Tag Archives: Bible Facts

Did Jesus Teach Repentance?

Or, was it only John the Baptist? “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Matthew 4:17. Do you believe that it is possible to have eternal life without repentance? “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” – Acts 2:38. What about now? “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.” – Acts 17:30. Do I have your attention?

I have a dear brother who has just begun a website where he has given us a profound understanding of what repentance truly means. Go read his homepage and what the Lord revealed to him, come back here, and then we can continue. Hopefully, you are now reading the difference between the world’s view of repentance and the Lord’s view of repentance.

When considering repentance, we literally feel guilt, change our mind, line up with the will of God, and only after we have a full understanding of what we did. It is only after we accept these Biblical facts, fully believe and commit to them, that we have access to the gift of the Holy Spirit. Just as Abraham, our belief is accounted unto us as righteousness. And he and I both can attest to having the gift of the Holy Spirit. Would you like to read and understand the Bible when opening the covers? Do you want to dig daily for treasure, or find green pasture upon entry?

The digging nuance I can liken as such. A certain man grew in age and wisdom, always considering spending time with the Word. As his understanding grew, and his knowledge increased, he finally regained his sight. In doing so, he let go of everything else in this world, and spent all of his time with the Lord. The flowers now readily bloom. The fruit is easily plucked. “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

Consider the prodigal son. “And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”

What if you were to find out, at even in an instant, that the parable of the prodigal son wasn’t a parable, but the truth? Would you want to know even a portion of what this parable means? Where did the prodigal son come from? Where did he go? What was the portion of goods that he took? How did he come to himself? In the natural world, we can easily conclude the answers with our own thoughts and misconceptions. It is a parable remember? Yet, it isn’t. Have I now sparked your interest?

The Lord in His infinite wisdom and mercy is patient. He wants all of us to come to the knowledge of understanding. He wants all of us to desire Him more than we desire what is in this world. He wants all of us to bear fruit. Yet, He cautions us throughout the Gospels about the unripe grapes, and the fig tree, bearing no figs. If your desire is to know the Lord as I do, even as others, if your desire is to find that which was lost, if your desire is to find the straight and narrow path, and find the answers to the parable of the prodigal son, then read the last post, The Gospel Of Repentance. Simply click on the link.

Within the pages of Lift Up A Banner is fundamentally all that we need to know to be converted, or to be born again. But, you need to seek it out for yourselves. The Bible is presented in a way that only the Lord could instruct me, and it isn’t me trying to convince you. It is only His Word, His ways, His life. “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” There are so many people out there committing themselves to teaching the Bible instead of just showing it. It’s that simple. Jesus just said it, “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” I simply show the Bible, scripture with scripture, spiritual with spiritual. And interject things for you to consider while you are reading what’s on the pages and hearing what is being spoken within the videos. Some videos have a little additional information. Although, better to not see the depths of Satan, so to speak. I have been through the religions. I went through the LDS Church. I understand the Freemasons and their depths. I fully see the evil that is within this world. I have shut my eyes to it all.

I don’t need to convince you of anything. You will either believe what it says, or you won’t. The desire of my heart is that you do believe it. That is all that it takes. That is faith; belief, and turning from self. If Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son to the very point of the altar, are we willing to do the same? Are we willing to listen to that still small voice inside of us, whispering, telling us, “this is the way.” Are we willing to let go and trust God, more than trusting our egos? Will we leave pride at the curb? Will we humble ourselves before the Lord and allow His Spirit to teach us? Read the free eBooks. Click on the Bible Study here, or on the homepage. Read all of the lessons through the “recent posts” tab. Watch all of the videos. There are even more on the YT Channel.

I will be the very first to tell you, I am no one. I will never claim to be anything. I know what we did. I am as a piece of grass. And I would say, more like a speck of dust. I know the pain that I caused the Lord. I’ve felt what it was like to pierce His side. I wept while seeing stones being thrown. I sobbed when considering our transgressions and iniquities. I grieved the crucifixion. May all that I know, may all that I have been blessed to understand, and may all that the Lord has shown me, be a blessing unto you, at these final moments, here at the in between. One final thing to consider. Since the Lord is the Beginning and the End, how does one expect to gain access to either, without changing who we are… Repentance.

