Matthew 24:29-35 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Answer Part Two – Sign 2: The Parousia. A Sign after the Great Oppression

Matthew 24:29-35 – Part Two – Sign 2: The Parousia. A Sign after the Great Oppression

|| Mark 13:24-31; Luke 21:25-33

MT24:29 “But immediately after the oppression[1] of those days {LK21:25 there will be signs in sun and moon and stars:} the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light[2] and the stars will fall from the heaven[3] and the heavenly dynamics will be shaken.[4] [Isaiah 13:10] {LK21:25 And upon the earth anguish of nations in perplexity (noise of an agitated sea)[5] LK21:26 men fainting from fear[6] and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth.} MT24:30 And then there will appear[7] in the sky the sign of the Son of Humankind.[8] [Daniel 12:1; Isaiah 11:12] Then all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in lamentation.[9] They will see the Son of Humankind[10] coming on the clouds of the sky[11] [Daniel 7:13, 22; 12:1] with power and much glory.[12] {LK21:28 But as these things start to occur[13] rise and look upward[14] because your deliverance is drawing near.[15]} MT24:31 And the Son of Humankind will send off his angels[16] with a great trumpet[17] and they will gather his Chosen Ones[18] from the four winds[19] {MK13:27 from the extremity of earth to heaven’s extremity} from one extreme of the sky to another extreme.[20] [Isaiah 11;12] MT24:32 {MK13:28} But learn from the fig tree,[21] {LK21:29 and all the trees,} this parable: when the branch becomes tender and the tender leaves begin to sprout you know that summer is already near. MT24:33 {MK13:29} So, also, when you see these things you will know that he is near at the doors.[22] {LK21:31 Know the Kingdom of God is near![23]} MT24:34 I tell you this truth: this generation will not pass away[24] until all these things occur. MT24:35 {LK21:33} The heaven and the earth will pass away[25] but my words will never pass away.[26]

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[1] Immediately after the oppression: An interesting and perplexing problem develops here which has been interpreted in various ways. Jesus has been dealing wholly with Jerusalem up to this point and what follows with regard to the Great Oppression can also apply to the years 66 to 70. Remembering Jesus admits to not knowing “the day and hour” when he says “immediately after” he may mean what occurs next in the prophetic stream of events, telescoping centuries or millenniums to the next important occurrence. Paul does something like this at 1 Corinthians 15:23, 24 where his words EPEITA (then) and EITA (next) may span more than a thousand years.

On the other hand, there may be an overlap as the Nazarene moves from the subject of Jerusalem’s “end” and now on to the Parousia. The events of Daniel 12:1, 2, 7 have not all been completely fulfilled. Precisely, there has been no resurrection or judgment. Thirty years after the destruction of Jerusalem the Apocalypse paraphrases Luke 21:24 with another application of three and a half years (Revelation 11:2; 13:5-7; see also Daniel 7:18-22). So there may a device used here as a transition or pivot of thought as Jesus uses this point of the Great Oppression to shift to the subject of the Parousia. Following the verse about the oppression Jesus never uses the word “end” as he has not used “arrival” (or, parousia) before the Great Oppression.

[2] The sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light: One way for God to get everyone’s attention at once is to turn out the lights, something only He could do. Obviously when Christ returns as described in the following verses it will be night on one side of the planet where mankind would be in different degrees of sleep (Luke 17:34). If the moon and stars are bedarkened the news of this will flash like lightning. Certainly it will not be longer than a dozen hours or so (except above the Arctic Circle) before this phenomenon comes to the attention of virtually everyone. Such a dark background provides a perfect backdrop for the “sign” about to appear causing the entire globe to break out in great lamentation. Jesus draws this picture from various sources which may have to do with a gloomy or dark situation: the fire and smoke from a burning city, or literal sights (Compare Isaiah 13:10; 34:4; Joel 2:31; 3:15; Amos 8:9; Acts 2:20; Revelation 6:12, 13; 8:12; 9:2). Note Peter’s use of Joel 2:31, adding the paraphrased words “last days,” at Acts 2:20 applying this darkness and rising smoke to the “last days” of Jerusalem.

[3] The stars will fall from the heaven: The word for “stars” in Greek is ASTERES and might also include asteroids. The word OURANON (heaven) may also mean the sky or atmosphere.

