Write the things which thou hast seen
and the things which are
and the things which shall be hereafter
The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand
and the seven golden candlesticks.
The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches
and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches
...
(((John is being requested to write the things he had just seen. The things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. Amazing isn't it? Asked to write the things which are- something we all could do. I could sit here and write about the things I'm seeing right now without a problem- what I can't do is write about how things will be in the future because I don't know the future. John is being asked to write about things which shall be hereafter - that's the future - prophecy.
John is told - the mystery of the seven stars which he saw in Jesus' right hand and the seven golden candlesticks.
The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. Seven stars- seven angels of the seven churches.
The seven candlesticks are the seven churches.
God's people make up God's church. The perfect church. The true church. God's people throughout all time. God's people from then and hereafter- future.
God's people will one day be before Him. There is no wonder that the seven candlesticks represent the perfectness of God's people before Him.
The mystery was revealed. John saw a vision and the vision was interpreted.))))
...
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write;
These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand,
who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks
I know thy works,
and thy labour,
and thy patience,
and how thou canst not bear them which are evil
and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles,
and are not
and hast found them liars
And hast borne
and hast patience
and for my name’s sake hast laboured
and hast not fainted.
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee
because thou hast left thy first love.
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen
and repent
and do the first works
or else I will come unto thee quickly
and will remove thy candlestick out of his place
except thou repent.
But this thou hast,
that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes,
which I also hate.
He that hath an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life
which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
(((Unto the angel write- the seven stars in Jesus' hand were the seven angels of the churches. John was to write to the first of those angels - the angel of the church of Ephesus.
Jesus who was and is, who died and lives, the alpha and omega; Jesus who holds the seven stars, the seven angels, who walks among the seven churches- Jesus who lives among His people. This message was being sent to them by Jesus' and the message was...))))
...
'I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience and how thou canst not bear them which are evil and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles and are not and hast found them liars and has borne and hast patience and for my name's sake hast laboured and hast not fainted.'
...
(((God's people working, their laboring, their patience, their abhorance of those who do evil and claim to follow God, their patience all for Jesus and without fainting- Jesus recognizes it all! The work does not go unnoticed and yet there is more He notices.))))
...
'Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of his place except thou repent.'
(((Jesus has somewhat against the first church, against His people, those who lived when the apostles lived and this message is for all time because we learn from mistakes of the past don't we? Shouldn't we? If we don't learn from mistakes then we are guilty of being negligent aren't we? Of not learning when we had everything available to us to learn.
Jesus has somewhat against His people of Ephesus, He says- Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love.
Thy first love.
How easy it is to leave our first love in all things. Think about it. How many things have you once love and no longer love? How many things do you love but not in the same way? Most people who have experienced love understand how easy it is to lose that newness of first love. When we lose our first love with Jesus what are we losing? Our first love - losing it is losing what it's all truly about. If we lose Jesus as first and foremost in our lives then we've lost it all. Anything that comes before Jesus will only get in the way of Jesus. We can't lose our first love of Jesus. The love is everlasting and if we find ourselves putting anything before the love of Jesus we need to repent. We have to keep Jesus as our first love.))))
...
'Remember from whence thou art fallen and repent, and do the first works or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of his place except thou repent.'
(((Remember! Remember from whence thou art fallen and repent! Repent! Do the first works. Works brought on by having the first love Jesus. Jesus first! Or else Jesus will come quickly and take away the fact you are God's people. You will no longer be God's people, because the candlestick is the church, the church is God's people, and if the candlestick is taken away then the consequence is the people that were once making up the church are no longer the same people making up the church. Repent.
Repent- ask for forgiveness and return to the first love, to putting Jesus first above all else. Amazing advice, amazing encouragement, loving guidance from the source of Love. May we all heed the advice given to us by our Lord and Savior! By His mercy and grace may we repent and keep Him our first love, forever!
Amen.))))
Monday, August 24, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Such a Vision!
And I turned to see the voice that spake with me.
And being turned,
I saw seven golden candlesticks
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man
clothed with a garment down to the foot
and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
His head and his hairs were white like wool,
as white as snow
and his eyes were as a flame of fire
And his feet like unto fine brass
as if they burned in a furnace
and his voice as the sound of many waters.
And he had in his right hand seven stars
and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword
and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength
...
(((John turned- the voice was coming from behind him as noted earlier, but tell me, did John turn right away upon first hearing the booming trumpet-like voice behind him? No. The voice had time to tell John --
'I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send [it] unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.'
If you read that aloud you realize that's quite a bit of talking to someone's back. A knee-jerk reaction you'd think would have been to turn upon the first few words. But John isn't himself here is he? What I mean is, John is being guided by the Spirit. If he's in the Spirit then he has to be guided by the Spirit and obviously he wasn't guided to jerk about but able to listen and then turn to see the voice that had spoken with him. It's just interesting to imagine the situation, isn't it? John is on an island, he's in the Spirit. I'm picturing him sitting outside in some nice spot, and yes, I imagine there are nice spots there- I've seen pictures of the Island of Patmos and while they are modern pictures I can't believe the island was some desolate rock unable to sustain life. Anyway, I imagine John sitting outside and while he's praying the Spirit fills him fully and he hears the great voice behind him. Taking a moment to listen to the voice John I imagine is amazed and turns to see from whom this voice is coming because clearly it's behind him and not just generally surrounding him on all sides. He turns and what does he see...
...
'I saw seven golden candlesticks'
Exodus {25:31} And thou shalt make a candlestick [of] pure gold: [of] beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. {25:32} And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side: {25:33} Three bowls made like unto almonds, [with] a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, [with] a knop and a
flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick. {25:34} And in the candlestick [shall be] four bowls made like unto almonds, [with] their knops and their flowers. {25:35} And [there shall be] a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick. {25:36} Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it [shall be] one beaten work [of] pure gold. {25:37} And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it. {25:38} And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, [shall be of] pure gold. {25:39} [Of] a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.
{25:40} And look that thou make [them] after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.
Exodus {39:32} Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they. {39:33} And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets, {39:34} And the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers’ skins,and the vail of the covering, {39:35} The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat, {39:36} The table, [and] all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread, {39:37} The pure candlestick, [with] the lamps thereof, [even with] the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for light, {39:38} And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door, {39:39} The brasen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot, {39:40} The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation, {39:41} The cloths of service to do service in the holy [place,] and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons’ garments, to minister in the priest’s office. {39:42} According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work. {39:43} And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they have done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.
2 Chronicles {4:19} And Solomon made all the vessels that [were for] the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon the shewbread [was set; ]{4:20} Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold
Seven candlesticks- in the tabernacle erected in the wilderness by Moses and by Solomon for the permanent temple- the house of God. And John turns to look at who spoke to him and saw seven golden candlesticks. There's that number again- seven. And we know for a fact that God placed importance upon having seven lamps in His temple, so what is John seeing? No longer is the terrain behind him the same as it was when he walked to where he was. Everything had been changed. The Spirit had altered things and in this vision he was seeing seven golden candlesticks a sure sign of the temple of God, only not the temple John knew on earth in Jerusalem. He didn't say he'd been taken to the Jerusalem temple, but here he was seeing a very amazing sight, seven golden candlesticks but not only that...
...