Jonathan Heller – Lift Up A Banner

The Gospel Of Repentance

What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. – Psalm 51:4. This may in fact be the most difficult post that I produce with the Lord by my side. It may even be my last, as I feel the tears currently welling up within my eyes. To know the Lord intimately, I am sure is probably the deepest desire of nearly every man’s heart. Although, to know the Lord, means to experience His pain, and to understand His suffering. Let us now look deeper into what it means to repent in the Bible.

All that the Father bestows upon us is a gift. All honor, glory, and praise belongs to Him alone. As I opened with Psalm 51, I will push forward with a single question. What is this great evil, that we all committed against the Lord? Let us begin, at the beginning. Not the beginning of this world, but the very beginning. Were you aware that there was a difference? The Gospel of John opens with, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” Prior to the creation of this world there is what we will call the “first estate.” Let us go take a look at the Book of Jude.

“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities… But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.”

Let us now crack open the KJV Bible and look closely at a few of the words in the original Greek, so that we can gain further understanding on who all of these angels are. Before doing so, why is the Gospel of Jude written in the present tense and not the past? Why does he say, “Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities… But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves?” We will now breakdown the word “chains,” in Jude 1:5. As well as the word “flesh,” in Jude 1:7. Let us look and ponder together.

These angels which fell from Heaven, which left their first estate were placed in, “a band, that is a ligament of the body.” These angels gave themselves over to fornication, as is, “human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), specifically to be a human being, and to be carnally minded.” Who is it that is suffering the vengeance of eternal fire? Every last on of us. Please, take a second for a pause. Consider what you are looking at and reading. “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” Now, consider the angel in Revelation who gave John the “little book.” For in his mouth, on the surface, the Word of God was sweet. Yet, the moment that he had digested the Word, it became bitter in his belly. That holds true to anyone who has understood the depths of truths and the meaning to repent in the Bible.

We will continue with the Gospel of Jude while considering, “arise o’ sleeper, wake up from the dead,” “to be carnally minded is death,” & “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned.” “Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities… But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves?” The two words that we will look further at are “these,” and “naturally.”

We are told that it is speaking on this man and this woman. Once again in the present tense. It also says that what they now know physically, instinctively, and naturally, they won’t even understand what they are reading or seeing, and will even speak evil of it. “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” In John 10 we learn about the moment where the Jews take up stones to cast them as Jesus.

“Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?” Let us go find where it says that in the Law, or more specifically in the Old Testament. We will be looking at Psalm 82:5-7. “They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.” Here we are once again, with it saying that they won’t know and they won’t understand what they are seeing, hearing, or looking at. Psalm 82 says that we are all gods, children of the Most High God, that fell from Heaven that will now die like men. Let’s look at the word “gods” and the word “fall” in the original Hebrew.

The psalmist, while under the influence of the Holy Ghost, was telling us that we are all angels that got cast down, and cast out of Heaven that are all going to die like men, awaiting judgement. “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” Now, watch the following video.

I never said that it was going to be easy. Although it is the 100% truth. Since we began at the very beginning, the first estate, and discovered who we all are, and a portion of what we did, let us go back, to the beginning of this world, Genesis 1. Before we do, let us consider, “the anointed cherub that covereth,” Lucifer. “Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” – Ezekiel 28:13-15.

What exactly is he covering with, and who is it that he is covering? The answer is our flesh. Here, set the stage for Genesis 1:26-27. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” We will once again look at the definition for “god.” As well as the definition for image.

In the cumulative sum of Genesis 1, there is no LORD or Lord, in front of the word god. So here we have a whole bunch of angels creating a system separate from the Lord God, making a phantom, that is, figuratively an illusion, resemblance; hence a representative figure, ESPECIALLY AN IDOL: an IMAGE, a vain shew. Does that sound like that is something that the Lord God made? Is any of the definition for image open to any other interpretation? The answer is no. That is because Genesis 2 is the creation of Adam and Eve, separate from the Genesis 1 creation, so that the Lord God could get back the prodigal son’s of His choosing. Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” Let us step forward to Exodus 20 and what the Lord told us all that we should not have done. Before doing so, let us consider Revelation 11:8, “And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.” “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God.” – Exodus 20:2-5. We will be looking at the translation for graven image, as well as the translation for likeness.

