On the subject of the Ascension of Christ, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria provides a prime example of how the gospel it rejects is still used to let people fall into a trap.
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Sermon suggestion for the Ascension of Christ
On the occasion of Ascension Day, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria publishes a suggestion for a sermon in the “Liturgical Calendar Sheet”. (Source). The suggested and relevant passage from the Bible is Acts 1:3-11.
So that the direction of thought is given straight away, the church also presents the (intended) core message of this Bible passage:
“‘Why are you standing there looking at heaven?’, the disciples are asked on Ascension Day. Don’t look up, but look at the world: God is not where heaven is – but where God is, is heaven.“
However, adopting this statement without checking it is misleading, as is now the case with the institutions of the Evangelical Churches in Germany (EKD). Accordingly, the disciples are asked by whom, but it is not stated why they are looking up into heaven. Rather, you should look out into the world. God is not in heaven, but heaven is where God is. The churches affiliated with the EKD do not see the Bible as a book inspired by God, and certainly not as a literal one. Its obvious. In this way, the Ascension of Christ is also reinterpreted as something that one would like to convey to people (Info).
What does the Bible say about this?
40 days after His resurrection, Jesus Christ met with His disciples. He explained to them that after His return to the Father in Heaven, the Holy Spirit would descend upon them as His representative. Afterwards, Jesus Christ was lifted up from the earth, Acts 1:9-10:
“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;“
So the disciples were literally looking up into heaven as Jesus Christ was literally caught up on high and disappeared in a cloud. These two men in white clothes questioned the disciples about their behavior, Acts 1:11:
“Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.“
Verses 9 to 11 contain the information that Jesus Christ actually floated up and disappeared in a cloud. The two men in white clothes who suddenly appeared were angels. They explained to the disciples that Jesus Christ would one day appear again as he ascended into heaven.
Bible confirms literal interpretation
Just as Jesus Christ ascended into heaven in the clouds, so will His return be the real statement in Acts 1:11. The Bible confirms the return of Jesus Christ in the clouds in Revelation 1:7:
“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.“
Paul also knew about the future event and immediately described the process for the gathering of Jesus Christ and His people of the redeemed, in 1. Thessalonians 4:17:
“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.“
More conflicts with the Gospel
According to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria, by simply asking why the disciples were looking at heaven, the “voice” was saying that God was not heaven, but that heaven was where God was.
According to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria, by simply asking why the disciples were looking at heaven, the “voice” was saying that God was not heaven, but that heaven was where God was.
This makes it clear that this church does not take the Ascension literally, but as a metaphor. This church’s outlook on the announced return of Jesus Christ should look accordingly. “Everything is just allegorical or spiritual, but not to be taken literally.”
Furthermore, the statement that heaven is where God is is in conflict with biblical statements. The very first verse of the Bible says (Genesis 1:1, King James Version):
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.“
Heaven is in the plural here. The Hebrew word “shamayim” describes the air space or atmosphere above the earth, can also mean starry sky and can also describe the throne seat of God. According to the Church’s claim, should God really have created something that exists by His very presence or existence? Hardly likely. It is obvious that the disciples were looking up into the air, but the two men who appeared did not mean the kingdom of God, which they simply transported indirectly into this world. The disciples should look into the world because God is there and therefore heaven is automatically there.
God in this world?
The gospel says that the kingdom of God is already on earth. However, this does not exist worldwide, as ecumenism strives for, but rather it exists within the people of God. This consists of those people who keep the commandments of God and bear the testimony of Jesus (Revelation 12:17). The spiritual temple built by Jesus Christ “in 3 days” (John 2:19).
The fact that the two men’s simple question meant that the disciples should rather look into this world is far-fetched. Furthermore, this “theology” exposes a succinct connection. James provides the template for this. He strongly warns his fellow believers to make friends with this world in James 4:4:
“know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
The Bible clearly describes who the “prince or god” of this world is at the moment.
John 12:31:
“Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”
John 16:11:
“Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”
Paul said it in 2 Corinthians 4:4 in a nutshell:
“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.“
The (speaking) “prince or god” of this world is clearly Satan. He still has room for maneuver in implementing his plans. Paul also explains “in passing” how it can happen that even those responsible for a church can no longer recognize or understand the gospel because their senses are already blinded by the adversary. God allows this if the person concerned has too often rejected the warning knock of the Holy Spirit. This is, among other things, “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.” – Info.
God exchanged for Satan
The teaching of the core statement formulated by the church, the supposed call to the disciples that they should avert their gaze from (literal) heaven and rather turn to the world because God and therefore heaven is there, contradicts the gospel in all respects . It’s even directly opposite.
The church thus makes the “prince of this world”, Satan, as the god (to be worshiped), with whom heaven is in this world, and calls on its flock to turn to this world dominated by Satan.
STUDY THE BIBLE YOURSELF!
This deception is again very subtle and is only possible if people do not care about the truth themselves but carelessly believe the false prophet described in Revelation 19. Part of the “trio” of today’s Babylon – Info.
Simply pick up the Bible yourself (King James Version) and study the Bible yourself. Scripture, the Word of God, is the only standard. All statements made in the “name of Christianity” must be measured against the word. If something applies, then it can be kept. However, if something is different, it must be discarded. This statement by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria on the Ascension of Christ and this ominous core statement can safely be thrown away in the trash.
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Revelation 19:20
These EKD churches are really done – Info
Bible verses from King James Version