'And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man'
Dan. {7:13} I saw in the night visions, and, behold, [one] like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. {7:14} And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed.
Matthew {8:18} Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. {8:19} And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. {8:20} And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air [have] nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay [his] head.
Matthew {11:16} But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, {11:17} And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. {11:18} For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. {11:19} The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
Matthew {12:8} For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
Matthew {13:41} The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity
(((Is it safe to say that the Son of man John was seeing was Jesus? Read on...))))
...
'...clothed with a garment down to the foot
and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
His head and his hairs were white like wool,
as white as snow
and his eyes were as a flame of fire
And his feet like unto fine brass
as if they burned in a furnace
and his voice as the sound of many waters.
And he had in his right hand seven stars
and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword
and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.'
(((What a vision! What a sight to behold! Clearly John is describing something very magnificent! What did John do upon seeing such a wonder?))))
...
'And when I saw him
I fell at his feet as dead.'
(((He fell! And not only did he fall, he fell as one dead. What's that mean? He lost all ability to remain standing. His very strength was gone. The shock of what he was seeing completely floored him. We hear about people being frightened into fainting, frightened into falling down in fact we may have done it ourselves a time or two, but it would be a very amazing fright to cause us to just fall down as dead, yes? John fell at the feet of the Son of man as dead and no wonder by how he's described Him. Fear coursed through John, such a fear that it had him all but fainting.))))
...
And he laid his right hand upon me
saying unto me
Fear not
I am the first and the last
I am he that liveth,
and was dead;
and, behold,
I am alive for evermore,
Amen;
and have the keys of hell and of death.'
(((The Son of man laid his right hand - the hand that held seven stars- upon John and spoke. What's the first thing He says to John after being seen by him? 'Fear not'
Fear not! John was filled with fear! We like to imagine that the only encounter one could have with the Spirit and such would be peaceful and calm, we envision an otherworldly tranquility assoiciated with God. It's not altogether wrong to believe in such because Jesus was a peaceful man upon earth and He advocated peace and love. He admonished His disciples for their fear when they were in the stormy seas. But it's understandable that fear isn't altogether unexpected when we deal with the Spirit. Is it a crippling fear? Well, it was a fear that knocked John off his feet as if he were dead, falling to the ground. Obviously it wasn't a fear that sent him running for the hills. This fear took total control of John and then the Son of man said to him...'Fear not'
He didn't stop there did he? He went on to explain why John should not fear.
He says... 'I am the first and the last' Again the association of God! The ever was and ever will be.
He says... 'I am he that liveth and was dead.' John knows who died and rose- the Son of God, the Son of man.
He continues... 'And, behold, I am alive for evermore, amen!' Never will death touch Him again. Death took the Son of man, the man who was the Son of God and pulled Him down to the grave. Released from death He would live forever!
And He says... 'And have the keys of hell and death.' The keys! What do keys do? They unlock and when you unlock something you're opening it, you're freeing what was locked within. The keys of hell and death are whose? Jesus! Jesus the Son of God, the Son of man who died and rose from death defeating death has the keys that can free everyone from death and the grave! Everyone!
Jesus! Jesus in the heavenly temple of God surrounded by the seven golden candlesticks! Jesus reaching to touch John to revive him from his stupor over the very sight of all he was being shown. What wonder! What amazing, miraculous sights to be seeing! To be in the presence of Jesus in all His glory, so unlike Jesus when He walked the earth so unassuming. This is Jesus in all His power, His heavenly garb, His transformed self. No wonder John needed reviving.
Amazing the setting for this message to us, and make no mistake it is for us. For God's people throughout time and we are God's people. We need to study this thoroughly, we need the blessings offered to us. May we truly be blessed and guided by the Spirit as we endeavor to understand more fully all that was given to John and in what manner it was given to Him. Such an amazing description of the setting deserves a true recognition for the importance placed upon what message is being told to John for us.
By His mercy and His grace, His everlasting love, now and forever! Amen!
And being turned,
I saw seven golden candlesticks
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man
clothed with a garment down to the foot
and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
His head and his hairs were white like wool,
as white as snow
and his eyes were as a flame of fire
And his feet like unto fine brass
as if they burned in a furnace
and his voice as the sound of many waters.
And he had in his right hand seven stars
and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword
and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength
...
(((John turned- the voice was coming from behind him as noted earlier, but tell me, did John turn right away upon first hearing the booming trumpet-like voice behind him? No. The voice had time to tell John --
'I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send [it] unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.'
If you read that aloud you realize that's quite a bit of talking to someone's back. A knee-jerk reaction you'd think would have been to turn upon the first few words. But John isn't himself here is he? What I mean is, John is being guided by the Spirit. If he's in the Spirit then he has to be guided by the Spirit and obviously he wasn't guided to jerk about but able to listen and then turn to see the voice that had spoken with him. It's just interesting to imagine the situation, isn't it? John is on an island, he's in the Spirit. I'm picturing him sitting outside in some nice spot, and yes, I imagine there are nice spots there- I've seen pictures of the Island of Patmos and while they are modern pictures I can't believe the island was some desolate rock unable to sustain life. Anyway, I imagine John sitting outside and while he's praying the Spirit fills him fully and he hears the great voice behind him. Taking a moment to listen to the voice John I imagine is amazed and turns to see from whom this voice is coming because clearly it's behind him and not just generally surrounding him on all sides. He turns and what does he see...
...
'I saw seven golden candlesticks'
Exodus {25:31} And thou shalt make a candlestick [of] pure gold: [of] beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. {25:32} And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side: {25:33} Three bowls made like unto almonds, [with] a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, [with] a knop and a
flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick. {25:34} And in the candlestick [shall be] four bowls made like unto almonds, [with] their knops and their flowers. {25:35} And [there shall be] a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick. {25:36} Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it [shall be] one beaten work [of] pure gold. {25:37} And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it. {25:38} And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, [shall be of] pure gold. {25:39} [Of] a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.
{25:40} And look that thou make [them] after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.
Exodus {39:32} Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they. {39:33} And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets, {39:34} And the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers’ skins,and the vail of the covering, {39:35} The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat, {39:36} The table, [and] all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread, {39:37} The pure candlestick, [with] the lamps thereof, [even with] the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for light, {39:38} And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door, {39:39} The brasen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot, {39:40} The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation, {39:41} The cloths of service to do service in the holy [place,] and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons’ garments, to minister in the priest’s office. {39:42} According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work. {39:43} And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they have done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.
2 Chronicles {4:19} And Solomon made all the vessels that [were for] the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon the shewbread [was set; ]{4:20} Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold
Seven candlesticks- in the tabernacle erected in the wilderness by Moses and by Solomon for the permanent temple- the house of God. And John turns to look at who spoke to him and saw seven golden candlesticks. There's that number again- seven. And we know for a fact that God placed importance upon having seven lamps in His temple, so what is John seeing? No longer is the terrain behind him the same as it was when he walked to where he was. Everything had been changed. The Spirit had altered things and in this vision he was seeing seven golden candlesticks a sure sign of the temple of God, only not the temple John knew on earth in Jerusalem. He didn't say he'd been taken to the Jerusalem temple, but here he was seeing a very amazing sight, seven golden candlesticks but not only that...
...
'And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man'
Dan. {7:13} I saw in the night visions, and, behold, [one] like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. {7:14} And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed.
