When and by whom did the doctrine of the Virgin Birth begin; and how did it become a part of Christian doctrine? We are told to study and prove all things. "15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2) "21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thess. 5) "20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isa. 8)

“The Christian trinity is of Egyptian origin, and is as surely a pagan doctrine as... martyrs and virgins, intercessors in heaven, gods and demigods, and other forms of faith which deface the greater part of modern religions.” (Ancient Pagan and Modern Christian Symbolism, Thomas Inman, p. 13)

The Christians began very early after the death of Jesus to adopt pagan doctrines, rites, and ceremonies. "3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day [return of Jesus] shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition... 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way." (2 Thess. 2)

The renowned ecclesiastical historian, Mosheim, detailed the fall of Christianity century by century. Of the fourth century he wrote, “The rites and institutions, by which the Greeks, Romans, and other nations, had formerly testified their religious veneration for fictitious deities, were now adopted, with some slight alterations by Christian bishops, and employed in the service of the true God.” (Mosheim, Ecclesiastical History, Century 4, Part 2, chap 4:1, 4)

In the early part of the fourth century, Constantine took Rome by the sword--killing his wife, first born son, nephew, and thousands of dissenters. When he went to the pagan priest Sopater to seek forgiveness for all his sins, he was told they were too grievous. When he went to a Christian Bishop (already far engrossed in paganism), he was told that he could be baptized and forgiven (which he could not). Christianity was on the rise. The acceptance of paganism by Christian Bishops is clear in the writings of Ambrose in The Confessions, "...when God is thought of, our thoughts should dwell on no material reality whatsoever." The Trinitarian Creed states, "The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible." What say you Jesus? "3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, AND Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Abraham mistook God for a man (Gen. 18). Jacob wrestled with Him (Gen.32:24, 28, 30). Moses conversed with Him as a man converses with his friend and allowed Moses to see His back parts (Ex. 32).

Constantine decided to make Christianity the State Religion. Most of Rome and the Christians were deep in paganism, so it was easy for him to simply give Christian names to pagan doctrines and amalgamate the two. “As seen in Constantine’s originating piety, that supreme deity would have been associated with the sun, and pagans would have recognized, with reason, their own solar cult in such Christian practices as orienting churches to the east, worshipping of ‘sun day,’ and celebrating the birth of the deity at the winter solstice.” (James Carroll, Constantine’s Sword, p. 183)

He then stood as the spiritual head of the church. "Constantine fully understands himself by now as the 'vice-regent of God,' and, as is clear from what he did as soon as he defeated Licinius, he did not hesitate to act as such, especially against the 'evil and unbelieving.'" (Ibid. p. 187)

"Immediately upon coming to power as the sole ruler of the empire, but only then, Constantine asserted the right to exercise absolute authority over the entire Church. He did this despite the fact that he was not baptized, and, as was not unusual, would not be until shortly before he died." (Ibid., p. 188)

In 325 AD, Constantine called the Council of Nicaea, assembled the Bishops, and after months of dispute, declared the Creed of Saint Athanasius to be the foundation doctrine of his new Catholic (universal or State) Church. This creed brought the pagan doctrines of the Trinity and the Virgin Birth into Christianity. This creed declares, "Which faith, except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly." He made dissent heresy--a crime punishable by death.

“Differences in Christian belief and practice were often rooted, as in New Testament times, in the regional differences between, say, an Antioch in Syria or a Corinth in Greece , where Saint Paul composed his hymn to diversity.  Differences were natural in such a world, but now an emperor with a ‘celestial mandate’ for ‘the government of all earthly things’ was determined to change that world. For Constantine , religious differences were impediments to the power that had replaced Maxentius and Licinius. In this way, the choice (‘heresy’) to be religiously different became defined as treason, a political crime. But different from whom, and from what? For the first time in its history, the universal Christian Church was seen to need a defined orthodoxy, a word derived from the Greek for ‘right thinking.’ This resulted from what might be called the first law of exclusion: You can’t say who is out unless you can say what it is to be in. ‘No heretic,’ as the proverb has it, ‘without a text.’  It is important to emphasize that this need, which has so dominated Roman Catholicism that even now the Church cannot break free of it, was first defined not by the Lord, a Jew who identified with dissenters; nor by his apostles, who did not hesitate to differ from one another; nor by their successor bishops who defended regional interests; nor by evangelists who produced not one version of the Jesus story but four; nor by theologians who introduced innovative Hellenistic categories into Scripture study; nor by preachers who readily put their eccentric personal stamps on the kerygma—but by an all-conquering emperor for whom one empire had come to equal one religion.

