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.
Granny and the kids
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Revelation
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
First time!
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.
I will start posting lessons this afternoon and hopefully post each week to keep up. Give me your comments, questions and concerns.
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