Matthew {8:18} Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. {8:19} And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. {8:20} And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air [have] nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay [his] head.
Matthew {11:16} But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, {11:17} And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. {11:18} For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. {11:19} The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
Matthew {12:8} For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
Matthew {13:41} The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity
(((Is it safe to say that the Son of man John was seeing was Jesus? Read on...))))
...
'...clothed with a garment down to the foot
and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
His head and his hairs were white like wool,
as white as snow
and his eyes were as a flame of fire
And his feet like unto fine brass
as if they burned in a furnace
and his voice as the sound of many waters.
And he had in his right hand seven stars
and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword
and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.'
(((What a vision! What a sight to behold! Clearly John is describing something very magnificent! What did John do upon seeing such a wonder?))))
...
'And when I saw him
I fell at his feet as dead.'
(((He fell! And not only did he fall, he fell as one dead. What's that mean? He lost all ability to remain standing. His very strength was gone. The shock of what he was seeing completely floored him. We hear about people being frightened into fainting, frightened into falling down in fact we may have done it ourselves a time or two, but it would be a very amazing fright to cause us to just fall down as dead, yes? John fell at the feet of the Son of man as dead and no wonder by how he's described Him. Fear coursed through John, such a fear that it had him all but fainting.))))
...
And he laid his right hand upon me
saying unto me
Fear not
I am the first and the last
I am he that liveth,
and was dead;
and, behold,
I am alive for evermore,
Amen;
and have the keys of hell and of death.'
(((The Son of man laid his right hand - the hand that held seven stars- upon John and spoke. What's the first thing He says to John after being seen by him? 'Fear not'
Fear not! John was filled with fear! We like to imagine that the only encounter one could have with the Spirit and such would be peaceful and calm, we envision an otherworldly tranquility assoiciated with God. It's not altogether wrong to believe in such because Jesus was a peaceful man upon earth and He advocated peace and love. He admonished His disciples for their fear when they were in the stormy seas. But it's understandable that fear isn't altogether unexpected when we deal with the Spirit. Is it a crippling fear? Well, it was a fear that knocked John off his feet as if he were dead, falling to the ground. Obviously it wasn't a fear that sent him running for the hills. This fear took total control of John and then the Son of man said to him...'Fear not'
He didn't stop there did he? He went on to explain why John should not fear.
He says... 'I am the first and the last' Again the association of God! The ever was and ever will be.
He says... 'I am he that liveth and was dead.' John knows who died and rose- the Son of God, the Son of man.
He continues... 'And, behold, I am alive for evermore, amen!' Never will death touch Him again. Death took the Son of man, the man who was the Son of God and pulled Him down to the grave. Released from death He would live forever!
And He says... 'And have the keys of hell and death.' The keys! What do keys do? They unlock and when you unlock something you're opening it, you're freeing what was locked within. The keys of hell and death are whose? Jesus! Jesus the Son of God, the Son of man who died and rose from death defeating death has the keys that can free everyone from death and the grave! Everyone!
Jesus! Jesus in the heavenly temple of God surrounded by the seven golden candlesticks! Jesus reaching to touch John to revive him from his stupor over the very sight of all he was being shown. What wonder! What amazing, miraculous sights to be seeing! To be in the presence of Jesus in all His glory, so unlike Jesus when He walked the earth so unassuming. This is Jesus in all His power, His heavenly garb, His transformed self. No wonder John needed reviving.
Amazing the setting for this message to us, and make no mistake it is for us. For God's people throughout time and we are God's people. We need to study this thoroughly, we need the blessings offered to us. May we truly be blessed and guided by the Spirit as we endeavor to understand more fully all that was given to John and in what manner it was given to Him. Such an amazing description of the setting deserves a true recognition for the importance placed upon what message is being told to John for us.
By His mercy and His grace, His everlasting love, now and forever! Amen!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
All of God's People
I John,
who also am your brother,
and companion in tribulation,
and in the kingdom
and patience of Jesus Christ,
was in the isle that is called Patmos,
for the word of God,
and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
(((John was on an isle called Patmos- why? For the word of God, for the testimony of Jesus Christ which we read later is -- Rev. {19:10} 'And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.'
John was in the isle of Patmos for the word of God and for the Spirit of prophecy- the testimony of Jesus. John, who like all who are followers of Christ from the beginning until the end, are brothers and companions in tribulation- the tribulation the world offers us. John {16:33} 'These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world.'
John was no stranger to the world's tribulations that followers of Christ suffer. John was a part of it all, he had his part in the suffering of the tribulation and his part in the kingdom- the promise of the kingdom in Jesus, the patience. For what Christian can truly be a Christian without the patience necessary to endure all that the world offers and be victorious in Christ?
John - a brother, a companion, a believer in the kingdom, a possessor of the patience of Jesus Christ- John was where he was for God, for the Spirit of Prophecy for the testimony of Jesus Christ.}}}
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day
and heard behind me a great voice,
as of a trumpet,
(((John was in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit- the Holy Comforter -
John- {16:7} Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come
unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. {16:8} And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: {16:9} Of sin, because they believe not on me; {16:10} Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; {16:11} Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. {16:12} I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. {16:13} Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come'
Jesus talked of sending the Spirit, the Comforter to us after He was to leave the world. This Comforter, this Spirit of truth is for all of us. John was in the Spirit, John was given the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, and while He was absorbed in the Spirit he heard a great voice, as of a trumpet. Can you imagine the sound of that voice?! As of a trumpet. Now I've heard a trumpet before and they're nothing like a soft flute are they? They are loud and commanding. Trumpets are used to bring people to attention, to listen, to be heard. A great voice as of a trumpet- this would indeed be a voice commanding attention, a voice that could not be ignored.
What did the voice say? ))))
...
Saying,
I am Alpha and Omega,
the first and the last
(((Again the emphasis on the beginning and the end, the first and the last, and there is only one Alpha and Omega, only one! God.))))
and,
What thou seest,
write in a book,
and send it unto the seven churches
which are in Asia
unto Ephesus
and unto Smyrna
and unto Pergamos
and unto Thyatira
and unto Sardis
and unto Philadelphia
and unto Laodicea.
(((Write in a book, the voice, the commanding voice from the Alpha and Omega wants John to write a book and even tells him where the book was to go to. Was it to be broken up and part sent here and part there? No. A book was to be written and sent to all seven churches. So clearly the first church- Ephesus would read what John had to say to the six after them. The last church Laodicea would be able to read all that was written for the six churches before them. This book was clearly to be written for all seven churches with specific points mentioned for each church and yet all the churches would read what was written for all.
Remember talking about the number seven? Remember talking about what constitutes God's church? The number seven is a number signifying completeness, perfection. God's church isn't a building but God's people. Think about it... John wrote a book and sent it to seven churches, were there more than seven churches then? More than seven groups of God's people? Did they feel neglected and left out because they weren't given a specific message? Or is it possible that the message given to each of God's people in those various seven locations was a message that would travel with those people and be given to all of God's people? Seriously, if I have an important message from my mother I'm going to share it with my sisters and brother, aren't I? I won't say this important message is just for me and for me alone. It's important and like most important things they are shared with others.
