On a road trip I had my first “encounter” with a Church of God member. I decided to meet one of my college buddies along the way. When I arrived at his house, we talked for a long time, catching up on the past few years since our undergrad life.
As he was talking, I noticed that he was different, in a good way. A few thing stood out. He was talking about how he had changed, and his primary focus had become for him and his family to enter the kingdom of heaven.
When I heard this, I thought to myself, “Okay. This is good” I was so happy that my friend had found his purpose in life through God. He seemed happy, and as a friend, that’s all that mattered to me. Sometime later in our conversation, he asked me if I’d ever heard of “Heavenly Mother.” Surprised at his question, I answered, “No, but if it’s in the bible, then I’d believe it.”
Galatians 4:26 – But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
I had never heard that the people of God had a mother in heaven. I’d always been taught only about Heavenly Father, but it made complete sense. For a man to become a father, there must first be a mother who gives life to their children. And since Christians consider themselves children of God, there must be Heavenly Mother.
This peaked my curiosity enough to at least go to a bible study, and see what else was in the Bible that I didn’t know about. I already wanted to become closer to God, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.
First Bible Study at the Church of God
The next day, we went to the church he’d been attending, the Church of God, and studied NOT about Heavenly Mother, but about the Seal of God. I didn’t realize at the time, but it was exactly what I needed to hear, especially considering that I was riding across the country on a motorcycle!
Rev 7:1-3 – After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on any sea or any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”
According to the Bible, the angel from the east gives the seal of God. I thought to myself, “This is interesting. Who is this angel?” He has the seal of God. Like the presidential seal to authorize certain things, or the a seal given on a notary, that seal can only be given by the owner. Then this angel is God because he has God’s seal. This angel also commands other angels. This archangel is surely God! So God planned to come to the earth to give people the seal of God to protect them from disasters. Amazing!
Rev 9:4 – They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or any tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
I didn’t know what the seal of God was, but surely I knew I needed it! So when they asked me If I wanted to see through the bible? Of course!
John 6:27 – “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
The seal is on Jesus, on his body.
John 6:54 – “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
Jesus gave his body, the seal of God 2,000 years ago, through his flesh and blood. This was amazing, but I didn’t know how to receive His flesh and blood.
Matthew 26:17 – On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
Matthew 26:26-28 – While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Through the Passover, I could receive the flesh and blood of Christ, and receive the Seal of God. I had never celebrated the Passover before. I thought Passover was Jewish, but apparently not because Jesus and the Apostles celebrated passover. These are Christian teachings. Interesting! But a more amazing thought came to my mind! The bible said that the angel from the east would bring the seal of god, the Passover, and they asked me if I wanted to keep it. So that means He must have already come! Who is He?
Church of God says Christ is Ahnsahnghong!
Who? I had never heard that name, but if he is the one who brought the seal of God, I cannot deny it. Why would I want to? I was happy that God came and happy I came to study the bible at the World Mission Society Church of God. From that point forward, I had to find out who Christ Ahnsahnghong was.