and training to really serve their fellow man. Many of them have put their lives on the line in this time, fighting infectious diseases; for that, we’re grateful.

But think about it. No matter how dedicated physicians may be, they are still limited. There are times when they have done all they can do, and can do no more. They cannot heal in the ultimate sense. Only God can heal. And Jesus did heal this woman. Mark 5:27:

“When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well”” (Mark 5:27–28).

And He did make her well. That’s the power Jesus had. That’s the power of your and my Savior. And He still does heal—I’ve personally witnessed that in my life. And maybe you have, too. That needs to be real to us. Because He is real.

Jesus proceeded to the house of the ruler who had requested His help. When He got there, He heard the sad news: the little girl had already died. In fact, there were already mourners in the house. We pick up the story in Mark 5:36:

“As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, ‘Do not be afraid; only believe.’… Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly.… But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying” (Mark 5:36, 38, 40).

Notice, when Jesus healed, He didn’t make a big show of it. There was no fanfare, no spotlight, no sleight-of-hand. In fact, as we see here, He made all those who were wailing and carrying on leave the house. Then, those remaining were just a few, with the parents. It was a quiet, private matter. And this is what He did, as told in Mark 5:41:

“Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, ‘Talitha, cumi,’ which is translated, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise.’ Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat” (Mark 5:41–43).

He healed her. Actually, He raised her from the dead! Not with a lot of noise and production. In fact, He told them, don’t make a big deal of this to others! He wasn’t seeking a crowd. Healing was a part of His MINISTRY, as a sign of Who He was. And, He did it simply out of compassion for these desperate people.

Does God heal today? Absolutely. Notice what James 5:14–15 says:

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up” (James 5:14–15).

The Living Church of God has dedicated ministers around the globe. One of their duties is to pray over the sick and anoint them with oil. It’s not a strange or unusual ritual. It’s just a simple, quiet prayer with the one who is sick and the anointing of the person with a tiny bit of olive oil. It’s done just as it says here in James 5:14. God does heal. I’ve seen it myself, with my own eyes.

Now, are there times when we ask for God’s healing and we don’t get better immediately? Absolutely. We must understand, God has a plan for us. And His ultimate priority is to get us into His kingdom. And that means He sometimes allows us to suffer, to learn about trusting Him and having faith in Him. Paul learned that when He asked God for deliverance from a trial and was not delivered. Notice the answer from God to Paul, in 2 Corinthians 12:9:

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

We sometimes learn the most by learning to wait and be patient. Even so, God does want us to ask when we need help.

And notice something else. As it describes in Acts 19:11, there were times when Paul could not pray over someone in person, and in those cases he would pray over and anoint a cloth that would then be sent to that person, who would then apply the cloth to themselves in prayer. Let’s read it together:

“Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them” (Acts 19:11–12).

The Living Church of God follows that practice as well, sending out anointed cloths to those who ask, in genuine faith, to be healed.

Jesus Christ Cares About Your Health and Future

Earlier in today’s program, I mentioned the micro-biology professor saying there would come a time when we would again have to pray at the bedside of the sick. But think about it; Are we only going to do that when we are absolutely forced to? Or, can we begin to seek God now, every day, to guide us and teach us—and heal us—when we’re sick? The answer is obvious; God wants us to seek Him now.

In John 10:10, notice what Jesus Christ said, as recorded by the apostle John:

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

God wants to give us eternal life, through the resurrection. But He also wants us to enjoy the blessings of life now—and that includes divine healing.

Look to God. Realize that COVID may just be a blip on the radar. But we can be prepared for whatever comes next, if we have faith and trust in God.

Hey, it’s me again! Thank you for watching and remember to subscribe so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video, and if you’d like a copy of our free booklet Does God Heal Today? go to TWtv.org/heal or click the link in the description. See you next time.

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

Spirits Are Real. What Do You Know About Them?

There is more to the world than what we can see. Beyond the physical realm we can see, touch, feel, and hear, there is an invisible realm—the spirit world, inhabited by both angels and demons. This world impacts us in many ways, but truth about it is sparse. Most people’s beliefs about angels and demons are built upon rumors, speculations, and bad religion. However, Almighty God—the Creator of the spirit world—reveals the truth we need in His word.

