If you are gonna talk the talk, then walk the walk

Laziness will cost you!

2012-02-10T07:25:00.001-08:00

I am trying to read a chapter of proverbs everyday. They will speak volumes to you that is for sure. This morning what grabbed my attention were the two verse about laziness...here they are:

Proverbs 20:4

4 The lazy man will not plow because of winter;

He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

Proverbs 20:13

13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;

Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

The proverbs are full of verses that talk about laziness. God is clearly warning us about being lazy. First lets think about the unspiritual side of laziness. These verse make it clear we are to work to provide for ourselves and our families. The first thing that pops into my mind is welfare. As a nation we have created a society that expects the government to take care of them instead of finding a job. This is clearly wrong. Let me be clear, I am not opposed to helping folks in need out but in the same breath I am opposed to helping those who do not want to try to help themselves. Gods word clearly shows us we are to work to provide! When we do we will have enough to get by.

Now on the spiritual side, I want you to think about feeding your soul. Are you working on that. These verses can also very well speak to that. Do we neglect the bread of life....the word of God? Are we working to feed our souls on the worship of God by spending time with Him in Bible reading, prayer, and worship services? When we neglect these things because of laziness or just plain don't want to it will lead to poverty of the soul. That my friends is very dangerous!

If any of these areas are you or me, only we can change it.....don't be lazy!

Tom

My family singing!

2012-02-09T13:55:00.000-08:00

My plans or Gods plans?

2012-02-09T07:45:00.001-08:00

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This is an awesome verse for us to apply to our lives:

Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in the mind of man,

but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

This verse really is self-explanatory. We each have many things in life we want to do. Plans and dreams of how we will get them done. The only problem is our plans may not be Gods plans. If we truly place our lives in Gods hands our plans are set aside and we pray for God to do His will in our lives. This is not easy because we are naturally selfish people. As this verse tells us though in the end the only thing that will matter is the purposes of God done in our lives.

So let me ask you this morning as I have asked myself....are you living out Gods plans or your own plans?

Tom

2012-02-09T07:39:00.000-08:00

Grumbling against the Lord.

2012-02-08T06:40:00.000-08:00

Do we really trust God? Think about it for a moment. In the verse below, Moses has just lead Israel out of Egyptian bondage. They have complained several times already. At the Red Sea, thinking they were going to be killed before they crossed. God provided. They were thirsty. God provided. Now this time they are hungry and complained to Moses and Aaron. This is Moses and Aaron's response:

Exodus 16:7

7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against the LORD. For what are we, that you grumble against us?”

It made me sit back and think this morning. Do I grumble against the Lord? At first thought I said "no" but as I think about it more I have to say "yes". It may not be a right out complaint but I do see things that I think I need or always think I need more money. God's Word is clear that we are to be content with where we are:

Philippians 4:11

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

In all things, and no matter the situation be content and trust the Lord. He loves you and will take care of you. The question for us is do we believe it?

Tom

Are you there for others?

2012-02-07T10:38:00.000-08:00

I read this proverb this morning and it made me do some thinking and ask myself...am I there for others?

Proverbs 17:17

17 A friend loves at all times,

And a brother is born for adversity.

It is easy to be there for family in times of need but are we there for others too? This proverb tells us if we are a true friend we will be there when needed. Even if our friend is in the wrong we still need to show love and guidance and this is not always easy!

What about our brothers and sisters in Christ? Are you there for them when they are in need? When we are in Christ we have a new family and it is the church. We are given the example of the disciples and the early church to be there for one another. So we must ask ourselves this very same question. This proverb says as a brother I am born for adversity, meaning to take it head on with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

We also need to be there for each other in times of celebration too! So many are envious of others but that is of the devil not God. Rejoice in the blessings of God with others!

Take a moment and evaluate yourself this day....are you there for others....show them the love of Christ in you!

Tom

God is love.

2012-02-06T06:55:00.000-08:00

Lets start the week off with some good news.

1 John 4:7-8

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Look at these verses backwards. Starting with the the last words. "For God is love." Take a moment just to think about that. Love is defined by God...He is the definition of love and Christ has set the example for us. Jesus loved others in their sin and after they had repented of their sins. That is to be the way we love also! Then the next part of verse 8 says if we do not love we do not love God! Wow. Now it would be easy to say well I love but I just don't love everybody. No where in scripture is it taught we can pick....matter of fact Jesus says to love our enemies!

Now the last past of verse 7 says everyone who loves is born of God and knows God, so to truly love we must be born again or saved because Jesus makes it clear in scripture the only way to know God is to have trusted Jesus with our lives! So it is safe to say true love can not happen with out a relationship with Jesus. Then the first part of verse 7 tells us to love one another for love is of God. It is so hard to love others isn't it? We have our ways they have theirs and it is just hard to mesh. The problem lies in each of us. But we have the solution....God. God is love and if we put our strength and trust in Him we can love anyone even those who seem unlovable to us!

So this morning remember God is love and he loves you so much and He expects us to show love to others!

Tom

Why is the USA going downhill?

2012-02-03T08:27:00.001-08:00

This verse sums it up:

Proverbs 14:34

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,

But sin is a reproach to any people.

Until we have a turning back to God we will continue to struggle. We have no God-fearing leadership in our government. The nation now accepts all kinds of sin as normal and acceptable. Our music and televisions mock and laugh at God's Word. It is very simple....until our nation wakes up and realizes we need God we will continue to face the consequences.

It all starts with me and you. Are we right with God? Then and only then can we talk with others about changing their ways. Pray my brothers and sisters pray! God please bring revival and a spiritual awakening to this great land you have blessed us with.

Tom

Do you have a love for God's Word?

2012-02-02T06:03:00.001-08:00

This is a very important question for every believer. But before you just jump right in and say "oh yeah I love the Word of God" I want you to ask yourself a question. How much time do you spend reading and studying the Bible? For some, including myself, it is not nearly enough! Read this verse:

Proverbs 13:13

13 He who despises the word will be destroyed,

But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

God tells us in this verse that those who despise the Word will be destroyed. Makes sense don't it? If you hate God's Word then you must have Him so in the end you will be destroyed by spending eternity in hell. On the other hand if you fear the Word of God which the commandments are a part of then you will be rewarded. If you have an awe and a reverence for God's Word then it goes to say you would be obeying His Word. When you are obedient then your reward will an eternity spent with God in heaven. Wow we don't deserve that but am I thankful for it!

So back to the original question....do you love God's Word? Think about it very hard. If you are a hunter compare the amount of time spent hunting to the time you spend reading God's Word and serving Him. Not even close is it? If you are not a hunter you can do the same test with whatever your hobby is. Hmmmm something each of us had better give some thought!

Tom

Unrighteousness will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

2012-02-01T06:24:00.000-08:00

Have you ever taken notice of how we rate some sin worse than others? God is a Holy, Righteous, God who hates all sin. As I was looking at this verse the Holy Spirit brought some insights I want to share this morning. Read these verses:

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

God's Word is clear here....those who practice sin will not inherit heaven(the Kingdom of God). In verse 9 the Word even gives us a warning...don't be deceived. I think it is safe to say that many are being deceived! Look at the list of sin closely. Now this is not a complete list of sins but it does cover many. Fornication is voluntary sex between two unmarried people. Common these days and accepted as ok in our society but not accepted by God. Idolatry is anything we worship besides God. This can be many things....sports teams, tv, our job, even our wife or kids if we put them before God! Again this is common practice today. Adultery is sex between someone who is married and somebody else who could also be married to someone else or not. Time and time again we see society practicing this and accepting it as ok....not to God! Homosexuality is sex between people of the same sex and God clearly states it here as sin and we tend to pick this one out as being worse than the others but remember to God sin is wrong no matter what we think. Sodomites are: those who practice anal or oral copulation with a member of the opposite sex. Also included in this is bestiality. Thieves...those who steal. This also includes stealing from a employer by not working hours claimed. I have seen this many times myself! Covetous means wanting what others have. Did you know that was a sin? God has blessed each one of us and wants us to be content where he has us! Drunkards is next on the list and this is the one God really spoke to me about for some reason. How do we define what a drunkard is? I know what we picture in our own minds but is that what God has in His mind? Anytime one drinks and starts to get a buzz it is sin. God does not want us altering our minds.( Medical drugs are a different story). So I think how many folks drink one beer or one glass of wine and thats it? Not many that I know. That is the reason they drink to get that buzz. So from what I see I believe even a social drinker can be this drunkard the Lord is talking about. Revilers is next on the list, this is some one who speaks abusively. Not acts but just speaks it. Think on that our words to others can be sin! The finally is extortioners, this is some one who uses blackmail to gain favors. So we see here many things God says is sin and will not inherit heaven if not repented of!

Verse 11 is important to us. Paul tells his listeners "as such were some of you". This implies a change had taken place. In other words they had repented of their sin and were no longer practicing these sins. They were washed and sanctified by Jesus! Praise the Lord. We can be too all we have to do is ask! Have you my friend? Think about these Words from God this morning....comments are welcome!

Tom

Do you give God your best?

2012-01-31T06:58:00.001-08:00

When I think about the question in the title for today's devotion for myself I must answer no. Sometimes I do but not always. Look at this verse:

Colossians 3:23-25

23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

Now if you go back and read verse 22 Paul is talking to slaves. In reality we are slaves to Christ. In today's world that word slave brings a negative vibe. But when we refer to our being slaves to the Lord it should not. God's word tells us that we were bought with a price:

1 Corinthians 6:20

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

That price was the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who paid for YOUR sins on the cross. That means Christ owns us if we have asked Him into our lives. That is awesome news! I like being owned by God! The part of the verse in Corinthians also says "glorify God in your body and spirit" that goes right along with our verses in Colossians. Whatever we do we should give our all because we are living for the Lord not man. Hmmmm think about that now. In your job, your family, your hobbies, your Bible study, your church attendance, everything! Are you giving all you have for the glory of God. Please stop and think about this...it is not a suggestion from the Word it is a command! Now lets look at the consequences....if we obey and give our all we receive the inheritance from the Lord. We deserve nothing but God blesses obedience. BUT if we don't obey the Word says we will be repaid for what we have done and God shows no partiality! Ouch!

You see my friends God is a jealous God and He wants all of us, which requires we give 100% effort when serving our King. When you serve God you will be blessed! Some will come in this life and some will come in eternity. On the other hand if we fail to serve our King you will not lose your salvation but you will lose blessings. If you have no desire at all to serve the King then you had better be checking your heart to see if you are really a slave of Jesus!

Give God your best today! And everyday!

Tom

What do I know of Holy?

2012-01-30T07:49:00.001-08:00

Check this video out:

http://youtu.be/N6J5TzSE_18

Have you ever thought about that question? What do I really know of Holy? One of the dictionary definitions is this: having a spiritually pure quality. To me when thinking about God words do not really describe the holiness of God. I think about Moses at the burning bush:

Exodus 3:1-6

Moses at the Burning Bush

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”

4 So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”

And he said, “Here I am.”

5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” 6 Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.

What do we see here? First God came to Moses with a sign. The burning bush. Are we looking for the signs from God? It may not be a burning bush but if we are looking and listening God gives us signs all the time for He has a ministry for all of us...every day!

Second Moses wanted to know more. He went and looked into the situation closer. Are we looking into what God has in store for us each day closer? Or do we run away? Could be a co-worker who needs some love shown to them. Could be less work and more time with family. Or numerous other things....are you looking?

Third Moses said "here I am!" Moses was willing to serve. When God has things to be done for Him where ever it may be...at home or at church, do we have the same attitude? Here am I God? True disciples of Christ must have this mentality to serve Jesus!

Fourth Moses was standing on Holy Ground. I have thought on this quit a bit and anytime we are in God's presence we are on Holy ground. Do we take this seriously? The holiness of God and allowing us into His presence is something the church has dangerously taken for granted in recent years. This is God we are talking about! Handle with precious care and love!

Fifth, Moses recognizes who He is talking to and falls on his face before God. Do we recognize God for who He is and fall on our faces in awe and reverence? No in most case we don't and this is not good. We need and better get back to realizing who God is and He is Holy!

What do I know of Holy? Not enough!

Tom

Governing the nation and our own personal life.

2012-01-26T08:20:00.000-08:00

"It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible."

George Washington

I friend reminded me of this quote recently by our first President. Does this sound like a man who wanted God and His Word, the Bible, taken out of our nation? It sure doesn't to me. Matter of fact it is plainly stated that our nation can not be run correctly without God and His Word. Have you taken a look around recently? Who is our nation being governed by? It is certainly not God. Pray for our nation and our leaders that their will be a turning back to God, the future of our nation depends on it!

What about our individual lives? Are we allowing our lives to be run by God or are we in the drivers seat? What George Washington said about about nation is also true for our lives. If we are not allowing God to make our decisions and if we are not running our lives by the Bible then we are headed down hill quickly. God is clear in His Word that he desires our worship and total dedication. Not 50/50 our any other percentage...he wants all of us and every area of our life.

So ask yourself....who is in charge God or me?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Tom

Are you being held?

2012-01-25T07:40:00.001-08:00

Something to think about this morning in our walk with God.

Proverbs 5:22-23

22 The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him,

and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.

23 He dies for lack of discipline,

and because of his great folly he is led astray.

I know none of like to think that sin has ensnared us but many times it has even when we are saved. Examine your life carefully and see if there is a sin that has a hold on you. Verse 22 talks about cords of sin. I get the picture of a rope that has wrapped around our leg and we can't get it off. One cord we may be able to break fairly easy but when two and three grab a hold of us then that rope is very hard to break....and sin acts in the same way. Verse 23 talks about lack of discipline. To be godly in all areas of our life we MUST have discipline. The problem in most Christians life is we may be great in some areas but we are lacking greatly in others areas. So we look at the balance of the scales and think well my good is out weighing my bad. It doesn't work that way. Any sin before God is wrong and hurts our closeness to God as he can not tolerate sin as He is Holy! We can not be full of folly as verse 23 goes onto say. Folly means foolishness or lack of understanding. So how are we lead astray? First and foremost by a lack of knowledge about our Bibles and not understanding what sin is in the first place? How can we follow God rightly when we don't even know what He says is sin and what is righteous? We can't!

So this morning are you being help captive by sin? You can be free....turn it over to Jesus and He will set you free, I guarantee it!

Tom

God is watching!

2012-01-24T07:52:00.001-08:00

Have you ever felt like you were being watched? It is an awkward feeling isn't it. Well the truth be known you are being watched 24/7! By the heavenly Father. Check this verse out:

Proverbs 5:21

21 For a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD,

and he ponders all his paths

I have started to read the book of Proverbs again and want to make it a habit of reading a chapter of proverbs everyday. It is so packed full of wisdom from God on how to live our lives to the fullest for Him! God makes it clear to us in this verse that our ways are before Him. We are never out of His sight! If we would remember that every second of everyday it would change the way we live. They way we talk, what we watch, how we treat others, how we work, everything would come into line with what God desires from us if we truly loved God and realized He is watching us. I want to please Him don't you?

The second thing this verse points out is God ponders (thinks about) our paths. Think about that for a moment. I believe the reason God thinks about our paths is because it shows where our hearts are. If we are taking the path of sin then we are far from Him but on the other hand if we are taking the path of truth and righteousness then we are seeking what He desires for us!

It is not really hard to figure out but it is hard to do! So this morning God is watching....what is he seeing in your heart?

Tom

Cure for bloody hands!

2012-01-23T05:56:00.001-08:00

Last Monday I posted a warning for the blood that we may have on our hands due to not sharing the gospel that my pastor Bro. Mark had preached on. This morning I want to share the cure for those bloody hands.

Acts 20:17-24

17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them:

“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

A few things from the apostle Paul I want to point out on how to keep from having them bloody hands before God:

Serving the Lord....very simple but yet so hard. It is a must to keep this as a priority and share the gospel!
Do not shrink! No matter how good or how bad things are going be faithful in teaching and proclaiming everything that is profitable in the faith.
Testifying to all to repent and have faith in Jesus...we all have a story to share.
Con strained by the Spirit. If we are saved then we are filled with the Holy Spirit and must listen for His promptings to share the Lord Jesus....again no matter what. Note in the verses above that Paul knew prison and bodily harm were coming to him but He still proclaimed Jesus....I hope we will be as bold!
I do not count my life of any value! Wow this is against the grain in our self centered culture. This is the mind frame though we must have...to love others so much and care about their souls eternity that we count our lives as nothing to get the good news of Jesus to them!
I may finish my course and ministry. God has a course and ministry laid out before us all who call on Jesus as Lord. The question is are we will to follow what God has in store for us or are we more concerned about what "I" want for my life. Remember "I" is right in the middle of SIN!

My brothers and sisters...if we keep these Words from the Bible in our hearts and minds and be faithful in our ministry God has for each one of us we can keep the blood of of our hands!

Tom

Complacency....does this describe you?

2012-01-19T07:12:00.001-08:00

As I was having my quiet time yesterday the Lord laid a word on my heart that has made me do some searching in my soul. I want to think about this word called complacency this morning. First let's define it: a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc. Hmmmmmm! As you have that thought in mind read these verses:

Proverbs 1:20-33

The Call of Wisdom

20 Wisdom calls aloud outside;

She raises her voice in the open squares.

21 She cries out in the chief concourses,

At the openings of the gates in the city

She speaks her words:

22 “ How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?

For scorners delight in their scorning,

And fools hate knowledge.

23 Turn at my rebuke;

Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;

I will make my words known to you.

24 Because I have called and you refused,

I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,

25 Because you disdained all my counsel,

And would have none of my rebuke,

26 I also will laugh at your calamity;

I will mock when your terror comes,

27 When your terror comes like a storm,

And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,

When distress and anguish come upon you.

28 “ Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;

They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.

29 Because they hated knowledge

And did not choose the fear of the LORD,

30 They would have none of my counsel

And despised my every rebuke.

31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,

And be filled to the full with their own fancies.

32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them,

And the complacency of fools will destroy them;

33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,

And will be secure, without fear of evil.”

Now in these verse wisdom is rebuking those who refuse to find her and seek the knowledge of her in the Lord. We are told in these verses when we refuse to learn the knowledge of the Lord which involves fear, awe, study of His Word, prayer, listening for Him to speak to us, and loving others. Then we are told what will happen when we listen to self or the world...wisdom will not counsel them and they will reap what they sow! Ouch!