“Thus, the now absolute and sole Caesar, demonstrating an authority no one had ever exercised before, summoned the bishops of the Church to a meeting over which he himself would preside: ‘Wherefore I signify to you, my beloved brethren, that all of you promptly assemble at the said city, that is at Nicaea...’ Two hundred and fifty of them came. He would not let them leave until they had begun to do for the Church what he was doing for the empire. This meeting was the Council of Nicaea, the first Ecumenical Council of the Church. It took place in 325, only a year after Chrysopolis. In response to the emperor’s mandate, the bishops did, in fact, agree to a formulaic statement of belief, defining especially, and in explicit terms, how Jesus is God. Those who dissented were exiled by Constantine . (More than one bishop—and most famously Athanasius, banished later—would serve out his exile in Trier .)”  (Ibid., p. 189) This creed is included at the end of this article.

Constantine simply amalgamated paganism with Christianity to create his State Religion; and satisfy both.  Many of the Christians, led by Bishops of the day, had already returned to many of their pagan beliefs. They absorbed the religious ideas of the time, and made up their own mythical "facts" to fit those ideas with the rest of their myths. Long after Jesus' death, and even after the deaths of all those who knew him personally - a good three generations after Jesus died - virgin birth stories began to circulate within the Christian community as a result of the natural progression of the mythology surrounding Jesus.

The concept of a great man being the literal son of a god, and therefore born to a human virgin who is impregnated by said god, was a common theme in ancient mythology. The most prominent such theme during the time and location in which Jesus lived was the mythology surrounding Romulus, the founder of Rome. He and his twin brother were said to have been birthed by a Vestal Virgin who was raped by a god and later put to death for having children (if a Vestal Virgin lost her virginity, the punishment was death). This mythology was part of the way that later Romans justified raising Romulus to the level of a god himself. Julius Caesar had a statue built next to Romulus and other Roman gods, which was one of the actions that led to his assassination - he seemed to be claiming god-ship.

The way the ancients figured it, to have a god-man on Earth, a story needed two things. 1. A source for His being a God, and 2. A source for His humanity. Ancient books are chock full of stories of divine men claiming virgin births. Even Constantine claimed to have been born of a virgin. Over and over those stories include details showing exactly these two details. Where'd the divinity come from? A God. Where'd His humanity come from? A woman. Just as the fact of a miracle is evidence that a God is at work, the divinity came from a God.  Facts in these stories were evidence that the god-man was different from a regular human.

Jesus said, "3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, AND Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17) This correct understanding of God and Jesus was lost when Constantine adopted the pagan doctrines of the Trinity and Virgin Birth as the foundation of his form of Christianity.

John Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism, writing about the loss of the gifts of the Holy Ghost, actually commented on the loss of the Christian faith.  "The cause of this was not, as has been supposed, because there was no more occasion for them, because all the world was become Christians.  This is a miserable mistake; not a twentieth part of it was then nominally Christian.  The real cause of it was that the love of many, almost all Christians, so-called, was waxed cold.  The Christians had no more of the spirit of Christ than the other heathens.  The Son of Man, when He came to examine His Church, could hardly find faith upon earth.  This was the real cause why the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost were no longer to be found in the Christian church--because the Christians were turned heathens again, and only had a dead form left." (John Wesley's Works, Vol. 7, 89; 26-27)

"A wonderful instance of this spiritual blindness, this total ina­bility to discern the signs of the times mentioned in the scriptures, is given us in a very celebrated work of a late eminent writer, who supposed the New Jerusalem came down from heaven when Constantine the Great called himself a Christian. I say called himself a Christian, for I dare not affirm that he was one any more than Peter the Great. I cannot but believe he would have come nearer the mark if he had said that it was the time when a huge cloud of in­fernal brimstone came up from the bottomless pit! for surely there never was a time when Satan gained so fatal an advantage over the church of Christ as when such a flood of riches, and honor and power broke in upon it, particularly on the clergy." (See Vol. 2, page 97)

The Church of England in the "Homily Against Peril of Idolatry," first published about the middle of the sixteenth century, admitted of the great Christian apostasy.  "So that laity and clergy, learned and unlearned, all ages, sects, and degrees of men, women, and children of whole Christendom-- a horrible and most dreadful thing to think-- have been at once drowned in abominable idolatry; of all other vices most detested of God, and most damnable to man; and that by the space of eight hundred years and more."