Join us right now on Tomorrow’s World as we look at six myths about angels and demons and expose them to the light of Scripture.

Real Spirit Beings, Distinct from Humanity

Greetings, and welcome to Tomorrow’s World, where we help you make sense of your world through the pages of the Bible. And when it comes to making sense of your world, that includes the INVISIBLE part of your world—the SPIRIT world. Today we will look at six myths that many people believe about angels and demons and replace them with the truth of God’s word.

We’ll also give you the opportunity to request a completely free DVD titled “The Occult and the Spirit World.” Be sure to take note of the information we’ll provide so you know how to get your own free copy.

When it comes to angels and demons, regrettably, myths and misunderstandings abound! So many people believe so many different things about these denizens of the spirit realm. But we don’t need to guess, nor do we need to shrug our shoulders and say we simply don’t know. Because if anyone knows the TRUTH about the spirit realm, and about angels and demons, it’s God. And He reveals that truth in his word. So, without further ado, let’s jump right in.

Myth #1: Our first myth is that there is no such thing as the Devil or demons. [That] Satan is just a symbol for evil in the world.

This sort of statement is commonly made by individuals who see themselves as too “enlightened” to believe in tales of a “pointy-tailed” devil with a pitchfork and horns, and by those who have innocently believed them.

But it is false. There IS a very real devil. He is alive. He is intelligent. He is evil. And He is a spirit being who influences people, governments, and events in this world. On this fact, the Bible is extremely plain.

Jesus speaks very plainly of this malevolent entity in many passages, such as in Matthew 12. There, the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting demons out by the power of the devil, and Jesus responds,

Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? (vv. 25–26).

So, not only is Satan referred to as a very real individual here, but Jesus also notes that he has a kingdom of demons under him.

And in Luke 22:31, we read of a warning Jesus gave to Simon Peter about how the devil had set his sights on the disciple:

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.”

We will speak more about the personhood and personality of Satan later in the program. But, clearly, the Bible and the Son of God, Himself, speak of the devil and his demons as real, personal entities, not some vague, impersonal “force” or “evil influence.” Such beliefs are simply myths.

Myth #2: So here is our next myth: Angels are the spirits of dead human beings.

This is a common belief among more people than you might think. Pop culture reinforces the idea, going back, for instance, to the old 1959 song “Teen Angel” and the 1969 movie “The Littlest Angel.” But the idea persists, and some think that, when good people die, they BECOME angels in heaven. Sometimes at a funeral or speaking with a loved one of a recently deceased person, you will hear words of comfort, for instance, in which someone says that, quote, “Heaven has gained another angel.”

But this is a myth, and wrong on many accounts. First, upon death, humans do not live again until their resurrection. This fact of a future resurrection is made plain in many places in your Bible, such as Paul’s comment to Felix in Caesarea:

I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust (Acts 24:15).

Even so, it is also incorrect because human beings and angels are completely DIFFERENT categories of living beings. Humans are created in God’s own image with a startling potential NOT to be angels, but to be a part of God’s own family, inheriting all things under Jesus Christ.

As for angels, they were created—among other possible reasons—to SERVE mankind. In the book of Hebrews, chapter 1, we read,

And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire”… Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? (vv. 7, 14).

Angels are to SERVE, at God’s direction, human beings who will inherit salvation. That inheritance highlights the difference between humans and angels, when we understand it. Actually, the difference between angels and humans is far bigger than this, but we’ll discuss that later in our program.

So, are angels the spirits of dead human beings? Not at all. Mankind and “angelkind” are completely different kinds of beings. While they may have some similarities—such as intelligence, moral accountability, and free will—one does NOT come from the other.

Dangerous to Humans, Subservient to God

Myth #3: Satan is God’s opposite, balancing God’s good with the devil’s evil.

Some myths have a seed of truth to them, and this one does. Satan’s CHARACTER is certainly the opposite of God’s in many ways. While God cannot lie and Christ, the Son of God, is called a “life-giving spirit,” the devil is called the father of lies and “a murderer from the beginning.”

