Life Lessons

Chapter 7

2009-04-15T11:38:00.000-07:00

Wow, I'm here again so soon!!!!

144,000 Servants of God!

Luke 18:8 ... When the Son of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?

What a question!!!

At this time, there will be such a revival as the world has never known. Until the Rapture of the Church, there will constantly be falling away from the Church.

Rev 7 is very clear who the 144,000 people are. They are Jews from the 12 tribes. There is no question about this group of people.

Picture your worship. How do you do it? Is there a certain time, posture or whatever when you worship? I really hope not because we should be able to truly worship any time, any place and in any season of our lives.

In these verses it is the first time scripture in Revelation tells us that God will wipe away tears from their eyes! What a sweet picture.

When the scripture refers to the angels and creatures bowing to worship the One on the throne, it literally means to press the forehead to the ground - lift the head and blow kisses repeatedly!

Angels in Revelation are special ministers of God. They administer His plans for the earth.

In Chapters 2 and 3 they were messengers assigned to the churches
In 8 they are presenting the trumpet judgments

Here we find that they control the forces of nature and they supervise 2 things:

1. The wind from the four corners of the earth
2. They seal the servants of God (the 144,000)

There is complete stillness as the angels hold back the four winds.

These angels will ultimately have the power to change the wind patterns of the earth.

The wind will have two purposes: to cause catastrophe (hurricanes, etc) and to scatter the witnesses (144,000)

The sixth seal takes place toward the end of the first quarter of the tribulation.

The destroying angel is ordered to wait until the 144,000 servants have been sealed and begin their ministry of preaching the Gospel.

This will be a time of persecution for all believers which will be inspired by the Antichrist.

The 144,000 are obviously Jews from around the world.

Whenever you hear someone say that they are part of the 144,000 or their religion is part of that number ... ask them which tribe they are from!

There is no group today that is part of that 144,000 unless the rapture occurs today! These people have not been sealed.

Look back at the names of the tribes. One is missing! The tribe of Dan has been replaced by Manasseh.

Genesis 49:17 ...

Judges 18:30

The 144,000 have a job and that is to communicate the Gospel no matter what their occupation or work is at the present time.

Jeremiah 49:36

I will bring against Elam the four winds from the four quarters of the heavens; I will scatter them to the four winds, and there will not be a nation where Elam's exiles do not go.

Acts 8:1

God scatters people in order to bring His word to ALL people.

The advantage that this group of people will have over any of us is that they will know exactly how long they have to win people to Christ.

The purpose of the mark for these is to seal their security and deliver over safely the one who has been sealed.

Exodus 39:27-30

REMEMBER THAT SATAN NEVER HAS AN ORIGINAL THOUGHT! HE ONLY COPIES WHAT CHRIST AND GOD HAVE ALREADY THOUGHT OF AND DONE.

His ways are always counterfeit.

144,000 will be empowered by the Holy Spirit; they will not have to learn new languages because they will evangelize in the nation where they live. They will come from all over the earth.

It will be like having 144,000 Billy Grahams or Apostle Pauls!

There will probably be more people converted during the first part of the tribulation than at any time during the history of the Church.

Rapture = chaos!

People from every walk of life have disappeared and the Antichrist is trying to make people believe that there is some reasonable explanation.

How could one not listen and accept? I will never understand that part of all of this.

Verse 9 gives us a small picture of the vast crowd ... a number so great that no man could number!

The fact that the multitude stands befor e the throne clothed in white shows that they are redeemed ones from the earth.

The palm branches indicate their victory in Christ.

Another reason we know they accepted Christ later is that John did not know who they were. They came after his death.

If they had been saints of old, John would have reocgnized them.

Chapter 6

2009-04-07T12:14:00.000-07:00

This world has come under some cruel times but never such as will happen when the Seal Judgments begin!

This 7 year period decreed by God is for the primary purpose of shaking man loose from a false sense of security

Chapter 6 sets out the first of three judgments: (seals, trumpets and bowls)

All the judgments build in intensity.

The opening the seventh seal introduces the trumpet judgments; the blowing the 7th trumpet introduces the bowl judgments and so forth.

Each is worse than the one before but each period between gives people a chance to come to Christ.

HE NEVER GIVES UP!

The seal judgments cover approximately the first quarter of the Tribulation or 21 months.

The first four seals reveal horses and riders. They represent world conditions and not specific persons.

White horse ... The beginning of the reign of the Antichrist and his kingdom.

The purpose of the rider is to conquer ... the bow in his hand is symbolic of aggressive warfare but there is mention of an arrow. He will conquer by diplomacy rather than by war.

He will be the superman who promises to solve all the world's problems. The crown on his head is symbolic that he will be victorious for a time.

This will probably introduce the time of the beginning of the one world government. The Antichrist will accomplish this through the promise of peace and prosperity to mankind worldwide.