"I have already considered the proto-orthodox pamphlet cited by Eusebius, a pamphlet that accuses the Roman adoptionists Theodotus, Asclepiades, and Hermophilus of tampering with the manuscripts of the New Testament in order to secure their own theology with them (Hist. Eccl. V, 28)... What has survived are the scriptural texts produced by scribes who held to the author's own theological persuasion. Interestingly enough, some of these 'orthodox' texts do evidence tampering." (The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture, Bart C. Ehrman, Oxford University Press, pp. 55, 56)

For anyone to have true faith in Jesus it is necessary to have a correct understanding of his character, identity, and His significance to the human race. It is not sufficient to simply believe that such a person existed and is our Lord and Savior. The Trinitarian Creed, that is the foundation of most so-called Christian religions, makes Jesus our eternal heavenly Father. The concept is that the Father is only a spirit and Jesus was the mortal body of the Father. Jesus, then, could not exist until Mary was impregnated by the Holy Ghost; but, by this creed the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father AND the Son, so could not exist until Jesus existed. The early Christians worshipped no such god. They held to a monotheistic doctrine.

The Father existed before this creation; and is without change. "6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (Matt. 3) Jesus was the first and only spirit of this creation begotten of the Father. Jesus, as a spirit, and was the beginning of this creation. "In the beginning [of this creation] was the Word [Jesus], and the Word was with God [the Father], and the Word was God [of this creation]. 2 The same was in the beginning [of this creation] with God [the Father]. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made." (John 1) "26 And God said, Let us [Jesus and the Father] 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." (Gen. 1)

Now, if we were made in the image and likeness of God, it follows that God is in appearance like us. "9. The God who created Adam had a body, with all its parts; for as truly as Adam, when he begat a son, begat him in his own likeness, after his image, (Gen. v, 3) so truly God, when he created Adam, made him in the likeness and after  the image of God. (Gen. i, 26, 27. v, 1. ix, 6. 1st Cor. xi, 7.  Jas. iii, 9.) 10. Abraham worshipped the same God; for when God  visited him, Abraham at first mistook him for a man; and, with genuine Patriarchal hospitality, invited him into the tent to eat, and offered to wash his feet. (Gen. xviii.) 11. Jacob also, worshipped the same God; for after wrestling with him, he tells us he saw him face to face. (Gen. xxxii, 24, 28, 30.)  Surely the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has a body and parts, face and feet. 12. The God who spoke to Moses from the fire in the bush, and in a voice of thunder in Sinai, gave the Commandments; wrote the Commandments on tables of stone, with his finger; (Deut. ix, 10;) conversed with Moses face to face, as a man converses with his friend; (Ex. xxxii, 11;) passed by covering Moses with his hand, and allowed him to behold his back parts. (Ex. xxxiii, 22, 23.)  Truly this is not the God without body or parts, which Episcopalians, Methodists, and all other Christians worship. 13. The God of the Prophets and Apostles was in bodily form, with all the appropriate parts, as imaged in his creature man; for he had [Arms, Hands, Loins, Feet, Face, Eyes, Ears, Nostrils, Mouth, Lips, and Tongue]. 14. The appearance of God was the likeness of man, when he appeared to Ezekiel, and called him to the Prophetic office; though he was surrounded with fire and a glorious radiance, from his loins upwards and downwards (Ezek. i, 26, 27.)" (James J. Strang, Book of the Law, p. 54)

The truth of the matter is that Jesus had to be of the SEED of Abraham, the tribe of Judah, and the house of David to qualify as the Messiah. "3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." (Rom. 1) Jesus said "I am the root [who organized David as a spirit] and the offspring of David [according to the flesh], and the bright and morning star." (Rev. 22) It was not God who was "made of the seed of David;" but Jesus.