The LORD God told us not to make any idols, or any phantom or specifically embodiment species. What is the definition for the image of god in Genesis 1 again? “A phantom, that is, figuratively an illusion, resemblance; hence a representative figure, ESPECIALLY AN IDOL: a vain shew.” As I asked previously, is there any other way this can be translated? Why do we need to be born again? “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do… And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” In Colossians 3 we are told, “Jesus, who is the image of the invisible God, is the firstborn of every creature.” That is it precisely. Jesus came from a Virgin, impregnated by the Holy Spirit, the first born of the “new” creation, hence being “born” again. How can Jesus be the image of the invisible God, and we be created in His image? Look at the world around you. Do any of us look as if we fit that profile? Let us now watch the following video.

We will continue to build upon this with Psalm 73. “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.”

Let us look at the original Hebrew again in a few places. The first word that we will pay attention to, is the word God. It isn’t the same word, it is different. It means “especially the Almighty.” We will also look at “castedst down” and the word image again.

Here we have the psalmist realizing the moment of being roused out of sleep. Terrified, for who he was, and what he had done. Totally frightened and disgusted by it. He was pierced in the very fiber of his being. The bigger question is, will you? The parable of the Prodigal son, isn’t a parable at all. It is the truth. The foolish angels who took their eternal life, coming to a far away land, and wasting it on riotous living and fornication. Will you fully come to the understanding and realization, repent back to the very beginning, by letting go of those things that are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before?

I will add one final short video to this post that should solidify whether we, as true believers in Jesus Christ, have to forsake everything, and become as little children in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

I pray that all of this receives you well. My hope, as I know with a certainty how late the hour is, that if even one of you may find your way Home, all of my time and efforts are worth it. For the sake of my brethren… May the Lord God, the Self Existent Eternal Jehovah, even Jesus Christ come in the Flesh, bless you in all things, and by His infinite mercy and grace. Please go through the Bible Study, the eBooks, and all of the lessons. The Word speaks for Himself. If we only allow ourselves, our pride, and our haughty, prideful spirit, to get out of the way.

“The stone which the BUILDERS rejected is become the head of the corner.”

Jonathan Heller – Lift Up A Banner

Paul And The New Covenant

What is the New Covenant? The Apostle Paul was a Pharisee before being converted on the road to Damascus. He was one who knew very well the letter of the Law. He never thought twice about persecuting or even killing those of the Sect of the Nazarenes. What was it though, that was different about this specific group of people who followed the teachings of Jesus Christ? Why were they all so upset, to the extremity of putting someone to death for being a follower of the Way?

Let us begin by looking at a parable of the Messiah. We can take His words, and His message, and compare it to the understanding that Paul had obtained by walking in newness of Spirit, and not in oldness of Letter. We will be looking at Mark 7:14-23, using the KJV Bible. “And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” – Mark 7:14-16

Before we continue, as some may begin to think that they know what Jesus is speaking about, let me ask you a question. Is he only talking about your mouth? What about your heart? What about both? What if there was even more here that most of us aren’t even aware of? Let us continue. “And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.” – Mark 7:17-20. These verses, very few would even dispute over what is being said. But, what about what Jesus says next?

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” – Mark 7:21-23. Why does He mention fornications? Why does He mention covetousness? Why does he mention lasciviousness? Why are they sperate from adulteries? Are they not one in the same? Couldn’t it just be summed up with that one word? The answer is no. Paul was taught by the Spirit of All Truth, and not after the tradition of men. He already knew the Law. After his conversion, he was teaching the new covenant, or what we all know as the New Testament. Were you aware that there was another law, a higher law? Have you taken the time to read the Book of Romans? What about Hebrews? Does some of it sound like gibberish? Have you glossed over a lot of it? I know that I used to. The majority of it presented itself to me in much of the same way prior to my own conversion. Now, I understand all that I ask the Father about, with perfect clarity. At least I can say, with the amount of His Word, which has now become the greater part of me.

Paul tells us in Romans 7, “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Wait… What? Stop for a minute. Think and consider. When we are lusting, we are coveting? What about our spouse? Sex is ok with our spouse right? What is it that Paul just told us? What did Jesus say in Mark 7? Why did the Messiah say elsewhere? “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” – Luke 9:23. The answer is no. Sex is not ok. Not at all. We are to be married to another. We are to be the wise virgins. We are to walk, even as He walked. We are to forsake everything. The sect of the Nazarenes must of been a sight to behold back then, I would imagine. “They that are in the flesh, cannot please God.”