I want you to look at verse 32....the complacency of fools will destroy them. Then I want you to ask yourself like I have...have I become complacent in my faith? Thinking I am good where I am at in my safe comfortable place wit Jesus. I know all I need to know about God. My friends our relationship with God and is a work in progress and if we become complacent we are in danger of being this fool wisdom is talking about here.

Take time to pray about this today and let the Holy Spirit talk to you about where you in your walk with the Lord....don't be a fool!

Tom

Discipline yourself

2012-01-18T05:03:00.001-08:00

Great words that a friend of mine posted on face book yesterday:

cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you, discipline yourselves, keep alert like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour resist him, steadfast in your faith&after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.

1 peter 5:7-10

I want us to focus on the discipline yourselves this morning as the Lord has really laid it on my heart. The word discipline means: behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and control.

Now with that definition in mind ask yourselves are you discipline in your faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is much more to it than belief. God desires us to seek His face and follow obediently His Word. Are you? In the verse above it is clear we MUST discipline ourselves...nobody else is going to do it for us. The verses also give us a reason for disciplining ourselves...the devil is looking for someone to devour and if we are not disciplined in our faith it very well could be us!

So what do we need to do to be disciplined? First, everyday spend quiet time with God in studying His Word and in prayer. Do you do this? If the answer is no, you need to discipline yourself to do so. Second, listen to God. Don't just pray and leave....listen for the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Third, obey. Do what God asks of you. Even if it seems impossible to you, nothing is impossible to God!

So again are you disciplined this morning? If the answer is yes...Great! If the answer is no....there is no better day to start than today. You will be surprised on what God has in store for you!

Tom

Don't bet on it!

2012-01-17T06:54:00.001-08:00

"Modern man is betting his life that this is it, and that there is no judgement and that there is no eternity." R.C. Sproul

I wish I could say I disagree with this statement above but I agree with it 100%. Look around it isn't hard to see. What really disappoints me is that it is not just those who openly confess they are not followers of Christ, no it is also a large percentage of those who claim they are followers. Openly and everywhere folks indulge in sin and are enjoying it. Not thinking about the consequences down the road. One of the most obvious is the television shows we wait all week for! Every week they mock God and his word and folks laugh at these things and continue to watch. The Word of God has come to mean nothing to most. If the majority says it is ok then so be it says society. Oh but my friends, look the the verse below:

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

God's word talks about judgement many, many times, look for yourself. Do you believe judgement is coming? Don't matter if you believe it or not....God said it is and that settles it. Think about when you stand before Christ in judgement...are you sins covered by His blood? Then ask yourself is my life reflecting the values the Bible teaches. If they are not then one should evaluate their life and get in line with God's Word.

Many today either choose to believe there isn't eternal life or are just not thinking about it. In our community recently there have been many deaths...some expected some not. The Bible makes it clear we are not promised to live another day. God in His Word makes it clear eternal life is coming one way or another. Look at these verses:

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Matthew 10:28

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Mark 9:42-44

New King James Version (NKJV)

Jesus Warns of Offenses

42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 44 where

‘ Their worm does not die

And the fire is not quenched.’

Can it be made any clearer? I don't think so. So my friends judgement is coming and eternity is at stake. Are you ready if your life ended today. Is your life reflecting the values of Christ everyday? The only thing in your way is you!

Tom

Are your hands bloody?

2012-01-16T06:55:00.001-08:00

My Pastor shared a great message from God yesterday and I want to share a portion of it with you this morning. Most followers of Christ realize how important it is to share the gospel message with others. The Lord makes it clear to us that for the unbeliever they will go to hell for their lack of faith. This should be our driving force to get the good news of Jesus to all we can for the Lord desires that none should perish. But have you ever considered what not sharing our faith will cost us? Read theses verses:

Ezekiel 3:16-19

A Watchman for Israel

16 And at the end of seven days, the word of the LORD came to me: 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 18 If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.

WOW! Ezekiel was the watchmen and spokes person for God. We are the spokes people of Jesus Christ. God would give a Word from His mouth and Ezekiel was to proclaim it and give warning. We have the Bible we are to proclaim it and warn others about hell! God told Ezekiel if he did not warn them to try and save their life their blood will be on his hands. God expects us to warn people to give them a chance to turn from their sin, if we do not we will be accountable for their blood. If Ezekiel did what he was told then his soul was delivered! If we do what we are told blessings await us in heaven!

Let me be clear here. For the believer today, if you don't share Jesus you won't lose your soul to hell. God assures us that once you call on Jesus you are His for eternity. But His Word also makes it clear we will lose blessings when we are not obedient in sharing the gospel and loving others!

So this morning, is there any blood dripping from your hands? Souls are hanging in the balance. That should give you something to chew on today, it sure has made me do some thinking!

Tom

Revelation #75

2012-01-13T07:02:00.000-08:00

Finally we have come to the end of our study of Revelations. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have. I didn't anticipate it lasting this long but to try to get the main points across it was necessary. May God receive all the glory!

Revelation 22:17-21

17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

In verse 17 we see the Holy Spirit and the church(bride) say "come". We know it is the desire of the Holy Spirit to draw man to Christ and it should be the desire of the church also. Then the verse says "let the one who hears say, "come". Oh brothers and sister we must be in prayer for those who have not accepted Christ to have the desire to ask HIM to come into their lives! Then we are reminded in this verse that Jesus is the living water and it is free to anyone who asks...praise the Lord!

In verse 18 we see a important warning...we are told not to add to these prophecy of this book or the one who does will receive the plagues described in this book! Then in verse 19 we are told if anyone takes away from this book God will take away that ones share of heaven! Wow....a stern warning!

Then in verse 20 we are told Jesus who testifies to the Words of this book says...."Surely I am coming soon." Amen and praise the Lord!!!!!!!! And verse 21 says the grace of the Lord is with all.

Wow what a book and what promises are held in it. Thank God today for sending His Son to die for you and for me so that we may live eternally in heaven if we accept that free gift.....Jesus!

Tom

Revelation #74

2012-01-12T06:57:00.001-08:00

Great Words for the redeemed this morning!

Revelation 22:13-16

13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

In verse 13 Jesus reminds us who He is and what those words mean is He always has been and always will be! Amen! In verse 14 we are told once again what it takes to have the right to the tree of life and enter the city gates...washed our robes in the blood of the Lamb. Only by being covers by the shed blood of Jesus Christ may one partake of the fruit and the blessed life of the heavenly city! So my friends have accepted what Christ done for you on the cross? It is the only way to heaven. In verse 15 God describes us! Yes that is right" us" before we accepted Christ. Those who do not accept Christ are still in their sins and will remain outside the gates of heaven and will go to hell not fun to say but a fact.

Then in verse 16 Jesus reminds us who is telling these things, the angel He has sent on His behalf to tell the church! Then Jesus once again reminds us He is before all "the root". Look at these verses:

John 1:1-3

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

He also gives us His genealogy line, "a descendant of David". Also He is the "bright morning star" who Balaam foresaw arising from Israel conquering the nations:

Numbers 24:17

17 I see him, but not now;

I behold him, but not near:

a star shall come out of Jacob,

and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;

it shall crush the forehead[a] of Moab

and break down all the sons of Sheth.

Oh what a might Lord we serve and one day soon He will rule all...are you ready???? I am!

Tom

Revelation #73

2012-01-11T06:21:00.000-08:00

Continuing on in the last chapter of Revelation this morning!

Revelation 22:6-12

Jesus Is Coming

6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”

7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”

12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

In verse 6 the angel tells John that ALL the words spoken in the book of Revelation are trustworthy and true. The angel also tells John that God has sent the Holy Spirit and the angels to show us who have called upon Jesus (servants) what will soon take place. Some may say well these events haven't taken place so soon was wrong. Ahh but my friend our timing and God's timing are two different things. We should be greatful that God is waiting so more will come to trust Jesus before it is too late! In verse 7 We have the words of Jesus reminding us He is coming soon and it is to our advantage to keep the words of this book for we will be blessed if we do. In verse 8 John reminds us that he is the one who the angel and Jesus told these things too and when he heard them he fell at the feet of the angel who showed him these things. In verse 9 we are told the angel rebuked him and told John that don't do that as he is just a servant like John and the prophets, and those who keep the words of Revelation....so worship God ONLY!

In verse 10 John is told not to seal up the words of the book of revelation because the time is near for everything to be revealed. The angel tells John that life will continue as it is...evil happening and righteousness happening. Then Jesus speaks in verse 12 reminding us once again he is coming soon but this time He adds he will becoming to judge and give to each for what they have done!

My friend we all have done evil in the sight of God but Jesus shed His blood to cover that evil, the only way to escape the depths of hell is by accepting Christ as Savior....have you done that? Do it quickly for He will be coming soon!

Tom

Revelation #72

2012-01-10T06:50:00.001-08:00

Well we finally made it to the last chapter....what a blessing it is to study this book and know for the believer how it all turns out! In this last chapter I just want you to sit back and take it all in. For the saved it is Awesome! Just let your imagination run wild of what it will be like to be with Jesus forever!

Revelation 22:1-5

The River of Life

1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

This chapter pics up with continuing on in the looking at the New Jerusalem. The angel in verse 1 shows John the river of the water of life. He also tells us how clear it is like crystal! Then where it comes from....the throne of God and Jesus! True , pure life only comes from Jesus! Look at these verses:

John 4:10

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

John 4:13-14

13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Ahhhh just like good cold water....how refreshing these verses are! Verse 2 says this river flows through the middle of street of the city...always a reminder to us! The tree of life with twelve kinds of fruits, yielding each month and the scripture says it is on either side of the river....on big tree! We have never seen a tree like this! It once was off limits but now it will satisfy the citizens of heaven year round! Why? Because we have been healed from the sin curse! Look at this verse:

Ezekiel 47:12

12 And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”

This healing will be complete as you see it says the leaves "were" for the in Rev. 22:2. Verse 3 goes on to tell us nothing will be accursed as all will have been cleansed by the blood and the throne of God and Jesus will be in this city! Then we are told his servants will worship Him! May be a problem for those who don't serve Him now! The entire city will be the temple!

Verse for just makes me tingle when I think about it...we will see His face....everyday! Wow..that will be so awesome! We will have His name on our foreheads...sounds strange now but it will be a symbol of intimacy with Him. We are His property and protected by God Himself! In verse 5 we are reminded we will need no lamp for light, or the sun, because God's glory will be our light, and we will reign with Him for ever and ever and ever!

Men have wrote all kinds of books with happy endings but NONE compare with what God has in store for His children!!!

Praise King Jesus!

Tom

Revelation #71

2012-01-09T06:36:00.001-08:00

This morning we will finish out chapter 22. What a great way to end this chapter as we continue talking about the New Jerusalem which also is a picture of the church in heaven.

Revelation 21:22-27

22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

In verse 22 John tells us that there is no temple in the city, because the temple is God and Jesus. Can I get an amen here??? We will be with them forever in worship. In verse 23 we are told this city has no sun or moon to shine on it because God's glory is it's light! Wow...hard for me to even imagine this! Jesus is the lamp what a beautiful picture this is. Remember how many times you have heard that Jesus is the light of the world...this proves it! In verse 24 tells us that by this light nations walk and kings bring glory into it....all will be bringing glory and honor to the light source. Oh my does verse 25 bring a smile to my face....the gates will never be shut!!! We will be free to come and go in and out of the heavenly city and God will never shut us out!!!! Praise Jesus! We are also told there will be no night there! Hmmmm very interesting. Verse 26 says what I said a little earlier glory and honor will be brought into the city by the nations! In verse 27 it is made clear to us that nothing unclean will enter this city, it must be washed by the blood of the lamb! Only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. So this leads us to the question this morning....are you in the Lamb's book of life? Only one way to be there, to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior! Don't wait my friend....tomorrow is not promised!

Tom

Revelation #70

2012-01-06T08:55:00.001-08:00

Continuing to look the new Jerusalem which also represents the church this morning:

Revelation 21:15-21

15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement. 18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

In verse 15 John tells us the angel was carrying a measuring rod of gold and he was going to use it to measure the city, the gates and the walls. Take special note of the size of this city! We are told in verse 16 this city cubic shaped and is 12,00 stadia which is 1,380 miles!!! That means it is 1,380 miles long by 1,380 miles wide and 1,380 miles high!!!! Wow what a city! In verse 17 he tells us the walls are 144 cubits which is if my calculations are right over 2000 ft tall! In verse 18 we are told what jewels used to build portions of the city. The wall was built of jasper, the city was made of pure gold which was clear as glass! Verse 19 says the foundations of the wall were adorned with every kind of jewel...jasper, sapphire, agate, emerald, onyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, amethyst. Interestingly the jewels are the same ones used with the names of Israelite tribes on the high priests breastplates.

Exodus 28:17-20

17 You shall set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row; 18 and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond; 19 and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 20 and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold filigree.

In verse 21 we are told the gates are made of pearl and each gate is made of a single pearl!!! Wow what a pearl! We are also told the street will be made of transparent gold. What men fought over in this life we walk on in the next!

What a picture of heaven! Remember this just the holy city in heaven there is much more outside the gates!

See you on Monday!

Tom

Revelation #69

2012-01-05T07:10:00.001-08:00

Revelation 21:9-14

The New Jerusalem

9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

In verse 9 we are told by John that one of the angels who carried one of the seven bowls of plagues spoke to him saying that he was going to show John "the Bride, the wife of the Lamb". This so so awesome for us believers. The Bride and wife is us! The church. The Lamb is Jesus. The angel we are told in verse 10 then carries John away in the spirit to a high mountain and shows John the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven! What an awesome sight this must have been and will be! In verse 11 we are told what this city which is representative of the church looks like...has the glory of God as we are his sons and daughters. We are told the city has radiance like a rare jewel..as nothing compares to God's radiance. Verse 12 tells us this city has a high wall with twelve gates and twelve angels. The angels are the guards. The gates have the twelve tribes of Israel names inscribed on them. This shows us the unity of the old testament and the new testament. Verse 13 tells us the gates locations. Verse 14 tells us the walls of this city has twelve foundations and on them are the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb! Again another sign of unity of the old and new testaments.

What a beautiful picture so far of the church...the bride of Christ. Tomorrow we will continue to look at this picture of the church being represented by the new city Jerusalem!

Tom

Revelation #68

2012-01-04T07:02:00.000-08:00

Moving on in Revelation 21 this morning:

Revelation 21:5-8

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

John tells us in verse 5 that Jesus who is sitting on the throne says take notice I am making all things new! Sin has been destroyed and Jesus is making everything pure again including heaven and earth! Jesus also tells John to write it down for what Jesus says is trustworthy and true! I can't wait for the day when all things are new including the saved! Then Jesus says to John "It is done!" Very similar to what Jesus said on the cross "It is finished!" When Jesus says it is done you can count on it....the destruction of his enemies and the salvation of the saints is complete. Jesus then reminds us in verse 6 who he is....the first and the last and the beginning and the end! He always has been and always will be! Jesus also reminds us He will provide for the spiritual thirsty without change...all we have to do is ask! Thank you Jesus! In verse 7 Jesus tells us if we over come by His shed blood we have the promise of being a son with God being our Father....it don't get any better than that my friends!

In verse 8 Jesus reminds us of the other side....rejecting Him. He lists those who fall in this category...cowardly-reject Christ for others, faithless-no belief, detestable-vile people, murderers, sexually immoral-outside God's standards, sorcerers-drug users and star worshipers, idolaters-idol worshipers, liars. Those who practice these things and do not receive Christ and turn from their sin will receive their portion in hell....which is the second death-seperation from God for eternity!

We have great news for the believer this morning and terrible news for the unbeliever. Let us make sure we are spreading the good news of Jesus for God does not want any to perish!

Tom

Revelation #67

2012-01-03T06:08:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! Today we will pick up where we left off as we get close to the end of Revelation.

Revelation 21:1-4

The New Heaven and the New Earth

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

In verse 1 we see that John sees a new heaven and a new earth as the originals have passed away. God is going to renovate the earth and the heavens. Sin has scarred God's creation and God will make them like new. Look at these verses:

2 Peter 3:7-12

7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!

Pretty wild huh? John also tells us there will be no more sea. Not sure why but I do know why John recorded this...he was isolated on an island, Patmos, this would be great news to him! In verse 2 John tells us that the holy city, new Jerusalem, he seen coming down out of heaven dressed for her husband. This Jerusalem is the church no longer to be trampled by man! Look at this verse:

Hebrews 11:10

10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

In verse 3 John hears a loud voice from heaven and it says "the dwelling place of God is with man." Wow that is the greatest news we can hear! The voice goes onto say God will dwell with man, and the redeemed will be His people and God himself will be their God! What a way to start off the new year to be reminded of that promise! Verse 4 continues on with the good news....God will wipe a way our tears....shows His love for us. Death will be no more....eternal life is ours! There will be no more mourning....sorrow is gone! No crying....just celebrating with our Savior! No more pain...won't that be awesome! As you get older you realize more and more how great this promise is! For all former things have passed away....everything is new in Christ!

Oh what a day that will be my friends.....what a day that will be!

Tom

Christmas Madness!

2011-12-21T08:38:00.000-08:00

It has begun! Remember what Christmas is all about....JESUS! Have a Merry Christmas and I will start devotions again after the first of the year! God bless!

Tom

Revelation #66

2011-12-19T09:11:00.001-08:00

Today we will finish out chapter 20!

Revelation 20:11-15

Judgment Before the Great White Throne

11Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

In verse 11 we see that John sees a great white throne and He sees Jesus sitting on this throne. Something interesting takes place....the earth and the sky flee from Jesus presence and there is no place found for them. What does that mean? Jesus is preparing for the coming of the new heaven and new earth which is described in more detail in Chapter 21. Also look at 2 Peter 3:10-11:

2 Peter 3:10-11

10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 11Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,

That explains it pretty well don't it?

Then in verse 12 we see the dead standing before Jesus and the throne and the books are open. Just like in a court room. They also open the the book of life and the dead are judged by what they have done. Also in verse 13 the sea gave ups it dead and so do Death which is the grave and Hades which is a holding place until hell. These folks to are judged by what they have done. The first point I want to make here is their deeds are judged first and remember this is the unsaved.