Jesus is referenced 26 times in the New Testament as the "Son of David;"  and 72 times as the Son of Man. Matthew made it clear in Chapter one that Jesus was of the SEED of Abraham, the tribe of Judah, and the house of David through Joseph--"the husband of Mary". No one knows who, when, or by whom the books that are accepted as the four gospels were actually written. The Bible was constructed by Constantine--an un-baptized, worshipper of the sun god. Only one book of the new testament offers evidence of a virgin birth: Matthew 1:18 - 25. John, the beloved of Jesus, makes no mention of this. The earliest of Christian writers, Mark, never mentions what would be a most significant part of Jesus' character. Luke simply alludes, "the Highest shall overshadow thee"--no reference to a virgin birth. "35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1)

There can be no doubt that Jesus was conceived through the power of the Holy Ghost. So was Isaac and many others--most likely all who were for-ordained to a spiritual mission in mortal life were conceived through the power of the Holy Ghost. This is not a conception BY the Holy Ghost. Remember, by the Trinitarian Creed, the Holy Ghost did not exist until after Jesus existed. The thought of a ghost begetting seed upon a mortal woman is purely pagan. Since Jesus and Mary were married at the time of Jesus conception, if Jesus was conceived BY the Holy Ghost, then Jesus was the bastard son of a ghost; and the Holy Ghost was guilty of adultery. But Oh! The Holy Ghost did not exist until after Jesus existed! The greatest mystery is how anyone in this day can except this doctrine of paganism. Most people are like sheep following the loudest bah. Is it any wonder that even Jesus compared the masses to sheep?

Matthew 1, verses 18 - 25 were clearly added to the original text and are fabrications. Verse 18 notes that at the time of Jesus conception, Joseph and Mary were espoused. Previously, in verse 16, he wrote that Joseph was "the husband of Mary." An espousal is more accurately a betrothal and marriage. "ESPOUSAL: (es-pouz'-al), (es-pouz'): In the King James Version these words, following English usage of an earlier day, are used to signify either marriage or betrothal, while the American Standard Revised Version discriminates, and uses them only for marriage. For example, in 2 Sam 3:14, 'I espoused to me' (Hebrew 'erasti li) becomes 'I betrothed to me.' So also, in Matt 1:18; Luke 1:27; 2:5 which refer to the relation between Joseph and Mary before the birth of Jesus, 'espoused' (mnesteuo) becomes 'betrothed.' On the other hand, 'espoused' is retained in Song 3:11 ('the day of his espousals' - that is, day of marriage); in Jer 2:2 ('the love of thine espousals' - that is, the love of married state); and in 2 Cor 11:2 ('I espoused (hermosamen) you to one husband')" (from International Standard Bible Encyclopedia). In Martin Luther's Bible the term virgin is missing and in its place is Yung Frau. The term virgin from the English is misleading. The original Greek term only meant a young woman and in some places notes the virgin as being married. "8 Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth." (Joel 1) Even Luke notes that Joseph and Mary were married. "26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary." (Luke 1) The betrothal or marriage ceremony was culminated in the consummation of the marriage. The actual marriage ceremony was often celebrated after the actual marriage. Joseph and Mary came together on the day of the marriage. How long does it take to discover that a woman is with child? Certainly some time after Joseph and Mary were married and had consummated the marriage bond.

Most of the so-called Christian world believes that Mary conceived Jesus BY the Holy Ghost. Mary was not of the proper genealogy to be the only person involved in Jesus' birth. Mary was the cousin of Elisabeth who bore John the Baptist and was of the tribe of Levi. If Jesus was conceived BY the Holy Ghost, Jesus would not be of the SEED of Abraham because the SEED of man is carried only in the male line. Genealogy, from Adam on, is counted in the Bible only through the male line. The genealogy of Jesus provided by Matthew and Luke proves this. "9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him." (Heb. 7) The Virgin Birth Doctrine makes Jesus the bastard son of the Holy Ghost--and therefore not of the proper lineage to be the Messiah; and not the supposed literal Son of God. "(bas'-tard) (mamzer; nothos): In Deut 23:2 probably the offspring of an incestuous union, or of a marriage within the prohibited degrees of affinity (Lev 18:6-20; 20:10-21). He and his descendants to the tenth generation are excluded from the assembly of the Lord. (See Driver, ad loc.)" (from International Standard Bible Encyclopedia). God cannot commit sin; and cannot even be tempted with sin.

Just as significant is the thought that a ghost could beget seed upon a woman. If that were true, Satan and his followers could beget seed upon any woman on the earth. Mary also did not have the correct genetic code to bear a son; as she carried only female chromosomes. It is no wonder this whole Trinity and Virgin Birth doctrine is called a mystery. More accurate: it is a lie. The Trinity and Virgin Birth originated in paganism. Had Jesus made any attempt to make such a claim, the Jews would have, rightly, completely rejected Him. The fact that He never made any such claim is evidence that this doctrine is false. Consider the Catch 22 of this doctrine. The Trinitarian Creed declares, "The Son is of the Father alone." "The Holy Ghost is the of Father AND of the Son." The Holy Ghost by this creed did not even exist until Jesus existed. Jesus could not be conceived by Himself and the Father.