The ways of God aren't our ways. We do know that we who are alive today are getting the same message that was given to those seven churches. We are part of God's church, we are part of God's people and as such we share in this important message. So yes, John was to write a book and send it to seven groups of God's people in seven different areas, and yet we know this message was for ALL of God's people to live before His return, from that time unto our time and right up until the time of Jesus' return.
May God open our hearts and minds to Him, may we be in the Spirit, may we have the Spirit of truth in us comforting us, guiding us leading us as Jesus would have us led. When we read and study God's word to His people may our hearts be in Him, open to receive any blessing He would bestow upon us. May our insight be solely guided by Him, our Savior, our Redeemer, by His grace and His mercy now and forever!
Amen.))))
who also am your brother,
and companion in tribulation,
and in the kingdom
and patience of Jesus Christ,
was in the isle that is called Patmos,
for the word of God,
and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
(((John was on an isle called Patmos- why? For the word of God, for the testimony of Jesus Christ which we read later is -- Rev. {19:10} 'And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.'
John was in the isle of Patmos for the word of God and for the Spirit of prophecy- the testimony of Jesus. John, who like all who are followers of Christ from the beginning until the end, are brothers and companions in tribulation- the tribulation the world offers us. John {16:33} 'These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world.'
John was no stranger to the world's tribulations that followers of Christ suffer. John was a part of it all, he had his part in the suffering of the tribulation and his part in the kingdom- the promise of the kingdom in Jesus, the patience. For what Christian can truly be a Christian without the patience necessary to endure all that the world offers and be victorious in Christ?
John - a brother, a companion, a believer in the kingdom, a possessor of the patience of Jesus Christ- John was where he was for God, for the Spirit of Prophecy for the testimony of Jesus Christ.}}}
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day
and heard behind me a great voice,
as of a trumpet,
(((John was in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit- the Holy Comforter -
John- {16:7} Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come
unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. {16:8} And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: {16:9} Of sin, because they believe not on me; {16:10} Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; {16:11} Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. {16:12} I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. {16:13} Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come'
Jesus talked of sending the Spirit, the Comforter to us after He was to leave the world. This Comforter, this Spirit of truth is for all of us. John was in the Spirit, John was given the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, and while He was absorbed in the Spirit he heard a great voice, as of a trumpet. Can you imagine the sound of that voice?! As of a trumpet. Now I've heard a trumpet before and they're nothing like a soft flute are they? They are loud and commanding. Trumpets are used to bring people to attention, to listen, to be heard. A great voice as of a trumpet- this would indeed be a voice commanding attention, a voice that could not be ignored.
What did the voice say? ))))
...
Saying,
I am Alpha and Omega,
the first and the last
(((Again the emphasis on the beginning and the end, the first and the last, and there is only one Alpha and Omega, only one! God.))))
and,
What thou seest,
write in a book,
and send it unto the seven churches
which are in Asia
unto Ephesus
and unto Smyrna
and unto Pergamos
and unto Thyatira
and unto Sardis
and unto Philadelphia
and unto Laodicea.
(((Write in a book, the voice, the commanding voice from the Alpha and Omega wants John to write a book and even tells him where the book was to go to. Was it to be broken up and part sent here and part there? No. A book was to be written and sent to all seven churches. So clearly the first church- Ephesus would read what John had to say to the six after them. The last church Laodicea would be able to read all that was written for the six churches before them. This book was clearly to be written for all seven churches with specific points mentioned for each church and yet all the churches would read what was written for all.
Remember talking about the number seven? Remember talking about what constitutes God's church? The number seven is a number signifying completeness, perfection. God's church isn't a building but God's people. Think about it... John wrote a book and sent it to seven churches, were there more than seven churches then? More than seven groups of God's people? Did they feel neglected and left out because they weren't given a specific message? Or is it possible that the message given to each of God's people in those various seven locations was a message that would travel with those people and be given to all of God's people? Seriously, if I have an important message from my mother I'm going to share it with my sisters and brother, aren't I? I won't say this important message is just for me and for me alone. It's important and like most important things they are shared with others.
The ways of God aren't our ways. We do know that we who are alive today are getting the same message that was given to those seven churches. We are part of God's church, we are part of God's people and as such we share in this important message. So yes, John was to write a book and send it to seven groups of God's people in seven different areas, and yet we know this message was for ALL of God's people to live before His return, from that time unto our time and right up until the time of Jesus' return.
May God open our hearts and minds to Him, may we be in the Spirit, may we have the Spirit of truth in us comforting us, guiding us leading us as Jesus would have us led. When we read and study God's word to His people may our hearts be in Him, open to receive any blessing He would bestow upon us. May our insight be solely guided by Him, our Savior, our Redeemer, by His grace and His mercy now and forever!
Amen.))))
Friday, August 21, 2009
The Beginning and the End
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John. Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
...
I am Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and the ending,
saith the Lord,
which is,
and which was,
and which is to come,
the Almighty.
*
Grace be unto you
and peace
from him
which is
and which was
and which is to come.
(((The similarities right there within such a short bit of writing does what? Usually we call such repetativeness redundant and any writer worth their salt would have deleted such reiteration as unnecessary use of words. Change things up we say; learn how to say the same thing in a new way so it doesn't come off as repetative. But here in the Bible we know for a fact that the writers of this holy book got it right the first time with no need for an editors sharp pen to run through any lines and make little notations to change things up a bit. These are God's words to man through the Holy Spirit inspiring them to write and if these are holy words we read they are being written for a reason. If there is any repetition it's there for a reason as well, there to show emphasis perhaps? There to indicate important knowledge that we shouldn't overlook. The Bible isn't a novel, the Bible is unique and the message it holds for any who reads it is unique.
Reading the beginning of Revelation and these words- which is, which was, which is to come, we can find again further along--
Rev. {4:8} '...saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.'
There is no mistaking the importance of this is there? The fulness glorified in those words is amazing. The Alpha and the Omega - the beginning and the ending. Through it ALL the Lord is present, in all stages- past, present, and future. Never was there a time and never will there be a time without the Lord living in it, never. People tend to read the Bible as if it's OLD news, or confusing and complicated and for those interested in such things. People look for the spectacular all over the place. People thrive watching movies, reading books, all about the supernatural and one of the supernatural beings that fascinates them is the vampire who can supposedly live forever and ever. The idea of a being living hundreds of centuries, thousands of years is just incredible and secretly people wish they were able to live that long- that they could be one of these beings with this power over death in life, not power over death and living on another plane of existence either right off or at some future time. The wondrous idea of being able to live among finite creatures holds an allure that has captured the imagination of many people and it's no wonder- Satan's lie way back in the garden of Eden was what? Gen. {3:4} 'And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.'
Power over death. Satan has His own brand of life and he offers the allure of living forever in any way that pleases man so long as man doesn't believe in living forever through Jesus' Christ. Did God lie when He told Adam and Eve they would die? No. We are living proof of that fact and yet Satan would use all the tricks He can to get us to believe that we can live forever without God.
Satan was a created being. Satan can not lay hold of the claim that he is from the beginning, yet he would have people think he is. He wants people to believe that he is God. That they too can be God. It's no joke. There are a lot of people searching for inner power and laying claim to their lives and finding empowerment from themselves. In fact there are a whole slew of people who will try and convince you that you are the captain of your own ship, the ruler of your own destiny, the power over a good life is in your own hands. The stress on self is the same lie satan used at the start. Gen. {3:5} 'For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.' Do you hear the lies? Yet that same lie is being spouted today and embraced as something wonderful. People want to be as gods. People want to believe they have a godly power.