Ezekial 38/39 tells us that a nation will conceive of the idea of conquering Israel. God will supernaturally destroy this country.

the Antichrist will offer peace to all men in order to avoid further wars between nations.

Although all world leaders promise peace to the masses, man does not have the capacity to fulfill that promise.

2nd rider ... Red Horse ... WAR ... he has the ability to take peace from the earth ... he has a sword which is a weapon to kill. The nations who do not want the one government nation will revolt agains tthe Antichrist. This will bring about a world war the likes of which have never been seen as will be seen with the opening of the next seals.

3rd rider ... Black horse ... famine

Jeremiah 4:28

Famine often follows war as it did after World War I. Inflation also grips the world after a world war. The scales indicate the scarcity of food or the worth of things. Food will be worth more than silver or gold during this time.

The rich will not be hurt so much which is indicated by the instructions "not to hurt the oil and wine" which are traditionally foods of the rich.

4th seal ... Pale horse ... death.

1/4 of the earth's population will due during the tribulation. The fact that Hades follows indicates that these are unsaved dead.

Rev 20 ... Hades is the holding place of the unsaved dead.

5th seal --- The Martyred Tribulation Saints

These are the souls of the ones who had not accepted Christ prior to the Tribulation but realized it and were saved after the rapture!

John says he sees the souls of those. They are visible

Read Luke 16.

they are under the altar ... a place of sacrifice covered by the blood of Jesus!

THEY ARE NOT PART OF THE 144,000!

tHIS WILL BE THE GREATEST TIME OF CRUELTY EVER TO CHRISTIANS.

6th seal -- total catastrophe on earth ...

God will show His anger to the mass murders of his Saints.

The sun will be blackened ... maybe an eclipse which could cause earthquakes and volcanoes. Volcanic ash seems to make the moon look red and blots out the sun.

Seven sealed scroll

2009-04-07T11:58:00.000-07:00

OK, so I'll try to do better (I always say that!) but I really will.

Here is the next chapter in Revelation: Chapter 5

There were no actual books at this time - only scrolls of parchment.

Once John was able to take his eyes off the throne ... can you only imagine how difficult that was! he noticed something in the hand of the One on the throne.

3 characteristics of the scroll: It was in the right hand of GOD; it was written on front and back; and it was closed by 7 seals.

The scroll is the title deed to the Earth that God is holding.

the cause of John's weeping ... the scroll is intensely related to manAngelic beings are excluded from opening the seals, even the mightiest angel couldn't open it.No man could open it. No human like us.When nobody was found worthy, John wept. This was not the usual crying ... it was "klaio" every external form of weeping! Wailing, pulling and tearing at his clothing. The same type of grief Martha had at the tomb when she saw Jesus.The title deed was given by God to Adam who lost it through sin.

Christ is the only heir worthy to open the seal to the property ... John wept because he knew that this scroll represented the title deed to the earth and as long as it was sealed, satan would remain in control of the earth!

The lion, lamb is worth to open the seals! John saw the Lamb appearing as if it had been sacrificed...

7 horns
7 eyes
7 spirits

Five characteristics of the Lord:

The lion of the tribe of Judah ... Lion is the king of beasts and since Judah is the ruling tribe of Israel, Christ is to come as King to reign over the affiars of men

The root of David ... Jesus birth into the family of David

A Lamb as though it had been slain (Luke 22:7-16) ... As Peter & John made the preparation for the meal, they killed the lamb. They saw the lamb slain and so they saw the Lamb slain! John would know what He looked like!

When Christ completed the work of redemption, He earned the title deed to the earth.

Lion - power and might
Lamb - sacrificial

Having 7 horns --- a horn in scripture indicates power and authority

Matthew 28:18

When Christ came the first time - even though He displayed certain powers, He did not manifest all of His powers! When He comes the next time, it will be in all of His glory and power.

6 eyes (which are the 7 spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

These eyes speak of the judgment of our Lord. When He comes, He willknow all that man has ever thought or done.

Every deed will be brought to judgment ... good and bad.

He will come as the perfect judge.

7 horns --- all powerful
7 eyes --- all knowing
7 spirits ... all present

The moment that Christ takes the seven sealed scroll all the angelic beings fall down before Him.

NOTE: The 4 creatures and 24 elders have something in their hands.

Harps

Psalm 137:1-4 ... How could they rejoice when in captivity in a strange land. Did you ever feel like you do not belong?

They are home!!! They will once again sing and play their instruments!

GOLDEN BOWLS FILLED WITH THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS.

It is believed that these prayers are the unanswered prayers which will be answered at the appearing of Christ.

Three truths about prayer today:

We pray too little
We pray too small
We give up too soon.

Your next prayer may be the one that fills the bowl!

A NEW SONG WAS SUNG!

Christ is worthy because He was the One who was slain and purchased our sin.