Jesus could not be the Father and He could not have been conceived through a ghost; as that would make Him the bastard son of a Ghost. Matthew tells us, "16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ." (Matt. 1) The god of this creed is not the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; but, a non-entity born in the minds of pagans; and brought into the Christian faith by the un-baptized pagan Roman Emperor, Constantine, who was a loyal follower of the sun god. Those who worship such a God will face the condemnation of their false opinions. Jesus is soon to return, "8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thess. 1)

What say you Mary? "48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." (Luke 2) What say you John? "45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." (John 1) "42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?" (John 6) "13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." (John 3)

Verse 19 claims that Joseph did not put Mary away because he was "a just man." If he was a just man, he would have followed the law of Moses and taken Mary back to her father's house and had her stoned to death. "20 But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: 21 Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you." (Deut. 22)

This doctrine would make the Holy Ghost (which according to the creed is also the Father) guilty of adultery. "14 Thou shalt not commit adultery." (Ex. 20) "10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death." (Lev. 20) Can God violate His own commandments? "13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man." (James 1) "9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind." (1 Cor. 6) This creed makes the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost the same identity. If Jesus was God, then God was the bastard son of Himself.

Verse 21 is false and an obvious addition to the text. The reference to Emmanuel is found in Isaiah 7.  "14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings." (Isa. 7) This was a sign given to Ahaz, was not a reference to Jesus, and was fulfilled in the next chapter. "3 And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz." (Isa. 8) This was a bold faced addition to Matthew, a forgery, and is false. Again, this section is obviously a fraud.

Now let us consider if Jesus could have been the Almighty Father. "3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, AND Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17) There is no reference in the Bible that even alludes to Jesus being the Father. Jesus always identified Himself separate from the Father. He always prayed to the Father and advised us to pray to the Father in His name. "16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15)

Only God holds all power and authority in the Universe. "14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and ONLY Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 Who ONLY hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting." (1 Tim. 6)

God is the same from eternity to eternity. Jesus changed many times. The spirit of Jesus was organized by the Father at the beginning of this creation (John 1). His spirit was then united with a mortal body the same as Adam and all others. Jesus was born and lived like every other mortal man. "17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." (Heb. 2) "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Heb. 5)

Jesus became the Son of God through his ordination to the highest office of the Melchisedec Priesthood like Moses. "4 And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he [the Father] that said unto him [ordained Him], Thou art my Son, TODAY HAVE I BEGOTTEN THEE. 6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec... 10 CALLED OF GOD an high priest after the order of Melchisedec." (Ibid.) "13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?" (Heb. 1)

Jesus noted that He was inferior to the Father. "28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I." (John 14) "23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father." (Matt. 20) "46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matt. 27)

Jesus is subject to the Father, "28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." (1 Cor. 15) "30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." (John 5)

Jesus did not possess the superior perfections of the Father. He was mortal and died. God alone has immortality (1 Tim. 6). Jesus spent the three days when his mortal body lie in the grave opening a dispensation of the gospel to the spirits in prison (hell). "18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit [his spirit remained after His mortal body died]: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison." (1 Pet. 3)

Jesus was raised from the dead as a resurrected Messiah BY God, given all power in this creation BY God, and sits at the right hand OF God. "15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses." (Acts 3) "18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power [in this creation] is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (Matt. 28) "18 I am he that liveth [from the beginning], and was dead [spend three days in hell]; and, behold, I am alive for evermore [as the resurrected Savior], Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." (Rev. 1)

Jesus is lacking in knowledge. "36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." (Matt. 24)

Jesus was the beginning of this creation and the God of this creation. "1 In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word was with God [the Father], and the Word was God [of this creation]. 2 The same was in the beginning [of this creation] with God [the Father]. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made." (John 1) "26 And God said, Let US [Jesus and the Father] make man in our image, after our likeness." (Gen. 1) It is obvious that Jesus existed as a spirit long before the conception in the womb of Mary; and as a spirit after the death of His mortal body.

We all lived as spirits after being organized by Jesus. "4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated [for-ordained] us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." (Eph. 1) During this time, Satan (also a spirit) rebelled against God. "12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer , son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." (Isa. 14) Satan, his followers, and the sons of perdition will not have a physical body in eternity after the final resurrection of man.