Truthfully, while we get all caught up in the fantasy and lies of satan, while he projects his evin into every facet of our lives, when we find a certain hope or wish fulfillment from reading of beings that live forever we are showing that we do have a need for such hope in our lives- only Satan has twisted it and pulled it down to the the level of man as men exist full of sin-- the very opposite of the truth.
There is a being who 'was, is, and is to come', God.
There will never be a time without God. Never. He is all.
He is the beginning and the end, there is nothing before and nothing after God.
We can struggle to find understanding and bring God down to our level and we can even pretend we are gods ourselves, but realizing that as creatures of the Creator we will never be the Creator ourselves is paramount. There is no shame in a son wanting to be like his father, but there is shame in the son wanting to be the father as if the father never was, as if the father isn't, and as if the father will no longer be. If you want to be like your father that's a good thing if you are embracing the good qualities of your father. But if you want to push your father aside and take his place, that's not so good. Usurping the life of another is never right. Creatures trying to usurp the Creator is completely wrong. If I'm told to be like someone, it's not the same as being told to take over that person's life.
Satan full of pride wanted to take over the Creator's position. He didn't want to be like God, he wanted to be God, the same as God without any distinction. And failing at that he wants us to believe we can obtain that position. He wants us to desire to have control over ourselves in place of us allowing God to control us. He's twisted things around perfectly.))))
...
I am Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and the ending,
saith the Lord,
which is,
and which was,
and which is to come,
the Almighty.
(((No other can make this claim. We can know this wonderful, amazing, Alpha, Omega, which was, which is, and is to come. We can cling to Him and the promises we find in Him knowing there is no other like Him nor will there ever be. We will always have had a beginning that includes many before ourselves, we will never be the Was at the beginning no matter what we believe. Some can embrace Satan's lies and most will, but by the grace of God I pray I'm not among them; that my Creator, my Redeemer, my God will always be first and foremost in all that I am and all that I do, it's only by His great mercy and love that this can be and I cling to Him through the Holy Spirit, hoping and praying in His everlasting, ever-existing love!
Amen.))))
...
I am Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and the ending,
saith the Lord,
which is,
and which was,
and which is to come,
the Almighty.
*
Grace be unto you
and peace
from him
which is
and which was
and which is to come.
(((The similarities right there within such a short bit of writing does what? Usually we call such repetativeness redundant and any writer worth their salt would have deleted such reiteration as unnecessary use of words. Change things up we say; learn how to say the same thing in a new way so it doesn't come off as repetative. But here in the Bible we know for a fact that the writers of this holy book got it right the first time with no need for an editors sharp pen to run through any lines and make little notations to change things up a bit. These are God's words to man through the Holy Spirit inspiring them to write and if these are holy words we read they are being written for a reason. If there is any repetition it's there for a reason as well, there to show emphasis perhaps? There to indicate important knowledge that we shouldn't overlook. The Bible isn't a novel, the Bible is unique and the message it holds for any who reads it is unique.
Reading the beginning of Revelation and these words- which is, which was, which is to come, we can find again further along--
Rev. {4:8} '...saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.'
There is no mistaking the importance of this is there? The fulness glorified in those words is amazing. The Alpha and the Omega - the beginning and the ending. Through it ALL the Lord is present, in all stages- past, present, and future. Never was there a time and never will there be a time without the Lord living in it, never. People tend to read the Bible as if it's OLD news, or confusing and complicated and for those interested in such things. People look for the spectacular all over the place. People thrive watching movies, reading books, all about the supernatural and one of the supernatural beings that fascinates them is the vampire who can supposedly live forever and ever. The idea of a being living hundreds of centuries, thousands of years is just incredible and secretly people wish they were able to live that long- that they could be one of these beings with this power over death in life, not power over death and living on another plane of existence either right off or at some future time. The wondrous idea of being able to live among finite creatures holds an allure that has captured the imagination of many people and it's no wonder- Satan's lie way back in the garden of Eden was what? Gen. {3:4} 'And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.'
Power over death. Satan has His own brand of life and he offers the allure of living forever in any way that pleases man so long as man doesn't believe in living forever through Jesus' Christ. Did God lie when He told Adam and Eve they would die? No. We are living proof of that fact and yet Satan would use all the tricks He can to get us to believe that we can live forever without God.
Satan was a created being. Satan can not lay hold of the claim that he is from the beginning, yet he would have people think he is. He wants people to believe that he is God. That they too can be God. It's no joke. There are a lot of people searching for inner power and laying claim to their lives and finding empowerment from themselves. In fact there are a whole slew of people who will try and convince you that you are the captain of your own ship, the ruler of your own destiny, the power over a good life is in your own hands. The stress on self is the same lie satan used at the start. Gen. {3:5} 'For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.' Do you hear the lies? Yet that same lie is being spouted today and embraced as something wonderful. People want to be as gods. People want to believe they have a godly power.
Truthfully, while we get all caught up in the fantasy and lies of satan, while he projects his evin into every facet of our lives, when we find a certain hope or wish fulfillment from reading of beings that live forever we are showing that we do have a need for such hope in our lives- only Satan has twisted it and pulled it down to the the level of man as men exist full of sin-- the very opposite of the truth.
There is a being who 'was, is, and is to come', God.
There will never be a time without God. Never. He is all.
He is the beginning and the end, there is nothing before and nothing after God.
We can struggle to find understanding and bring God down to our level and we can even pretend we are gods ourselves, but realizing that as creatures of the Creator we will never be the Creator ourselves is paramount. There is no shame in a son wanting to be like his father, but there is shame in the son wanting to be the father as if the father never was, as if the father isn't, and as if the father will no longer be. If you want to be like your father that's a good thing if you are embracing the good qualities of your father. But if you want to push your father aside and take his place, that's not so good. Usurping the life of another is never right. Creatures trying to usurp the Creator is completely wrong. If I'm told to be like someone, it's not the same as being told to take over that person's life.
Satan full of pride wanted to take over the Creator's position. He didn't want to be like God, he wanted to be God, the same as God without any distinction. And failing at that he wants us to believe we can obtain that position. He wants us to desire to have control over ourselves in place of us allowing God to control us. He's twisted things around perfectly.))))
...
I am Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and the ending,
saith the Lord,
which is,
and which was,
and which is to come,
the Almighty.
(((No other can make this claim. We can know this wonderful, amazing, Alpha, Omega, which was, which is, and is to come. We can cling to Him and the promises we find in Him knowing there is no other like Him nor will there ever be. We will always have had a beginning that includes many before ourselves, we will never be the Was at the beginning no matter what we believe. Some can embrace Satan's lies and most will, but by the grace of God I pray I'm not among them; that my Creator, my Redeemer, my God will always be first and foremost in all that I am and all that I do, it's only by His great mercy and love that this can be and I cling to Him through the Holy Spirit, hoping and praying in His everlasting, ever-existing love!
Amen.))))
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Every Eye Shall See Him
*******
Revelation
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
Amen.
...
'Behold,
he cometh with clouds'
(((Look! Look!