[4] The heavenly dynamics will be shaken: Not just an earthquake but seismic activity in the celestialum. Events hard to miss by earth’s population and with startling reactions. Some have pointed to the Space Age with its rockets, moon visits, satellites, deep solar probes, and Star Wars technology as being part of this ‘shaking.’ But, the Nazarene places all of this “after the oppression.”

[5] Sea: Many would make this symbolic of mankind (Isaiah 57:20, 21), but since that is obviously already being discussed it may be more likely that agitation of the sea is a result of solar and lunar and possibly asteroids.

[6] Fainting from fear: The one major emotion from all of this is “fear” on the part of all those who do not understand what is occurring. The reaction to these sudden events, taking place within hours, affects the entire planet. They must actually have “seen” something.

[7] Appear: Interestingly, the Jewish Tanakh version by the JPS translated Daniel 12:1, ‘At that time, the great prince, Michael, will appear.’ The Hebrew here, amad; (Strong’s #5975), may be translated “appear” according to BDBG which lists Daniel 12:1 as an example. If this be the source for Jesus’ words now he was justified in making the statements which follow his mention of the “oppression.” Compare Isaiah 11:12 where SEMEION, the disciples’ word “sign” in their question, occurs in the LXX. The context of Isaiah deals with the gathering of Israel from ‘the four corners of the earth’! Could Matthew 24:30, 31 be a conflated paraphrase of Isaiah 13:10, Daniel 12:1, and Isaiah 11:12? This would be the compound paraphrase: ‘For the stars of heaven shall not give their light and it shall be dark at sunrise and the moon shall not give her light.… And Michael will appear.… and he will lift up a sign for the nations and he will gather the lost ones of Israel from the four corners of the earth.’

[8] The sign of the Son of Humankind: Nowhere is this “sign of the Son of Man” described but many assume it will be a vision like that of Daniel 7:13 only in reverse direction. Not an ascending Son of Man, but a descending one in harmony with Daniel 7:22 and the “arrival of Yahweh” to deliver the Saints following the “great oppression.” (Daniel 7:18-22)

[9] All the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in lamentation: The peoples of the earth would not all be lamenting if they had not seen something quite startling. Compare Revelation 6:12-17.

[10] They will see the Son of Humankind: The Parousia or Arrival of Christ is visible (Hebrews 9:28). To “see” something it must be visible in some form. The Greek for “see” here is OPSONTAI the same word as at Matthew 28:7 where the disciples “see” the Risen Christ; and Revelation 22:4 where the Saints are promised they will “see” God’s face. If the Nazarene meant the idea of “mentally seeing” he could have used a word similar to NOOUMEN in Ephesians 3:20 (NWT). Note OPSONTAI is used with regard to viewing the resurrected Jesus at Matthew 28:10. At Acts 10:42 Peter says that God gave Jesus the authority to become “visible” to witnesses appointed beforehand (John 14:19). Jesus was also seen (OPSTHE) by two non-believers after his ascension (1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:7). We have discussed this, when most will find it obvious, because some Bible students developed the idea of an “invisible presence” in which Jesus does not actually “return,” though Acts 1:9-11 and Acts 3:20, 21 would make it clear he does. Jesus came to the earth and his people (John 1:9-11) having “descended” (Ephesians 4:9). He promised to return or “come again” after his “ascension” (John 6:64; Ephesians 4:9) at John 14:3. In all of these cases he actually left heaven, and was thus absent, to come to the earth to be present; and, then he leaves earth to become absent from his disciples but promises them he will “come again” and thus become present once again. Does 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 state that our Lord “descends” (or, comes down) from heaven to the “air”?

[11] Coming on the clouds of the sky: This is a phrase from Daniel 7:13 but it should be noted in Daniel the idea is one of ascending (John 6:64) to the very Presence of God. Note Daniel’s position at Daniel 7:10, 16. However, according to the Nazarene’s own promise (John 14:3), as well as that of the angel (Acts 1:9-11), the Lord is to “return” in the same type of “clouds” in which he vanished heavenward upon his ascension. This is confirmed by Paul at 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 where the Lord descends into the “air” where clouds are formed. We have refrained from referencing Revelation 1:7 in this matter for reasons which will be explained later. We feel the words of Revelation 1:7 part of a hymnal praise, with Daniel 7:13 and Zechariah 12:10 as its theme, dealing with the ascension and not the return of Christ.

