In chapter five, the scroll of the first judgments is revealed.
1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits[a] of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign[b] on the earth.”
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
John sees an God holding a scroll. The scroll had writing on the front and back, which seems to allude to the fact that there was a lot of details on the scroll. It was also sealed with seven seals, which means that it was shut by God Himself. An angel asks if there is anyone that is worthy to open this scroll. At first there is no answer, and John begins to cry because there was no one worthy to open the scroll. One of the elders tells him not to cry, that there is one being that is
worthy. Jesus is called the Lion of Judah and the Root of David.
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1: 29-33
8 “Judah,[b] your brothers will praise you;
your hand will be on the neck of your enemies;
your father’s sons will bow down to you.
9 You are a lion’s cub, Judah;
you return from the prey, my son.
Like a lion he crouches and lies down,
like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,[c]
until he to whom it belongs[d] shall come
and the obedience of the nations shall be his. Genesis 49:8-10
When John looks up he sees a lamb that was slain taking the scroll from God. This obviously refers to Jesus who was slain for the sins of the world. The seven horns symbolize the divine power that Jesus possesses. The seven eyes represent the Holy Spirit. God allowing Jesus to take the scroll is showing that He has transfered power and authority to Him who was worthy. After this the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures all fall down and worship the lamb. They begin to sing that Jesus was worthy to take and open the scroll because He had been slain and with His blood had bought the forgiveness of men from all the world. A multitude of angels begins to sing that the lamb is worthy because He was slain to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise. Then John hears all of creation singing this song of praise to Jesus. Then the four living creatures say "Amen" or may it be so.
This is all a prelude to Jesus opening the Scroll of Judgment. The one who is worthy to open the scroll has been found, all heaven rejoices. Next the judgments on the wicked left on earth will begin.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Throne in Heaven
Today I would like to discuss Revelation chapter 4. This chapter begins the next section of Revelation, and continues on until chapter 16. In the preceding chapters John had visions of the time of the church age, from Pentecost through the end of the church age culminating in the rapture of the church. Now that the church has been removed from the earth the judgments of God against the earth can begin. This chapter begins with John being told to come up to heaven so he may see what will happen.
Revelation 4
1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’[b]
who was, and is, and is to come.”
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”
When John looks around heaven the first thing he sees is a throne. He sees a being sitting on the throne that he can only describe as having the appearance of jewels with a rainbow surrounding the throne. Now the first time the rainbow is mentioned in the Bible, it is to remind us of God's promise to never destroy the earth again with a flood.
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”Genesis 9:12-16 This rainbow around the throne may be a reminder that God has not forgotten His covenant with us. John was trying to describe something that was indescribable. Around this throne were twenty-four other thrones with twenty-four elders sitting on them. It is not clear who these elders are, some people think they may represent the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[e] went into the holy city and appeared to many people. Matthew 27:51-53
This may be another possible explanation of who is sitting on the thrones. We won't know until we can one day ask Jesus.
After seeing these thrones, John once more focuses on God's throne, where there was thunder and lightning. He notices seven lamps in front of the throne that represent the seven spirits of God, as we noted earlier, this represents the Holy Spirit. Also in front of the throne is something like a sea of glass that is clear as crystal. John was not able to fully describe what he was seeing, the beauty was beyond describing.
Now John sees four living creatures around the throne. They were completely covered with eyes and each creature had six wings. John describes them as one like a lion, and ox, a man and an eagle. The eyes may represent that they are watchful guardians of the throne. In Ezekiel's vision, he saw creatures that were similar to these beasts, they were God's cherubim. These creatures may be other cherubim who's job it is to guard the throne.
5 and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human, 6 but each of them had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings, 9 and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.
10 Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. Ezekiel 1:5-10
This is also similar to the ark of the covenant where God's glory rested between the cherubim wings that were carved over the ark.
17 “Make an atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 18 And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 19Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. 20 The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. 21 Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law that I will give you. 22 There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites. Exodus 25:17-22
The creatures worship God continually, and when they do the elders also fall down before God and offer Him their crowns and worship Him.
Revelation 4
1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’[b]
who was, and is, and is to come.”
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”
When John looks around heaven the first thing he sees is a throne. He sees a being sitting on the throne that he can only describe as having the appearance of jewels with a rainbow surrounding the throne. Now the first time the rainbow is mentioned in the Bible, it is to remind us of God's promise to never destroy the earth again with a flood.