We are members of God's spiritual kingdom into which we are born when we believe.

EVERY CREATURE!!!! Not just man, but every creature! will worship Him.

Phillipians 2:9-11

EVERY LIVING THING!!!Even those who rejected Him.

Chapter 4 ... The Throne of God

2009-02-24T14:24:00.001-08:00

Remember ... to explain what was being seen would be like taking someone from a foreign land and showing him everything here ... for him to explain to his people, he would have to compare it to something ... John was doing just that in his writings.

Rev 4:1-11

The Bible teaches us that there was three heavens:

1. The atmospheric heaven where the "prince of the power of the air" lives and this will one day be destroyed (the earth).

2. Stellar heaven (the sky we see) or the universe.

3. The one into which John was taken - the heaven of God. Could this be the "black hole" that some scientists describe? Maybe!

Job 26:7 He stretches out the north over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing.

Behind the North Star there is an empty space.
It has been suggested that this is the Third Heaven where God's throne is set.

After the letters to the churches, John is caught up into heaven.

The reasons we believe in the rapture before the Tribulation:

1. John, one of the first true members of the Church of Jesus Christ, is a fitting symbol of the Church being taken out of the world before the tribulation begins.

The location of this event is right for the Rapture. Chapters 2 and 3 deal with the successive periods of church history; Chapters 4 and 5 present a vision in heaven and Chapter 6 introduced the tribulation period.

2. The absence of any mention of the Church indicates that the Church is not around during Tribulation. In the first three chapters there are 16 references to the Church and it is not mentioned again until Chapter 19.

3. The use of Old Testament language and symbols in Chapters 4 - 18 indicate Israel ... not the Church.

4. The similarity between the events in Chapter 4 and other teaching on the Rapture ...

1 Thes 4:13-18 (some of my favorite scripture!)

Rapture - caught up - to seize by force.

Christ is coming to rob the world of His redeemed ones to take them to Heaven.

All believers who have voluntarily invited the Lord Jesus Christ into their lives will be raptured.

Most of the symbols in the book of Revelation have a counterpart in the Old Testament.

The throne of God seems to be fixed point and everything else in Heaven is in relation to it.

The throne of God is the place of authority and center of God's rulership for activities in Heaven.

Seven things around the Throne of God:

1. The triune God

studied carefully these verses reveal the three members of the triune God.

When John said he was in the Spirit - he was referring to the Holy Spirit; he was filled with the person of the HOly Spirit; the presence of the throne could be translated to be God.

Christ is seated at the right hand of God the Father

v 3 mentions Jesus ... John said, "...and He that sat was to look upon ..."

We know that God cannot be seen or looked upon!

John 1:18
John 6:46
1 Tim 6:16

The one John looked at is non other than the only member of the Trinity that can been and that is Jesus. John was seeing his old friend ... WHAT A REUNION!

Described in two ways ...

Jasper - diamond ... a diamond disperses light into color ... 1 Peter 4:10 talked about the grace being "various" or multicolored!

Jasper emits the colors of grace from the Throne of God.

Carnelian or Sardius - blood red ... the redemptive blood of Christ.

Jasper - grace (multicolored)
Sardius - mercy (blood red)

Grace is getting what we don't deserve and mercy is not getting what we do deserve.

Also notice the color of the stone according to Exodus 18:17-20

This was the breastpiece of judgment for the priest in the temple.

The stones of the throne of God were the first and last stones in the breastpiece for the tribes of Israel each tribe according to their birth order.

Reuben was the first tribe meaning "behold a son"
Benjamin was the last tribe meaning "son of my right hand"

It is Christ enthroned; the Son about the reign in power Who was before John's vision!

It represents the first time Christ has had His entire priesthood together at one time.

The priesthood of believers began at the day of Pentecost.

Every member of the body of Christ is a member of the priesthood of believers ... 1 Peter 2:9

The Church made up the royal priesthood and is now in the presence of Christ all united at one time.

The sardius and jasper stones are used to depict Christ as our High Priest ... the first and the last Commander in Chief of the tribes of Israel and the priesthood.

CHRIST THE ETERNAL ONE:

another phrase of the description of Christ is ... a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like an emerald."

A perfectly circular rainbow (not just a bow)

In heaven we will see a perfectly circular rainbow which represents the deternal nature of Christ.

These are reminders that we are in heaven not because of anything we have done but because Christ has given us a royal priesthood by His grace.

TWENTY FOUR ELDERS

2 views on this ...
12 representing the tribes of Israel (Old Testament)
12 representing the apostles (New Testament)

Reason ... they are wearing gold victor's crowns (not ones with stones) telling us that they were redeemed men.

Second opinion:

They are not of our race at all ... they may be elders over God's creation.

I believe it is the first!