2 Corinthians 5:10

10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:14

14For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

In verse 14 Death and Hades are thrown into the lake of fire which is hell and this is the second death. The second death is separation from God forever in hell. Verse 15 brings up the second point I want to make....the unsaved are judged by their deeds but also by their name not being found in the book of life. The only way to have your name removed from this book is by not accepting Jesus as your Savior!!! The blood of Christ must cover our sins! Then we see the awful news to close out this chapter...those not found in the book of life are thrown into the lake of fire....hell

Yet another reminder not to delay in asking Jesus to save our souls today!

Tom

Revelation #65

2011-12-15T05:59:00.001-08:00

Oh the good news of the Word this morning!

Revelation 20:7-10

The Defeat of Satan

7And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

In verse 7 John tells us that when the thousand years have ended Satan will be released from the bottomless pit and will come out to deceive the nations that are around the world. Gog and Magog are title given Israels oppressors. John also tells us that it will be a great number. So apparently a great number will be unwilling to follow Christ and will join Satan for one last push against Christ. It is so hard for me to understand how many will not grasp the love of Christ during His thousand year reign but it will happen. Verse 9 says they will march to the camp of the saints and the beloved city which is Jerusalem, but they will come to an abrupt end as God will cause fire to rain down from heaven and consume them!!! Wow won't that be a sight to behold???? Then the great news...the devil will be thrown into the lake of fire where the beast(anti-Christ) and false prophet are already at this point. They all will be tormented day and night for eternity. This is much different then the pictures of the devil roaming around hell we see today!

One day soon my friends the devil will be no more!

Tom

Revelation #64

2011-12-14T07:02:00.001-08:00

Moving on in Chapter 20 this morning....great news for those who serve Christ!

Revelation 20:4-6

4Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

In verse 4 John says he sees thrones in heaven and seated on them are those who are given authority to judge! On these thrones are the twelve disciples look at Matthew:

Matthew 19:28

28Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

The disciples will have the job of judging Israel! Wow that is a very important job!

John also says he sees the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and the Word of God! AND those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark. This is very important for us to understand that souls will be saved during the tribulation for trusting in Jesus and not doing what the anti-Christ demands....but let me warn you now this will be very very difficult as everything will flow through the anti-Christ to survive like food and water....the basics!The remainder of this verse tells us these souls came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years just like the rest of the saints...praise the Lord! Verse 5 tells us the rest of the dead did not come alive until the thousand years was ended and this is the first resurrection. What does this mean? There are two judgements....one is immediately after the rapture which is for the saved and them alone. The second is for the lost and will occur at the end of the end of the thousand year reign. The first resurrection is referring to of the tribulation period. Verse 6 says blessed and holy are those who are in this first resurrection of the tribulation for the second death which is separation from God for eternity will have no power over them and they will be priests of God and Christ and reign with Him for a thousand years. What a place of honor they will have by serving as priests.

All this living with Christ brings a smile to my face and I praise God even now for those who will come to faith during the tribulation!

Tom

Revelation #63

2011-12-13T06:58:00.000-08:00

Today we start chapter 20...slowly but surely we are getting through Revelation!

Revelation 20:1-3

The Thousand Years

1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

In verse 1 John tells us he sees an another angel and it is coming down from heaven. This angel has a key in it's hand and it is a key to the bottomless pit which also has a great chain! This bottomless pit is not hell but a holding place for the devil. Verse 2 says this angel seizes Satan and binds him for a thousand years. Yes this is a literal thousand years! A thousand years of peace! Wow. Look at what Isaiah says about this:

Isaiah 11:6-9

6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,

and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;

and a little child shall lead them.

7The cow and the bear shall graze;

their young shall lie down together;

and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

8The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,

and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den.

9 They shall not hurt or destroy

in all my holy mountain;

for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD

as the waters cover the sea.

The angel throws Satan into this pit as we are told in verse 3 and shuts the pit and seals it over him so he may not deceive the nations until the thousand years are ended. We are then told he then must be released for a time.

To be honest I don't understand why Satan has to be released for a time. But this is God's Word and I believe it. I don't have to understand it! What I do understand is God is in control and can take care of Satan as He sees fit!

Tom

Revelation #62

2011-12-12T06:55:00.001-08:00

Continuing in Chapter 19 this morning:

Revelation 19:17-21

17Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great." 19And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

John tells us he seen an angel standing in the sun and this angel calls out in a loud voice to the birds that were flying over. This angel tells the birds to gather for a great supper. Do you know what this supper will be? Verse 18 reveals this to us....the flesh of all both great and small who rose up against Christ but were overwhelmingly defeated! Look at Ezekiel 39:12-

Ezekiel 39:12

12For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land.

This verse is referring to these dead bodies....can you imagine? It will take seven months to bury the dead! In verse 19 John sees the beast (anti-Christ) and the kings of the earth with there armies gathered to make war against Jesus and his army. This is taking us back to the battle we previously have talked about. In verse 20 we are told the beast is captured and the false prophet. We are reminded the false prophet had done great signs to deceive those who had taken the mark of the beast and worshiped the image they had made of the anti-Christ. Then we see some awesome news! They are thrown into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur....which is hell! We see in verse 21 the rest who are the followers, armies, kings, ect., are killed by the sword (Word of God) that came from the mouth of Jesus! Then the birds fill themselves on their flesh! Wow! Judgement has come! Praise God!

Tom

Revelation #61

2011-12-07T07:05:00.001-08:00

Today we get a look at Jesus in heaven and His second coming!

Revelation 19:11-16

The Rider on a White Horse

11Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13He is clothed in a robe dipped in[a] blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

In verse 11 John sees into heaven. He sees a white horse which represents purity. Look who is upon this horse the only one we can call Faithful and True....Jesus!!!! This time instead of coming as the Savior He is coming to make war and He is the judge of Righteousness....we must remember that! In verse 12 we see Jesus eyes are like a flame of fire...they can burn through the dross of sin and judge the intentions of the heart. We also see on His head are many diadems(crowns) which show His deity. Interestingly He also has a name written that no one knows but Himself....even if we did know what it was we probably would not understand it. In verse 13 we are told His robe is dipped in blood, this verse is a great explanation of the blood:

Isaiah 63

The LORD’s Day of Vengeance

1Who is this who comes from Edom,

in crimsoned garments from Bozrah,

he who is splendid in his apparel,

marching in the greatness of his strength?

"It is I, speaking in righteousness,

mighty to save."

2Why is your apparel red,

and your garments like his who treads in the winepress?

3 "I have trodden the winepress alone,

and from the peoples no one was with me;

I trod them in my anger

and trampled them in my wrath;

their lifeblood spattered on my garments,

and stained all my apparel.

4 For the day of vengeance was in my heart,

and my year of redemption had come.

We are also told the name by which Jesus is called is The Word of God....which is Truth! In verse 14 we are told the armies of heaven which is us...the saved....dressed in fine linen which is white to show our purity in Christ are following Jesus on white horses. Look what Jude said about this:

Jude 1:14-15

14It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him."

Verse 15 tells us that from Jesus mouth comes a sharp sword which we know is the Word of God. He will use this Word to strike down the nations (Battle of Armageddon) and he will rule them!!!! It is interesting to me that Jesus will battle with the Word and we will be there but we won't do anything but watch Jesus! Jesus will tread the winepress of the fury of God on them. Look back at the passage from Isaiah 63 earlier in this devotion and look at verses 3-6 to get a better picture of this. To be on the wrong side of God's fury is unimaginable. Then verse 16 says on His rode is written KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS which shows His majesty.

This makes me want to fall on my face in worship just thinking about it!

Tom

Revelation #60

2011-12-06T10:16:00.001-08:00

Oh my friends if this doesn't want to make you stand up and shout this morning I don't know what will if you are a follower of Jesus!

Revelation 19:6-10

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

6Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

"Hallelujah!For the Lord our God

the Almighty reigns.

7Let us rejoice and exult

and give him the glory,

for the marriage of the Lamb has come,

and his Bride has made herself ready;

8 it was granted her to clothe herself

with fine linen, bright and pure"—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

9And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God." 10Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God." For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

All through the New Testament the believers are referred to as the Bride of Christ. Today we get toe see the marriage of the church to Christ! Praise God!

In verse 6 John hears what seems to be a great multitude sounding like roaring waters and great peals of thunder! what is this multitude doing???? Why they are praising God and rejoicing over the fact that the marriage of the Lamb and His bride(the church) is about to take place! I love verse 8 that says the church was granted to clothe herself with fine linen, bright, and pure....I can see this a white....purity! We are only granted this though by the shed blood of Jesus so give Him praise, honor and glory! This fine linen we are also told in verse 8 is the righteous deeds of the saints! Wow that is awesome! Think about that statement for a bit.

Verse 9 tells us that the angel tells John to write that those who are invited to the marriage supper are blessed. Who might be the folks who are invited? It is the old testament saints as they were not a part of the church. The angel also reminds Johns that these are the true Words of God! We need to remember that too! Then John who gets carried away in the moments falls down to worship the angel as we see in verse 10. The angel rebukes John and tells him not to do this. Then angel tells John and us something very important....Worship God only as we are told in Exodus 20:3:

Exodus 20:3

3 "You shall have no other gods before me."

Then verse 10 ends by telling us every scripture(testimony of Jesus) O.T. and N.T points to Jesus! Thank God for His Word and His Son!

Again today's lesson should want to make you shout in Praise!

Tom

Revelation #59

2011-12-05T09:20:00.001-08:00

We just finished in Chapter 18 seeing the fall of Babylon(Rome) and now as we start Chapter 19 the first words are "after this" see what is taking place in heaven....

Revelation 19:1-4

Rejoicing in Heaven

1After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,

"Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,

2for his judgments are true and just;

for he has judged the great prostitute

who corrupted the earth with her immorality,

and has avenged on her the blood of his servants."

3Once more they cried out,

"Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever."

4And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!"

Rejoicing is taking place! They are rejoicing over the defeat of Babylon.. the global organization of the anti-Christ. In verse one we see the word Hallelujah which means praise the Lord! We also see Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God! No doubt about that! He has proved it! In verse 2 we see that God's judgements are just and true. It don't matter if we think they are or not...God says they are and that solves it for He is God and we are not. God has judged Babylon for corrupting the earth with her immorality and has avenged the blood of those she killed! This should also be a warning to us also that we will be judged one day too! Are you covered by the blood of Christ? In verse three they continue to celebrate as the smoke from Babylon's destruction continues to rise and they shout hallelujah!

In verse four we return to a familiar scene in heaven that we have seen before...the twenty-four elders and four living creatures fall to the ground and worship God who is seated on the throne and they also say hallelujah and they add an amen! They are praising God for His judgement and the realization that God's plan is almost complete! Then another voice comes from the throne that says praise our God all you servants who fear him small and great! It is soo good at this point to see some praise for God instead of judgement coming down from heaven! Praise God we will see more good news tomorrow!

Tom

Revelation #58

2011-12-01T06:20:00.001-08:00

Today we finish Chapter 18...continuing to see the effects of Babylons(Rome) destruction from God.

Revelation 18:17b-23

17 And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 18and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning,

"What city was like the great city?"

19And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out,

"Alas, alas, for the great city

where all who had ships at sea

grew rich by her wealth!

For in a single hour she has been laid waste. 20 Rejoice over her, O heaven,

and you saints and apostles and prophets,

for God has given judgment for you against her!" 21Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,

"So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,

and will be found no more;

22and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters,

will be heard in you no more,

and a craftsman of any craft

will be found in you no more,

and the sound of the mill

will be heard in you no more,

23and the light of a lamp

will shine in you no more,

and the voice of bridegroom and bride

will be heard in you no more,

for your merchants were the great ones of the earth,

and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.

In the second half of verse 17 we see that those who work in the seas also realize that their money making source is gone! Babylon is laid waste. In verse 18 we see them crying out as they see the smoke rising from the city. In verse 19 we see them in great mourning as they throw dust on their heads and we also see what their main concern is!!! "Grew rich by her wealth" ....they are upset their money making source is gone. Again we are reminded God brought Babylon down in a single hour!

In verse 20 we a celebration taking place in the heavens! Not because of damnation as God wants all to come to repentance but because God did as He warned for the killing of saints, apostles, and prophets the servants of God. Vengeance is Gods! In verse 21 we see a mighty angel taking a great stone and throwing it into the sea...and then he says Babylon will be thrown down in the same manner (violently) never again to be found! Then in verse 22 we are told no more music will be heard from her as there will be nothing to celebrate. We are also told no more craftsmans work and no more mill work as all manufacturing will come to a halt! In verse 23 we are told that "the light of the lamp will shine no more" which means family time and thinking in the evenings will be no more! No more marriages we are also told in this verse. They are then reminded that the merchants and nations were deceived by their sorcery (both religiously and economically). Then this chapter ends with another reminder of why this vengeance has come upon them...the shed blood of the prophets, saints and others. We also must remember the number one reason...rejection of Jesus!

Wow God's wrath is nothing to mess with!

Tom

Revelation #57

2011-11-30T06:46:00.001-08:00

Today we look at the destruction of Babylon(Rome):

Revelation 18:9-17a

9And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. 10 They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say,

"Alas! Alas! You great city,

you mighty city, Babylon!

For in a single hour your judgment has come."

11And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, 12cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.

14"The fruit for which your soul longed

has gone from you,

and all your delicacies and your splendors

are lost to you,

never to be found again!"

15 The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,

16"Alas, alas, for the great city

that was clothed in fine linen,

in purple and scarlet,

adorned with gold,

with jewels, and with pearls!

17For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste."

Verse 9 tells us the Kings which are political leaders of the earth who indulged in the sexual immorality and luxury living with Babylon will weep and wail when they see her up in smoke! They will stand and watch far off and realize in a single hour judgement has come upon her as verse 10 tells us. Verse 11 tells us the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn for her because their profit will be gone! Listed is all the cargo that was sold but the most important is listed last...human souls! Slavery was a big trade. How many of these souls were lead astray to follow the anti-Christ by their owners???? Verse 14 says the fruit that the merchants souls longed for is gone and never to be found again...that fruit is money! In verse 15 we are told again the merchants are very upset about the destruction of Babylon because they gained their wealth from her. Verses 16-17 tell us this great city of Babylon who was on top of the world and describes her wealth has come down in a single hour.

When God's judgement comes it will be swift and complete. This is a warning for us to get right with HIM now!

Tom

Revelation #56

2011-11-29T06:51:00.001-08:00

Continuing on in Chapter 18:

Revelation 18:4-8

4Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,

"Come out of her, my people,

lest you take part in her sins,

lest you share in her plagues; 5for her sins are heaped high as heaven,

and God has remembered her iniquities.

6 Pay her back as she herself has paid back others,

and repay her double for her deeds;

mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.

7 As she glorified herself and lived in luxury,

so give her a like measure of torment and mourning,

since in her heart she says,

'I sit as a queen,

I am no widow,

and mourning I shall never see.'

8For this reason her plagues will come in a single day,

death and mourning and famine,

and she will be burned up with fire;

for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her."

In verse 4 we are told that John heard another voice from heaven....that voice is giving a warning! The voice is God. God is telling His people to get away from Babylon(Rome). Don't take part in her sins! This is similar to the warning he gave to Sodom and Gomorrah. If the people stay in Babylon and follow her sins they will share in the plagues God is about to send !Verse 5 tells us that Babylons sins are piled high and God remembers her sins! This is a good time to remind those who are saved that God forgets the sins of those who have trusted His Son!

Psalm 103:12

12as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

In verse 6 we see Babylons penalty. She will be paid back as she treated others only doubled! Verse 7 tells us as she was living in luxury and lifting herself up she will receive torment and mourning. In her heart she never thought of impending judgement just that she was queen and nothing would bring her down to mourning! Oh how wrong she will be! 1 John 2:16 has given us warning of a heart in the condition of Babylon:

1 John 2:16

16For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Verse 8 tells us for her desire for sin and turning from God plagues will come in a single day! Death. mourning, and fire will be upon Babylon. For God is the judge!!!! As we will see in the rest of the chapter both religious (although false) and commercial Babylon will fall!

Tom

Revelation #55

2011-11-28T08:01:00.001-08:00

I am glad to be back! Had a great Thanksgiving and I hope you did too! Let's get back to our study and jump right into chapter 18!

Revelation 18:1-3

The Fall of Babylon

1After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. 2And he called out with a mighty voice,

"Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!

She has become a dwelling place for demons,

a haunt for every unclean spirit,

a haunt for every unclean bird,

a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.

3For all nations have drunk

the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,

and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,

and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living."

As we get into our study today let me remind you about what Babylon represents. Babylon represents Rome in these last days. It is a very wicked place and will be a world power run by the anti-Christ. It is a political power and a religious power although it is a false religion run by the false prophet. But now Babylons time has run out!

Verse 1 tells us John sees another angel coming from heaven and this angel has great authority and the earth is bright with his glory! Many guesses have been made who this angel is but we are not told or given many hints. He calls out in a loud voice reaffirming what we were told in Chapter 14:8:

Revelation 14:8

8Another angel, a second, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality."

Continuing now in verse 2 the angel describes how evil Babylon is...."a dwelling place for demons"! Wow They live there! Verse 2 goes on to say this place is even inhabited by unclean birds, beasts and spirits. The spirits lure people in. The birds and the beasts are a picture of spiritual defilement and danger. Verse 3 tells us the whole world has drunk the wine of sexual immorality with the anti-Christ and Babylon! I believe we are seeing this now! This verse proves it:

2 Timothy 3:4

4treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

We are told also in verse three the leaders of the world fell right into his trap....sound familiar??? Then we are told how merchants get richer and richer from the anti-Christs luxurious living...that should ring some bells too!

Sin, power, and pleasure....these things lure folks away from God....now and will just get worse in the end of times! Tomorrow will see this will come crashing down....one day soon!

Tom

Revelation #54

2011-11-21T07:03:00.001-08:00

Lets finish chapter 17 today:

Revelation 17:15-18

15And the angel said to me, "The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, 17for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth."