Let us now take, what some of you may be highly upset about, and use Paul’s understanding to solidify the teachings of Jesus Christ, and those who were followers of The Way. Before doing so, I will add to the Old Testament, and the New. Within the Old Testament, we have the Law, or what most of us would call the ten commandments. Although, the New Testament translated, literally means, the new covenant. There are two separate laws. There is the natural man, and there is a spiritual man. There is a carnal mind, and a spiritual mind. There is a Levitical priesthood, and a Melchizedek priesthood. There is a natural law, and a spiritual law. Paul tells us in Galatians, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

Romans 8 begins as such, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

Let us now backtrack to Romans 7, and build further upon, what we all have just gazed at. “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” The Old Testament, and the New. The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, and the law of sin and death.

“And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.” – Luke 5:37-39.

“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.” “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” Jesus Christ gave us the Way. He is the Way. He taught us how each of us need to walk, in order to please God. He taught us not to live under the Law, but to live even better. He taught us about abstinence. It is necessary for our eternal salvation, and for our own conversion.

Jesus gave us the Way, the Truth, and the Life within the Gospels. If you don’t know the Messiah’s words, you can’t fully understand the epistles. Jesus Christ is the whole foundation of the church, and we live or die off of what he said. Not our understanding of only one or two verses elsewhere. Especially if we don’t know what is being said. The epistles of Paul are given as an example to different churches in their own conversion process, and with their own level of understanding. Once you read all of 1 Corinthians 7, and understand the “folly” of the carnally minded church in 2 Corinthians, you see how Paul even says this towards the end when speaking upon sex, “But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none.” He says more than once in the chapter that he is speaking and not the Lord, and not as an authority of the subject. The Apostles even say this when Jesus is teaching about the most misunderstood word, “fornication,” in this final Biblical age, “If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.” Yet, here is the real punch in the gut when you know this. “But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.”

“He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive.”

For Sean…

Jonathan Heller – Lift Up A Banner

Well Done My Good And Faithful Servant

The words that we all desire to hear from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. These are the words that I personally spend the most time in thought about. As I look back on my life and my past, it seems as if it all was a lifetime ago; now learning all that I have from the Spirit and seeking out the answers within the Word. “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.” – Philippians 3:13.

You see, we can take the word of any man for truth and can be convinced to believe it based upon how they are teaching us. Although, if we never seek out the answers for ourselves by reading, studying, and praying over those things that we are hearing, how can we be absolutely certain? Just look at the world today and the complete division among everyone. I have been through the religions. I have been through the churches. I have tested the spirits. They all have one thing in common. The Son of Man has no where to lay His head. The profundity of understanding you attain by seeking the Lord out through His word, separated from society, brings true repentance. It brings true understanding.

I lost my life, found it in the Lord, and only through the pages of His Word. It wasn’t within one verse. It wasn’t within two. On my part, it took fully trusting the Spirit to lead me in my own journey through reading the Bible. That is the very key. Reading the Bible. We have to hunger and thirst after righteousness. We have to be willing to accept what we are seeing, and what we are hearing. We have to be willing to let go of everything that we have ever been taught. I find myself cleaning house often when seeking things out in the pages of the Bible. If something didn’t make sense to me, I would dig deeper and elsewhere until I had understood what I was reading.

Some things I had tabled. When I come across something similar later on, I would go back to it, or consider it again. The Lord loves each and everyone of us so much that He wants all of us to have a personal relationship with Him. Our relationship with the Father is contingent upon the amount of His Word that is in us. “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” – John 6:63. How can we know the Father, if we don’t know His Word? The Bible bears out the same truths over, and over, and over again. It becomes painstakingly obvious that He doesn’t want any of us to perish.

Picture used under Fair Use Act – Captain Obvious™ and Hotels.com® – Educational purposes only.

Within the pages of Lift Up A Banner are the majority of the things that the Spirit has taught me to be true. He didn’t just give me one verse or two to prove it. He led me to dozens of verses that bear the same things out so many times, if we only do as He instructs us, and become as little children, you will see it too. You will hear His voice, just as it says in the Bible, “and His disciples heard it.” Imagine that for a moment. Having your mind completely blown when you say, “oh my gosh, I heard it.” Imagine reading the parables and understanding them. “Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.” Consider, being able to read the Bible and understand what is on the pages, without having to dig deep for a treasure each and every time you open the cover. Consider, finding green pasture.

If you desire to know the Way, the Truth, and the Life, in a more personal way yourselves, read the free eBooks, the lessons, and the Bible Study within the pages of this website. You need not any man teach you. Only… Let go.

