Joe Kovacs on the Kingdom of God message to the shepherds who received the message from an angel regarding Jesus’ birth
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks at Night
Stained-glass window by Tiffany Studios, ca. 1910
Luke wrote the following:
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. (Luke 2:8-18)
Related to this, an independent Sabbatarian writer named Joe Kovacs was interviewed about this a few weeks ago (see ‘Phenomenal prophecy for future hidden in Jesus’ first appearance’ Joe Kovacs’ statements about the shepherds aligns with God’s plan of salvation).
Joe Kovacs
He also has the following statements in his 2022 book Reaching God Speed:
Perhaps the most famous story in the Bible is the birth of Jesus, God in the flesh who was born in Bethlehem, laid in a manger, had visits from shepherds who announced the good news, (p. 151)
Jesus, whose name in Hebrew is Yeshua, meaning “God saves” or “God will save,” was born in Bethlehem (p. 152 )
It’s time to look at the shepherds in the story, who were given a glimpse into the unseen kingdom of God when an angel appeared to them and told them not to be afraid. “I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
‘Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord’” (Luke 2:10–11 CSB).
Scripture outright declares that what the shepherds are hearing is “good news” for “all the people.”
We’re given a portion of the good news from the angel, as he said, “a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” But the rest of the story of the “good news” is revealed when Jesus began His ministry as an adult.
And the good news Jesus was preaching focused on the future “kingdom of God”: “Afterward he was traveling from one town and village to another, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God” (Luke 8:1 CSB).
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15 CSB).
That future kingdom had been foretold far long ago by the Old Testament prophet Isaiah who, in a single prophecy, mentioned both the beginning of Jesus’s human life with His birth and the end of the story with His being the head over His kingdom, the everlasting government of God:
“For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. “He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
“The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever” (Isaiah 9:6–7 CSB).
Now back to the shepherds, the people who keep and care for sheep. At God speed, a shepherd is one who cares for God’s flock, the people who believe and follow their Maker.
Jesus is referred to as the “chief Shepherd” in 1 Peter 5:4, He calls Himself the “good shepherd” in John 10:11, and He famously told Peter, “Feed my sheep” in John 21:17.
So what happened with the shepherds at the manger scene?
“They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them” (Luke 2:16–18 CSB).
At first glance, this may not seem that important, but with our spiritual eyes and ears open at God speed, the message is staggering. The shepherds represent those who take care of God’s flock of people. They followed divine instructions from a supernatural being (in this case, an angel) and saw the sign of a baby lying in a manger. And what did they do next?
“They reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them” (Luke 2:17–18 CSB).
The shepherds, the caretakers of God’s people, reported the message about the Savior, the true food from heaven who brings eternal life, and all who heard the message were amazed. This event clearly shows us not only the incredible events of that night but also what has been happening since then and will happen again in the future kingdom of God! (pp. 153-154)
Jesus is referred to as the “chief Shepherd” in 1 Peter 5:4, He calls Himself the “good shepherd” in John 10:11, and He famously told Peter, “Feed my sheep” in John 21:17.
So what happened with the shepherds at the manger scene?
“They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them” (Luke 2:16–18 CSB).
At first glance, this may not seem that important, but with our spiritual eyes and ears open at God speed, the message is staggering. The shepherds represent those who take care of God’s flock of people. They followed divine instructions from a supernatural being (in this case, an angel) and saw the sign of a baby lying in a manger. And what did they do next?
“They reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them” (Luke 2:17–18 CSB).
The shepherds, the caretakers of God’s people, reported the message about the Savior, the true food from heaven who brings eternal life, and all who heard the message were amazed. This event clearly shows us not only the incredible events of that night but also what has been happening since then and will happen again in the future kingdom of God! The shepherds, both then and now, are informing people of the divine message about the true food (Jesus), and those who have their ears open to hear the message are “amazed” at what the shepherds say.
The people are amazed because they’re hearing how they can be saved and receive everlasting life. Yes, it’s very good news when you find out how you can avoid being dead forever! And there’s still more. Don’t forget that God declares the end from the beginning, constantly focusing our attention on the end of the story, letting us know the conclusion of events right from the very start.