In verse 15 we read that the angel tells John what the waters are that the prostitute (Rome) is seated on in verse 1. The waters are peoples, nations, and languages which are gentile nations. In verse 16 we see that ten horns( ten nation coalition and the beast(anti-Christ) will hate the prostitute(Rome). We are also told in verse 16 that they will totally turn on and destroy the prostitute(Rome). In verse 17 we see the reason for this....for God has put this in their hearts!. Look at Psalm 2:

Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations rage

and the peoples plot in vain?

2The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers take counsel together,

against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,

3"Let us burst their bonds apart

and cast away their cords from us."

4He who sits in the heavens laughs;

the Lord holds them in derision.

5Then he will speak to them in his wrath,

and terrify them in his fury, saying,

6"As for me, I have set my King

on Zion, my holy hill."

7I will tell of the decree:The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;

today I have begotten you.

8Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,

and the ends of the earth your possession.

9You shall break them with a rod of iron

and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel."

10Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

be warned, O rulers of the earth.

11 Serve the LORD with fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son,

lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,

for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

God will complete His plan even in a world that has open rebellion against Him! We are told in the rest of verse 17 until the words of God are fulfilled. Many times God uses others to even who are not followers to complete His purposes and that is what we are seeing here. In verse 18 we are once again told who this woman is...the great city (Rome also referred to as Babylon elsewhere) who has dominion over the world for a time....until God says enough!

That finishes chapter 17 and we will pick up again after the Thanksgiving holiday! God bless and remember to give thanks to the only one who deserves it....Jesus!

Tom

Revelation #53

2011-11-17T06:17:00.000-08:00

Continuing on from yesterday in Chapter 17:

Revelation 17:7-14

7But the angel said to me, "Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 8The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. 9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. 11As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. 14They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful."

In verse 7 we see the angel asking John why he is marveling about the women which is Rome(Babylon) and the beast(anti-Christ). The angel then tells John he will tell him the mystery! The beast is the anti-Christ but has even more meaning here. It also represents the Roman empire as we are told in verse 8. Was, is not, and is about to rise from bottomless pit, and go to destruction is a description of the Roman empire...past, present and future. We are also told the followers of the anti-Christ who are not saved will marvel at this empire after its resurrection.

Then verse 9 tells us we have to think to understand whats coming next! The seven heads are seven heads of the beast represent seven kings and verse 10 gives us more information on these kings....5 are fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does he wont be here long. The 5 that are fallen are: Julius Caesar, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. The one who was in power at this time was Domitian. The who has not yet come was the anti-Christ. Then verse 11 gives us more details on Anti-Christ...He was the seventh then he dies, and it resurrected and becomes the 8TH but actually still is the 7th. But thankfully we see his destiny at the end of verse 11 destruction!

Verse12 tells us about the ten horns on the beast. They represent kings(Nations...many think these will come from European Union) who have not received their power yet from the anti-Christ, but at the right time they will along with the beast....for one hour! Verse 13 tells us they will be in one mind with the anti-Christ and will give all power and authority to the anti-Christ(beast). Verse 14 says they will make war on the Lamb(Jesus) and Jesus will conquer them!!! Why? Because He is Lord of lords and King of kings and the saints that are with Jesus are called, chosen, and faithful....oh my brothers and sisters I pray this morning you are numbered along with the other saints!

Tom

Revelation #52

2011-11-16T08:37:00.001-08:00

Alright we are ready to jump into chapter 17 now:

Revelation 17:1-6

The Great Prostitute and the Beast

1Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk." 3And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. 4The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations." 6And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.When I saw her, I marveled greatly.

In verse 1 John says that one of the angels that had a bowl came to him and told John to follow him and he would show the judgement that was to come on the great prostitute! This great prostitute is Rome which is ofter referred to as Babylon also. This prostitute is also seated on "many waters" which is a symbol to mean...many gentile nations. Verse 2 explains this a little more by that these gentile nations have committed sexual immorality as well as their "dwellers" which are the people who follow the Kings. This is another way of saying they have committed spiritual adultery against God. Worshiping Satan instead. John then tells us the angel carried him away in the Spirit into the wilderness and John saw a scarlet beast. This is the anti-Christ and the reason he is scarlet is because of the blood he has shed of the faithful saints of Jesus. This beast is full of blasphemous names. These names are individuals who are recognized by the false church who considered themselves equal with God. They were put in place by the anti-Christ and false prophet. This beast had seven heads which we will talk about when we get to verse 10. the beast also had 10 horns which we talked about in Revelation 13:1 and will some more in 17:12. In verse 4 prostitute is now called woman which is Rome( Babylon) and the false church here. Look how she is dressed. Like Royalty. Focus on what is in her hand...a golden cup full of abominations and impurities of her sexual immorality....which we already learned was spiritual adultery against God. That is what the false church was all about...abominations against Jesus! Verse 5 tells us that a mystery name was written on her forehead....the rest of this verse gives us that mystery name and tells us in verse 6 that this women was drunk on blood!!!! Whose blood? The blood of the saints and martyrs of Christ! Wow! This is a great deceiver for the lost because they see the power of this false church and think she is what is to be worshiped!!!!

Tomorrow we will see more about this woman!

Tom

Revelation #51

2011-11-15T07:58:00.001-08:00

Today we look at the final bowl being poured out:

Revelation 16:17-21

The Seventh Bowl

17The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" 18And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.

In verse 17 we see the seventh angel pour out his bowl into the air. Then we are told a loud voice comes from the temple and the throne which would tell us this is God saying "it is done!" This is signifying that the judgements are soon coming to an end. The words spoken it is done are very similar to the words of Christ on the cross:

John 19:30

30When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

In verse 18 we are told lightning and thunder erupted and an earthquake like no one had ever seen before took place. In verse 19 the great city(Rome- where the anti-Christ headquarters are) is split into three parts! Wow what an earthquake! Verse 19 also tells us that God remembered Babylon. What does God recall about her? The false church, the corrupt economic system, and the empire of the beast! God don't forget unrepented sin! So He pours out His fury on her! Verse 20 gives us more details on this great earthquake! Islands and mountains disappear! Verse 21 tells us hail falls from heaven that are somewhere around 100 pounds each! Oh my! They fall on people which of course would kill them. This is similar to the seventh plague found in Exodus 9:

Exodus 9:13-35

The Seventh Plague: Hail

13Then the LORD said to Moses, "Rise up early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, "Let my people go, that they may serve me. 14For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth. 15For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. 16 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. 17 You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go. 18Behold, about this time tomorrow I will cause very heavy hail to fall, such as never has been in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. 19Now therefore send, get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them."'" 20Then whoever feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses, 21but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the LORD left his slaves and his livestock in the field.

22Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man and beast and every plant of the field, in the land of Egypt." 23Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 24There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25The hail struck down everything that was in the field in all the land of Egypt, both man and beast. And the hail struck down every plant of the field and broke every tree of the field. 26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, was there no hail.

27Then Pharaoh sent and called Moses and Aaron and said to them, "This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. 28 Plead with the LORD, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer." 29Moses said to him, "As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the LORD. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s. 30But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God." 31(The flax and the barley were struck down, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud. 32But the wheat and the emmer were not struck down, for they are late in coming up.) 33So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and stretched out his hands to the LORD, and the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured upon the earth. 34But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people of Israel go, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses.

Verse 21 closes by telling us the people curse God for the hail because it is so severe. This is a good reminder that our sin brings judgement but we have a loving merciful God who will forgive our sin through the shed blood of Christ. Please don't delay come to Him today!

Tom

Revelation #50

2011-11-14T08:14:00.001-08:00

Today we will look at the fifth and sixth bowls being poured out:

Revelation 16:10-16

10The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish 11and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.

12The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15("Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!") 16And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

In verse 10 we see the fifth angel pour his bowl out on the throne of the beast. This beast remember is the anti-Christ. The anti-Christ's kingdom will be turned dark. Apparently not the whole world just his kingdom! This will drive people somewhat insane as we see people gnawing their tongues and in pain....remember from previous bowls they are in pain from sun scorching and cancer like sores! In verse 11 we see because of the darkness and pain they curse God...so this tells us they know where the judgement is coming from! They also do not repent! If we look in Exodus we also see the darkness is similar to the 9th plague of Egypt:

Exodus 10:21-29

The Ninth Plague: Darkness

21Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt." 22So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. 23They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived. 24Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, "Go, serve the LORD; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind." 25But Moses said, "You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. 26Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the LORD our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the LORD until we arrive there." 27But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. 28Then Pharaoh said to him, "Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die." 29Moses said, "As you say! I will not see your face again."

In verse 12 we move onto the sixth angel pouring out his bowl on the Euphrates river. This dries this river up!!! Wow. This makes it possible for Kings from the east to bring armies across for the battle of Armageddon. Many commentators think China will be one of these armies! In verse 13 we see we see the unholy trinity. Remember Satan tries to copy the things of God. The dragon is Satan, the beast in the anti-Christ, and the false prophet is the false religious leader. We are told outright....these are unclean spirits like frogs! This reminds us of the second plague on Egypt:

Exodus 8:2-11

2But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your country with frogs. 3The Nile shall swarm with frogs that shall come up into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed and into the houses of your servants and your people, and into your ovens and your kneading bowls. 4The frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your servants."'" 5 And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt!'" 6So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7But the magicians did the same by their secret arts and made frogs come up on the land of Egypt.

8Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, "Plead with the LORD to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD." 9Moses said to Pharaoh, "Be pleased to command me when I am to plead for you and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be cut off from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile." 10And he said, "Tomorrow." Moses said, "Be it as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God. 11The frogs shall go away from you and your houses and your servants and your people. They shall be left only in the Nile."

Just like on Egypt....these 3 frogs will be annoying to say the least!

In verse 14 we are told what these three demonic frogs will be doing....performing signs which will win favor among the people. They also will be going abroad to meet with Kings of the world to prepare for the battle with God. Satan knows what is coming and will do all he can to get ready to fight a losing battle! In verse 15 God reminds us he is coming like a thief....unexpectedly!!! We are to be ready for those who keep their garments on( testimonies both inside and out for Jesus) will be blessed! Delivered by Jesus! Then in verse 16 we see where those armies will gather....Armageddon. Armageddon means Mount Megiddo in Hebrew. In ancient Israel Megiddo was a plain not a mountain. It was the site of some key battles. This battle in revelation could be meaning the bodies amassed after Jesus gets done will look like a mountain! For it will be a mountain of slaughter by Jesus on these Armies!

What a terrible day for the world that will be when Jesus comes to battle Satan and the worlds kings!

Tom

Revelation #49

2011-11-09T07:02:00.001-08:00

Well hopefully you were able to digest the beginning of the pouring out of the bowls yesterday. Today we will look at a few more!

Revelation 16:4-9

4The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. 5And I heard the angel in charge of the waters[a] say,

"Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,

for you brought these judgments.

6For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,

and you have given them blood to drink.

It is what they deserve!"

7And I heard the altar saying,

"Yes, Lord God the Almighty,

true and just are your judgments!"

8The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed[b] the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.

In verse 4 we see the third angel pour out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water. These waters now become blood. Every living thing will die in the rivers and springs and now this causes a major problem with drinking water! Look at what the angel in verses 5-6 says the reasoning for this bowl being poured out! Because of the shed blood of the saints and prophets! So God will give them to drink what they wanted....blood! This is an answer to the saints cries in Revelation 6:10:

Revelation 6:10

10They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"

In verse 7 we see the alter where the saints blood pooled in Rev. 6:9 agrees with God's judgement! In verse 8 we see the fourth angel poor out his bowl. He pours is out on the sun which apparently intensifies the sun and the heat is so intense it scorches the people! Wow. You ever had a bad sunburn? This will be magnified much much more! Look at verse 6 even after these four bowls are poured out the peoples hatred for God comes out. They curse His Name because they know His wrath is coming down! We also see they did not repent and give God glory...this is the very reason they are being burned!

Whew! This is mind blowing!

Tom

Revelation #48

2011-11-08T06:22:00.001-08:00

Today we jump into chapter 16 and start looking at the seven bowls that will pour out the wrath of God!

Just a reminder that the church will be gone at this point in Tribulation, for those who accept Christ during the Tribulation....well it won't be pretty for them or for the unsaved!

Revelation 16:1-3

The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

1Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, "Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God."

2So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

3The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea.

Please take this wrath of God in. It should prod us onto sharing Christ to all when we realize what is coming at some point!

In verse 1 John hears a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angles(we read about these yesterday) to go and pour their bowls out on the earth. In verse 2 the first angel pours his bowl out on the earth and very harmful and painful sores come upon those who received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image! Interestingly those who have received Christ will not be harmed by this bowl being poured out. Many commentators believe theses sores will be cancer like. The people who have theses sores will be in great agony!

In verse 3 the second angel pours hi bowl into the sea and it became like blood of a corpse(deadman). This is much like the first plague upon Egypt but magnified! Look at Exodus 7:21:

Exodus 7:21

21And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

Look at the results of this second bowl being poured out....every living thing died that was in the sea!!! This will affect everyone unsaved and those who have received Christ. Can you imagine the effect of this? The stink, the bacteria, the economic effect!!!

Think about this for a bit....and that is just two bowls being poured out! Five more to come!

Tom

Revelation #47

2011-11-07T06:56:00.000-08:00

Continuing in Chapter 15!

Revelation 15:5-8

5After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, 6and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 7And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, 8and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

After the praises are lifted to God John is still looking around heaven and he now sees the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven (which is the inner chamber) was opened. In verses 6 we are told that out of this sanctuary came seven angels with seven plagues. These plagues represent the wrath of God which is soon to come in Chapter 16 in the form of the bowls being poured out. These angels are clothed in pure white which represents their purity and also have golden sashes around their chest. This is similar to what Jesus was wearing in Revelation 1:13:

Revelation 1:13

13and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.

In verse 7 we see one of the four living creatures actually handing the bowls of God's wrath to the seven angels. We are also told about our awesome God....he lives forever and ever. Verse 8 says the sanctuary was filled with smoke(Holy Spirit) from the glory and power of God!!!! No one was allowed in God's presence in the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished!

Tomorrow we will start to look at these bowls(plagues) being poured out....God's wrath is not pretty!

Tom

Revelation #46

2011-11-04T06:37:00.000-07:00

Alright here we go with Chapter 15!

Revelation 15:1-4

1Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

2And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

"Great and amazing are your deeds,

O Lord God the Almighty!

Just and true are your ways,

O King of the nations!

4 Who will not fear, O Lord,

and glorify your name?

For you alone are holy.

All nations will come

and worship you,

for your righteous acts have been revealed."

In verse 1 John tells us he sees another sign in heaven and tells us it was great and amazing! What did he see? Seven angels and seven plagues. We are told after these plagues the wrath of God will be finished. In verse 2 John says he sees a sea of glass mingled with fire. We seen this sea of glass before in Chapter 4 verse 6.

Revelation 4:6

6and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.

Remember this sea is of glass is a representation of pureness. Verse 2 continues on to tell us that those who conquered the beast, its image and the mark by staying faithful to Jesus are standing beside this sea of glass for they are now pure before God! These believers have harps of God in their hands and are singing the song of Moses which was the song the Israelites sang after their deliverance from Pharaoh!

Exodus 15

The Song of Moses

1Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying,

"I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously;

the horse and his rider[a] he has thrown into the sea.

2 The LORD is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation;

this is my God, and I will praise him,

my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

3The LORD is a man of war;

the LORD is his name.

4 "Pharaoh’s chariots and his host he cast into the sea,

and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea.

5The floods covered them;

they went down into the depths like a stone.

6 Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power,

your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.

7In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries;

you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble.

8At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up;

the floods stood up in a heap;

the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.

9The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake,

I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them.

I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.'

10You blew with your wind; the sea covered them;

they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

11 "Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods?

Who is like you, majestic in holiness,

awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

12You stretched out your right hand;

the earth swallowed them.

13"You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed;

you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

14 The peoples have heard; they tremble;

pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia.

15Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed;

trembling seizes the leaders of Moab;

all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.

16Terror and dread fall upon them;

because of the greatness of your arm, they are still as a stone,

till your people, O LORD, pass by,

till the people pass by whom you have purchased.

17You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain,

the place, O LORD, which you have made for your abode,

the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.

18 The LORD will reign forever and ever."

The song of the lamb is in Revelation 5:

Revelation 5:9-10

9And they sang a new song, saying,

"Worthy are you to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God

from every tribe and language and people and nation,

10and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,

and they shall reign on the earth."

If you dont like to sing you better learn to like it for you will be in heaven!

Tom

Revelation #45

2011-11-03T06:20:00.001-07:00

Moving right along we will finish chapter 14 today!

Revelation 14:14-20

The Harvest of the Earth

14Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, "Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe." 16So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.

17Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, "Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe." 19So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia.

In verse 14 we are told John sees a white cloud and seated on that cloud one like the son of man which is Jesus! Jesus has a golden crown on His head which represents His royalty and He has a sharp sickle in His hand. A sickle is used for harvesting and that is exactly what Jesus is about to do! In verse 15 we are told an angel comes out of the temple and tells Jesus that the earth is fully ripe and ready to harvest and to use His sickle and reap for it is time! Remember Matthew 3:12?

Matthew 3:12

12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

This was John the baptist speaking of Jesus!

In verse 16 we are told Jesus swings His sickle across the earth and reaps a harvest. This is the first harvest. This harvest is those who received Christ but have been killed for their faith. Jesus harvested those that are HIS! In verse 17 we see another angel come out of the temple in heaven and he has a sharp sickle too. In verse 18 we see another angel arrive but this time from the altar and this angel has authority over fire. This angel calls to the angel with the sickle to reap the second harvest for the grapes are ripe! So the angel swings its sickle and and gathers the harvest and throws into the great winepress of the wrath of God. Look at Isaiah:

Isaiah 63:1-6

The LORD’s Day of Vengeance

1Who is this who comes from Edom,

in crimsoned garments from Bozrah,

he who is splendid in his apparel,

marching in the greatness of his strength?

"It is I, speaking in righteousness,

mighty to save."

2Why is your apparel red,

and your garments like his who treads in the winepress?