SIGNS OF JUDGMENT

Lightning and thunder have most always been associated with judgment. Since they come from the throne of God, they are a prelude to the judgment that is about to fall on the earth.

SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD

Sevenfold characteristics of the Holy Spirit
Spirit of the Lord
Spirit of Wisdom
Understanding
Council
Might
Knowledge
Fear of the Lord

NOT SEVEN DIFFERENT SPIRITS BUT SEVEN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ONE HOLY SPIRIT.

We are filled with the Holy Spirit and in addition to the fruit of the Spirit, we should have these characteristics.

SEA OF GLASS.

Sea = cleansing of the saings Psalm 24:3-6
Sea - 1 Kings 7:23
2 Chron 4:6
Glass - calm

It represents a sure foundation - the Word of God and our means of cleansing.

FOUR LIVING CREATURES.

Angels

Isaiah 6:1-3

These creatures were there to give constant praise and glory to the Father

They possibly represent the four Gospels:

Lion ... Christ the King (Matthew)
Ox ... Christ the servant (Mark)
Man ... Son of Man (Luke
Flying Eagle ... God Himself (John)

HEAVENLY WORSHIP OF CHRIST

Christ is the object of worship in heaven

Crowns are ones of victor - solid gold.

Everything in this chapter is in relation to its position with the Throne. How about our lives? What is in your life that should be looked at by how it relates to God's Throne?

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!!!!!

Assurance

2009-02-18T07:24:00.000-08:00

It comes regularly to my attention that some people who say they are saved do not believe in the assurance of their salvation. This really bothers me because if I had to worry every day of my life if I'm saved or not, all my energy would be expended on getting saved every day. I know I don't need to do that because I am SAVED BY GRACE and God will not take back His gift from me. Yes, I sin every day but I will not lose my salvation because it is real and will be real until the end of time!Just some notes on this subject: Hope they help you. Let me know if they do!

First, we did nothing to gain our salvation … it was a free gift that we accepted from God when we accepted Christ. Do we think He’s going to take back a gift? I don’t.

Ephesians 2:8-9For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.

The initiative for your salvation was God’s …

Ephesians 1:4-5

He chose us in Hi before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons (and daughters) through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will.It was God (through His spirit) who convicted you of your sin and wooed you to Christ Jesus (Prevenient Grace)

Romans 8:9

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.Hebrews 12:2… fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Thes. 5:24

Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

Do you believe that the blood of Christ can cover ALL sins? Or just some sins? There is no “little” sin … it is black and white … no gray areas.Yes, if we are sinning, we are outside His will but there is nothing that says we will not be with Him in the end.I believe that if you have truly accepted Christ as your Savior, you cannot do anything to undo your salvation. You can be separated from His hearing but never from His love and power.

Romans 8:35-39

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness or peril or sword? Just as it is written, “For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 10:29

My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Oops

2009-02-16T12:14:00.000-08:00

Left out the Church at Laodicea:

Most disappointing of all the churches
In spite of the wealth of this church, nothing is known of the ministry:

There is no commendation to this church.

Condemnation: They are lukewarm. They have no power. May have never seen a transformation of souls at this church.

They were deceived about themselves! Sound familiar?

Counsel: Be tried by fire! Let their impurities be dissolved.

2008-11-07T11:30:00.000-08:00

Let's see if we can get this started: I left off at the beginning of the 7 churches. Remember a few things about these passages:

There will always be: (a) Commendation; (b) Condemnation; (c) counsel; and (d) challenge to the church.

Church 1:

Ephesus

Commendation: God knows their works. They have labored and were patient.

Condemnation: They left their first love. God was not being put first in their lives. (Sound familiar?)

Quote: To come to Christ costs nothing; to follow Christ costs something; to serve Christ costs everything!

Counsel: Remember from where they had fallen; repent; do the first works (what were they called to do by Christ?)

Challenge: Hear what the Spirit has to say!

Church 2: Smyrna

Commendation: That there is no condemnation! He knew their works and the tribulations.

Counsel: Fear nothing and be faithful

Challenge: Hear what the Spirit has to say!

Church 3: Pergamum

Commendation: Christ knew their works and where they were living and that they had held fast His name and had not denied the faith. They lived in a place where Satan's throne was evident.

Condemnation: Some of the people held to the teaching of Balaam! Doctrines of evil

Challenge: To overcome and He would give them hidden manna and a white stone with a new name!

Note: Have you ever been in a place that you just "felt" the evil? That's what this place was ... a terrible place to be. This place was satan's headquarters.

Are you tolerant? Do we need to be tolerant of everything? I don't think so. We can get into real trouble when we tolerate everything and just say that we're being tolerant because we're Christians. Be careful of staying friends with someone or in a job in the name of "witnessing". You might get caught!

Gal 6:1 Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; EACH ONE LOOKING TO YOURSELF, LESS YOU TOO BE TEMPTED.

