• Lecture on Genesis(14)

    Spiritual Beings(3) [Genesis 1:1]
    2009.11.06 | Pastor Emeritus Jaerock Lee
    • Scripture

      Genesis 1:1
      [1] In the beginning God created heavens and the earth

      Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

      This is 14th Lecture on Genesis.
      In the last lecture, I introduced a few of the archangels to you.
      They are the Archangel Gabriel and the Archangel Michael. There is also an archangel in charge of finance, and another archangel in charge of construction.
      I also told you that there are angels that receive the incense of your prayers, and now I'm going to give you more explanation about this.
      Revelation 8:3-4 says, "And another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand."
      Let's say the entire congregation gathers for the Daniel Prayer Meeting.
      Each one of you is assigned an angel that puts the aroma of your prayer into a vessel.
      (This vessel looks like a flower basin; its shape is broad-based and low in depth)
      By the way, the thickness and density of the aroma of each person is different.
      If it is the prayer of love from the depth of the heart in perfect faith, the aroma is thick and dense.
      However, the prayer of the one who still hasn't cast off much flesh is thin and faint.
      That's why the size of each of the vessels prepared by the angel receiving the incense is different.
      The thick and dense aroma of prayer should be put into a big vessel, but the thin and faint aroma, into a small vessel.
      The aroma of prayer that all these angels receive is put into a golden censer on the upper altar.
      Usually there are two golden censers, one on each end of the upper altar, but at times there is only one.
      Then, a higher ranked angel takes these golden censers into the air, and hands them over to an even higher ranked angel.
      This angel that takes over these golden censers conveys them to the archangel that is in charge of prayers.
      Then, this archangel in charge brings the aroma of prayer in the huge censer to the golden altar before the throne of God.
      There are many levels like this among the angels in charge of prayer, and they work precisely according to the order.
      By the way, chances are that the aroma of certain prayer may not go up.
      It is the case when people pray with selfish motives or with sin.
      Psalm 66:18 says, " If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear."
      The prayer that is proper before God can be conveyed in the form of aroma, but the prayer that is not cannot.
      The reason is that the enemy devil and Satan that has control over the air interrupts the prayer of a sinner or the prayer with selfish motives so that it cannot be conveyed.
      In addition, the golden censer itself has a function of measuring the aroma of prayer.
      In a rice mill, you can find a machine that separates stones out of rice.
      BY the same token, the golden censer itself has a function of rejecting the aroma of prayer that is not proper.
      Therefore, I hope that you will give truthful prayer from the depth of your heart in faith and love, and receive abundant answers and blessings.
      Dear brothers and sisters.
      Now, I'm going to tell you the names and roles of the 3 archangels that are under the direct supervision of God.
      When God named these 3 archangels, He put special meanings in the names.
      God made the whole spiritual realm understand what these 3 archangels are from their names.
      Now, what are the names of 3 archangels?
      First of all, God used a word "Luci" as a prefix to the names of the 3 archangels.
      And He added '-fer,' '-ah,' '-el' respectively and named them "Lucifer," "Luciah," and "Luciel."
      In Heaven, however, the names of 3 archangels are not pronounced as you may pronounce them now.
      They are just translated into a language of this earth so that we can understand.
      "Luci" means "Light."
      It means that 3 archangels specially belong to God the Trinity who is Light itself.
      And so, among the countless number of angels, God used "Luci" only for these 3 archangels' names.
      From the names of these 3 archangels, we can understand what their roles are in Heaven.
      Their names imply that they are beings serving God in the closest proximity to God. They gave off the soft-sweet and feminine essence and were the counterparts who could share their hearts with God and talk with a heart of God. They could move the heart of God and share love with Him.
      God reveals from their names that they serve God in a close distance and receive special love from God.
      Now, how did 3 archangels serve God the Trinity?
      If you can imagine how Mary Magdalene served Jesus, you can also understand how they served.
      Mary Magdalene understood the heart of the Lord and served Him with utmost love and perfect obedience.
      Even if no one recognized her service, she didn't feel mistreated. She found full happiness in serving the Lord.
      Likewise, with the same soft and good heart, the 3 archangels also served God the trinity and gave joy and happiness to Him.
      And so, God the Father gave them special appellation.
      God gave them equally the appellation "the morning star."
      That's why a plural form, "the morning stars" was used in Job 38:7.
      Of course, "the morning stars" in this verse refer only to Luciah and Luciel.
      I will tell you the reason later, but you may figure it out while listening to this lecture.
      You may be reminded of the Lord if you hear "the morning star," and I will also come to this later.