3 "I have trodden the winepress alone,

and from the peoples no one was with me;

I trod them in my anger

and trampled them in my wrath;

their lifeblood spattered on my garments,

and stained all my apparel.

4 For the day of vengeance was in my heart,

and my year of redemption had come.

5I looked, but there was no one to help;

I was appalled, but there was no one to uphold;

so my own arm brought me salvation,

and my wrath upheld me.

6I trampled down the peoples in my anger;

I made them drunk in my wrath,

and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth."

A great picture of what is happening in this second harvest....those who have trampled God are now trampled by God! Verse 20 tells us how great of slaughter this will be. This slaughter will take place outside the city(Jerusalem) and the blood will flow as high as a horses bridle which is about 5 feet and for 1,600 stadia which equals about 200 miles! This will be a massive slaughter!

Praise God for your salvation!!!

Tom

Revelation #44

2011-11-02T06:44:00.001-07:00

Continuing in Chapter 14 this morning!

Revelation 14:6-13

The Messages of the Three Angels

6Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7And he said with a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water."

8Another angel, a second, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality."

9And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name."

12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

13And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!"

In verse 6 we are told that John sees an angel flying overhead and this angel has the eternal gospel to proclaim. This is the first time in the Word that an angel is used to proclaim the gospel! This angel is telling everyone on the earth the good news of Jesus. In verse this angel also tells them to fear God and give Him glory because judgement is upon them. The angel also says worship the Creator! This announcement is like a final call to the world!!!!

In verse 8 we see another angel arrive on the scene, his message is Babylon is fallen! Rome and all the nations that followed the anti-Christ is coming to an end with their sexual immorality.. We will see this in much more detail in Chapters 17-18. In verse 9 we see the third angel come and announce that if anyone worships the beast or its image and if they receive a mark on their forehead or hand he will endure God's wrath!!! Everyone needs to take notice of that announcement! The angel also describes how fierce the judgement will be....full strength! They will be tormented with fire and sulfer in the presence of the angels and Jesus! In verse 11 we are told how long this torment will last....forever! There will be no rest from this for whoever worships the beast, it's image, or receives the mark! All will go to hell who do plain and simple.

Verse 12 says this is a call out to all the saints to endure and keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus! These saints are those who are saved during the tribulation! Verse 13 tells us those who endure til death are blessed. Rest will come when they get to heaven! The deeds that follow them are their works for Jesus in this tribulation!

Revelation 22:12

12"Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done.

Oh my brothers and sisters make the decision for Jesus now! It will be so hard during the tribulation....don't wait!

Tom

Revelation #43

2011-11-01T08:18:00.001-07:00

Now we are ready for Chapter 14!

Revelation 14:1-5

The Lamb and the 144,000

1Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 5and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.

In verse 1 we are told John now looks and sees Mt. Zion which is Jerusalem and standing on this mountain is the Lamb! Jesus! With Jesus is the 144,000 Jews whom we studied about in Chapter 7 ( you many want to go back and refresh you memory). We also find out hear what the 144,000's seal is here. Jesus and God's name written on their foreheads! Now that is an awesome seal of protection! In verse 2 John hears a roar like that on many waters and loud thunder. I think we can all picture that! Not told exactly what that roar represents....maybe a welcome from God to the 144,000??? Then John hears a voice that sounded like many harps and they were signing a new song before the throne of God and before the four living creatures and elders. This is a picture of some major rejoicing going on here! We are also told that the only ones who knew this song were the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth and now are welcomed home to heaven! A victory song! Verse 4 tells us that these 144,000 are virgins and they have not defiled themselves! Most scholars believe this 144,000 includes both men and women. We are also told these 144,000 Jews follow the lamb wherever He goes. Which reminds me of two verses:

Matthew 16:24

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

24Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

19Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

We are also told in verse 4 that the 144,000 are the firstfruits of mankind by God and Jesus. They are the firstfruits of the tribulation! Then verse 5 tells us the 144,000 are blameless and do not lie. A great example for all of us!

What a testimony on behalf of the 144,000 this morning....may God also find us a great testimony for Him also!

Tom

Revelation #42

2011-10-31T07:17:00.001-07:00

Today we continue on in Chapter 13:

Revelation 13:11-17

The Second Beast

11Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. 16Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.

In verse 11 John sees another beast this time though it is rising out of the earth not the sea. Many think this beast will be a Jew and a false prophet and the earth here is a representation of Israel. This beast has two horns like a lamb which tells us he will be gentle. But He speaks like a dragon which means he will be deceptive like like Satan. In verse 12 we are told the beast will have all the authority of the first beast and this false prophet will lead those on earth to worship the first beast whom you should recall is the anti-Christ, who was miraculously healed from a mortal wound. This second beast or false prophet will perform great signs as we are told in verse 13 even making fire fall from heaven and we are told in verse 14 these signs will deceive those dwelling on the earth. This false prophet will tell the people to make an image of the anti-Christ and the the false prophet will even make this image speak which will fascinate the people. The false prophet will also have all those who will not worship this image to be killed as we are told in verse 15! In verse 16 the false prophet will require all to be marked on the forehead or on the right hand with the name of the beast or the number of its name and if one does not take if they will not be able to buy or sell. That will mean no way of survival!!! Verse 18 tells us that this number is 666. No one knows for sure how this mark will actually play out but we do know the consequences!!!

Wow think about this for a bit... glad the church will be in heaven at this point!

Tom

Revelation #41

2011-10-28T06:29:00.001-07:00

We continue on in Chapter 13 this morning. Remember from yesterday the beast is the anti-Christ.

Revelation 13:5-10

5And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.[b] And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

10 If anyone is to be taken captive,

to captivity he goes;

if anyone is to be slain with the sword,

with the sword must he be slain.

Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

In verse 5 and 6 we are told the anti-Christ will say haughty and blasphemous words against God's name, against heaven(dwelling place), and against those who dwell in heaven with God! For 3 and 1/2 years(42 months) the anti-Christ will have the authority to do this and what ever else God allows him to do. In verse 7 we are told the anti-Christ is allowed to make war on the believers on the earth(saints) and conquer them is referring to killing them! Verse 7 goes on to tell us the beast will have authority over all the world. In verse 8 we are told all on earth will worship the beast, except of course the saved and that is why they will be killed. Verse 8 also reveals God knows who will accept Him and those who will not from the very beginning as those who worship the beast were never written in the Lamb's book of life! Verse 9 is a warning to listen!!! Then verse 10 is basically saying don't be surprised if you are a Saint(believer during this time)...you may be taken captive or you may be killed but endure!!!!!

Have a great weekend folks and worship the King!

Tom

Revelation #40

2011-10-27T06:46:00.000-07:00

Today we move into Chapter 13!

Revelation 13:1-4

The First Beast

1And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?"

Remember we ended in chapter 12 we ended with Satan(dragon) standing on the sea shore. Now as we see in verse 1 of chapter 13 we see a beast rising out of the sea. This beast is the anti-Christ. Rising out of the sea is a symbolic picture of the anti-Christ rising out of a gentile nation. He has ten horns which represents 10 nation power which could be the European Economic Union that is present today. Look at Revelation 17:12:

Revelation 17:12

12And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.

It also says this beast will have seven heads which represents Rome, known as a city on seven hills. Look at Revelation 17:9:

Revelation 17:9

9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated;

Verse 1 continues on to tell us that this beast will also have 10 diadems on its horns which helps explain more that it will represent 10 nations and blasphemous names will be on its head which is a clear indication of who they will follow...Satan not Christ. In verse 2 we are told Johns see the beast and describes him with animals...a leopard, a bear, lion and the anti-Christ is the fourth beast. To get the meaning of these we have to look at Daniel 7:1-8 and 15-17:

Daniel 7:1-8

Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts

1In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. 2Daniel declared, "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. 5And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, 'Arise, devour much flesh.' 6After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Daniel 7:15-17

Daniel’s Vision Interpreted

15"As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 'These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.

So the beasts represent 4 empires in history of the world. Lion is Babylon, the bear is Medo-Persian, the leopard is Greece, and the last is the Roman empire. Which will once again be revived by anti-Christ as you will see later. Verse 2 goes onto say Satan will give this beast power and great authority! Verse 3 tells us one of its heads seems to have a mortal wound but it is healed. This is a picture of the anti-Christ trying to imitate Christ in a false resurrection for the world and many will believe. As we see in the verse the whole world marveled! Verse 4 tells us the world then worships Satan. We also see the anti-Christ is also some kind of religious leader for Satan but he also receives worship. And we end the verse with seeing the world praising the anti-Christ....what a terrible thought thought that will be reality!

Tom

Revelation #39

2011-10-26T06:58:00.001-07:00

Moving right along...lets finish chapter 12 today:

Revelation 12:13-17

13And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 15The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

In verse 13 we see that when the dragon(Satan) was thrown out of heaven to earth he went after "the woman" which is Israel. Of course we the male child refers to Jesus whom came through the line of Israel. In verse 14 Israel was given "two wings of the great eagle" which is representative of the church. The church will flee from the serpent into the wilderness to be nourished by God for 3 and 1/2 years. Some kind of super-natural protection from God for a time. In verse 15 we are told Satan will pour out words from his mouth which refers to false teachings to Israel trying to deceive her. Satan has done a great job over the years at deceiving Israel(Jews) from accepting the fact that Jesus is the Savior of the world. In verse 16 we are told God(earth) has helped Israel and tried to protect her from the false teachings(river) that Satan had blinded Israel with. In verse 17 we are told because Satan has not been able to completely destroy Israel it has made him very mad so he has turned his attention to the church( the offspring of her). Those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus!(the gospel) The chapter closes with a preview of what is coming in chapter 13....Satan standing on the sand of the sea planing on what to do next!

Wow that is a very informative set of verses. Meditate on them!

Tom

Revelation #38

2011-10-24T07:41:00.000-07:00

We continue in chapter 12 this morning:

Revelation 12:7-12

Satan Thrown Down to Earth

7Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world— he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"

In verses 7-9 we revisit when Satan referred to in these verses as the dragon. Apparently the archangel Michael was involved with the fight against Satan when he rebelled against God. As we see in verse 8 Satan was defeated. We are also told about this in the book of Isaiah:

Isaiah 14:12-15

12"How you are fallen from heaven,

O Day Star, son of Dawn!

How you are cut down to the ground,

you who laid the nations low!

13You said in your heart,

'I will ascend to heaven;

above the stars of God

I will set my throne on high;

I will sit on the mount of assembly

in the far reaches of the north;[a]

14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.'

15 But you are brought down to Sheol,

to the far reaches of the pit.

In verse 9 We are told who this great dragon is and that he is "the" deceiver of the world! This verse also tells us that he and his demons were thrown out of heaven to earth. Verse 10 tells us that John heard a loud voice i heaven saying that salvation and the power and kingdom of God has come for those that are accused by Satan who accuses us day and night before God after he was thrown to earth from heaven. Verse 11 tells us He may accuse us but we have conquered Satan by accepting the blood of the Lamb(Jesus) for we have loved not ourselves but Jesus and we have a testimony to that fact for some even giving their lives to prove it! Look at 1 John:

1 John 2:1-3

Christ Our Advocate

1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

Isn't that awesome! All we have to do is believe in our Jesus who has defeated Satan....Have you done that my friend? Verse 12 tells us the heavens rejoice for this simple fact of Jesus! Then verse 12 gives us a woe....that for those who are still on the earth at this time that the devil and his wrath will be at an all time high as he knows that his time is short! A terrible time that will be! But when we have Jesus we have NOTHING to fear!~

Tom

Revelation #37

2011-10-20T07:32:00.000-07:00

Today we jump into chapter 12! As we are in the middle of the book of Revelation, we are also in the middle of the tribulation....a terrible terrible time!

Revelation 12:1-6

The Woman and the Dragon

1And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.

John tells us in verse 1 a great sign appeared in heaven. Remember man put in chapter and verses in the Bible so we are just continuing here from Chapter 11. The sign was a women which represents Israel! She was clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and her head was a crown of twelve stars. To understand why thie is Israel we need to go back to Genesis 37:9:

Genesis 37:9

9Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, "Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me."

This was Joesph who was having this dream. He was dreaming of the truth...that one day his brothers the 11 stars would one day bow down to him as he was a leader in Egypt! The 11 stars (brothers) plus Joseph = 12 tribes of Israel!

Now back to verse 2 tells us this woman was pregnant and crying out in birth pains from giving birth. Who is this she is giving birth too? Jesus as we will see in a few verses. In verse 3 we are told John sees another sign in heaven....a great red dragon....who is this? Satan. His seven heads, ten horns, and seven diadems symbolize his great power.( Daniel 7:6-7) Verse 4 tells us his tail swept down a third of the stars from heaven and were cast to earth. This is a reference to Satans fall from heaven and taking a third of the demons with him.

2 Peter 2:4

4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell[a] and committed them to chains[b] of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

Jude 1:6

6And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—

Isaiah 14:12-15

12"How you are fallen from heaven,

O Day Star, son of Dawn!

How you are cut down to the ground,

you who laid the nations low!

13You said in your heart,

'I will ascend to heaven;

above the stars of God

I will set my throne on high;

I will sit on the mount of assembly

in the far reaches of the north;[a]

14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.'

15 But you are brought down to Sheol,

to the far reaches of the pit.

Verse 4 continues on to tell us that that Satan was waiting Israel to give birth to the Savior so that he might devour Him. Oh how Satan tried and we seen in:

Matthew 2:16

Herod Kills the Children

16Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

In verse 5 we are told more about Jesus, one day He will rule the nations with a rod of Iron in Judgement, but before this Jesus was called back up to God and to HIS throne....the throne of Jesus. We see the assention of Jesus here:

Acts 1:9-11

9And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

In verse 6 we are taken to the future of Israel...the verse tells us Israel will flee into the wilderness to hide from the anti-Christ under the protection of God for 3.5 years which will be half of the tribulation period.

Pretty interesting stuff huh??? See you tomorrow!

Tom

Revelation #36

2011-10-19T06:56:00.001-07:00

Sorry about missing two days this week...sometimes things just get in the way! Lets finish chapter 11 today!

Revelation 11:15-19

The Seventh Trumpet

15Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." 16And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17saying,

"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,

who is and who was,

for you have taken your great power

and begun to reign.

18The nations raged,

but your wrath came,

and the time for the dead to be judged,

and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,

and those who fear your name,

both small and great,

and for destroying the destroyers of the earth."

19Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

Verse 15 tells us the seventh angel blew his trumpet and loud voices were heard in heaven saying "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." This is reminding us who is in charge! Jesus! It is also a picture of the millennial reign of Christ coming! In verse 16 we see once again twenty-four elders who sit on thrones before God fall on their face and worship God! In worship they also praise God for the coming reign and judgement of Christ. We also see in verse 18 at the second coming of Christ the dead will be judged (Great white throne judgement). Also the saints will be rewarded for their for service to God both great and small (Bema Seat of Christ judgement)!

Finally in verse 19 we get a glimpse into heaven. The temple in heaven is opened and we see the ark of the covenant. Wow I guess that pretty well tells us we might as well not look for it any longer here as many have....it is in heaven! This is a look into the holiest of hollies, thus we have lightning, rumbles and peals of thunder, an earth quake, and heavy hail. What an awesome thing to think about!

Tom

Revelation #35

2011-10-13T07:02:00.001-07:00

Today we will look at the two witnesses in more detail.

Revelation 11:4-14

4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. 7And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. 11But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.

In verse 4 we are told these two witnesses are" the two olive trees" and " the two lampstands". We have to look at Zechariah 4 to get the meaning of this:

Zechariah 4:11

11Then I said to him, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?"

Zechariah 4:14

14Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth."

The two olive trees tell us these two witness es are anointed of God! The lampstand if you remember from earlier studies is the church, so these two witnesses are also the church of God at this time. Verse 5 goes on to tell us they are protected by God and if anyone tries to harm them they will be consumed by fire from their mouth. Now we are not sure if the fire from mouth is symbolic as God rained fire from heaven in 2 Kings 1:10-12.

2 Kings 1:10-12

10But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

11Again the king sent to him another captain of fifty men with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, "O man of God, this is the king’s order, 'Come down quickly!'" 12But Elijah answered them, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

Or if the witnesses literally consume people with fire from their mouth. I tend to believe it is the symbolic picture. In verse 6 we are told they also have the power to "shut the sky up from rain while they prophesy". We also have seen this power before from Elijah:

1 Kings 17:1

1Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word."

They also have the power to turn water into blood like Moses:

Exodus 7:14-24

14Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh’s heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water. Stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent. 16And you shall say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, "Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness. But so far, you have not obeyed." 17Thus says the LORD, "By this you shall know that I am the LORD: behold, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall turn into blood. 18The fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile will stink, and the Egyptians will grow weary of drinking water from the Nile."'" 19And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, their canals, and their ponds, and all their pools of water, so that they may become blood, and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.'"

20Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood. 21And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. 23Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this to heart. 24And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink the water of the Nile.

And they could strike the earth with any kind of plague as often as they wanted....wow these are some powerful, anointed servants of God! Verse 7 tells us when they have finished their testimony (in other words in God's timing) the beast will be allowed out of the bottomless pit and will kill the two witnesses and let they lay in the street for 3 and 1/2 days in Jerusalem which the cities Sodom and Egypt represent here when described as where the Lord was crucified. Verse 9 tells us the world will gaze at them and will not allow them to be buried. Verse 10 says they will rejoice over their death by exchanging presents! Wow! We are told they are celebrating because the two prophets had been a torment to them. They we a torment because those on earth refused to believe the truth! Verse 11 tells us after the 3 and 1/2 days God breaths into them and they stand to their feet! Can you imagine what the effect of this will be??? They are resurrected! All who see them around the world on TV and at the actual site will have great fear! Verse 12 says they will hear God's voice from heaven calling them up. The will rise to heaven as their enemies watch. Verse 13 tells us at that very hour a great earthquake will take place and a tenth of the city will collapse and 7,000 people will die from the earthquake! Wow! We are told the rest are afraid and give glory to God, I am not sure if this is true worship or just a scared short lived tribute! In verse 14 we are told the second woe is now passed but another is coming soon!

Their is much to grasp today, very powerful!

Tom

Revelation #33

2011-10-11T07:16:00.001-07:00

Lets finish chapter 10 this morning!