But the idea that, somehow, God and the devil “balance our universe” with good and evil, as if Satan is sort of an eternal “anti-God”—like the eastern idea of Yin and Yang—gives the devil far too much credit.

Satan the Devil is a CREATED being, far less powerful than the All-Powerful God, though he was not created AS the devil. No, God created an angel called, in most English Bibles, “Lucifer,” who eventually rebelled against his Creator. We see one of the descriptions of this given in Ezekiel 28. There, in the midst of a passage containing prophecies about the ruler of the ancient city of Tyre, God inspires the prophet Ezekiel to address the demonic power BEHIND the throne, as well, Satan the Devil. Through the prophet, the Lord says to him,

You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you (vv. 14–15).

Pride, vanity, and selfish ambition corrupted the wisdom of this being (vv. 16–17) until he rose in rebellion against his Creator. Isaiah 14 records his rebellious thoughts, as God says through the prophet in verses 13 and 14,

For you have said in your heart: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.”

The result is a thunderous and disastrous defeat for the corrupted angel—just as rebellion against God ALWAYS brings. We have more details for you about this angelic rebellion and the origins of the devil in today’s free DVD, “The Occult and the Spirit World.” But for now, suffice it to say that there is no equality between God and the Devil in any sense. While God has existed forever and is all powerful, Satan has a beginning and is NOT all powerful. In fact, a time is coming when he will be restrained forever, able to influence others no more for the rest of time. We pray that day comes soon!

Myth #4: In the meantime, let’s look at myth number four: Cherubs look like sweet little children with wings.

It is hard to get farther off the mark than this myth does. Most of us have seen paintings, statues, or other depictions of so-called “cherubs.” They look like sweet, innocent infants or children, often wearing little clothing and usually flying about with little wings.

However, “cherubs”—or /ker’əb/ as it would be more properly pronounced—are nothing like these depictions AT ALL. Cherubs are very real spirit beings—angels who attend to God at His very throne in heaven and serve at His command. Genesis 3:24 tells us that after God expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, He placed cherubs on the east side of the garden with a flaming sword, preventing mankind from reentering. That doesn’t exactly sound like the job for a bunch of winged infants, does it? It isn’t. Because cherubs are NOT winged infants. We read a description of them in the book of Ezekiel. There, the curtain between us and the spirit world is parted for Ezekiel, and he is allowed to see these beings who are normally hidden from our sight. Here is his description of angelic beings who serve at God’s throne:

And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves’ feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze. The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings.… As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle… Their wings stretched upward; two wings of each one touched one another, and two covered their bodies… [T]heir appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning (Ezekiel 1:5–8, 10–11, 13).

Now, THAT sounds like something that could wield a flaming sword and keep someone out of the Garden of Eden! And Ezekiel makes plain in chapter 10 and verse 20 that these creatures are cherubs—or, as the plural is in Hebrew, cherubim.

Regrettably, popular depictions of angelic creatures are rarely meant to serve biblical accuracy. What we see in paintings, statues, and movies are generally based more on human fantasy than God’s word and meant to serve human purposes, not God’s.

In fact, in our next segment, we’ll address whether we should be representing angels at all, and what dangers may lie in doing so.

Angels Serve, While Demons Rebel

Myth #5 Is that angels and humans had offspring in the ancient past.

This myth is based on a misunderstanding of a statement in Genesis 6. Let’s take a look here in Genesis 6, beginning in verse 1:

Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.

In verse 4 it adds,

There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

Some have taken the words “sons of God” to mean angels, and they take this passage to imply that sinning angels selected human women to breed with and create a race of half-human, half-angel “hybrids.”

One reason that some believe this is a description of angels having children with human women is the use of the phrase “sons of God,” which is used in the book of Job to refer to angels.

However, the description “sons of God” is not limited to angels in the Old Testament. For instance, through Hosea God promises to Israel that, if they repent, they shall become His people again and shall be called “sons of the living God” (Hosea 1:10).