Behold- Dictionary Meaning - verb, intransitive - Used in the imperative for the purpose of calling attention.
Attention! Look at this! Jesus comes with clouds! - Imagery. The Bible uses imagery. The Bible uses mysteries and words that may mean one thing will mean another especially in prophecy. The Bible interprets itself though. It's not some master puzzle without a master key. The key is within the puzzle itself. When we talk of Jesus coming with clouds it is true that perhaps He will be in the clouds, on the clouds, clouds those vaporous puffs and wisps, the angry full dark gray bodies of pure moisture are all at Jesus' command. So sure, the imagery of Jesus standing upon a cloud using it as a magic carpet of sorts is possible, but so too is this- Matthew {25:31} 'When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with him...' Angels! We know Jesus will return and call His people to Him while He's in the air with ALL the holy angels, perhaps they're all upon the misty clouds but truly they do not need to rest upon vapors, do they? Clouds and angels, just the image of Jesus returning is amazing! This next bit is amazing too...))))
'and every eye shall see him.'
(((The eyes of people awake? The eyes of people on one location upon the earth? The eyes of a few? The eyes of only His chosen people? No, no, no, and no.
EVERY eye shall see him! EVERY!
every (èv´rê) adjective
Constituting each and all members of a group without exception.
EVERY eye shall see him! How will this be possible with the whole round earth thing where daylight shines upon only one side at a time? A mystery for sure and one that I hope and pray I'm alive in Jesus to see!
Get this though- not only every eye of the living but read on...))))
'and they also which pierced him'
(((Wait! Does this mean what I think it means? Who pierced Jesus? Who killed Him? Some might argue and could be right, that we all played our part in His death with our sins. Our sins killed Jesus because He died to save us from our sins, all of us. He wouldn't have died if we'd not sinned. So even if the arguing person chooses that scenario that we ALL killed Him, we all pierced Him that just reinforces the fact that every eye shall see Him doesn't it? It does. It could also be stressing the point that those who are dead- those who actually physically pierced His hands, His feet, His side will be brought to life just to see Him return triumphant. Mysteries.))))
...
'and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.
Even so,
Amen.'
(((ALL kindreds...
kindred (kîn´drîd) noun
1.A group of related persons, as a clan or tribe.
2.(used with a pl. verb). A person's relatives; kinfolk.
adjective
1. Of the same ancestry or family: kindred clans.
2. Having a similar or related origin, nature, or character: kindred emotions.
All kindreds, all of the earth... shall wail?! Wait! Jesus has returned and everyone is wailing?! How can that be. We know that God's chosen people who are waiting for His return should be happy, they should be rejoicing so how can everyone wail? It doesn't mean EVERYONE on earth does it? But... read this...
John {17:14} 'I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. {17:15} I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. {17:16} They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. {17:17} Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. {17:18} As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.'
'THEY ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD'
1 John {2:15} 'Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. {2:16} For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. {2:17} And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.'
Is it possible all kindreds of the earth are those who claim the earth as their own; those who love this world and live for this world and not the world to come? Those who aren't God's are this world's they are ruled by the lust of the flesh, the eyes, by pride of life. All those who have put their hopes and dreams, their love into this world's existence counting on the things this world has to offer for their happiness will be sorely disappointed when Jesus returns, won't they? When they realize that it's all true, that Jesus, the Son of God is real and all His promises are real. There will be wailing and I imagine quite a lot of wailing.))))
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we be with Him now and forever!
Amen!
Revelation
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
Amen.
...
'Behold,
he cometh with clouds'
(((Look! Look!
Behold- Dictionary Meaning - verb, intransitive - Used in the imperative for the purpose of calling attention.
Attention! Look at this! Jesus comes with clouds! - Imagery. The Bible uses imagery. The Bible uses mysteries and words that may mean one thing will mean another especially in prophecy. The Bible interprets itself though. It's not some master puzzle without a master key. The key is within the puzzle itself. When we talk of Jesus coming with clouds it is true that perhaps He will be in the clouds, on the clouds, clouds those vaporous puffs and wisps, the angry full dark gray bodies of pure moisture are all at Jesus' command. So sure, the imagery of Jesus standing upon a cloud using it as a magic carpet of sorts is possible, but so too is this- Matthew {25:31} 'When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with him...' Angels! We know Jesus will return and call His people to Him while He's in the air with ALL the holy angels, perhaps they're all upon the misty clouds but truly they do not need to rest upon vapors, do they? Clouds and angels, just the image of Jesus returning is amazing! This next bit is amazing too...))))
'and every eye shall see him.'
(((The eyes of people awake? The eyes of people on one location upon the earth? The eyes of a few? The eyes of only His chosen people? No, no, no, and no.
EVERY eye shall see him! EVERY!
every (èv´rê) adjective
Constituting each and all members of a group without exception.
EVERY eye shall see him! How will this be possible with the whole round earth thing where daylight shines upon only one side at a time? A mystery for sure and one that I hope and pray I'm alive in Jesus to see!
Get this though- not only every eye of the living but read on...))))
'and they also which pierced him'
(((Wait! Does this mean what I think it means? Who pierced Jesus? Who killed Him? Some might argue and could be right, that we all played our part in His death with our sins. Our sins killed Jesus because He died to save us from our sins, all of us. He wouldn't have died if we'd not sinned. So even if the arguing person chooses that scenario that we ALL killed Him, we all pierced Him that just reinforces the fact that every eye shall see Him doesn't it? It does. It could also be stressing the point that those who are dead- those who actually physically pierced His hands, His feet, His side will be brought to life just to see Him return triumphant. Mysteries.))))
...
'and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.
Even so,
Amen.'
(((ALL kindreds...
kindred (kîn´drîd) noun
1.A group of related persons, as a clan or tribe.
2.(used with a pl. verb). A person's relatives; kinfolk.
adjective
1. Of the same ancestry or family: kindred clans.
2. Having a similar or related origin, nature, or character: kindred emotions.
All kindreds, all of the earth... shall wail?! Wait! Jesus has returned and everyone is wailing?! How can that be. We know that God's chosen people who are waiting for His return should be happy, they should be rejoicing so how can everyone wail? It doesn't mean EVERYONE on earth does it? But... read this...
John {17:14} 'I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. {17:15} I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. {17:16} They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. {17:17} Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. {17:18} As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.'
'THEY ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD'
1 John {2:15} 'Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. {2:16} For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. {2:17} And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.'
Is it possible all kindreds of the earth are those who claim the earth as their own; those who love this world and live for this world and not the world to come? Those who aren't God's are this world's they are ruled by the lust of the flesh, the eyes, by pride of life. All those who have put their hopes and dreams, their love into this world's existence counting on the things this world has to offer for their happiness will be sorely disappointed when Jesus returns, won't they? When they realize that it's all true, that Jesus, the Son of God is real and all His promises are real. There will be wailing and I imagine quite a lot of wailing.))))
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we be with Him now and forever!
Amen!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
John to the seven churches
John to the seven churches
(((Seven churches. Biblically the number seven is used many, many times. It was used in the beginning of the Bible- God made the world and all that was in it in seven days. God made the seventh day a memorial for eternity. Our lives are still influenced by the seven day week and will be forever.
'The first pages of the Bible explain how God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. This seventh day became the Jewish day of rest, the sabbath, Saturday.