Revelation 10:8-11

8Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, "Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land." 9So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, "Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey." 10And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. 11And I was told, "You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings."

These verses are good for us to study this morning. This is very similar to what happened in Ezekiel 3:1-3, 10.

Ezekiel 3:1-3

1And he said to me, "Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." 2So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. 3And he said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it." Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.

Ezekiel 3:10

10Moreover, he said to me, "Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears.

Very cool huh? In the revelation verses we have for today we see John hear the voice from heaven speak and tell him to get the scroll from the angel who we seen yesterday was Jesus. In verse 9 we see when John got the scroll he is told to eat it but it will make his stomach bitter. In verse 10 we see John does as he is told and eats the scroll and it is sweet to taste but bitter to his stomach. Why was it bitter? First the scroll was full of judgement....that is not sweet but bitter! Second when our stomach is bitter many times it makes us vomit. This is picture we can get from here too....Get God's Word out! Judgement is coming to the world and we must get this message out along with the good news of Jesus Christ!

Are we obeying like John and telling folks about the Word of God?

Tom

Revelation #32

2011-10-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

Alright lets resume our study of Revelation this morning!

Revelation 10:1-7

The Angel and the little scroll

1Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, 3and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. 4And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down." 5And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven 6and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, 7but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.

Inverse 1 John tells us he sees another mighty angel in a cloud coming down from heaven, this is a clue as to who this is. If we refer back to Revelation 1:7:

Revelation 1:7

7Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

Many times in scripture Jesus is on or in a cloud! Verse 1 continues on to tell us a rainbow was over his head...this represents his divinity as we seen the emblem of divinity encircling the throne of God in Revelation 4:3:

Revelation 4:3

3And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.

Verse 1 goes on to tell us that his face was like the sun which takes us takes us back to the transfiguration in Matthew 17:2

Matthew 17:2

2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

Then verse 1 tells us his legs were like pillars of fire which takes us to Exodus 13:21-22:

Exodus 13:21-22

21And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

So we see this is Jesus and verse 2 says He had a little scroll open in his hand....this is the scroll he had just opened the four seals from! Then we are told He set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land telling us his destination was the earth and Jesus is overwhelming! Verse 3 tells us He called out and it sounded like a roaring lion and seven thunders came forth. In verse 4 we are told John was about to write when these seven thunders came forth but he was told not to write what the message of the seven thunders were...so this is a mystery to us! In verses 5 we are told Jesus makes an oath to God that there would be no more delay....basically saying judgement is now and the mystery of God will be fulfilled as we are told in verse 7. What is this mystery of God?

Actually there are 11 mysteries which I will briefly detail here:

1. Mystery of the church- Ephesians 3:8-9-Love for Christ and each other.

2. Mystery of the Kingdom of heaven-Matthew 13- result of gospel introduced into the world.

3. Mystery of Israels blindness-Romans 11:25

4. Mystery of Rapture-1 Corinthians 15:51-53

5. Mystery of The Bride of Christ-Ephesians 5:28-32

6. Mystery of the indwelling of Christ- Colossians 1:26-27

7. Mystery of Incarnate Christ-Colossians 2:2,9 God infused himself into man.

8. Mystery of Man's restoration to godliness-1 Timothy 3:16

9. Mystery of iniquity (sin)-1 Thessalonians 2:7-8

10. Mystery of the seven stars-Revelation 1:20

11. Mystery of Babylon-Revelation 17:5-7 immoral religious system at end times.

These mysteries are complete at the will of God!

See you tomorrow!

Tom

Revelation #31

2011-09-28T07:17:00.000-07:00

Ok here we go with the rest of Chapter 9. More trumpets to be blown....hold on!

Revelation 9:13-21

13Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, 14saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 15So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. 17And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire[a] and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths. 18By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. 19For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound.

20The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, 21nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

In verse 13 we see the sixth angel blow his trumpet and John hears a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God. This is a picture of God answering the prayers of the saints offered as incense in Chapter 8:4.

Revelation 8:4

4and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.

Remember the golden altar is representative of Jesus and horns represent strength. So we see in verse 14 Jesus commands the angel to release the 4 angels bound at the Euphrates river. These 4 angels are fallen angels. The amgels have been prepared to do one thing as told in verse 15 to kill a third of mankind! Wow. Verse 16 tells us a huge army will assist these angels. For many years the number was a big problem. Twice ten thousand times ten thousand is 200 million. But now we know China can fill this number!!!! Verse 17 can be looked at two ways. First with the economic troubles that will be taken place the horses could be litteral horses used in this massacre. Many scholars however think with the descrition of the riders using words like fire, sulfur, smoke it very well could be symbollicallyreferring to nuclear war!!! No matter which way the outcome as e are told in verse 18 will be a third of mankind will be killed.

In verse 20 we are told those who are not killed did NOT repent but continued to worship demons, and idols! Can you believe after all this they are still blinded and won't repent???? Then verse 21 tells us they also did not repent of their sin of murder, sorceries, sexual immorality, and theft. If they are worshipping false gods this does not surprise me!

A terrible, terrible time for mankind but it can be avoided by a relationship with Jesus!

I am taking a little break for a week so please come back to continue our study! God bless!

Tom

Revelation #30

2011-09-27T07:05:00.001-07:00

We continue this morning to look at these locusts who sting like scorpions released from hell.

Revelation 9:7-12

7 In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, 8their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; 9they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. 10They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. 11They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.

12 The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come.

In verse 7 we see that these locusts are not a natural locust to put it mildly. They are like horses prepared for battle which represents nothing can stop them. They have crowns of gold on their head which represents authority from God. They have faces like a man which represent superior intelligence. They had hair like a woman which represents beauty and this may be how they get close enough to folks to sting them by their deceptive beauty! Their teeth are like lions teeth which represents their destructive power. The locusts have on breastplates of iron which tells us they will be unstoppable. Their wings make so much noise they sound like many chariots coming...this noise may drive folks crazy. In verse 10 we are reminded about the power of their stinging scorpion like tails that will hurt people. For five months they will terrorize folks! Verse 11 tells us who their king is the angel of the bottomless pit....Satan. Verse 11 gives us his Hebrew name which is Abaddon and his Greek name which is Apollyon which means destruction....and from what we know about Satan it is an accurate description!

Verse 12 tells us that is just the first woe which remember means judgement and that two more are to come!!! In my human mind I can not comprehend fully how terrible of time this will be. This should show us the urgency of telling people about Jesus!

Tom

Revelation #29

2011-09-26T08:13:00.001-07:00

Wee as you can see I didn't do a very good job of paying attention on my last devotion or I wouldn't have ended with only one verse to go in chapter 8! But it is ok as it does flow into chapter 9!

Revelation 8:13

13Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!"

Revelation 9:1-6

1And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.[a] 2He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. 3Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. 4They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. 6And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.

In the last verse of chapter 8 John looked and seen an eagle flying and crying out in a loud voice. It was telling that more wrath and judgement is coming to the earth as that is what a "woe' represents. The angles are about to blow more trumpets and that leads us into chapter 9. With all that we have studied so far it is hard to believe it can get worse but oh it is going to get much worse!

We see in verse 1 of chapter 9 the fifth angel blows his trumpet and John sees a star fall from the heaven to earth. This star represents Satan. Look at Luke 10:18:

Luke 10:18

18And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

Verse 1 goes on to tell us that Satan was given the key to hell. This shows us that God is in control not Satan! God allowed him to have the key! In verse 2 we are told Satan opens up hell and smoke rose out of the shaft. Then from this smoke came locusts. This is very similar to the 8th plague in exodus:

Exodus 10:14-15

14 The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt, such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been before, nor ever will be again. 15They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

But these locusts are much more powerful as we find out in the latter part of verse 3. These locusts have the same power as a scorpion....a venomous sting! In verse 4 we are told these locusts are not to do what they normally do which is to destroy the grass or plants, or trees, but they are to harm those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads! This not having the seal refers to those who are not saved! In verse 5 we are told these locusts are allowed to torment for 5 months! Oh my can you imagine the agony??? They could not kill anyone but just sting them like a scorpion! Look at verse 6...this torment along with everything else going on we have already suffered will be so horrible folks will want to die but they will not be able too. Suicide will not be an option...what a terrible time of suffering.

Think on these things today....it blows my mind!

Tom

Revelation #28

2011-09-22T06:30:00.001-07:00

Well maybe we have recovered from the first two trumpets (but I doubt it) so lets look at the next two:

Revelation 8:10-12

10The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.

12The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.

So in verse 10 we see the third angel blow the third trumpet and a massive star falls from the sky. It was blazing like a torch and must break up as it falls into a third of the rivers and springs of water. Verse 11 interestingly tells us this star has a name....Wormwood which means bitter. A third of the waters will become bitter and many people will die because of this water! Wow! Remember how Jesus told us to come to the sweet living water which was Him, well now look at what this bitter water brings....much death.

In verse 12 the fourth angel blows the forth trumpet and we see that a third of the sun, a third of the moon, a third of the stars, are struck so a third of light both day and night are gone! Jesus came as the light of the world but now that light is being taken away for those who rejected Him. What a dark, dark time for mankind. Darkness also brings fear to many folks as it should in this case as judgement is upon them.

Are we getting the picture of what a horrific time this will be? Tell folks about Jesus while there is still time!

Tom

Revelation #27

2011-09-21T06:08:00.000-07:00

As we look at our verses today it is key to remember these things are unfolding right after the seals have just been opened. As you will see God's judgement is serious business.

Revelation 8:6-9

The Seven Trumpets

6Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.

7The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

8The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

In verse 6 we see that seven angles have seven trumpets and they are about to start to blow them one at a time. In verse 7 the first angel blows the trumpet and hale and fire mixed with blood are thrown upon the earth. We will see many of these trumpets being blown are very similar to what happened with the plagues in Exodus.This is the seventh plague:

Exodus 9:24

24There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

Now the blood mentioned in verse 7 of Revelation 8 is interesting. Can you imagine blood all over the place? The smell and the flies! Look at the result of the hail and fire....a third of the earth will be burned up, a third of the trees and all the green grass. This will have a major impact on livestock, and humans!

Now we move the verse 8 and the second angel blows the second trumpet. It is described as something like a great mountain burning with fire is thrown into the sea. No one knows what exactly this is but some guesses are either a nuclear blast or a big volcanic eruption. The result of this is a third of the sea will become blood. Think of the effect this will have on aquatic life! This also resembles the first plague in Exodus:

Exodus 7:20-21

20Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood. 21And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

Verse 9 tells us the devastating results of the second trumpet....a third of the sea creatures die, and a third of the ships will be destroyed. WOW!

This is just the first two trumpets my friends. You see why it is so important to tell folks about Jesus!!!

Tom

Revelation #26

2011-09-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

Today we will start Chapter 8. As you will see the deeper we get into Revelation the more intense and more symbols are used. So go slow and think about what is being said.

Revelation 8

The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer

1When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. 5Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings,[a] flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

In verse 1 we are told the Lamb opens the seventh seal and something interesting happens....there was silence for about a half an hour. This is the calm before the storm. Judgement is on the way. In verse 2 we are told that John saw seven angels standing before God and they were handed seven trumpets. Trumpets in the Word of God usually symbolize that an act of God is coming and that is the case here. In verse 3 we are told another angel comes and is given a golden censer which represents the Word of God. This angel was also given much incense which represents the Holy Spirit. This angel was to offer this incense with the prayers of the saints on the golden altar which represents Jesus. The prayers and the incense rose before God....what a beautiful picture of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of the saints rising as a sweet aroma before God! Also remember the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us saints when we don't know what we should pray for as told in Romans 8:26:

Romans 8:26

26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

In verse 5 we are told the angel takes the censer and fills it with fire from the altar and throws it to earth! This is a sign of the coming judgement. Along with this fire are an earthquake, great rumblings of thunder, and lightning.

My friends get prepared for tomorrow we will look at the start of the trumpets blowing....not a good day for those who have not been raptured with the church!

Tom

Revelation #25

2011-09-19T07:13:00.001-07:00

Today we will finish Chapter 7!

Revelation 7:13-17

13Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?" 14I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15"Therefore they are before the throne of God,

and serve him day and night in his temple;

and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;

the sun shall not strike them,

nor any scorching heat.

17For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,

and he will guide them to springs of living water,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

In verse 13 we are told who the folks in the white robes are in the last devotion we had. One of the elders ask the question of who they are and where did they come from. In verse 14 it is interesting that John responds to the elder by saying "sir you know", basically saying why don't you tell me!!! Then the elder tells us that these folks are the ones coming out of the tribulation who have been martyred for Christ! They have been washed by the blood of the lamb...Jesus Christ! Oh my brothers and sisters those who stand for Christ in the tribulation will go through so much but if they accept Christ and remain faithful it will be a great end! In verses 15-17 we see their great reward! In verse 15 they will be before the throne which will be a place of honor. They will serve God day and night in the temple. This is not a bad thing but a good thing and a blessing to do so! Verse 16 reveals some things that will happen to them no more which may have happened in the tribulation to them. No more hunger, no more thirst remember with out the mark of the beast food and water will be hard to get by a follower of Christ! Verse 16 the sun and heat may be a problem also as they may not have a roof over their head! In verse 17 the comfort they will have as the Lamb will be their Shepherd and will be their guide to the living waters...which is Himself! And God will wipe away all the pain of their life! So three things will be provided....provision, protection, and Jesus will preside over them for ever and ever!

Oh what a mighty GOD we serve!

Tom

Revelation #24

2011-09-15T06:38:00.001-07:00

Moving on in Chapter 7!

Revelation 7:9-12

A Great Multitude from Every Nation

9After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."

John tells us in verse 9 He sees a great multitude that was uncountable! From all different races, tribes, tongues and languages standing before the throne and Jesus. Wow this is awesome! Is it possible that the 144,00 Jews have anything to do with reaching these saints with the gospel during the tribulation? These gentile believers are in white robes which represent purity and righteousness through Christ. They have palm branches in their hands which represent victory!!! They are crying out in a loud voice praise to God saying " Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" Oh what true words! God is so merciful to provide us with Salvation! In verse 11 we see the the angels standing around the throne with the elders and four living creatures and they fall their faces before the throne and worship God. I have a feeling all of us will be on our faces before God quite a bit in heaven. In verse 12 we see them saying to God seven qualities He has given us and we will praise them right back to Him! They are blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might. No doubt God will retain these for ever and ever. Amen!

Just a little glimpse of heaven this morning...does the soul good doesn't it????

Tom

Revelation #23

2011-09-14T06:45:00.001-07:00

This morning we move into Chapter 7!

Revelation 7:1-8

The 144,000 of Israel Sealed

1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. 2Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants[a] of our God on their foreheads." 4And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

512,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed,12,000 from the tribe of Reuben,12,000 from the tribe of Gad, 612,000 from the tribe of Asher,12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali,12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh, 712,000 from the tribe of Simeon,12,000 from the tribe of Levi,12,000 from the tribe of Issachar, 812,000 from the tribe of Zebulun,12,000 from the tribe of Joseph,12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.

Chapter seven is clarifying for us something also happening in the tribulation. Verses 1-8 are speaking to the Jews while verses 9-17 are speaking to the gentiles. Also note no seals are broken in this chapter which is another clus that this chapter is giving us added information.

Verse 1 says John saw four angels. the number four is the number of this world. These angles are standing at the four corners of the earth...N,S,E,W. The angles are holding back the four winds of the earth. These four winds are the weather. As you can see that no wind is able to blow! In verse 2 we see another angel ascending from the rising sun with the seal of the living God. This seal marks ownership. It symbolizes God's ownership. The seal show us three things...1. Possession by God, 2. Protection by God, 3. Preservation by God. The angel then calls out to the four angels saying don't let the wind go until God's servants are sealed! They a symbol on their foreheads as told to us in verse 3. This symbol is the name of Jesus and God as told in Rev. 14:1! Just as a refresher....do you know what the believer is sealed with? The Holy Spirit! Provides us with the same three things mentioned earlier. In verse 4 we are told the number sealed....144,000. These are Jews saved during the tribulation. Many folks believe the purpose of the 144,000 will be to evangelize the Jews during the tribulation. Then in verses 5-8 we see the number from each tribe of Israel that is sealed.

Many wonder if God has forsaken the Jews because of their rejection of Him but let me give you two verses to show you this is not the case!

Romans 11

The Remnant of Israel

1I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

and this verse:

Romans 11:25

The Mystery of Israel’s Salvation

25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

From the time the Jews rejected Jesus until fullness of the gentiles there has been a partial spiritual blindness placed upon the Jews. He says "partial" because some Jews have accepted Christ but the nation as a whole has not turned towards Him. The fullness of the gentiles occurs when the rapture takes place.

Lots of info to grab onto this morning!

Tom

Revelation #22

2011-09-13T07:29:00.001-07:00

Let's finish up the opening of the seals this morning by looking at the sixth seal!

Revelation 6:12-17

12When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave[a] and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"

In verse 12 we read that Jesus opens the sixth seal and John sees a great earthquake take place. Also the sun becomes black as sackcloth and the moon looks blood red. Seismologists say that during an unusually violent earthquake particles of dust and hot ash can be belched from below the ground causing the sun to appear black during the day and the moon to be red at night! In verse 13 we read the quake is so awesome stars fall from the sky like a meteor shower. Can you imagine the panic as these come falling to the earth??? Also in verse 13 we see the comparison to a fig tree losing it's figs by a big wind. In verse 14 we see the sky vanishes from sight like a scroll rolled up, so those who look to the stars instead of God for guidance no longer have anything to look to! The earthquake is so sever every mountain and island are moved...wow stop and think about that for a moment. In verse 15 we see the panic now coming, as everyone from Kings down to slaves run for cover to hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. Brothers and sister don't miss the terror taking place here as it isn't a joke but a reality for those who are not raptured with the true church. In verse 16 we see things are so out of control people will be praying to God for death to escape this wrath from God. In verse 17 we see the question "who can stand" and the answer is no one who is not standing on the "Rock" Jesus Christ!

Tom

Revelation #21

2011-09-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

This morning we will look at the opening of the fifth seal.