In v 17 a white stone is mentioned ... this is very cool! In ancient times a white stone meant acquittal. If a man had been tried by a court, the jurors published their vote by laying down a white stone, thus signifying that they had freed him of the charge.

another example is that when you were invited to a banquet by the King, you were sent a white stone with the king's inscription on it. You had to have this stone to get into the banquet. What a beautiful illustration ... we hold the white stone in order to get into the King's banquet.

Because of Christ, we receive a white stone of acquittal with a name upon it that is unknown to men. Eternal acquittal!!!!

Church 4: Thyatira

Commendation: I know your works and love and service and faith and patience!

Condemnation: They tolerated an attitude of ungoliness invading the church through women! Jezabel worshipped Baal and thereby followed false teaching.

Women are natural teachers ... we constantly teach our children. We must be careful in our teaching and make sure we are correct and in tune with the Holy Spirit!

Judgment: The death referred to in this scripture is possible the "second death" when all nonbelievers will be cast into the lake of fire.

Counsel: Hold fast until I come

Challenge: Keep the works to the end! They would receive power.

Church 5: Sardis

Commendation: (such as it is) They had a name or reputation for themselves. People had heard and were apparently impressed with this church.

They had done nothing for today ... all for yesterday. What is your testimony today? Is the same as it was yesterday? I hope not.

Condemnation: YOU ARE DEAD!

Counsel: Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die!

Warning: If you don't wake up, Christ will come like a thief in the night, taking from you in secret what you have!

To the faithful ... their garments were not soiled and they will walk with Christ, in white! They are worthy!

Challenge: To him who overcomes! I will not blot his name out of the book of life. This could possibly be the book once all believers have been removed by the Rapture.

It is possible to have one's name taken out of the Book of Life for three reasons:

1. Sinning against God Exod 32:33
2. Not being an overcomer (putting your trust in Christ) 1 John 5:1-4
3. For taking away from the words of the prophecy of Rev. 22:19

Church 7 Philadelphia

Commendation: The doors of opportunity were open for the proclamation of the Gospel
But they had little strength ... small congreations.

They kept the Word! They also obeyed it! They did not deny the name of Christ.

Counsel: Behold I come quickly and they will have a crown!

Challenge: God will make a pillar in the temple of God. Stability. Again, a new name !

WHY A NEW NAME? FOR CHRIST, IT IS THAT THERE WILL BE NAME THAT NOBODY HAS EVER KNOWN BECAUSE IT WILL NOT BE BLASPHEMED OR CURSED! NOBODY WILL BE ABLE TO CURSE THAT PRECIOUS NAME ANY MORE!

Church 6:

2008-10-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

Who wouldn't feel protected with these two vicious animals in your house! This is Oscar (stupid dog) and E.J. (Emma, Jr.). Oscar is a Bagle (yes bagle). He's part bassett and part beagle. EJ is a miniture daschund. She is new to the family and is only 10 weeks old. BUT, she got to go to church last night.

The next is of EJ at my office. She's very smart and comes to work with me with I can bring her. She is a very good paralegal!

Have a wonderful day!

2008-10-27T07:19:00.000-07:00

Wow, I thought Imight never come back to this blog, but here I am. God is good and He is still on the throne. I have just finished another Emmaus weekend. What a tool God uses with these weekends to refresh and renew our spirits! Being on the team is probably more wonderful than participating as a "pilgrim" as we call the new candidates. To see the faces of those new ones as they are being loved with nothing expected in return. They almost don't know how to receive it. We are all like that, I think. We are taught to give gifts, but we are never taught to receive. We actually do not know how to receive the gift of grace that God gives us so freely. It's more than our little minds can comprehend.

I wish I could put into words what this weekend did for me. On Friday all day I battled with being "scattered". That's about the best way I can describe it. I got up to lead music (which I am usually quite overly prepared for) and first I picked up the wrong book. Then I could not remember the words to the most basic of songs. It was crazy. I even confessed to one of the clergy and he asked if I needed prayer. Of course, I said No. How stupid was I??????? I like to pray for people but when it comes to admitting that I need the prayer, it is so hard for me to confess that I am in the need of prayer. (Yeah, I hear so many of you laughing!).

Later in the day, I heard that someone had said something mean about me. Yep, even at 54, people still get to me! (Ha). I took that all the rest of the afternoon and stewed over it. By the end of the day and the last chapel service occurred, I knew I had to set this matter straight or I could bust or go home. Neither was really an option. It's a little difficult if the music director steps out of place and I knew I had to get my spirit lined up or it would be an awful weekend musically for the pilgrims, and worse still for me.