Extra-biblical locations sometimes mentioned as the birthplace of the 7-day week include: Babylon, Persia, and several others. The week was known in Rome before the advent of Christianity. -- http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/week.html#anchor-origin'
With seven denoting in a sense completeness - of perfection it truly is perfect for indicating the beginning and the end of the prophecy.
Sevens in the Bible
Seven days of creation
Genesis 1
Seven days for Noah to fill the Ark
Genesis 7:4-10
Seven years Jacob serves for each wife
Genesis 28:18-20; 29:27-30
Seven good and seven famine years in Egypt
Genesis 41
Seven days the waters turn to blood
Exodus 7:25
Seven lamps of the Menorah
Exodus 25:37
Seven feasts of Israel
Leviticus 23
Seven years of the sabbatical year
Leviticus 25:4
Seven times seven to the jubilee year
Leviticus 25:8
Seven priests with seven trumpets circle Jericho seven times
Joshua 6
Solomon spent seven years building the temple
1 Kings 6:38
Daniel’s seventy sevens prophecy
Daniel 9:24-27
Seventy years in Babylonian exile
Jeremiah 25:11-12
Seven loaves fed the 4,000, seven baskets are leftover
Matthew 15:32-39
Seven deacons in the early church
Acts 6:5
Seven miracles in the gospel of John
John
Seven discourses in the gospel of John
John
Seven “I am” statements in the gospel of John
John
Paul sent letters to seven different churches
Paul’s epistles
Seven churches in Revelation
Revelation 2,3
Seven promises, seals, trumpets, angels, plagues, bowls etc
Revelation
Seven promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
Genesis
Seven miracles on the Sabbath
Gospels
Seven sayings of Jesus from the cross
Gospels
Seven appearances of angels
Gospels and Acts
Seven elements of the armor of God
Ephesians 6:14-18
http://www.windmillministries.org/frames/CH27-3A.htm
Yes, the number seven is a number of completeness and we can easily understand that while Christ chose to give God's Revelation through His angel to John to go to seven churches it would be a message for all time as well. The fulness of history from that point on. Seriously, the revelation would be complete and that means a revelation for all of God's servants through time. The blessing given to all who read, hear, and keep the words within are for all- for you and for me. The blessings were for those living in that time as well. Knowing this we have to read these words and pray for a clear understanding to be blessed with all that we need to hear and keep.))))
...
John to the seven churches
(((Churches- a church Biblically is what? A building? No. The church essentially is God's people, period. It's not a building erected and named. God's people in each of these places are being addressed. We could also say, God's people in each of these times are being addressed. God's people- His church.))))
...
which are in Asia
Grace be unto you
and peace
from him
which is
and which was
and which is to come
(((Grace and peace- this is all God has ever wanted for us, His people, isn't it? His grace to cover their sins, His peace which isn't of this world but a peace in knowing Him and Him knowing us. 'John {14:27} Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you' Grace and peace from HIM which is, which was, and which is to come. God. 'John {17:1} These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee', '{17:9} I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. {17:10} And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.' We are all God's. We are God's- Jesus even said so.))))
...
and from the seven Spirits
which are before his throne
(((From the perfect Spirit- seven the perfect completeness of Spirit. Seven churches- the complete church. Seven Spirits- the complete Spirit.))))
...
And from Jesus Christ
who is the faithful witness
and the first begotten of the dead
and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us
and washed us from our sins in his own blood
And hath made us kings and priests unto God
and his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
(((From Jesus Christ. The faithful witness. The first begotten of the dead- the first begotten- Jesus was the first begotten of His kind wasn't He? Think about it. The Son of God. There was no other Son of God that took on humanity. Jesus was the first begotten in the manner He was begotten and yes- the first begotten and the only one by whom the dead - those promised death through sin- will live again. The dead will find life in the first begotten. Jesus truly is the first begotten of the dead- we only find life in Christ.
'The prince of the kings of the earth.' Jesus is the ultimate prince of all the kings. There is no other prince of the kings of the earth but Jesus- He reigns.
'Unto him that loved us.' No other has ever loved us like Jesus- no other!
'and washed us from our sins in his own blood.' Only Jesus the innocent Son of God could cleanse us from our sins by His amazing sacrifice. By His blood we are freed from sin.
'And hath made us kings and priests unto God' We are to serve God as His kings, his priests, we are God's through Jesus!
'And His Father! To him be the Glory! And dominion!
Forever and ever!
Amen.))))
...
Amen.
(((Seven churches. Biblically the number seven is used many, many times. It was used in the beginning of the Bible- God made the world and all that was in it in seven days. God made the seventh day a memorial for eternity. Our lives are still influenced by the seven day week and will be forever.
'The first pages of the Bible explain how God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. This seventh day became the Jewish day of rest, the sabbath, Saturday.
Extra-biblical locations sometimes mentioned as the birthplace of the 7-day week include: Babylon, Persia, and several others. The week was known in Rome before the advent of Christianity. -- http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/week.html#anchor-origin'
With seven denoting in a sense completeness - of perfection it truly is perfect for indicating the beginning and the end of the prophecy.
Sevens in the Bible
Seven days of creation
Genesis 1
Seven days for Noah to fill the Ark
Genesis 7:4-10
Seven years Jacob serves for each wife
Genesis 28:18-20; 29:27-30
Seven good and seven famine years in Egypt
Genesis 41
Seven days the waters turn to blood
Exodus 7:25
Seven lamps of the Menorah
Exodus 25:37
Seven feasts of Israel
Leviticus 23
Seven years of the sabbatical year
Leviticus 25:4
Seven times seven to the jubilee year
Leviticus 25:8
Seven priests with seven trumpets circle Jericho seven times
Joshua 6
Solomon spent seven years building the temple
1 Kings 6:38
Daniel’s seventy sevens prophecy
Daniel 9:24-27
Seventy years in Babylonian exile
Jeremiah 25:11-12
Seven loaves fed the 4,000, seven baskets are leftover
Matthew 15:32-39
Seven deacons in the early church
Acts 6:5
Seven miracles in the gospel of John
John
Seven discourses in the gospel of John
John
Seven “I am” statements in the gospel of John
John
Paul sent letters to seven different churches
Paul’s epistles
Seven churches in Revelation
Revelation 2,3
Seven promises, seals, trumpets, angels, plagues, bowls etc
Revelation
Seven promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
Genesis
Seven miracles on the Sabbath
Gospels
Seven sayings of Jesus from the cross
Gospels
Seven appearances of angels
Gospels and Acts
Seven elements of the armor of God
Ephesians 6:14-18
http://www.windmillministries.org/frames/CH27-3A.htm
Yes, the number seven is a number of completeness and we can easily understand that while Christ chose to give God's Revelation through His angel to John to go to seven churches it would be a message for all time as well. The fulness of history from that point on. Seriously, the revelation would be complete and that means a revelation for all of God's servants through time. The blessing given to all who read, hear, and keep the words within are for all- for you and for me. The blessings were for those living in that time as well. Knowing this we have to read these words and pray for a clear understanding to be blessed with all that we need to hear and keep.))))
...
John to the seven churches
(((Churches- a church Biblically is what? A building? No. The church essentially is God's people, period. It's not a building erected and named. God's people in each of these places are being addressed. We could also say, God's people in each of these times are being addressed. God's people- His church.))))