Revelation 6:9-11

9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 11Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

This is a very interesting picture we see here. When Jesus opens the fifth seal John sees under the altar the souls of those who are slain for the word of God and for their testimony of Him during the tribulation. When the rapture takes place their will be many realize Jesus was who He said he was and now will takes a stand for Him but at a very heavy price. They will be killed! In verse 10 we see they are crying out to God to take avenge for those who killed them and are still living on the earth. Look at verse 11 very closely, they are given a white robe which represents they are now pure in Christ. They are told to rest for a bit until the world kills their brothers and sisters in Christ! Wow. If a man or woman can stand for Christ during the tribulation it will be a sure sign they love Jesus because they will be persecuted in a horrible way.

3 things we can see about heaven here: Number 1 the souls had feelings as they were angry and wanted revenge on their murders. Number 2 they had recognition of the ones who murdered them and were aware of things occurring on the earth. Number 3 They was communication with the Father...oh that will be so awesome!

We will see later in Chapter 6 that God will answer their request to avenge their murders! Beginning in verses 15-17!

Tom

Revelation #20

2011-09-09T05:56:00.001-07:00

We will look at the opening of the third and fourth seals this morning. Remember Jesus is opening these seals.Revelation 6:5-85When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!"7When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" 8And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.When Jesus opens the third seal as told in verse 5, the third living creature calls and a black horse now arrives on the scene. This horse represents starvation. The rider of this horse has a pair of scales in his hand. This scale is a measuring device for grain. Then a heavenly voice says :"A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius" when translated this meant prices will be inflated 8-10 times normal!!! This will be horrible. The voice also tells them to leave the oil and wind alone...only the rich could afford these anyway.Now Jesus opens the fourth seal and again the fourth living creature calls out the next horse and it is a pale horse and this color represents death. That is what the riders name is! Hell followed him. They are given authority over a fourth of the earth kill with the sword which will mean wars, famine which is starvation, pestilence which is disease, and by wild beasts which some think refer to rats.Oh my friends....are you right with God? Have you accepted Christ as your Savior? You have seen so far just the start of the tribulation period...don't be left behind!Tom

Revelation #19

2011-09-08T09:21:00.001-07:00

Today we move onto Chapter 6 of Revelation! Now Jesus will start the opening of the seals on the scroll. This is the beginning of the seven years of tribulation. We must also remember the church has been removed so their is no influence of the church left!

Revelation 6:1-4

The Seven Seals

1Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, "Come!" 2And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

3When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" 4And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.

In verse 1 John watches as Jesus opens the first seal. One of the living creatures says with a voice like thunder(thunder is always a signal for God's judgement coming in the Bible)" come" and the first horse comes out! Verse 2 tells us Johns first sees a white horse and at first glance we would think this may be Jesus because white means purity but we must remember that Satan is a master counterfeiter. This white represents false peace which will be brought into this world by its rider. The rider of this horse has a bow which is a weapon of this world which is another clue this is not Jesus. All Jesus needs is the sword which is the Word of God! This rider also has a crown which was given to him which signifies he is the prince of this world. This verse also tells us he came out conquering and to conquer. And he will do this upon mankind! This rider is the anti-christ being released into the world!

Verse 3 tells us the second seal is now opened. The second living creature says "come" and the second horse comes out and its color is bright red. This color represents war! The false peace brought by the white horse will lead to this war brought by the red horse. No more peace and people will kill one another. This rider will be given a great sword to take peace by force!!!! Now that the Holy Spirit along with the church have been taken out of the world this will be a horrible time!

Remember Jesus clearly showed us these things were coming:

Matthew 24:5-7

5For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. 6And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

We will look at some more of the seals tomorrow.

Tom

Revelation #18

2011-09-07T08:20:00.001-07:00

Picking up where we left off yesterday:

Revelation 5:11-14

11Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" 13And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" 14And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Remember that Jesus the Lamb of God had just taken the scroll from God. In verse 11 John looks and and at the same time hears a great number of angles and the living creatures, and the elders saying (not singing). Interestingly the Bible never speaks of angles singing! In verse 12 we see what they were saying! They were praising the Lord!" Worthy is the Lamb!" Oh my brothers and sisters...their is only one worthy and that is Jesus! Verse 12 goes on to say what He is worthy of power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing. Oh yes the One who was slain is worthy of all of these things. In verse 13 John then hears every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and in the sea praising God also! Interesting to see that all creation will recognize Him as Lord! Those in heaven, those on the earth, those who are among the dead, and those in the sea! That is why Philippians says:

Philippians 2:9-11

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Then in verse 14 we see the four living creatures say "amen" and again the elders fall down and worship.

I just want to say again when we see Jesus it will be more than we can ever imagine...think about it for a while!

Tom

Revelation #17

2011-09-06T07:42:00.001-07:00

I hope everyone had a great Labor day weekend. Let's continue on now in our study of Revelation! If you are just joining us I would highly suggest you go back and start at the beginning!

Revelation 5:6-10

6And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song, saying,

"Worthy are you to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God

from every tribe and language and people and nation,

10and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,

and they shall reign on the earth."

As we continue on in Chapter 5, we see in verse 6 when John looked up instead of seeing the Lion that was mentioned in verse 5 he sees the Lamb standing there, as though it had been slain or butchered. Don't let this pass you by....it was Jesus who WAS slain on our behalf! Jesus had seven horns which represents total power....oh thank you Jesus for having all power! This lamb also had seven eyes which represents knowing all and seeing all. We can not hide from God...he knows it all and sees everything and I am greatful Jesus is by me at all times aren't you??? This verse also mentions the seven spirits which we learned earlier as the attributes of God which are particularly His being everywhere. Verse 7 tells us the lamb went and took the scroll from God and when Jesus got the scroll the four living creatures and twenty-four elders, which we talked about in the previous chapter, fell down before the Lamb in worship and honor. Each was holding a harp which is a symbol of praise. They were also holding golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. This shows us how important prayer is to God! Verse 9 tells us they were also singing a new song, which is a song of redemption! Oh what a beautiful song for the redeemed! But it won't be for those who don't have a relationship with Jesus...remember this verse:

Matthew 7:21-23

21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

God loves us all so much, That is why He sent Jesus to save us! Wow!

See you tomorrow!

Tom

Revelation #16

2011-09-01T06:17:00.000-07:00

Oh prepare to get excited the next couple of lessons!

Revelation 5:1-5

The Scroll and the Lamb

1Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" 3And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals."

Chapter 5 is a praise chorus for the provision of salvation. If that don't get you stirred up in your faith I am not sure what will! In verse 1 John says he saw in the right hand of God who was seated on the throne a scroll that had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. This scroll had to do with man and as we will learn as we move on it that it reveals the judgements of God. In verse 2 John sees a strong angel which tells me the angel may have tried to open the scroll but could not because the angel then asks who is worthy to open the scroll and in verse 3 says no one in the three places man dwells...heaven, earth, or hell are able to open the scroll or to even look at it! Wow. In verse 4 John begins to weep at the news that no one is worthy to open the scroll. In verse 5 one of the elders brings some amazing news to John..."Weep no more, behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. the Root of David, has conquered, so that He can open the scroll and the seven seals! My friends Jesus is ABLE!!!!!!

Rejoice in that fact this morning Jesus is ABLE to do all things!

Tom

Revelation #15

2011-08-31T06:51:00.001-07:00

Lets continue looking at the throne in heaven this morning!

Revelation 4:6-11

6 And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,

"Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,

who was and is and is to come!"

9And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 "Worthy are you, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they existed and were created."

The latter part of verse 6 says around the throne are four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. The number 4 represents the world or the earth. The eyes represent God who is all knowing and he moves through out the human race. In verse seven it is revealed to us what each animal is. The first is a lion which represents God's royalty. The second is an ox which represents God's sacrificial meekness. The third is had face of a man which represents God's supreme intelligence. The forth animal was like an eagle in flight which represents God's all seeing judgement. Verse 8 tells us all these creatures had 6 wings. The number 6 is the number of man so this tells us God is involved in the affairs of man. Again we are told they have eyes all around which we now know means God sees all and knows all. We also see in this verse they are always involved day and night. They are also never ceasing to lift praise up to God! Verse 9 and10 are awesome! When theses creatures give glory to God the twenty-four elders fall down to the ground from their thrones and cast put their crowns on the ground and worship God!!! This a great example that there will be no boasting in heaven but that God alone receives the honor and glory. They praise God as we see in verse 11 for His creation including themselves!

I am thankful God created me! I hope you feel the same about yourself!

Tom

Revelation #14

2011-08-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

This morning we move on to look at God's glory in heaven. Oh this gets me so excited.

Revelation 4:1-6

1After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 2At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.

Chapter 4 begins the prophetic section of Revelation. In verse 1 John tells us after the letters to the churches he looked and seen a door open in heaven. He was going to get a look into heaven...wow! Then Jesus who voice sounded like a trumpet told John to come to Him and he would show him what was going to take place! In verse 2 the Spirit filled John and He seen God sitting on the throne! Oh my can you imagine??? Then in verse 3 John gave a description of God. God had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. Jasper represents transparency which is no sin. Carnelian is blood red which represents the redemptive holiness of God. The John told us there was a rainbow around the throne. This represents eternity. As you recall God promised never to destroy the earth again by flood and the half circle rainbow was a symbol of that promise. Well here the rainbow is a complete circle and represents a promise of eternity...thank you Jesus! The rainbow had the appearance of emerald which represents the radiating presence of God. In verse 4 we are told there are twenty-four elders sitting on 24 thrones. These 24 elders are representative of 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles of the church age. We are told they are dressed in white garments which represent their righteousness by the blood of Christ. They also have gold crowns on their heads which represents their faithful service. In verse 5 we return to the throne John sees flashes of lighting and hears rumblings of thunder. This represents the splendor of God! I can only imagine what this will be like when we get to see this for ourselves. Before the throne were seven burning torches which are the seven spirits of God. Look at Revelation 1:4 as we have already seen this. Also before the throne was something that appeared like a crystal sea of glass. This represents pureness as there is no more sin to be asked forgiveness of in heaven! Give glory to God! This is also mention in Revelation 15:2.

I think this is enough for today to meditate on....wow it is overwhelming!

Tom

Revelation #13

2011-08-29T07:22:00.001-07:00

Today we will look at the final church of the seven:

Revelation 3:14-22

To the Church in Laodicea

14"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

15"'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

In church history this church represents the time period of WWI- Now. As you will see that Jesus is not pleased with the church during this time. As you look at the church as a whole today you can see why! The city of Laodicea was a center for banking. It also had great industry and garment makers. They were known for eye salve. They had great wealth! In verse 14 Jesus introduces Himself in the letter in the most basic way which is a sad commentary to the church! "The Amen" represents Jesus being a reliable and true witness of God. He also reminded them He has been ever since the beginning of God's creation. In verse 15 Jesus tells the church basically they are fence walkers by saying He know "their works are neither hot nor cold". Jesus wants us either on fire for Him or nothing at all....lukewarmness makes Him want to vomit us out of His mouth as verse 16 tells us! WOW! Stop here for a moment and think...are you on fire for Jesus? Or are you making Him sick? In verse 17 Jesus tells us how the church thinks they are pretty well off. It is clear they are relying on self not Jesus. He then reveals to them their true condition...wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Folks this is the picture of the church today! In verse 18 Jesus tells the church how to get right! Get out impurities removed as they do with gold...repent!!!! Get rich in Christ the true treasure of the world. Clothe our selves with purity (white garments). Put some salve on our eyes so they will be opened up spiritually!!! Remember that salve was produced locally so this would have really hit home with them. In verse 19 Jesus reminds us He corrects those He loves so repent. Verse 20 tells us they had left Jesus standing outside and He wants back in! If the church will let Him back in He will gladly come and fellowship with us....oh church we must open the door! In verse 21 is a great promise from our Lord...if we overcome this world....we will sit on the throne with Christ! WOW think on that for a while. In verse 22 Jesus once again says listen!

Are we listening this morning church??? That is the question!

Tom

Revelation #12

2011-08-25T07:07:00.000-07:00

Revelation 3:7-13

On to the sixth church this morning!

To the Church in Philadelphia

7"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

8"'I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

The church history period for this church is 1500 A.D.-WWI. Philadelphia is considered to be the finest of the seven churches. They had a love for missions and evangelism. Jesus had no criticism for this church!

In verse 7 Jesus reveals to this church what they obviously already know...He is the Holy One, the true One, and has the key of David which refers to having the key to the kingdom of heaven. What ever Jesus opens no one shuts and what ever He closes no one opens! In verse 8 Jesus tells them he knows their works which were great and Jesus had opened a door of blessing before them which no one could shut! Jesus also says He knows they have little power in themselves but in HIM they have great power, amen? They have kept the Word of God and been faithful...oh church may God say the same about us! In verse 9 Jesus reveals His power to us as he says He will make those who follow Satan bow before His church and learn how much Jesus loves them! In verse 10 Jesus tells them some great news! because of their faithfulness Jesus tells the church He will keep the "hour of trial" from coming upon them. This is a reference to the seven years of tribulation which the whole world will face! This is a great Word to the church! In verse 11 Jesus reminds them He is coming soon, to remain faithful, so they don't lose their rewards(crown) in heaven. In verse 12 Jesus says something interesting to the one who overcomes, "I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God". In A.D. 17 the city of Philadelphia was leveled by an earthquake. When they rebuilt the city Roman officials had a plan to make the project move along more quickly. They appealed to the citizens pride and offered a position pillar in honor of contributors inside the temple to Diana they were building. The contribution has to be considerable of course. The contributor then would have his name inscribed on his pillar! Jesus took this well publicized fact and used it to assure his followers of their secure position in God! Verse 12 is a great verse just to look at and praise God for His faithfulness and our security in Christ!. Then in verse 13 Jesus again tells us to listen to what the Spirit is telling us.

Follow Jesus my friends....follow Jesus.

Tom

Revelation #11

2011-08-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

As we move on to the fifth church this morning I thank God for His Revelations to us!

Revelation 3:1-6

To the Church in Sardis

1"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

"'I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

Sardis represents church history as the "Reformation" time period. It was known for being an entertainment center. Music and and sensual palaces were the leading entertainment. This church appeared very successful on the outside but as we will see what is on the outside is not always true on the inside!

In verse 1 We see Jesus jumps right into the problem! Jesus tells them He knows their works! They have the reputation of being alive but on the inside they are dead! Jesus knew their works and He knows ours too! In verse 2 Jesus tells them to wake up and Get their eyes on Jesus! Reminds me of Peter when He took his eyes off Jesus he sank into the water....that is what was happening to this church! When Jesus says "strengthen what remains" it is a reminder to get back to the Word for it endures forever. Jesus also tells them "I have not found your works complete" for their eyes were on self instead of God. Verse 3 Jesus reminds them to "remember what they had received and heard". The Word of God and the Holy Spirit! Jesus told them to repent! Then Jesus told them what will happen if they don't. He would come like a thief in the night with judgement! History tells us this happened twice! In 547 B.C.. Cyrus the second, and in 214 B.C. by Antiochus the third. Both times watchmen on the walls failed to detect an enemy army sneaking up its supposedly impregnable cliffs and walls!!! Coincidence? I think not....it is God! In verse 4 once again Jesus knows their is the faithful in the midst who are pure and worthy! I pray my Jesus will always be able to say that about me...amen? In verse 5 Jesus makes an interesting statement: "I will never blot his name out of the book of life" referring to the faithful. Don't miss this! In Exodus 32:33 it says:

Exodus 32:33

33But the LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.

All names start out in the book of life but some are blotted out because they don not accept Christ as lord and Savior! Wow! God loves us...we make the choice! Jesus closes out by telling us He will confess us before the father and the angles and again to listen to what he is saying!

Great Word from Jesus as always!

Tom

Revelation #10

2011-08-23T07:31:00.000-07:00

Alright let's look at another church:

Revelation 2:18-29

To the Church in Thyatira

18"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 'The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

19 "'I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants[a] to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

This church represents the historical church age of 500 A.D.-1500A.D. Historically there is not much known about this city. It was a buffer city against advancing armies towards Pergamos. They were known for there for purple coloring dye and that was a sizable industry for them. The church was in a sad state in these "Dark Ages". There wasn't much drive towards God or towards reaching others with the gospel.

So in verse 18 Jesus is introduced as being the Son of God, with eyes of fire which represent judgement and bronze feet represent He will crush His enemies. In verse 19 gives encouragement to the true believers. He knows their works, faith, love, service, and endurance. Also that they are getting better as their works are better then they used to be. Then comes the bad news in verse 20. They have allowed a women into the church who was teaching heresy. Now this could be a literal woman or it could be symbolism. Reguardless she would not repent of her sin (sexual and spiritual immorality). So Jesus in verse 2 tells that she will be punished along with all that follow her! This is a warning to liberal churches who do not listen and repent to the Word of God! In verse 23 Jesus talks about "striking her children dead" this refers to those who are offsprings of the faulty teachings of this doctrine. God also reminds us in these verse we are accountable individually! Then in verse 24 Jesus tells the faithful followers if you hold strong to God's word He will not burden. In verse 25 Jesus reminds them to hold strong until he comes and in verse 26 Jesus tells us when we conquer we will have authority over nations! Verses 25-27 refer to the Millennial reign of Christ. In verse 28 the morning star is Jesus. And in verse 29 reminds us once again to listen!

See you tomorrow!

Tom

Revelation #9

2011-08-22T10:22:00.000-07:00

Let us look at the third church this morning!

Revelation 2:12-17

To the Church in Pergamum

12"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 'The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

13"'I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith[a] even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.'

Pergamum was a church that was know for its compromises! Not good! The city hosted a major pagan worship center and the emperor himself was considered to be a god. In verse 12 as Jesus reminds them that His Words cut, it is a reminder to them about the false teachers in their midst who were not teaching God's Word correctly. In verse 13 Jesus lets them know that He is aware of where they "dwell". What he is says is that He knows they are in great temptation where they live. He also mentions "satan's throne" which may be a reference to either the sinful lifestyle of the city or the pagan worship center. Jesus also mentions their are many who are holding fast to His name which means are faithful! They even stood strong in the midst of persecution as they has seen the faithful servant of Christ killed. In verse 14 Jesus tells them what is wrong: some were teaching the doctrine of Balaam who in the old testament sold his God ordained authority to the wicked King Balak. Here they were double minded thunking they could serve God and be in the world too! The there were some who were following the teachings of the Nicolatans who were teaching sexual and spiritual adultery in verse 15. God demands total obedience to Him and Him alone! So in verse 16 Jesus says repent! And if they did not Jesus was coming with judgement:

1 Corinthians 11:28-32

28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

In verse 17 again Jesus is telling us to listen! Jesus also says in this verse If we conquer we will receive "the hidden manna" which John 6:48-51 explains:

John 6:48-51

48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."