Now the problem is picking which clergy to speak with. I knew the "something" had been said by two men and there were only four there. Left little room for error. So I picked the one I could trust the most (or felt I could). After all the pilgrims had their chance to speak to a clergy (because they are the most important people on the weekend ... the pilgrims, not the clergy) I chose "my guy". We went into the vestibule and I started blubbering and talking. Guess what! It turned out that he was one of the guys!!!!!!!!!!! How funny God can be!

After I spilled my guts over this situation, we talked for about 30 minutes or so. Everything was straightened out and I know that even though Satan meant it for our downfall, God meant it for good!!! Again, isn't He funny like that! I then was telling my story to one of my dear friends and she said she would pray for me. Next morning, she asked how I was felling about everything. I felt wonderful. Felt like a load had been lifted and that God was again in control (not that He was ever out of control). She said she had prayed for me and that she saw my face clearly before her. She saw many people around me, one of which was a man in a suit (I clearly know who it was now but ... ). She said as she prayed for me, all the people began to leave. I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT I KNOW, SATAN WAS USING THOSE PEOPLE AGAINST ME. My mind was not where it should have been and now, God was allowing me to be free to sing and direct music as was my job.

The rest of the weekend went by quickly, and yet not so quickly. The pilgrims laughed, cried, sang, played and anything else that God would allow them do and they were filled to the brim with agape love and God's precious spirit. How wonderful is that???!!!

Thanks be to His unmerited grace and mercy to allow us to keep having a part in His plan. Thanks for letting me share!

Love to all and I'll be back very soon with the continuation of Revelation for those interested. Maybe I'll even learn to post pictures and make this a little more interesting!

2008-10-02T06:31:00.000-07:00

This will be the last blog I will do. I am sorry that I cannot keep up with this but there are things in my life that are keeping me from doing this right now. Please pray for me as I try to deal with life issues and maybe some day I will return to this blog. But for now, it's done.

2008-09-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

Isn't this a great "shroom picture? I took it one day and for some reason, I just love it. Just something wild and ugly growing in the yard! :)

..............................

Thought I would try to play "catch up" today while it's raining. That really has nothing to do with anything, just my reasoning.

................

John's picture of Christ ...

" ... one like the Son of man "

He was "manlike" in appearance. "The Son of Man" is one of the most frequent titles Jesus applied to Himself in Scripture.

" ... clothed with a garment down to the foot"

Typical of the long robes of the high priests as they ministered in the Holy Place in the Temple.

"... girded about the breasts with a golden girdle."

Symbol of strength and authority. The average working man wore a short tunic of loose fitting clothing. Only those in authority wore a girdle (or belt).

... His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow:

antiquity and the vision of Daniel in Daniel 7:9-13 ... "The Ancient of Days"

... His eyes were like a flame of fire"

Ever seen someone really angry???? Their eyes tell it all and Christ is angry at some of the things He must tell John and say to His Church.

... his feet like fine bronze

Bronze speaks of judgment. Remember the brazen (bronze) altar at the opening of the Temple of Meeting?

... his voice like the sound of many waters

Maybe something like Niagara Falls. Never been there but am told that you cannot hear over the roar of the water. Men cannot hear His voice today but they will hear it then and it will not be stilled again.

... and He had in His right hand seven stars

The seven stars are the seven angels of the church. Could be either of two things: (a) The messengers appointed by God to lead local congregations (i.e. pastors, leaders, teachers) or (b) actual angels appointed to each church. The objection to the angel theory is that if they are angels, they have failed to keep The Church pure. Even though angels are supernatural ... they are not divine.

... out of His mouth went a sharp two edged sword

Ephesians 6 refers to the Word of God as the Sword of the Spirit.

Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God is sharper than any two edged sword. There will be no defense against the Word of God in that day of Judgment.

... His countenance was as the sun shineth in His strength.

The divine nature of Christ. In Matthew 17 Peter, James and John saw Jesus in His divine glory for a brief time at the transfiguration. John's reaction to this was to fall down "as dead" at Christ's feet. This was the same John who felt close enough to Jesus to lay his head on his chest while reclining at dinner. Now he is knocked cole by the Glory of God!

Clouds?

2008-09-05T08:01:00.001-07:00

You will never look at clouds the same way after this lesson. Or at least I don't. Main thing to remember ... CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN! It's not a fairy tale or some made up story, it's the absolutely truth!

Acts 1:11

This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.

How did He go? In a cloud (or clouds).

Acts 1:9

And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

Look up Ezekiel 10:1-5; 18-19; 11:16-25 and read about the clouds. What are they? They are God's movement! God's very presence. So when Scripture tells us that Jesus was taken up in a cloud ... God is wrapping His very own self around His Son and taking Him Home!!!! (Can you see me jumping up and down and clapping my hands!) What a beautiful picture!

Matthew 24:30

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming IN THE CLOUDS of heaven with power and great glory.

EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM! How is this possible. Duh, internet, CNN, ESPN, anything else satellite that we now have. Many years ago this was thought impossible that EVERY EYE could see something at one time but it's not so impossible to us!