      At dawn "the morning star" is the most beautifully shining of stars.
      Therefore, from this appellation, God revealed once again that the 3 archangels were very lovely and special beings to God the Trinity like the morning star.
      This appellation, "a morning star" can be compared to a decoration or order of merit in this world.
      This country confers a "Tae-Guk" decoration upon a person who contributes greatly to this country.
      Likewise, the fact itself that they were given the appellation, "the morning star" shows what kind of beings they were and how great their dignity and authority was.
      In fact, the 3 archangels were in a very high position in the spiritual realm, and they also had great authority.
      BY the way, there were ranks among the 3 archangels as well.
      God made Lucifer their head.
      The reason was that Lucifer served God the Father in particular among God the Trinity.
      The next was Luciah who served God the Son, and the last was Luciel who served God the Holy Spirit.
      Likewise, there were ranks among the 3 archangels.
      Well, even though there were ranks, they didn't have a relationship of giving and obeying orders.
      Since there was such an order, they could serve each other, and respect each other.
      God gave humanity only to these 3 archangels among all the angels.
      All the 3 archangels had truly soft, good, and beautiful hearts.
      The words out of their mouths were full of the fragrance of goodness, and their attitude was elegant.
      They were not short of anything in service to God the Trinity in a close proximity.
      However, these 3 archangels are a little bit different in characteristics.
      The head of the three, Lucifer, is much stronger in heart than the other 2 archangels.
      The heart of Luciah and Luciel is softer, and more gentle and delicate. Among the two, Luciel is even more delicate in heart than Luciah, and Luciel is more easily touched in heart and sheds tears quite often.
      You may be wondering whether an angel can shed tears.
      Since the 3 archangels have humanity, they can feel sorrow, pain, and joy.
      Unlike Lucifer, Luciah and Luciel are delicate in heart and share similar characteristics, and so they are consolation to each other.
      When Luciel sheds tears, Luciah, who is stronger in heart than Luciel. caresses Luciel.
      These 2 archangels understand each other, and they open their hearts to talk to each other.
      Among the three, Lucifer served God the Father and was greatly loved.
      Lucifer's main duty was to serve God the Father, but Lucifer was also in charge of Music.
      Lucifer praised God with a beautiful voice and various instruments and glorified God.
      Lucifer also pleased the heart of God the Father with sweet conversation.
      This time, I'd like to share a poem of praise that Lucifer gave to God the Father.
      "Mysterious is the Light that has existed from the beginning.
      He has shined the original light on all things, and unfolded His providence He harbored and planned in His heart.
      He separated His Sons, and created beautiful angels to accomplish His desire.
      His name alone is high, and His glory is outstanding in heavens and earth.
      He is worthy to receive praises, and He dwells in His glorious name among praises. As He receives the praises, His grace is overflowing.
      He is outstanding over all things, He searches all hearts in His dignity. He was alone the Original, but He loved us to divide His light and to outstretch His love.
      Praise Him, Praise His holy name, and praise His beauty.
      With these thin lips and with the words of the one who receives the love of Father, praise His name.
      Praise my LORD who receives the praises and rejoices.
      The ONE who exists of Himself, He alone thought of all things, and created this beautiful world He had had in His heart.
      Beautiful is His grace that lets us praise His holy name as He unrolls all things to us like this.
      He is worthy to receive praise. He is the mysterious Light.
      There is no end in His greatness and brightness. It is more than sufficient to shake the whole Heaven.
      The providence of God the Father and the plan of the Lord are forever.
      Gloriously majestic. Gloriously majestic. Everything in Him is gloriously majestic!"
      This praise was dedicated to God the Father who is the Creator, and Master, the origin of life, and who alone worthy to receive praises.
      Lucifer's praise like this flowed from the front of God's throne, and it spread throughout the whole spiritual world.
      Archangel Lucifer always praised God the Father with such beautiful words like this.
      Lucifer played the harp and lyre, and praised God the Holy Father with clean, clear, and beautiful voice.
      God the Father was truly pleased with Lucifer's praises, and He loved Lucifer so much.
      However, as Lucifer received such utmost love of God, Lucifer gradually became arrogant in heart.
      Ezekiel 28:13-15 talks about such Lucifer likening to the king of Tyre.
      The words of the Bible may contain double or sometimes triple meanings.
      It says, "You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering£º The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; the lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; and the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in you. (it shows how much beautifully Lucifer was adorned with many jewels.)
      "On the day that you were created they were prepared." (It tells us that Lucifer was created to praise God the Father with the various instruments.)