In fact, in Deuteronomy 14 and verse 1, we read that God declares to Israel, “You are the children of the LORD your God….” The English translation of the New King James Version inadvertently hides the fact that the word translated “children” is exactly the same Hebrew word that is translated “sons” in Genesis 6. So, the idea that this phrasing is used exclusively for the angels is simply false. It is also used to describe human beings.

Add to this the fact that Genesis 1 speaks of creatures reproducing only after their own kind and Jesus Christ’s statement in Luke 20 [vv. 34–36] plainly says that angels do not marry.

Even the mention of “giants” in Genesis 6 doesn’t support this myth, as nowhere does Genesis 6:4 say that the “giants” were the offspring of this union—in fact, it says that such giant humans were already in the world before these marriages. Note, it says, “There were giants on the earth in those days, AND ALSO AFTERWARD….”

There are a number of ways that Genesis 6 can be understood, but the answer must always be consistent with the REST of the Bible. As Jesus Himself warns us in John 10:35, “…the Scripture cannot be broken….”

The biblical evidence weighs heavily against this myth, which, frankly, belongs more in the realm of science fiction and perverse fantasy. In fact, to say that an angel can produce a child in the world is potentially blasphemous, given that the Bible describes only God as producing a son through the miraculous pregnancy of Mary—and a future family of sons through the Work He and His Son are doing in the Church of God that Christ founded.

Myth #6: This brings us to our sixth and final myth of today’s program: Angels can be worshiped, revered, or even prayed to.

To be sure, angels are very real spirit beings, and, as we noticed earlier, God tells us that He made them to serve and care for humanity as we progress on our path toward salvation. But we can’t allow knowing this to cause us to fixate on them or begin to give them the sort of honor that should be reserved for God alone—or to give them the kind of attention that the Bible forbids.

For instance, in the book of Revelation, when the Apostle John was overwhelmed during the vision Christ had given him, he fell down at the feet of one of the angels who was guiding him. But notice how this angel responds:

Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God” (Revelation 22:9).

That’s how righteous angels respond. They do not want attention and they recognize that only God should be worshiped. Meanwhile, how do demonic, fallen angels respond? We see that in the devil’s example at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness. Read the account in Matthew 4. There, the devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, noting that he had the power to give Jesus those kingdoms. He only asked one thing: “All these things I will give You [Satan said] if You will fall down and worship me” (v. 9).

Unlike righteous angels, who understand that only God the Father and the Son of God deserve our worship, adoration, and reverence, the fallen angels SEEK that attention and worship for themselves.

Rather than pray to angels or risk giving them a place in our lives that only God should occupy, we should do as as Jesus Christ did and resist temptation saying with Him,

Away with you, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him ONLY you shall serve” (v. 10).

This is one of many reasons why we should not decorate our home, clothing, or jewelry with images or statues of angels. Not only do such images often differ from the Bible’s descriptions of angels, but God plainly forbids crafting images of beings in heaven for religious purposes. And righteous angels have no INTEREST in being depicted, unlike Satan and the demons, who crave such attention. God’s angels redirect attention to HIM, not to themselves. In fact, the Apostle Paul notes that sometimes Christians interact with angels and aren’t even aware (Hebrews 13:2). Because righteous angels want your attention directed to their Creator, not to themselves.

Those are our six myths, but more important than all of them is one, very important TRUTH. One of the most important truths about the spirit world that few human beings on earth understand, yet every angel and demon surely does.

Mankind’s True Destiny as Part of God’s Family

As we close today, we need to discuss one more vital difference between humanity and angels—a difference we alluded to earlier in our program.

We pointed out that human beings do not become angels. But what do they become, then? The destiny of humanity is very much related to the angels and the spirit realm, but it is very different than many understand.

Consider the words of the Apostle Paul to those in ancient Corinth who were dragging their fellow Christians to worldly, pagan courts, instead of seeking wise individuals in the Church to help them settle their problems:

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? (1 Corinthians 6:2–3).

Indeed, those who yield to Jesus Christ and God the Father in this life will actually one day JUDGE ANGELS. Human beings are destined for something so much greater and more glorious than any angel will ever experience. God’s plan is not to help each of us one day “join the angels.” His plan is to help each of us join HIM—as members of the Family of God, ruling, reigning, and inheriting all things.