[12] With power and much glory: This is not a king who has come to receive his royal power, but one who already ‘rules as king waiting for his enemies to be made subject to him.’ (1 Corinthians 15:25; Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 10:12,13) He has waited ‘a long time’ to be reunited with his disciples (Matthew 25:19; Luke 19:12, 15). This phrase drawn from Daniel 7:13 and Psalm 110:1 is used at Matthew 10:23; 16:28; 26:64 where it likely means, “In your lifetime you will see the fulfillment of Daniel 7:13 and Psalm 110:1.” That is, upon the ascension of Jesus described in Acts 1:9-11, these disciples and those Jewish priests, would still be alive during this historical experience. Compare Matthew 26:57, 59, 64 with Acts 4:6; 7:1, 56, 57. In a very real sense these same priests were on hand to hear the martyr Stephen’s words, ‘Look! I behold the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ Surely, they remembered the Nazarene’s words of promise to them. The degree of power and glory is described by Daniel 7:14 and Ephesians 1:20-22.

[13] As these things start to occur: What “things”? The “great oppression”? The celestial darkness? The “sign” of the Son of Man? “These things” may include the “great oppression” itself if such an experience three and a half year period of oppression befell the Nazarene Saints, they would suspect the Arrival of the King is very near.

[14] Look upward: Or, “lift up your heads”; that is in the direction of the descending Lord in the atmospheric “air.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

[15] Is drawing near: It generally means imminent, at the doors, within days, if not hours (Matthew 26:18, 45; Luke 2:38; 22:1; John 2:13), though it can mean several years (Luke 21:20). With the forthcoming parable about ‘summer being near’ the nearness would seem to be a month or less.

[16] The Son of Humankind will send off his angels: Note that Christ does not mention any Saints alive in heaven beside him at this time. The Saints can expect to be raised, awaken, changed or resurrected at this moment of the angelic gathering (1 Corinthians 15:23). Compare 1 Thessalonians 4:17 and Revelation 7:1-4. It is interesting that in Matthew 25:31 the Son of Man comes with his “angels” but not with his Saints. One might expect that the very “judges” would be present with Christ if they were already in heaven with him. Would this be enough to indicate that this “arrival” is for the parousia-Judgment upon the Household of Faith and the reason the Saints are missing in Matthew 25:31 is because they have yet to be raised or raptured?

[17] A great trumpet: Note 1 Corinthians 15:50-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 11:15, 18.

[18] Chosen Ones: The Elect gathered. Compare 1 Thessalonians 4:17 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1. “Chosen Ones,” or “the Elect,” may here be limited to the Christian Saints, both those dead and those alive at the Arrival or Parousia of Christ.

[19] Four winds: Note Revelation 7:1 and Isaiah 11:12. The parallels with Matthew 24:31 might establish that the 144,000 of Revelation 7:1-4 are sealed and delivered at this time.

[20] From one extreme of the sky to another extreme: If the Saints were all in one place this would make no sense. For example, if the vast majority were already with Christ in heaven why would the angels have to be sent out to gather what is already present with the King? However, if the living Saints were in fact scattered across the globe, some in the fields, some at work in the grinding mill, and some asleep (Matthew 24:40, 41; Luke 17:34), then it seems to be that “harvest” the Nazarene illustrates at Matthew 13:30, 40, 41.

[21] Fig tree: Some see Israel in this fig tree, but note the Nazarene mentions all the other trees.

[22] He is near at the doors: Extremely imminent as someone who has come to the house and now stands at the door ready to knock. Here it means within days if not hours, perhaps limiting the observable things to the darkening cosmos and the “sign of the Son of Man.”

[23] The Kingdom of God is near: Luke adds this and thus removes any notion that Jerusalem’s “end” is the subject. The Nazarene has shifted to his own Arrival or Parousia.

[24] This generation will not pass away: This has been applied to Jesus’ contemporaries or that race of Jews still alive at the parousia-Judgment. But, it may well be limited to those lamenting tribes of the earth, and those “Chosen Ones” about to be gathered, and thus still alive (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) at the Return of Christ, who have observed the celestial phenomenon.