Jesus Himself said to Caiaphas in Matthew 26:64

I say until you, "hereafter ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, coming IN THE CLOUDS of heaven.

Matthew 24:30-31

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man COMING IN THE CLOUDS of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

It is no wonder that God predics that "all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him."

The ones that have rejected the Christ and are eternally lost will wail.

If this book teaches nothing else, it clearly shows that JESUS CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN TO JUDGE THIS WORLD.

Read Rev 1:9-20

The early church was not given to the teaching that separated the clergy with the laity. This separation has done much harm in the churches of today. John was the oldest living apostle of our Lord at the time of this writing. Instead of calling attention to the fact that he was an apostle, he chose to identify with the people of the day. As a brother and companion in the tribulation. The tribulation that John was speaking of was that of the early church that was being persecuted. It had already claimed the lives of Peter and Paul and probably most, if not all, of the other apostles. John was possibly about 90 when this book was written. He was still refusing to stop preaching and glorifying God. Don't we all want to be that way. I want to be praising Jesus and God when I go out of this world!

v 10 refers to being "In the spirit on the Lord's Day".

Any day of the week is the Lord's Day and we can be in the spirit on any day of the week.

7 churchs of John's day were literal churches with which John was very familiar. Why might these 7 have been chosen?

7 basic divisions of church history. The study of history reveals that the Church has gone through seven basix periods or stages.

7 types of churches that exist today. Some trends are still in existence even in our own day.

7 characteristics that can exist in any church.

We can see that these 7 churches comprise 7 methods of attack by Satan on the Church or individual Christians within the Church.

Remember the 7 lampstands (The Church) ... a fitting description for The Church. Just as a lampstand does not give off a light of its own (it gets it's light from another source, whether electricity or fire, etc) likewise we do not give off our own light but that light that comes from Christ in our lives. Without Him, we have no Light.

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2008-09-05T07:55:00.001-07:00

Wow, finding the time to do this is so difficult. As most of you know, I am a "legal flunky" for a domestic attorney here in Bowling Green. Sometimes family life of others really gets in the way of my time and my life. Always remember to pray for those getting divorces, fighting custody battles for their children and adoptions which are both wonderful and sad. I like the "wonderful" part! :) I'll try to do better

Rev 1

2008-08-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

Read Revelation 1:1-3

apokalupsis = the radical uncovering or breakthrough of what was previously hidden; to show or expose to view

This book is the unveiling of Jesus Christ to all of us.

In one of the rare cases, John identifies himself by name and further by saying that he was a witness to the Christ. How exciting ... to think of Jesus' best friend writing this book!!!

John tells us that we are "blessed" if we hear and keep the message of this book. The word "blessed" appears 7 times in the Revelation and in Greek simply means "happy" but the Hebrew word that John was probably using here means to find the right pathway in the face of false pathways.

It has to do with finding meaning in the face of chaos.

John is saying that we will be on the right pathway when we get the meaning of our life and the pattern of our living from the character of God, from His holy will.

This book did not originate with John but came to him through a sequence of events ... the true source of the book of Revelation is God!

Read Rev 1:4-8

The trinity ... "from him who is, and who was, and who is to come."

The saluation: Grace and peace ... (What are grace and peace to you?)

Grace ... the surprise gift ... undeserved
Peace ... wholeness and health

Both come from God

This verse shows that the Trinity shares in the dispensing of grace and peace to man:
God the Father - from him who is and who was and who is to come
God the Spirit - and from the 7 spirits who are before His throne
God the Son - and from Jesus Christ

Isaiah 11:2 ... And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord ...

This is referring to Jesus ... the secon spirits is a reference to the sevenfold work of the Spirit revealed in this verse. The term "seven spirits" does not mean seven Holy Spirits but the seven ministries of the Holy Spirit.

verses 5, 6 and 7 describe the past, present and future work of the Christ:
...the faithful witness (John 14:9)
...the first begotten of the dead (1 Cor 15:23) (Christ is not the first one raised from the dead BUT He is the first One raised in his incorruptible body and His will never die again like the others).

... the prince of the kings of the earth ...
... to Him that loved us ... (denotes continual action. Not only did He give Himself for us, but today He continues to love us with an everlasting love ... all those who have received Christ Jesus by faith have been cleansed by His blood.

... and hath made us a kingdom of priests unto God and His Father!.

Amazing as it may be, Christ has made us kings and priests (and princesses). The day is coming when - because we are the children of God by faith - that we will rule and reign with Him if we have been born into His spiritual kingdom. For the present time, we are to do our work as priests, intervening and interceding on behalf of those who need Christ and cannot pray for themselves.

Revelation

2008-08-20T12:24:00.000-07:00

I can only hope that you all understand these entries. Here we go!!!!!!!!!!!