Jonathan Heller – Lift Up A Banner

The Way Of Truth Shall Be Evil Spoken Of

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. – 2 Peter 2:1-2

I pray that the following videos will lead you in understanding the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as I have been led to understand it. May The Lord’s grace and mercy be upon you, even unto the end.

Please take the time to watch, ponder, and digest all of those things that you saw and heard. What else can we learn about the latter day prophets according to the Bible? Let’s watch the following video and see for ourselves.

For a better understanding of the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, begin your journey here: Bible Study With The Word.

Recently, all six free eBooks have been placed in an order that builds one upon another. Begin, at the beginning, and learn as we grow in our understanding together. Click the following: Free Christian eBooks.

Take the time to explore all of Lift Up A Banner – The Bible Unveiled. Every lesson will help you in your own walk with the Lord God.

Jonathan Heller – Lift Up A Banner

Have You Heard The Call?

As a Christian, have you heard the sayings of Jesus Christ? Have you understood His mysteries? Have you woke up from the Dead? Did you receive His light? Did you yourself, become a light unto this fallen world? Have you forsaken all else and taken up your cross and followed the Lord? Are you helping your brothers or sisters to carry their cross? Are you clothing the naked? Are you freeing the captives? Are you restoring sight to the blind? Are you feeding others with the Bread of Life, the Word of God?

In a previous post we discussed the location of where our Lord was Crucified, Golgotha. Also know as Calvary. The definition of both words mean, “the place of a skull.” Jesus tells us, “The kingdom of God is within you.” The correct translation of Golgotha is, “The place of YOUR skull.” Please see the previous post here. In the post there is a video which adds interwoven scripture of the New Testament, the teachings of Paul, and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Also check out Crucified At Golgotha, a free eBook which goes until further detail. Let’s now take this understanding from the Gospel and build upon it. Could there be additional Scriptures that bear witness to this subject? Are there principals within the Bible throughout the Old Testament that bear witness to the way, the truth, and the life? Meaning, how we ourselves should be living, how we learn the truth, and how we understand how to live? The following video adds to the previous post and the eBook. Take the time to consider it all, and pray over it.

If you have heard or understood even a small portion of what you read or saw here today, or if you have even further questions or doubts, check out the in depth Bible Study which expands on many Gospel Principals. It will help lay the proper foundation and build upon each layer, brick by brick. Finally, take that understanding and look at all of the posts. Each post will build upon one of the principals of the Gospel, as we each strive for mastery of our own vessels. May the Blessed Hope of our eternal salvation be built upon the one True Foundation, even Jesus Christ. “The Stone that the builders rejected has become the Head of the corner.” Who are the builders?

Jonathan Heller – Lift Up A Banner

Somethings In The Way – Woe To The Shepherds

Jesus saith unto them, “I AM the Way.” Is the Bible was so perfect and so clear to tell us that any man preaching the Word of God that was doing it for a living didn’t know the Lord? What if they were accepting donations? What if they were selling what they have learned in books or within their ministries? What did Paul teach us? What did Jesus say? Will we believe the Word of the Lord, or will we follow after blind guides, leading us to the abyss?

In Acts 14, we learn that Paul was a tent maker, as he had the same occupation as Aquila. Paul tells us, “Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” – Acts 20:34-35.

We also learn in 2 Thessalonians 3, “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

We learn from the Gospel of Mark, “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” – Mark 10:21. We are also told, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”

Is there even more evidence? Could there be even more proof of this fact within the Bible? When you go to the Lord with all sincerity, desiring to know only the Truth, even as difficult as it may be, if you are willing to listen to what is being said, you will find the answers that you are looking for.

So, wait a minute. You are telling me that any one preaching for a living be it donations, books, ads, monetization, or for any other financial means or gain doesn’t know the Lord God? “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” “He that forsaketh not all that He hath, cannot be my disciple.” “Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” Will you continue to believe what man is teaching you, or will you believe the Word of the Lord?

Jonathan Heller – Lift Up A Banner

Did You Prepare For The Passover?

What is the Passover? What Biblical significance does it have today? Why did Jesus say, “The Kingdom of God is within you?” Why did John say, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols?” How do you know that you are born again? What does the Bible mean when it says sanctification? Why are we told that this world spiritually is Sodom and Egypt? Why did Moses forsake Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: but endured, as seeing Him who is invisible. Why did Peter tell us as strangers and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul?