[25] The heaven and the earth will pass away: If this is understood to be the literal stellar universe and the planet Earth then it would seem to contradict texts like Psalm 104:5 and Ecclesiastes 1:4 (Psalm 72:8). Note 2 Peter 3:5-7, 10, 12, 13 and Revelation 21:1. This likely refers to that “heaven” and “earth” over which Satan had ruled for thousands of years (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 6:12; Isaiah 51:16).

[26] My words will never pass away: The Nazarene’s words will exist forever and thus be a beneficial guide throughout that “day of eternity.” (2 Peter 3:17)

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Preceding

Matthew 24 about temples or Houses of God and the end of the age

Matthew 24:1-2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Desolation, Oppression and the Parousia – The Setting

Matthew 24:3 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Desolation, Oppression and the Parousia – The Apostles’ Question

Matthew 24:4-8 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Answer: Part One – Beware Being Misled

Matthew 24:9-14 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Answer: Part Two – The Acts of the Apostles Foretold

Matthew 24:15-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Answer: Sign 1: Encamped Armies. The Sign Great Oppression Is Near

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4. Memorizing wonderfully 52 Acts 7:56: the Son of man standing on the right hand of God
5. Jesus Christ will return to earth
6. You know neither the day nor the hour
7. To be prepared for the Day of Judgment
8. The New Testament and Judgement
9. Prophecies over coming days
10. Memorizing wonderfully 24 the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father
11. Memorizing wonderfully 35 When the son returns it shall be As it came to pass in the days of Noah
12. Signs of the Last Days
13. Sign of the Times and the Last Days #2 Wars, natural disasters, famine and false Messiahs
14. Sign of the Times and the Last Days #3 Coming events revealed in the prophetic writings
15. Today’s thought “Sun, moon and stars” (January 22)
16. Today’s thought “And they feared greatly” (February 6)
17. Today’s Thought ” … the earth will be shaken” (May 23)
18. To be prepared and very well oiled
19. Preparing for his coming
20. Jesus … will come in the same way as you saw him go
21. Not about personal salvation but about a bigger Plan
22. God’s Plan, Purpose and teachings
23. What I Hope For Is What You Hope For
24. As you see the Day approaching
25. The Rapture Wars

Jehovah God Maker of the entire universe served by a well-trained army

You are Jehovah alone; you yourself have made the heavens, even the heaven of the heavens, and all their army, the earth and all that is upon it, the seas and all that is in them; and you are preserving all of them alive; and the army of the heavens are bowing down to you.—Neh. 9:6.

6 “You alone are Jehovah;+ you made the heavens, yes, the heaven of the heavens and all their army, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. And you preserve all of them alive, and the army of the heavens are bowing down to you. 7 You are Jehovah the true God, who chose Aʹbram+ and brought him out of Ur+ of the Chal·deʹans and gave him the name Abraham.+

6 “You are Jehovah alone;+ you yourself have made the heavens,+ [even] the heaven of the heavens, and all their army,+ the earth+ and all that is upon it,+ the seas+ and all that is in them;+ and you are preserving all of them alive; and the army+ of the heavens are bowing down to you. 7 You are Jehovah the [true] God, who chose Aʹbram+ and brought him out of Ur of the Chal·deʹans+ and constituted his name Abraham.+ (Ref.B.)

You alone are Jehovah:

• Exodus 20:3: 3 You must not have any other gods*+ against my face.*
• Deuteronomy 4:35: 35 You—you have been shown, so as to know that Jehovah is the [true] God;+ there is no other besides him.+
• Deuteronomy 4:39: 39 And you well know today, and you must call back to your heart* that Jehovah is the [true] God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.+ There is no other.+

• Deuteronomy 5:7: 7 You must never have any other gods against my face.*+

• Deuteronomy 6:4: 4 “Listen, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah.*+
• Deuteronomy 32:39: 39 SEE now that I—I am he*+ And there are no gods together with me.+ I put to death, and I make alive.*+ I have severely wounded,+ and I—I will heal,+ And there is no one snatching out of my hand.+
• 1 Kings 8:60: 60 to the end that all the peoples of the earth may know+ that Jehovah is the [true] God.+ There is no other.+
• 2 Kings 17:35: 35 when Jehovah concluded a covenant+ with them and commanded them, saying: “YOU must not fear other gods,+ and YOU must not bow down to them nor serve them* nor sacrifice to them.+