Jesus also tells us he will give us a "new name" written on a stone that only the receiver will know.....won't that be cool!

Awesome Words from Jesus once again!

Tom

Revelation #8

2011-08-18T06:42:00.000-07:00

Alright, here we go! Let us look at the second church this morning:

Revelation 2:8-11

To the Church in Smyrna

8"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 'The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

9"'I know your tribulation and your poverty ( but you are rich) and the slander[a] of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.'

Symbolically the time period for this church would be from 100 A.D. to 316 A.D. This was the time period of great persecution for the church. The word Smyrna means suffering. In verse 10 Jesus says "for ten days you will have tribulation". From 100 A.D. to 316 A.D. there were ten distinct periods of severe persecution for the believers and church! Smyrna suffered greatly!

Smyrna was a place of great wealth. Resorts, spas and market places were in abundance. There also was a road of solid gold that stretched from the Temple of Zeus through the heart of the city.

Smyrna was one of only two churches that Jesus had no statements of criticism. The other was Philadelphia.

In verse 8 Jesus again identifies Himself to the church. In verse 9 Jesus tells the church He knows their tribulation. This should be great words for us....JESUS KNOWS everything we are going through! He is with us! He also knew that they were poor. They were poor money wise but Jesus reminded them that they were rich in spiritual things because they stood strong in Christ. A reminder to us where our true riches are! Also in verse Jesus also tells the church He is aware of the slander(false doctrine) of those who are claiming to be Jews but are not! Actually they are servants of Satin. In verse 10 Jesus warns them they are about to suffer but not to fear...in other words endure it patiently....wow another Word from the Lord for us to grasp on to. God tells them some will go to prison for their faith for a time of testing. Our faith will be tested from time to time so be prepared. I explained the ten days earlier from verse 10. Jesus tells the church to be faithful until we die...again it is also a Word for us. When we remain faithful we have a reward coming...the crown of life....eternity in heaven with Jesus....Praise the Lord! Verse 11 again reminds us to listen to God's Word but also goes on to say if we conquer we will not be hurt by the second death. This is explained here:

Revelation 20:4-6

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

For an example of what took place at Smyrna we can look at Polycarp. Polycarp was arrested because of his boldness for his Lord Jesus. At his trial cruel and false accusations were made about him by wicked men. He was convicted and sentenced to death. His captors tried to burn him at the stake. The flames started at at his feet for as tradition tells us and then by passed his body and came together again above his head! He just would not burn. After some time Polycarp looked toward heaven and prayed aloud to God: "It's all right! Let me burn if I can burn into the hearts of these soldiers!" With that prayer the flames burned him up and Polycarp died a triumphant death! These were the saints at Smyrna!

Tom

Revelation #7

2011-08-17T07:55:00.000-07:00

As we start to look at the individual churches this morning I want you know a couple of things. First we can look at the churches in three different ways. A. Prophetic-Each of the seven churches represent a definite time period in church history. From the first church in the first century until the final church of end time. It is my view we live in the last church period which is Laodicea, which in characterized by lukewarmness. B. You can also look at the churches from a personal view. We all have responsibilities as believers and many times Jesus says "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches". C. Then you can also look at the churches in a practical sense. These letters are applicable to the Christian of every generation. We are to live these letters in our personal lives.

Ok lets look at our first Church:

Revelation 2

To the Church in Ephesus

1"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

2 "'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.'

Ephesus was an old city at this point and was a major trade center. It also had a temple to the pagan goddess Diana. The letter starts out in verse 1 reminding the church who this letter is coming from....the One who holds the pastors(stars) and the churches(lampstands) in His right hand and walks among them! Jesus! In verse 2 Jesus commends them for three things: 1. Their hard work 2. Their patient endurance 3. How they hated evil! In the remaining part of verse 2 Jesus tells the church He has tested those who who called them selves apostles and found them to be false! How did Jesus resolve they were false? By His Word! The false apostles were not keeping the Word of God. In verse 3 Jesus tells the church He knows they are staying strong for His name! I pray He can say the same about you and I. In verse 4 comes the complaint Jesus has against this church: They had abandoned their first love. Do you remember when you first accepted Christ? If you were like most we are very excited and tell anyone and everyone. It seems though over time many lose that passion. They get pulled back in by the world and are not serving Christ as they should...this is what was happening to this church! In verse 5 Jesus tells them the remedy to this problem: Remember where you have fallen from....in other words return to your early true love of Christ. Then He says repent....ask for forgiveness and turn back to Jesus. Then do the works you did before...tell everyone about Jesus....love others! If the church did not do this Jesus tells them what will happen: The church would be removed! Wow...if we don't keep Christ in proper place He will remove the true church! This happens today! True believers leave for Bible Believing Churches while the church they leave behind is full of false doctrine and no Christ....thus the true church is gone. In verse 6 Jesus gives the church credit for hating the works of the Nicolaitans which Jesus said He also hates. The Nicolaitans were a group who were attempting to set up a professional clergy with a hierarchy to satisfy their ego and to gain prestige. Then in verse 7 Jesus reminds the church and each one of us reading this to listen to what the Spirit says and to each one who conquers He will grant Heaven! Praise God! So how do we conquer:

1 John 5:4-5

4For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Give glory to God!

Tom

Revelation #6

2011-08-16T06:52:00.000-07:00

As we ended yesterday John was describing Jesus to us...we pick it up today:

Revelation 1:17-20

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Wow in verse 17 I have a feeling when we see Jesus for the first time we will do the same thing John did...fall to our knees! Jesus shows His love as He always does to John and tells him not to fear. He also reminds him again who He is divine and eternal in the words "first and the last" and in verse 18 "the living one". Unlike others who have claimed deity our Jesus is ALIVE! Jesus goes on in verse 18 to remind John and us that He defeated death and He controls death and hell! Wow I just realized as I was writing this I have a big smile on my face. It is so awesome to dig into God's Word and see what Jesus had done for sinners like you and I. In verse 19 Jesus tells John again to record what he is seeing and the things that He will tell him that takes place in the future. In verse 20 Jesus reveals what some of the symbols are that he used in earlier verses. The seven stars are the seven angels which many scholars believe to be the seven pastors of theses 7 churches. The lampstands are the seven churches.

I guess I jumped the gun a little Friday as i said we would look at the seven churches on Monday but we still had a little scripture to cover before that! Tomorrow we will start looking at the individual churches!

Tom

Revelation #5

2011-08-15T09:00:00.001-07:00

Let's continue in our study!

Revelation 1:12-16

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

As John was listening to Jesus speaking to him he turned to look and saw seven golden lampstands...some versions say candle sticks. Verse 20 tells us these lampstands are the seven churches. Soon we will break down each of these churches in the book of Revelation. Verse 13 tells us Jesus was standing in the middle of these churches. Makes sense doesn't it that the cornerstone of the church is in the midst of these churches! John describes his wardrobe. The sash is representative of His royalty and His authoritative priesthood. Then verse 14 reminds us of His sinlessness and purity of our Lord by telling us about his white hair. Like pure snow white! Then we are told of His fire-flame eyes. Don't miss this:

1 Corinthians 3:13

13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

The Holy eyes of Jesus will examine and judge the daily living of everyone!

Bronze or brass is used in Revelation symbolically to represent judgement as is the case here in verse 15 as this verse goes on to say the voice of Christ is as "the sound of many waters" which drowns out the protest of anyone who rejects Christ! In verse 16 three symbols are use:

Seven stars...these are the seven pastors of the churches.

Two-edged sword...Hebrews 4:12 tells us what this is:

Hebrews 4:12

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Sun...Jesus is the light of the world.

The description of Jesus in these verses are stunning!!! So stunning when we pick up tomorrow we will see how it made John fall to his knees!

See you tomorrow!!!

Tom

Revelation #4

2011-08-12T07:04:00.001-07:00

Revelation 1:9-11

9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."

As we see here John was the one who penned Revelation. Verse 9 tells us he was a brother in Christ and he suffered in the tribulation of the saints. History tells us John was the only one to escape a martyr's death. But he was tortured terribly once being boiled in oil! We see where John was located....on an island called Patmos. He was banished to this island by the Romans because of his incredible faith in Christ! He would not stop preaching the Word of God! I love verse 10! John was on this island alone but it didn't stop him from having church! Of course he wasn't really alone as the God was there with him. As John was worshiping Jesus spoke to him. He told him to write a book! Then he was to send it to the seven churches. As a side note the churches are listed in the order that a courier would have delivered them leaving from Patmos!

May we all be as faithful and obedient as our brother in Christ John! On Monday we will start to look at the individual churches!

Tom

Revelation #3

2011-08-11T06:58:00.001-07:00

As we continue on in our study of Revelation remember where we are picking up today in theses verses it is continuing to refer to Jesus:

Revelation 1:6-8

6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

In verse 6 the Word is reminding us who we are in Christ. We are kings and priests to the Most High God whom we should be giving all the glory and dominion forever!! Isn't that a encouraging word for us this morning? Verse 7 is a warning to all that soon Jesus will be coming in the clouds, ALL will see Him, even those who persecuted Him, and all people groups (tribes) that have not called upon his name to be saved will cry uncontrollably as they realize that Jesus really is who He said He was....Savior of the world. We see in verses 6 and 7 there are two people groups in God's eyes..those who have trusted Jesus and those that haven't. There is no middle ground!

In verse 8 Jesus reminds us who He is....the first and the last meaning He has always been and always will be! He also reminds us He is coming and He is the almighty! Oh give praise to Jesus this morning!

When I read verse 8 it gets me fired up!!! See you tomorrow!

Tom

Revelation #2

2011-08-10T07:18:00.001-07:00

Revelation 1:4-5

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

As we continue on today in our Revelation study please remember to open them Bibles! In verse 4 we start out by being reminded that John is penning these words. These verses today are part of the greeting to the seven churches that are in Roman Asia. Seven is a number of completeness in the Bible so this means he is addressing the whole church. John give us a greeting from God who is the "him" in verse 4. Remember Exodus 3:14 here:

Exodus 3:14

14God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

and also Jesus in Hebrews 13:8:

Hebrews 13:8

8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

The seven in verse 4 refer to the the complete Holy Spirit....remember seven means complete. In the book of Isaiah the seven qualities of the Holy Spirit are listed:

Isaiah 11:2

2And 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.

The greeting also comes from Jesus. The it lists some characteristics of Jesus..."faithful witness" of all things from God since Jesus has always been! "the first born of the dead" refers to Jesus being the first resurrected from the dead. "the ruler of kings on earth" reminds us that Jesus in King of kings and Lord of lords and one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess this fact!

Verse 5 closes by reminding us of a very important truth HE LOVES US and has proved that love by freeing us from our sins by shedding His blood on the cross for our sins! Oh thank you Jesus!

Wow this is some good stuff to grasp onto! To God be the glory!

Tom

Revelation #1

2011-08-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

For a few weeks I am going to look at The book of Revelation. I want to give a shout out to Harold Hunter whose book has helped me understand Revelation better than any other. I hope these posts may also help you understand the book better too!

Revelation 1:1-3

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

First, I want you to look at the title of the Chapter in your Bible. Please use your Bible during this study!!!! It may say "The revelation of John" or something like that. That is NOT a correct title! Why do I say that? Look at the first verse. It is the revelation of Jesus! Who revealed it to John! Very important to know that. Verse one goes on to say God gave Jesus this revelation to show his servants the things that MUST take place soon. Servants are those who have given their lives to Jesus! The word" must" shows us that the following Words in Revelation WILL take place...it is a promise from God! God made these things known to John by an angel. Verse 2 tells us the angel brought forth to John what he had seen and heard from God and Jesus. Verse 3 tells us those of us who read this book, listen to this book, and uphold what is in this book will be blessed!! A promise from God! Then Jesus reminds the time of these prophecies are near!

A couple of other things I want you to see as we get started:

#1 Revelation has two main themes: A. Who Jesus is and B. Where we are going!

#2 Chapter 1 talks about the past. Chapters 2+3 talk about the present. Chapters 4-22 talk about the future.

Now that should give you something to think about this morning. I hope you enjoy this study as much as I know I will!

God bless and share this with others!

Tom

Reflections from Ecuador. #5

2011-08-08T10:00:00.001-07:00

This will be my last reflection from Ecuador. God taught me so many things there. What I share today may be the one thing that has continued to keep coming back to mind. So here it is:

Have you ever wondered why you were chosen by God to live here in the USA while others were chosen to live in various other parts of the world? If you have never been to a different country this may be hard for you to understand. You still can think of pats of our country where folks are not as blessed as you. Why has God blessed me the way he has and others have to struggle so much? Now I am not rich by any means....in my eyes anyway. BUT if you were task folks in other areas around the world they would say with out hesitation that I am rich. Have you ever thought about that? I have a great responsibility with the life God has blessed me with and so do you. God has blessed me so I can bless others. God is very clear in scripture that we are not to be hoarders of things and not to be putting our trust in things moths and rust can destroy. God has blessed us with the expectations that we will use those blessings to bless others in HIS name to bring HIM glory. Are you doing that???? Am I? In Ecuador we had three teachers that held a teaching clinic for teachers in Ecuador to encourage them and to give advice on how to be a better teacher. We could not believe the amount of teachers that showed up! It was a huge success and they want them to come back to share with them more! What really left a mark on me was we had gift bags for each teacher...simple stuff like erasers, pencils, pens, glue, markers, and calculators. Many who received these bags had tears running down their checks in appreciation. WOW! If we gave something like that away here at home.....well you know what the reaction would be!

God has put you where you are at for a reason. The question for each of us this morning is are we doing all God wants us to with blessings He has given to each of us....think very hard about it!

Tom

P.s. The picture is of the teacher gathering in Ecuador.

Reflections from Ecuador. #4

2011-08-05T06:47:00.000-07:00

While in Ecuador our Missionaries, Jared and Elisabeth, shared with us one night. They used this verse in telling us about their call to Ecuador. It has stuck with me and I wanted to share it with you. Here it is:

1 Thessalonians 2:8

8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

As followers of Christ this should be a verse for all of us to grab onto. God has placed us where we are for a reason. The main reason is to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we talked about yesterday, if we love our neighbors as Christ commands then this verse should fit perfectly into our lives. We should have a deep desire to bring folks we come into contact with the good news of Jesus. The best way to earn the right to share Jesus is by pouring ourselves into people with our lives and love them unconditionally. All people should b dear to us because they were created by God. This verse sums up what God expects from us!

So this morning take a close look at the verse and then your life and ask yourself if you are meeting up to the expectations of Jesus!

Tom

Reflections from Ecuador. #3

2011-08-04T08:09:00.000-07:00

Today let's take a closer look at the second part of what Jesus said are the two greatest commandments.

Matthew 22:39

39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

The first thing I would like to point out is you can not do this second greatest commandment if you are not doing the first. You can try but to fulfill it like Christ desires we must have God first. We must be loving God with all out heart , mind, soul, and strength! Loving others is not easy. Matter of fact is is very hard. When Christ talks about our neighbors here He is referring to anyone we come in contact with each day. They are our neighbor. Now think about that. Do you love everyone you come in contact with as much as you love yourself? No you don't unless you are walking with the Lord and you are filled with the Holy Spirit. We must have that super natural power because we can not do it on our own. Jesus loves everyone and He expects us to do the same. Do we? Jesus even tells us to love our enemies. Do we? Remember who He prayed for when on the cross? The very people who put Him there...that is love and our example.

In Ecuador our team loved the people. It seemed easier to do when you don't see them everyday. At home it is much harder to love those whom you know much more about. We can not make excuses....we are to love our neighbors like Jesus loves us!

Tom

Reflections from Ecuador. #2

2011-08-03T06:25:00.000-07:00

While in Ecuador I was studying this verse over and over. I asked you yesterday to spend some time thinking about all of the verses in Matthew 22:37-40. Look at this verse again:

Matthew 22:37

37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

As we were ministering to the people of Ecuador I had to ask myself ....am I living this verse everyday of my life? It is easy to do on a mission trip. But when I am at home and in the everyday routine, do I give everything to God? Is all of my heart into serving God? If I was honest I would say some days yes and some days no. God has blessed me so greatly and He deserves all of me in Ecuador and at home! What about my soul? It longs for heaven but some days it longs for the things of the world. It hurts to say that but it is true. When I take my eyes off of Jesus, that is when I mess up and my soul desires the things of the world. The solution is easy....stay focused on Christ! What about my mind? My mind wants Christ and desires Christ but yet again if I don't keep my thoughts in check, my mind wanders to worldly things. When this happens I am not loving God the way He desires! I pray this morning I will stay faithful and love God the way He deserves.......with ALLLLLL my heart, mind, and soul.

I found myself in Ecuador feeling sorry for the things they do not have that we have here. As I know think about it, it may be a blessing not to have many of the distractions we have here as it tends to pull us away from God not closer.

Tom

Reflections from Ecuador. #1

2011-08-02T07:02:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from a mission trip to Ecuador. I was able to see many of my friends from a previous visit and made many new friends. My wife and I were talking about how hard it is to leave there because of the love we have for our friends and the people. Our hearts hurt in love for our friends. God laid some things on my heart there that I want to share the next few days....I pray they will speak to you also.

I was reading a book called "What Jesus demands from us." By John Piper. On of my days reading really spoke to me. It was reflecting on what Jesus says are the two greatest commandments. Here is the scripture:

Matthew 22:37-40

37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

For today I just want you to read these verses very slowly and think about them. Let God speak to you through them. Evaluate your self. What is the key word or words in these verses?????

Tomorrow we will break them down! And I will talk about some of the things God revealed to me in Ecuador!

Tom