      "You were the anointed cherub who covers, and I placed you [there.] You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked in the midst of the stones of fire. (It calls Lucifer "the anointed cherub". I'll tell you later why it calls Lucifer who was an archangel a 'cherub' when I get to cherubim.)
      "You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you."
      It refers to the situation in which Lucifer was walking the right way in the beginning, but later Lucifer's heart was changed.
      Lucifer became arrogant in heart, and finally planned to betray God.
      And there was a moment for Lucifer to put the plan into actual practice.
      It was the incident that Lucifer was given the appellation, "the morning star."
      When God the Father gave Lucifer the appellation, "the morning star," Lucifer started to reveal the arrogance that Lucifer had piled up little by little.
      By the way, I said the appellation, "the morning star" was given not only to Lucifer but also to Luciah and Luciel.
      The 3 archangels were equally given the glorious appellation, but Lucifer alone became arrogant.
      Luciah and Luciel were rather indebted in heart.
      The reason was that this appellation, "the Morning Star" was originally given to God the Son who is one with God the Father.
      In Revelation 22:16, the Lord says, "I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star."
      The morning star, Venus, is the star that shines most brightly in the sky at dawn.
      As the morning star rises, the darkness soon vanishes, as the brightness of the day comes on the earth.
      Likewise, the fact that God the Son came to the earth as Jesus is spiritually the same as the bright light coming unto this dark world.
      For this, John 1:9 says about our Jesus, "There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
      Jesus came to this earth as the true light. He completed the providence of the salvation of the cross, and He became the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
      God the Father foreknew that God the Son would play such an important role in the history of human cultivation, and so gave Him the appellation, "the Morning Star."
      Of course, the time when God gave this appellation to the Lord was before Venus was created.
      Along with Venus, the morning star, the entire solar system was created on the fourth day of creation.
      God the Father knew that once the works of creation were completed, Venus would be the most brightly shining object in the sky at dawn.
      And so, among the many stars, God gave the appellation to God the son after the name of Venus, "the morning star".
      Even the people of the world may call someone "a rising star."
      It is the expression that people use when someone who was not previously recognized is brought into sudden prominence by showing special ability.
      Likewise, "the morning star" is the most glorious appellation that was originally given to God the Son who is one with God the Origin.
      Moreover, it is the appellation implying that God the Son would play the important role in the history of human cultivation.
      Such a glorious appellation was given to the 3 archangels.
      Well, I said that the reason God gave the appellation "the morning star" to the 3 archangels was to show that they were special beings that received special love of God.
      Yet this level of glory was different from that when God the Son was given the appellation.
      Nevertheless, Luciah and Luciel were indebted as they were given the same appellation that was given to God the Son even thought they were creatures. .
      However, to Lucifer it was different.
      Lucifer thought he was now equal to the Son of God, and it made the arrogance in his heart grow stronger.
      When people are praised, they react differently.
      Some feel overwhelmed and appreciative and they try harder to become worthy of receiving such praise.
      On the other hand, some others become arrogant in heart as they are praised.
      They speak and behave belittling and looking down on others.
      People's hearts are different like this.
      Lucifer fell into the latter category, becoming arrogant when receiving praise.
      Dear brothers and sisters.
      Even though Lucifer was an angel, he was treated like a son by God the Father.
      Isaiah 14:12 says, "O star of the morning, son of the dawn."
      Here, "star of the morning" is "the morning star" and it refers to Lucifer.
      This verse also calls Lucifer "son of the dawn."
      I said Lucifer is a female-like angel, but why this verse calls him "son"?
      Even though an angel is male-like, God has never called any angel "son."
      It is just as Hebrews 1:5 says, "For to which of the angels did He ever say, "THOU ART MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN THEE"? And again, "I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME"?"
      Then, why is it that in the Bible, Isaiah, calls Lucifer "son"?
      There is a spiritual reason.
      Even in this world, chances are that parents take care of a child as their own even though they didn't give birth to the child.
      When the child later serves and loves his parents, and becomes faithful, they may say, "You are like a son to us."
      The reason God the Father gave the appellation, "the morning star" is similar to this.
      What kind of being was Lucifer to God the Father?
      He always walked together with God the Father, and shared the love of God the Father.
      With singing and playing, he praised the glory of God. He was faithful and lovely enough to touch the heart of God the Father.
      Therefore, God the Father's utmost love was given to Lucifer, and he was also given both authority and dignity.
      God the Father treated Lucifer the equivalent of a son.
      But it doesn't mean that Lucifer was an actual son of God, and a male.