• 2 Kings 19:19: 19 And now, O Jehovah our God,+ save us,+ please, out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Jehovah, are God alone.”+
• Psalm 83:18: 18 That people may know+ that you, whose name is Jehovah,+ You alone are the Most High+ over all the earth.+

• Isaiah 37:16: 16 “O Jehovah of armies, the God of Israel,+ sitting upon the cherubs, you alone are the [true] God of all the kingdoms of the earth.+ You yourself have made the heavens and the earth.+
• Isaiah 42:8: 8 “I am Jehovah. That is my name;+ and to no one else shall I give my own glory,+ neither my praise+ to graven images.+
• Isaiah 43:10: 10 “YOU are my witnesses,”*+ is the utterance of Jehovah, “even my servant* whom I have chosen,+ in order that YOU may know+ and have faith in me,+ and that YOU may understand that I am the same One.+ Before me there was no God* formed,+ and after me there continued to be none.*+
• Isaiah 44:6: 6 “This is what Jehovah has said, the King of Israel+ and the Repurchaser of him,+ Jehovah of armies, ‘I am the first and I am the last,+ and besides me there is no God.*+
• Isaiah 44:8: 8 Do not be in dread, YOU people, and do not become stupefied.+ Have I not from that time on caused you individually to hear and told [it] out?+ And YOU are my witnesses.+ Does there exist a God* besides me?+ No, there is no Rock.*+ I have recognized none.’”
• Isaiah 45:5:5 I am Jehovah, and there is no one else.+ With the exception of me there is no God.+ I shall closely gird you, although you have not known me,
• Jeremiah 25:6: 6 And do not walk after other gods* in order to serve them and to bow down to them, that YOU may not offend me with the work of YOUR hands, and that I may not cause calamity to YOU.’+
• Joel 2:27: 27 And YOU people will have to know that I am in the midst of Israel,+ and that I am Jehovah YOUR God and there is no other.+ And my people will not be ashamed to time indefinite.*
• Zechariah 14:9:9 And Jehovah must become king over all the earth.*+ In that day Jehovah will prove to be one,+ and his name one.+
• Mark 12:29: 29 Jesus answered: “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel, Jehovah* our God is one Jehovah,*+
• 1 Corinthians 8:4: 4 Now concerning the eating+ of foods offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing+ in the world,* and that there is no God but one.+
• 1 Corinthians 8:6:6 there is actually to us one God*+ the Father,+ out of whom all things are, and we for him;+ and there is one Lord,+ Jesus Christ,+ through whom all things are,+ and we through him.

made the heavens and the earth:

• Genesis 1:1: 1 In [the] beginning*+ God*+ created+ the heavens and the earth.+
• Psalm 8:3: 3 When I see your heavens, the works of your fingers,+ The moon and the stars that you have prepared,+
• Psalm 8:6: 6 You make him dominate over the works of your hands;+ Everything you have put under his feet:+
• Psalm 102:25: 25 Long ago you laid the foundations of the earth itself,+ And the heavens are the work of your hands.+
• Psalm 104:5: 5 He has founded the earth upon its established places;+ It will not be made to totter to time indefinite, or forever.+
• Psalm 136:6: 6 To the One laying out* the earth above the waters:+For his loving-kindness is to time indefinite;+
• Psalm 146:6: 6 The Maker of heaven and earth,+Of the sea, and of all that is in them,+ The One keeping trueness to time indefinite,+
• Proverbs 8:29: 29 when he set for the sea his decree that the waters themselves should not pass beyond his order,*+ when he decreed the foundations of the earth,+
• Job 26: 7: 7 He stretches out the northern sky* over empty space,*+Suspending the earth upon nothing;
• Job 38:4:  4 Where did you happen to be when I founded the earth?+ Tell [me], if you do know understanding.
• Job 38:8-11: 8 And who barricaded the sea behind doors+ When it burst out from the womb, 9 When I clothed it with clouds And wrapped* it in thick gloom, 10 When I established my limit for it And put its bars and doors in place,+ 11 And I said, ‘You may come this far, and no farther; Here is where your proud waves will stop’?+
• Psalm 102:25: 25 Long ago you laid the foundations of the earth itself,+ And the heavens are the work of your hands.+
• Psalm 104:2: 2 You are wrapped in light+ as with a garment; You stretch out the heavens like a tent cloth.+
• Isaiah 42:5: 5 This is what the [true] God, Jehovah, has said, the Creator of the heavens+ and the Grand One stretching* them out;+ the One laying out the earth+ and its produce,+ the One giving breath*+ to the people on it,+ and spirit to those walking in it:+
• Isaiah 44: 24: 24 This is what Jehovah says, your Repurchaser,+ Who formed you since you were in the womb: “I am Jehovah, who made everything. I stretched out the heavens by myself,+ And I spread out the earth.+Who was with me?
• Isaiah 48:13: 13 My own hand laid the foundation of the earth,+ And my right hand spread out the heavens.+ When I call to them, they stand up together.
• Hebrews 1:10: 10 And: “You at [the] beginning, O Lord, laid the foundations of the earth itself, and the heavens are [the] works of your hands.+
• Revelation 10:6: 6 and by the One who lives+ forever and ever,+ who created the heaven and the things in it and the earth+ and the things in it and the sea and the things in it,*+ he swore: “There will be no delay*+ any longer;
  Revelation 14:7: 7 saying in a loud voice: “FEAR God+ and give him glory,+ because the hour of the judgment by him has arrived,+ and so worship the One who made+ the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.”+

and all their army:

• Genesis 2:1: 2 Thus the heavens and the earth and all their army came to their completion.+

• Psalm 148:2: 2 Praise him, all YOU his angels.+ Praise him, all YOU his army.+
• Jeremiah 32:18: 18 the One exercising loving-kindness toward thousands,+ and repaying the error of the fathers into the bosom of their sons after them,+ the [true] God,* the great One,+ the mighty One,*+ Jehovah of armies+ being his name,+

• Matthew 26:53: 53 Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father to supply me at this moment more than twelve legions of angels?+

all that is on it:

• Isaiah 45:18: 18 For this is what Jehovah has said, the Creator of the heavens,+ He the [true] God,+ the Former of the earth and the Maker of it,+ He the One who firmly established it,+ who did not create it simply for nothing, who formed it even to be inhabited:+ “I am Jehovah, and there is no one else.+

the seas:

• Genesis 1:10: 10 And God began calling the dry land Earth,+ but the bringing together of the waters he called Seas.+ Further, God saw that [it was] good.+
• Exodus 20:11: 11 For in six days Jehovah made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them,+ and he proceeded to rest* on the seventh day.+ That is why Jehovah blessed the sabbath day and proceeded to make it sacred.*+
• Job 38:8: 8 And [who] barricaded the sea with doors,*+ Which began to go forth as when it burst out from the womb;
• Psalm 146:6: 6 The Maker of heaven and earth,+ Of the sea, and of all that is in them,+ The One keeping trueness to time indefinite,+
• Proverbs 8:29: 29 when he set for the sea his decree that the waters themselves should not pass beyond his order,*+ when he decreed the foundations of the earth,+
• Acts 4:24: 24 Upon hearing this they with one accord raised their voices to God+ and said: “Sovereign+ Lord,* you are the One who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them,+
• Revelation 10:6: 6 and by the One who lives+ forever and ever,+ who created the heaven and the things in it and the earth+ and the things in it and the sea and the things in it,*+ he swore: “There will be no delay*+ any longer;

and all that is in them:

• Genesis 1: 20-21: 20 Then God said: “Let the waters swarm with living creatures,* and let flying creatures fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.”*+ 21 And God created the great sea creatures* and all living creatures* that move and swarm in the waters according to their kinds and every winged flying creature according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

• Exodus 20:11: 11 For in six days Jehovah made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them,+ and he proceeded to rest* on the seventh day.+ That is why Jehovah blessed the sabbath day and proceeded to make it sacred.*+
• Leviticus 11: 10: 10 But anything in the seas and in the rivers that has no fins and scales, among all the swarming creatures and of every other living creature* that is in the waters, it is a loathsome thing for you.