Had it not been for Jesus keeping a perfect law, we would have no hope; but, spend eternity as spirits. "22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." (1 Peter 2) When the spirit of a person is united to a physical body with the breath of life, he becomes a living soul (a spirit and body united--Gen. 2:7). When our mortal body dies, our spirit is taken back to the God who organized it (Jesus) for judgment. "7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." (Eccl. 12) Those who enter the kingdom of God during mortal life and live a righteous life are taken to the bosom of Abraham to await their resurrection. All others are taken to the spirits in prison. Those who live during this mortal life (except the sons of perdition) will be resurrected. "10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior OF ALL MEN, specially of those that believe." (1 Tim. 4) Their spirits will be united with an immortal physical body. Those who are worthy will come forth in the first resurrection; and the rest in the second (Rev. 20).

When Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, the chemistry of their bodies changed and they became mortals. The only one who could redeem mankind was Jesus, the creator of this creation. Only by living without sin would Satan have no power (of death) over him; and He would have to be resurrected from the dead. "22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2) He did not die for our personal sins; but, for the sin of Adam and Eve that brought mortality upon mankind. We are judged according to our own sins in this probationary estate.

Living without sin, the Father had to resurrect Jesus and give him power over our resurrection. "30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him [David], that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2)

My Father always taught that we should not tear down a person's house (beliefs) without building a better one for him. Jesus taught, "5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3) The Bible is clear on the fact that only officers of the Melchisedec Priesthood have authority from God to administer all the saving ordinances of gospel. Jesus went to John the Baptist for baptism of water because John was a Priest of the Levitical Priesthood and held divine authority to perform that ordinance. John, thou, did not hold divine authority to baptize with the Spirit. "11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire." (Matt. 3)

After Jesus was tempted of Satan, "11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him... 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt. 4) What did they minister? "4 And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron [through the spirit of prophecy]. 5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he [the Father] that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee... 10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec." (Heb. 5) Actually, Jesus was called and ordained to the same Prophetic Office held by Moses and others--a first degree Apostle and Lawgiver (the highest office in the Melchisedec Priesthood and therefore He held all lower offices, including that of High Priest).

Jesus then organized the kingdom with all of the officers of the Melchisedec Priesthood because none can enter the kingdom of God without being properly born of water and the Spirit, and sharing the sacrifice of Christ in the holy Eucharist. "11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists [high priests]; and some, pastors [elders] and teachers; 12 FOR the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 TILL we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Eph. 4)

We have already seen that the Christian Church was lost when the un-baptized, pagan Roman Emperor, Constantine, stood at the head of the church. In time there remained none in the kingdom. "11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it." (Amos 8) "19 O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit. 20 Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?" (Jer. 16)

Satan was given all power over mortal man for a period of 1,260 years. "6 And the woman [Church of Christ] fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days." (Rev. 12) "5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over ALL KINDREDS, AND TONGUES, AND NATIONS." (Rev. 13)

The 1,260 years had to begin when the Bishop of Rome thought to stand as God and head of the entire church in 570 AD. "4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thess. 2) “The pope is of so great dignity and excellence, that he is not merely man, but as if God.  The pope alone is called most holy, divine monarch, and supreme emperor, and King of Kings. The pope is of so great dignity and power, and he constitutes one and the same tribunal with Christ, so that whatever the pope does seems to proceed from the mouth of God.  The pope is as God on earth.” (Guiness, Romanism and the Reformation, pp. 25, 26)

It was exactly 1,260 years later that Joseph Smith restored the Melchisedec Priesthood and organized the Church of Christ on April 6, 1830. James J. Strang succeeded Joseph in the Prophetic Office in 1844. Before his martyrdom, James ordained L. D. Hickey one of the Twelve Apostles. Hickey ordained Samuel Martin a high priest, who ordained Lloyd Flanders a high priest, who ordained me an elder. Whenever there is one officer of the Melchisedec Priesthood, the kingdom of heaven is on the earth.

The gate into the kingdom of heaven is open to you. "33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt. 6) "13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matt. 7) I was called by the spirit of prophecy and ordained by one who held a legitimate claim to the Melchisedec Priesthood. The choice is yours. "15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24)

  Although many more pages could be written on this subject, I will end here; as it is evident from the Bible that Jesus was not born of a virgin (as defined in English), as many think; but, was the of the seed of Abraham, the tribe of Judah, the house of David, and son of Joseph. "6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." (1 Cor. 8)

Creed of Saint Athanasius