      Since Lucifer was given such great authority and dignity which could be compared to that of the Son of God, he was called "Son."
      Then, why was he not called just "a son," but "son of the dawn"?
      Here, "the dawn" means to revive all things, to shine on all things, and to become hope for all things.
      God the Father wanted Lucifer to play a role like this.
      Therefore, "son of the dawn" was such a glorious appellation.
      To God the Father, Lucifer was such a precious being, and he was treated like a son.
      However, when he was given another appellation, "the morning star" that was originally given to God the Son, the arrogance in heart finally came out.
      Such arrogant heart of Lucifer is well recorded in Isaiah 14:12-14.
      It reads, ""How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations! But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. 'I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'"
      In the end, Lucifer rebelled against God to become lifted more highly than God.
      One question may arise here.
      Since God the Father is omnipotent and omniscient, almighty and foreknowing of all things, then He must have known Lucifer would be arrogant. Then, why did He give such great love and glory to Lucifer?
      This is contained deep within the love and justice of God the Father.
      God the Father treated Lucifer like a son, and gave him the appellation "the morning star" within His justice.
      God the Father says, "I love those who love me."
      At that time, Lucifer was worthy to receive such great love of God the Father.
      If someone is worthy to receive reward, but not receive it, then it is against this law of justice.
      Moreover, God the Father is love itself, and so even when we give a little joy to God, He repays us with greater blessing.
      I said Lucifer always gave joy and happiness to God the Father.
      Therefore, it was natural that God the Father gave great love and glory to Lucifer.
      Even though such great love and glory were to be given, whether or not Lucifer would change in heart was completely up to Lucifer's freewill.
      Even though Luciah and Luciel were equally given the same appellation, their hearts were not changed.
      Our Jesus also loved Judas Iscariot till the end.
      Even though He knew Judas Iscariot would steal from Him, Jesus put Judas Iscariot in charge of the money box. Jesus tried to bring him to understanding until the very end.
      Likewise, God the Father also knew that Lucifer would become arrogant, and betray God by wanting to be lifted up higher than God.
      Despite the fact, He treated Lucifer as a son, and gave him the appellation, "the morning star." From this, we can feel the deep love of God the Father.
      In addition, there is another deep thought of God the Father here.
      Let me give you an example here.
      Referring to someone who displays a superb talent in a field of sports or entertainment and becomes very popular, we call such a man "a super star."
      If an athlete wants to be a super star, he has to defeat someone who is at the same level of a super star.
      I explained that God the Father gave the appellation "the morning star" to God the Son because He knew God the Son would play a very important role in the history of human cultivation.
      And God the Father also knew that Lucifer would challenge Him.
      That's why God the Father gave Lucifer the appellation.
      God the Father gave Lucifer an opportunity to challenge God the Son, who is the true "Morning Star" on the stage, of what is known as "Human Cultivation."
      To make human cultivation set in justice, there must be the world of evil, which is against the world of goodness, and the world of darkness, against the world of light.
      God the Father allowed Lucifer to stand as the head of evil spirits against God during the period of human cultivation.
      Unlike the heart of God the Father who wants to save just one more soul, Lucifer tries to drag just one more soul to Hell.
      The role of Lucifer is evil like this, but it is definitely necessary for the true human cultivation.
      God the Father knew that Lucifer would play such an important role in the history of human cultivation as this, and gave Lucifer the appellation, "the morning star."
      Since Lucifer couldn't manage the rebellion alone, however, Lucifer started to gather cherubim serving near God.
      This is why you should know about cherubim.
      In the next lecture, I will explain about these cherubim, and also tell you how Lucifer devised the rebellion in great detail.
      Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
      I told you about the 3 archangels who were under the direct supervision of God.
      Especially, I explained in detail about Lucifer who was loved so much by God the Father.
      Even though Lucifer was treated as a son by God the Father and received God's great love, he now became the head of evil spirits.
      God the Father loved Lucifer so much that He gave Lucifer freewill, and allowed him enjoy great authority and glory.
      However, in his freewill, Lucifer became arrogant in heart and ended up standing against God.
      If Lucifer had had a humble heart like Luciah and Luciel, he would be enjoying great glory nearby God the Father.
      You should learn a lesson from this.
      With the freewill given to you, what do you think about from moment to moment and what kind of heart do you have?
      You surely know what kind of heart, thoughts, words, and deeds God truly wants.
      May you love God from the depth of your heart, and devote even your freewill to God to the point of living the life that God truly wants you to live, in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, I pray!

      [Amen]




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