• Psalm 146:6:  6 The Maker of heaven and earth,+ Of the sea, and of all that is in them,+ The One keeping trueness to time indefinite,+

• Acts 4:24: 24 Upon hearing this they with one accord raised their voices to God+ and said: “Sovereign+ Lord,* you are the One who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them,+
• Acts 14:15: 15 and saying: “Men, why are YOU doing these things? We also are humans+ having the same infirmities+ as YOU do, and are declaring the good news to YOU, for YOU to turn from these vain+ things to the living God,+ who made the heaven+ and the earth and the sea and all the things in them.
• Revelation 10:6: 6 and by the One who lives+ forever and ever,+ who created the heaven and the things in it and the earth+ and the things in it and the sea and the things in it,*+ he swore: “There will be no delay*+ any longer;
• Revelation 14:7:7 saying in a loud voice: “FEAR God+ and give him glory,+ because the hour of the judgment by him has arrived,+ and so worship the One who made+ the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.”+

 and the army of the heavens are bowing down to you:

• 1 Kings 22:19: 19 And he went on to say: “Therefore hear the word of Jehovah:+ I certainly see Jehovah sitting upon his throne+ and all the army of the heavens standing by him, to his right and to his left.+

• Psalm 103:21:21 Bless Jehovah, all YOU armies of his,+ You ministers of his, doing his will.*+

• Psalm 148:2: 2 Praise him, all YOU his angels.+ Praise him, all YOU his army.+
• Luke 2: 13-14: 13 Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army,+ praising God and saying: 14 “Glory in the heights above to God, and on earth peace among men of goodwill.”*

*

Yes, Jehovah God created the entire universe, made up of countless galaxies of stars. Equally marvellous, he created everything on our beautiful planet with its amazing ability to sustain an astonishing variety of life—life that keeps reproducing according to its kind. Witnessing all of this were the holy angels of God, who can also be described as “the army of the heavens.” (1 Ki. 22:19; Job 38:4, 7) Moreover, the angels humbly do God’s will by ministering to sinful humans “who are going to inherit salvation.” (Heb. 1:14) What a splendid example the angels set for us as we serve Jehovah unitedly like a well-trained army!—1 Cor. 14:33, 40. w13 10/15 3:9

Sing to Jehovah, Jehovah’s Witnesses’ current hymnal (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Preceding articles:

Terwyl ons Jehovah eendragtig soos ’n goed opgeleide leër dien

Jehova ebenfalls wie ein gut ausgebildetes „Heer“ demütig und vereint dienen

Jehovah God Maker van het universum gediend door een getraind leger

Servons Jéhovah Dieu, qui créé l’univers entier et ses innombrables galaxies, dans l’unité

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Other articles of interest:

1. God, the Father, the Sole Creator of Heaven and Earth
2. Creator of heaven and earth and everything aroundיהוה
3. Almighty God above all other gods greater than all gods
4. The Almighty Lord God of gods King above all gods
5. Jehovah God Almighty greater than all gods
6. El Shaddai Who appeared unto Abraham
7. God about His name “יהוה“
8. No man see the Almighty God and live
9. How Many Persons Created the Heavens and the Earth?
10. God’s Word Framing universe
11. Coming to the creation of human beings in the image of God
12. Necessity of a revelation of creation 1 Works of God and works of man
13. El-Shaddai God Almighty Who no-one may see and live
14. Al-Fatiha [The Opening/De Opening] Süra 1:1-3 In the name of Allah the Merciful Lord Of The Creation
15. Al-Fatiha [The Opening] Süra 1: 4-7 Merciful Lord of the Creation to show us the right path
16. Fixing our attention
17. Only worship the Creator of all things
18. A race not to swift, nor a battle to the strong
19. The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong
20. Running of good courage, away from the body
21. Displeasure of יהוה , Jehovah the God of gods, and His wrath against all the gentiles their divisions
22. Searching, light, fear and deliverance
23. Focussing on oneness with Jesus like Jesus is one with God
24. Give thanks to יהוה! For He is good, For His kindness is everlasting
25. Psalm 150 Praise Jah, You people!
26. Praise and give thanks to God the Most Highest
27. Praise Jehovah
28. Song of Praise for the Elohim Set-Apart
29. Songs of Moses and the servants of God

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