...
which are in Asia
Grace be unto you
and peace
from him
which is
and which was
and which is to come
(((Grace and peace- this is all God has ever wanted for us, His people, isn't it? His grace to cover their sins, His peace which isn't of this world but a peace in knowing Him and Him knowing us. 'John {14:27} Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you' Grace and peace from HIM which is, which was, and which is to come. God. 'John {17:1} These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee', '{17:9} I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. {17:10} And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.' We are all God's. We are God's- Jesus even said so.))))
...
and from the seven Spirits
which are before his throne
(((From the perfect Spirit- seven the perfect completeness of Spirit. Seven churches- the complete church. Seven Spirits- the complete Spirit.))))
...
And from Jesus Christ
who is the faithful witness
and the first begotten of the dead
and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us
and washed us from our sins in his own blood
And hath made us kings and priests unto God
and his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
(((From Jesus Christ. The faithful witness. The first begotten of the dead- the first begotten- Jesus was the first begotten of His kind wasn't He? Think about it. The Son of God. There was no other Son of God that took on humanity. Jesus was the first begotten in the manner He was begotten and yes- the first begotten and the only one by whom the dead - those promised death through sin- will live again. The dead will find life in the first begotten. Jesus truly is the first begotten of the dead- we only find life in Christ.
'The prince of the kings of the earth.' Jesus is the ultimate prince of all the kings. There is no other prince of the kings of the earth but Jesus- He reigns.
'Unto him that loved us.' No other has ever loved us like Jesus- no other!
'and washed us from our sins in his own blood.' Only Jesus the innocent Son of God could cleanse us from our sins by His amazing sacrifice. By His blood we are freed from sin.
'And hath made us kings and priests unto God' We are to serve God as His kings, his priests, we are God's through Jesus!
'And His Father! To him be the Glory! And dominion!
Forever and ever!
Amen.))))
...
Amen.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Rev. 1:1
Rev. 1:1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ
which God gave unto him
to shew unto his servants
things which must
shortly
come to pass
(((God gave this revelation to Jesus to show to his followers- his servants. --
Servants-
Col. {4:12} Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ
Titus {1:1} Paul, a servant of God
James {1:1} James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ
2 Pet.{1:1} Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ
Jude {1:1} Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ
1 Cor.{7:22} For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant
Matthew {20:27} And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: {20:28} Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Matthew {23:11} But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
John {15:20} Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord.
(((God gave this revelation to Jesus to show it to His servants, us, we who are reading trying to understand, we who are followers of Christ seeking to serve Him, and to serve others for Him. We are being shown things and these things MUST SHORTLY COME TO PASS.
We are being shown things that will come to pass without a doubt. Things that WILL happen. There are certainties in life, a lot of them. There are positives in life. If you mix sugar with water without a doubt that sugar will dissolve. It's a positive. There are things which are positives and nothing can alter them, nothing. We can't hold back time it marches on whether we want it to or not- that's a positive. It's a must. When God says something MUST come to pass it's a certainty, it's a positive, it's inevitable.
So from the time the revelation was given to Jesus by God to give to us, given to the angel by Jesus to give to John, and from the moment John's pen hit the page and the word was sent out to the people, those things written were to come to pass from that moment on.
The revelation came to us shrouded in mystery. We couldn't be told things straight out as if one person was instructing another, things had to be done in cryptic manners so that the message would be pertinent to ALL that would follow- to ALL of Christ's servants throughout time until He returns to take us to Heaven.
The mystery had to be such that it wasn't impossible to comprehend, but that time would unfold it as necessary, preparing all of Christ's servants.
That these things we are to see MUST shortly come to pass means what?
What is shortly to God?
Shortly as opposed to eternity when we're dealing with the end of chances for all of mankind to be Christ's servants is in truth very short. When all those that will be saved are saved and all that will not be saved are not saved, then Jesus will return and the short time from His return to life and to heaven will be over- it's not something to rush even if it has to be short. You might have a short bit of time to accomplish something but you don't have to rush to make the time even shorter.
When we as humans are faced with a chance to save lives in one profession or another- fireman, policeman, coastguard, doctors, etc.. and there are many people needing to be saved all at once- the regret felt when time runs out and many people are left dead because time ran out, is immense. The sorrow is overpowering and the wish that time had just stretched out somehow long enough to save everyone is a wish that is truly felt and yet a wish that cannot come true.
Time will run out for people, for mankind, and yes, all will have had a chance to choose to serve Christ or not, to be counted Jesus' servants or not counted among them. Jesus believes time is short because He would not want to lose one person not one!
Time is the shortest when you run out of it, isn't it?
The Revelation of Jesus Christ
which God gave unto him
to shew unto his servants
things which must
shortly
come to pass
(((God gave this revelation to Jesus to show to his followers- his servants. --
Servants-
Col. {4:12} Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ
Titus {1:1} Paul, a servant of God
James {1:1} James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ
2 Pet.{1:1} Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ
Jude {1:1} Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ
1 Cor.{7:22} For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant
Matthew {20:27} And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: {20:28} Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Matthew {23:11} But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
John {15:20} Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord.
(((God gave this revelation to Jesus to show it to His servants, us, we who are reading trying to understand, we who are followers of Christ seeking to serve Him, and to serve others for Him. We are being shown things and these things MUST SHORTLY COME TO PASS.
We are being shown things that will come to pass without a doubt. Things that WILL happen. There are certainties in life, a lot of them. There are positives in life. If you mix sugar with water without a doubt that sugar will dissolve. It's a positive. There are things which are positives and nothing can alter them, nothing. We can't hold back time it marches on whether we want it to or not- that's a positive. It's a must. When God says something MUST come to pass it's a certainty, it's a positive, it's inevitable.
So from the time the revelation was given to Jesus by God to give to us, given to the angel by Jesus to give to John, and from the moment John's pen hit the page and the word was sent out to the people, those things written were to come to pass from that moment on.
The revelation came to us shrouded in mystery. We couldn't be told things straight out as if one person was instructing another, things had to be done in cryptic manners so that the message would be pertinent to ALL that would follow- to ALL of Christ's servants throughout time until He returns to take us to Heaven.
The mystery had to be such that it wasn't impossible to comprehend, but that time would unfold it as necessary, preparing all of Christ's servants.
That these things we are to see MUST shortly come to pass means what?
What is shortly to God?
Shortly as opposed to eternity when we're dealing with the end of chances for all of mankind to be Christ's servants is in truth very short. When all those that will be saved are saved and all that will not be saved are not saved, then Jesus will return and the short time from His return to life and to heaven will be over- it's not something to rush even if it has to be short. You might have a short bit of time to accomplish something but you don't have to rush to make the time even shorter.
When we as humans are faced with a chance to save lives in one profession or another- fireman, policeman, coastguard, doctors, etc.. and there are many people needing to be saved all at once- the regret felt when time runs out and many people are left dead because time ran out, is immense. The sorrow is overpowering and the wish that time had just stretched out somehow long enough to save everyone is a wish that is truly felt and yet a wish that cannot come true.
Time will run out for people, for mankind, and yes, all will have had a chance to choose to serve Christ or not, to be counted Jesus' servants or not counted among them. Jesus believes time is short because He would not want to lose one person not one!
Time is the shortest when you run out of it, isn't it?
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