Things to remember when studying Revelation:
1. It is not hard to understand. Think of it like this, if you were living in John's time and saw a B52 bomber, how would you describe it? You would have to use language and things that the people of that day understood; therefore, it looked and sounded like animals or the like. A bomber might look like an eagle with the face of a man. (That is purely an example! :) ))

2. Beth Moore put it so simply: God spoke through the nation of Israel in the Old Testament. When Christ came, God began to speak through The Church (Christians). He put the Nation of Israel "on hold" as with a telephone. They are now "on hold" and God is speaking through us. After the rapture as described in 1 Thessalonians 4 happens, Israel will be taken off "hold" and once again, God will speak through that nation (the people).

To many Revelation is a closed book. My Daddy (that's how we say it in Georgia) used to tell me that we did not need to study Revelation because we would not be here. Well, if I can't understand something, how am I going to tell someone about it to warn them. I need to understand everything that God's Word has to offer! I hunger to know everything that is in that little Book and I am so far from it!

There is a special blessing to anyone to studies the Book of Revelation. Rev 1:3 and Rev 22:7 tell us this clearly so I want my blessing!

It reveals God's plan for the future. As a child I heard over and over again that the "end times" were near. Well, they are still near and will always be near. It doesn't necessarily mean that they will be today or tomorrow (though they certainly might be). It simply means that we need to always be ready and on our spiritual toes!

This book gives clearer detail concerning Bible prophecy than any other book in the Bible. It reveals the governmental operation of the man of sin; the terrible events of the tribulation period; the ultimate end of Satan; the glorification of the Church; the future position of the saint and the City Christ has prepared for His church.

It completes the circle of Bible truths:

It completes what Genesis began: (this is so cool!)

Genesis shows man's beginning in a beautiful paradise;
Revelation shows the wonderful paradise to come.

Genesis shows how man lost his chance to eat of the tree of life (Gen 3:22-24)
Revelation shows man will eat of that very same tree (Rev 22:2)

Genesis tells of man's first revellion against God in chapters 3 and 4
Revelation promises to end man's rebellion against God

Genesis records the first murderer, drunkard, and rebel
Revelation promises a city where no sin will enter (Rev 21:27)

Genesis reveals the tragic sorrow that resulted from sin
Revelation promises that God will wipe away our tears (Rev 21:4)

Genesis records the first death
Revelation promises that there will be no more death (rev 21:4)

Genesis shows the beginning of the curse and Revelation shows that curse lifted Rev 22:3

Genesis introduces the devil for the first time and Revelation shows the final doom of Satan (Rev 20:10)

Genesis promises that Satan's hear would be bruised; Revelation shows him bruised and defeated (Rev 19:20)

Genesis shows Satan's first attempt at discrediting the Word of God; Revelation promises the curse on all such ones who detract from God's Holy Word (Rev 22:19

...................

The key verse is Revelation 1:19. "Write the things which thou hast seen and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter."

Threefold division of Revelation: that which was, is and is to come.

Listen to this description:

Music is like food to my soul! Music speaks to me when nothing else can come close. If Revelation were written in a four part movement like a symphony, it would express the inner drama and suspense that the text contains. There would be mixtures of sheer terror and surprising peace; dangers too perilous to contemplate and at the last minute ... the LION to whom we belong appearing on our behalf. The cadences are swift, sudden titanic jolts; yet there is a steady and sure paced movement and beat.

Look at the pictures so clearly stated by John and get them into your hear. If we believe the Word of God, we surely believe that these times will come to pass.

LET THE TEXT SPEAK FOR ITSELF. DO NOT TRY TO INTERPRET SOMETHING AS WE THINK IT MIGHT BE BUT TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT JOHN WAS TRYING TO SAY.

First time!

2008-08-19T06:55:00.001-07:00

Well, let's see if I can do this! I've been asked to give a blog on lessons taught on Sunday in our Adult Bible Fellowship (or Sunday School for old timers) on Revelation. Maybe this thing will catch on and we will be able to share the Word with many more than in our class. I now teach a group of wonderful women who call ourselves The Princess Class because we are daughters of the King of Kings! We have pink shirts and everything to prove it! We meet at Living Hope Baptist at 9:30 on Sunday mornings and have a wonderful time. Our main problem is that we get rather loud! :) We love to laugh and bring joy to each other even in the midst of pain. We realize that nobody is without some hurt in their lives and yet we enjoy the company of other Christian women. We are a very close group but welcome anyone who might want to be a part of our fellowship! I was very excited last Sunday when we had 2 visitors and 1 new member. That brings our total to about 23 or so. I can't believe that many women would want to listen to me but it's not about me (as they like to tell me!). It's about the moving of the Holy Spirit in our lives and how He deals with us!

I will start posting lessons this afternoon and hopefully post each week to keep up. Give me your comments, questions and concerns.