So let’s look at the final mention of the shepherds in the account of the birth of Jesus.
“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told” (Luke 2:20 CSB).
The Bible text tells us “the shepherds returned.” This may rock your world, because not only is this explaining the events of that night in Bethlehem, but also it is a prophecy for the future when understood at God speed. What I mean is that the shepherds (all leaders of God’s people in this current time) are going to return in the future, to glorify and praise God for all the things they had seen and heard. This return will take place when they are resurrected from the dead and raised to immortal life to instruct people again on how to receive eternal life!
This has been forecast in Scripture, with prophecies from Jeremiah, as God Himself predicted the future time still ahead of us when He would “raise up” shepherds over His people to lead them in the divine way of life.
“I will give you shepherds who are loyal to me, and they will shepherd you with knowledge and skill” (Jeremiah 3:15 CSB).
“I will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands where I have banished them, and I will return them to their grazing land. They will become fruitful and numerous. I will raise up shepherds over them who will tend them. They will no longer be afraid or discouraged, nor will any be missing. This is the LORD’s declaration” (Jeremiah 23:3–4 CSB).
Just as Jesus is going to return in the future, so the shepherds will return as well, being literally “raised up” by God out of the ground and given eternal life to “shepherd the people with knowledge and skill.” This is a prophecy about what will be taking place in the kingdom of God, the kingdom which gets into full swing once Jesus returns to Earth.
It gives new meaning to Peter’s instructions to the elders among the New Testament believers, as he gives them the task of shepherds over God’s flock. Read it for yourself:
“Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:2–4 CSB).
It’s perfectly fitting that Peter mentions the unfading crown of glory for these leaders of God’s people, because it was actually embedded in the manger story when the shepherds were listening to the angel of God. As we read previously of the shepherds, “the glory of the Lord shone round about them” (Luke 2:9).
They had a shining, brilliant light surrounding them. This, too, when understood at God speed, is a prediction of how believers will actually have a bright radiance, a crown of light emanating from them in the coming kingdom when they become immortal and divine:
“Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let anyone who has ears listen” (Matthew 13:43 CSB).
God is going to “raise up” His shepherds from the grave to rule and reign with Him.
“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him….” (Revelation 20:6 CSB).
“And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—He shall rule them with a rod of iron” (Revelation 2:26–27 NKJV).
This is the glorious end to the message of Scripture. The result of everything that has taken place will be the followers of the chief Shepherd being raised up to eternal life, newly born children of God so they can rule and reign with God, instructing other people in a second resurrection that takes place a thousand years after Jesus’s return to Earth.
It is great that Joe Kovacs understands that God’s plan of salvation is not limited to this age.
Anyway, Joe Kovacs sent me an electronic copy of his book and gave me permission to quote from it as well as use the photo of him in this post.
While I have long known that Joe Kovacs has had exposure to Church of God doctrines, and has written in support of several of them, until I saw something on his book at World Net Daily earlier this month, I had not realized that he had such a grasp of God’s plan to offer salvation to others in the age to come.
Anyway, he and I have communicated a bit since, which is why I was able to quote as much of his material in this post as I have.
As far as more related to the topic that God has a plan to teach and reach people after the second resurrectin, we have a free online book: Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation.
More on the Kingdom of God can be found in our free online booklet: The Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
Some items of related interest may include:
Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation Will all get a fair chance at salvation? This free book is packed with scriptures showing that God does intend to offer salvation to all who ever lived–the elect in this age, and the rest in the age to come. Here is a link to a related sermon series: Universal Offer of Salvation 1: Apocatastasis, Universal Offer of Salvation 2: Jesus Desires All to be Saved, Mysteries of the Great White Throne Judgment (Universal Offer of Salvation part 3), Is God Fair, Will God Pardon the Ignorant?, Can God Save Your Relatives?, Babies, Limbo, Purgatory and God’s Plan, and ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’.
All the Prophets Spoke of Apocatastasis The Apostle Peter said all the prophets spoke about “apokatastasis. Do you know what that is? Watch also ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection; here is a message in Spanish: Me Está Llamando Dios Hoy? A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? Two related sermons about this are also available: Real Repentance and Real Christian Repentance.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to four related sermons: The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
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