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”Genesis 9:12-16 This rainbow around the throne may be a reminder that God has not forgotten His covenant with us. John was trying to describe something that was indescribable. Around this throne were twenty-four other thrones with twenty-four elders sitting on them. It is not clear who these elders are, some people think they may represent the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[e] went into the holy city and appeared to many people. Matthew 27:51-53
This may be another possible explanation of who is sitting on the thrones. We won't know until we can one day ask Jesus.
After seeing these thrones, John once more focuses on God's throne, where there was thunder and lightning. He notices seven lamps in front of the throne that represent the seven spirits of God, as we noted earlier, this represents the Holy Spirit. Also in front of the throne is something like a sea of glass that is clear as crystal. John was not able to fully describe what he was seeing, the beauty was beyond describing.
Now John sees four living creatures around the throne. They were completely covered with eyes and each creature had six wings. John describes them as one like a lion, and ox, a man and an eagle. The eyes may represent that they are watchful guardians of the throne. In Ezekiel's vision, he saw creatures that were similar to these beasts, they were God's cherubim. These creatures may be other cherubim who's job it is to guard the throne.
5 and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human, 6 but each of them had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings, 9 and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.
10 Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. Ezekiel 1:5-10
This is also similar to the ark of the covenant where God's glory rested between the cherubim wings that were carved over the ark.
17 “Make an atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 18 And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 19Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. 20 The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. 21 Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law that I will give you. 22 There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites. Exodus 25:17-22
The creatures worship God continually, and when they do the elders also fall down before God and offer Him their crowns and worship Him.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Joyce Meyer Conference October 13-15 2011
I had a great weekend at the Joyce Meyer conference. You have to love Joyce, she pulls no punches and you usually get convicted! Each day we had worship with Phil Wickham. The music was great, and he really got the crowd revved up for Joyce!
At Your Name by Phil Wickham
The theme for this conference was to press past difficulties in your life to reach the blessing God has for you. In the Bible, wine is equated with power. As grapes need to be pressed to become wine, so we need to be pressed spiritually to get to our spiritual power.
During the first teaching of the conference, Joyce spoke about pressing past your feelings.
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14
When we take the easy road, we are not getting the blessing that we would be getting than if we take the narrow, more difficult road. We all have feelings that we experience in life. Some people feel rejection, betrayal, abandonment, revenge seeking, self-pity, self centeredness, jealousy, depression, discouragement, disappointment, and many more. When we let these feeling control us, we are taking the easy road. When we let these feelings control us, we are too consumed by them to be available for Jesus to use us. When we put the feelings aside we are able to serve God. We are here for a purpose, God has a purpose for your life. If you hold on to the past hurts you will stay unhappy and miserable. If you put the hurts behind you and give yourself up to God to be used for His purpose, then you will receive blessings and you will have joy.
10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
During the second teaching, Joyce spoke about pressing beyond guilt and shame. Sometimes you may feel that God is chastising you. It is a good thing that God shows you what you are doing wrong. It is only because God loves you and wants you to be better. Similar to a parent chastising a child, they punish a child so that they will learn to do what is right. Instead of making excuses, you need to say yes God, you are right, I have no excuse. I'm sorry, forgive me and I rejoice that you care so much about me that you show me what I can change. God forgives our sins because He wants to have a relationship with you. You need to move past not liking who you are. God loves you, and created you in the womb to be who you are. You can not like what you do, but don't not like who you are. Your value should not be tied to something in your life. You are no surprise to God, nothing you do surprises Him or makes Him love you less. You won't make any progress if you are so wrapped up in who you are not, and what you have not done. We need to let go of guilt. Some people are addicted to feeling guilty.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9
We are sinners and need a savior. Jesus intercedes with God for us continually. Satan loves to tell you that everything is all your fault, and that you are not good enough. Satan is the accuser of the brethren. When Satan comes to accuse you, tell him: I am none of your business! I belong to another!
Don't be upset about how far you have to go, be excited about how far you have come!
Joyce's third teaching was on pressing past the pain of feelings. Your soul says; I want, I think, I feel. Emotions are the believers #1 enemy. Our flesh wants to do things that make it happy, even though it is a bad thing. One example is overeating. If we left it up to how we feel, we would eat whatever we liked and become overweight and unhealthy. When we press beyond these feelings, we eat healthy and stay healthy. So you can see that when we press beyond the wants of our flesh, we receive a benefit. If we make right choices when we are hurting, we will be victorious. You have to make a choice to be helped. Life is not fair, but God is just.
11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11
You have three choices:
1- Press past the pain now
2- Decide to do it later and stay miserable now
3- Keep the pain forever and stay miserable forever
7 Instead of your shame
you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.