What are strangers and pilgrims? If The Bible says that the whole world is Sodom and Egypt, should we apply this understanding when reading the entire Bible? What idols are we to keep ourselves from? Can we be born again without doing this? What if we are not sanctified? Do we have to forsake Egypt? Why did Jesus say, “He that forsaketh not all that he hath, cannot be my disciple?

Questions, questions, so many questions. Do you ever take the time to consider the verses within the Bible? Do you take the time to pray over them? Do you seek out the answers on your own with the Lord? Or, do you rely on others to tell you what it says? The following are two short videos. Instead of me trying to teach you, allow the Spirit of All Truth to teach you. What you will see is the KJV Bible with the Strong’s Concordance. All that you need to do is read, follow along, listen to what is being said, and look deeper at the definitions of the original Hebrew and Greek. Other verses will be inserted, as you are considering what you are seeing. Ponder it all with your own understanding of Scripture. Let go of all preconceived notions, and simply read what is in front of you. Before doing so, think upon one thing, “The flesh wars against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh.”

The next video in the series is “Be Ready Against The Third Day – Be The Wise VIRGIN – Prepare For The Passover Part 2.” Consider all of the questions at the beginning of this post, and ponder deeply what you just saw and heard.

“And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. Ye shall defile (pronounce utterly unclean) also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.” – Isaiah 30:20-22.

To see all of the videos in this playlist, simply click the link. Lift UP A Standard Raise A Banner. There are many lessons, studies, videos, and eBooks on this site. If you are just getting here, all of it is free. There are no banner ads or donations accepted. The only place that you may come across the occasional ad, is with the YouTube videos, which I have no control over. The channel is non-monetized. If you like what you see here, share the links, the website, or the eBooks.

When you truly understand what we all did in the first place, it is much easier to understand why we all must repent. Once we know who we are and where we come from, everything slowly falls into place and begins to make sense. I pray that this website will help lead you in your own walk with the Lord God, as we learn to let go of ourselves, to become more like Him.

Jonathan Heller – Lift Up A Banner

Fear Of The Lord – The Beginning Of Wisdom

Would it be a good thing to know what it is that we all did that would warrant an eternity of punishment? Do you think that we are all going to be punished, due to one man and one woman, roughly 6000 years ago? What if nothing in this world is what it seems? What if Jesus is right, and we are all sleeping? What if He was right when He said our father was the devil? What is it that we all need to repent from? What if the Bible was correct when Jesus said that His mission was to free the captives? Who exactly did He free? Why does the Bible say there is a god of this world who has blinded our eyes?

What if the Bible was true, and we are all strangers and pilgrims on the earth? If that is correct, it would mean that we are not from here. Why does the Bible say, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which. leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Why are there over 2 billion people who claim to know the truth? How many of us read the Bible or take someone else’s words for it? How many of us rely on man to teach us the Word? If we are all created in the image of the Lord God, why does the Bible say that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature? If we are perfect creatures created in His image, than why do we all need to be redeemed? Why did Jesus say once again that we are of our father the devil? What was the tree in the midst of the garden? Why is the whole world spiritually called Sodom and Egypt?

What if this world was the Matrix? What if the word matrix is in the Bible? What if the Bible bared witness to every question in life that we could ever have? Why does the Bible talk about the natural man and the carnal mind? How do you gain spiritual understanding? Why is the Book of Jude in the first person and not in the past? Why does 2 Peter 2 also talk about angels and brute beasts? Why are we told to wake up from the dead? What if we are truly dead? Why do we need to be born again? Who did Jesus say that our father was? The devil. Now, begin your journey into all of these questions and many more with Our Free Bible Study. It takes the simplicity of the Gospel and adds videos and the original Hebrew and Greek. After you are done, check out all of the lessons or the free eBooks.

Bible Study With The Word

We begin with who we all are. And build our way up from there.

I pray that the eyes of your understanding may be enlightened.

Jonathan Heller – Lift Up A Banner

The Bible – Fact Or Fiction?

Was the Da Vinci Code fact and fiction? What about the Bible? Is the priority of Sion a hoax? As we can consider the movie, one thing is for sure. It was only designed to entertain. However, the Bible is 100% Truth. When Pilate was questioning Jesus, whether to find fault with Him, he posed a series of questions. Let us look at one. “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?”

In John 14, Jesus teaches us who He is, and what His words mean. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Jesus tells us, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” In the last couple of posts we covered many things. In Temporal Concerns, we dove deep into walking after the Spirit and not after the flesh. If you haven’t read it, I recommend doing so. All Scripture begets Scripture. Building upon our own foundation, helps fill us with His words.

The last post, Like In The Days Of Noah, we reviewed who we all are, where we come from, and what we are all doing here in the first place. Then, we looked at the scenario of how things would look at the end of the world. We finished off that post where we begin today. The Bible says, “He who hungers and thirsts after righteousness shall be filled.” As a Christian, we believe the Bible, and we know that it it the Word of God. We know that it is true. Many of us have no doubt. Why is it so hard for us just to read it for what it says? Why do we always try to interpret what it says? The Bible is simple. The easiest way to understand the Word is simply believing what is said. That is it. That is the simplicity. No? Don’t believe that it could be so simple? Let’s set the stage and I will give you the first prime example.

Jesus tells us in John 10:34, “Is it not written in your Law, I said ye are gods?” What do the words on this page say? What did Jesus just say? He said that all of us are gods. Everyone of us. Although, what was He referring to. Let’s look at the Law, and where Jesus was quoting, Psalm 82:6. Why don’t we open up our Bibles, or whatever program that we use and see what it says? Let’s look at Psalm 82:5-7. “They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.” “Arise O’ sleeper… Wake up from the dead.”

OK. Just take a moment, and consider. Think. Ponder. What is it that is happening within you at this very moment? Is it disbelief? Is it anger? Is it something else? Why? Who are they? Why does it say all of you? Where did they fall from? Why will they now die like men? What is it that we are all to be judged for? A sin that happened by two people roughly 6000 years ago? Or did we do something that would warrant an eternity of punishment? Why do we need to be born again? Why did Jesus say that we are of our father the devil? Is he really our father? Does Jesus tell the 100% truth? Has He ever lied? Do you believe the Bible is the Word of God? What did Jesus mean when He said that we are all gods?

What if there was another verse that confirmed this? What if there were two? What if there were ten? What if there were more? Would you continue to dismiss it? Or, would you believe the very words that are written on the pages within the Word? The following are a couple of free eBooks that builds upon these verses with more information than any man could possibly deny. If… You only allow the Spirit to open up your eyes and your hearts. We are all captives and prisoners. We are the prodigal son’s. Satan is the god of this world who has blinded our eyes from believing. This world truly is the Matrix. The Bible proves it over and again. Read the free eBooks. Pray over them. Ponder them. Click on the Bible Study link on the Homepage or here directly, for even more that builds upon this subject.

In the Book of Revelation, we are told about an angel giving him a book, that in his mouth was sweet as honey. Although, once he had digested it, it became very bitter. Why? Why did the truth become bitter to him? Why did the Word become bitter to him, the Bible? What is it that we are all repenting from? Take the time and seek it out for yourselves. I ask you for nothing but a few moments of your time. What possibly do you have to lose? What is it that you would lose if you were wrong? Eternity…

What If We Were Angels?

Why is the Book of Jude in the New Testament? What does it matter what happened to the angels roughly 6000 years ago? What does Jesus say on this subject? What did He know, that we are all unaware of?

The Bible Unveiled – Who Are We? Where Do We Come From?

Understand one of life’s biggest questions and how profound it truly is. Jesus taught us the Truth to this world, and the answers to everything are located within His Words.

These eBooks are free in pdf, epub, and mobi (kindle). They are free on Kobo, Google Books, Play Books, Barnes & Noble, and others. There are six free eBooks that reveals the Word of Life here within the pages of this website. I pray that you take the time to read them all and pray over them. Ponder them. Consider them. The Bible is either Fact or Fiction. And if it is Fact, which I know for a surety that it is, you have to be willing to accept it all. Even the portions that you don’t want to believe. We are all to be judged out of it, regardless of whether we want to believe it or not.

Everything within the pages of this website is what the Spirit has reveled to myself and others. Read all 6 free Christian eBooks here. They are placed in an order where one builds upon another using the KJV Bible, the Strong’s Concordance, and questions for you to consider. The only requirement on our part is to become as a little child. As well as letting go of our preconceived notions. I pray that the Father of Heavenly lights will open your hearts and the eyes of your understanding. May the Full truthfulness of the Everlasting Gospel shine within you. See all of the recent lessons.

Jonathan Heller – Lift Up A Banner