8 “For I, the LORD, love justice;
I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
and make an everlasting covenant with them. Isaiah 61:7-8
God loves to take someone whose life is in fragments, and who has turned their life over to God; He likes to take them and transform then and bless them beyond measure.
You need to start living a life of expectancy. There is no greater testimony than a transformed life. You should learn to enjoy where you are now on the way to where you are going.
The final teaching for this series was to press past anger and unforgiveness.
When your spirit/soul/mind get full of anger you can't grow spiritually. No matter how we feel, we need to choose to do what is right.
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59
We need to pray for forgiveness for the people who hurt us. They are probably in pain and are lashing out at you. Being godly says more to your enemies than anger.
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21
God is faithful and will bless you if you do the right thing. Put your anger aside and bless your enemy. When you do good to others you are paying back Satan. Anger is in itself not a sin, it is what you do when you are angry that is the sin. When you choose to move beyond your anger, you get a release. It no longer has a hold on you.When you are angry, talk to God about it.
If you repress your anger, it will come out in other ways; depression, overeating, bitterness, resentment.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12
If we want to be a witness to those that hurt you before God, we need to pray for them and ask God not to charge them with the sin. Instead ask God to bless them. This may lead to them turning to Christ. Our example is more powerful than our words. We need to forgive as God has forgiven us.
The conference was very powerful, and really showed how holding on to our past hurts could be detrimental to our walk with Christ. When we press past these hurts, we are opened up to a world of blessing and God can really use us to be a blessing to other people.
Each day Pastor Mike Shepherd did an altar call. Praise God, more than 1100 people turned their lives over to Christ!
The theme for this conference was to press past difficulties in your life to reach the blessing God has for you. In the Bible, wine is equated with power. As grapes need to be pressed to become wine, so we need to be pressed spiritually to get to our spiritual power.
During the first teaching of the conference, Joyce spoke about pressing past your feelings.
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14
When we take the easy road, we are not getting the blessing that we would be getting than if we take the narrow, more difficult road. We all have feelings that we experience in life. Some people feel rejection, betrayal, abandonment, revenge seeking, self-pity, self centeredness, jealousy, depression, discouragement, disappointment, and many more. When we let these feeling control us, we are taking the easy road. When we let these feelings control us, we are too consumed by them to be available for Jesus to use us. When we put the feelings aside we are able to serve God. We are here for a purpose, God has a purpose for your life. If you hold on to the past hurts you will stay unhappy and miserable. If you put the hurts behind you and give yourself up to God to be used for His purpose, then you will receive blessings and you will have joy.
10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
During the second teaching, Joyce spoke about pressing beyond guilt and shame. Sometimes you may feel that God is chastising you. It is a good thing that God shows you what you are doing wrong. It is only because God loves you and wants you to be better. Similar to a parent chastising a child, they punish a child so that they will learn to do what is right. Instead of making excuses, you need to say yes God, you are right, I have no excuse. I'm sorry, forgive me and I rejoice that you care so much about me that you show me what I can change. God forgives our sins because He wants to have a relationship with you. You need to move past not liking who you are. God loves you, and created you in the womb to be who you are. You can not like what you do, but don't not like who you are. Your value should not be tied to something in your life. You are no surprise to God, nothing you do surprises Him or makes Him love you less. You won't make any progress if you are so wrapped up in who you are not, and what you have not done. We need to let go of guilt. Some people are addicted to feeling guilty.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9
We are sinners and need a savior. Jesus intercedes with God for us continually. Satan loves to tell you that everything is all your fault, and that you are not good enough. Satan is the accuser of the brethren. When Satan comes to accuse you, tell him: I am none of your business! I belong to another!
Don't be upset about how far you have to go, be excited about how far you have come!
Joyce's third teaching was on pressing past the pain of feelings. Your soul says; I want, I think, I feel. Emotions are the believers #1 enemy. Our flesh wants to do things that make it happy, even though it is a bad thing. One example is overeating. If we left it up to how we feel, we would eat whatever we liked and become overweight and unhealthy. When we press beyond these feelings, we eat healthy and stay healthy. So you can see that when we press beyond the wants of our flesh, we receive a benefit. If we make right choices when we are hurting, we will be victorious. You have to make a choice to be helped. Life is not fair, but God is just.
11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11
You have three choices:
1- Press past the pain now
2- Decide to do it later and stay miserable now
3- Keep the pain forever and stay miserable forever
7 Instead of your shame
you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.
8 “For I, the LORD, love justice;
I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
and make an everlasting covenant with them. Isaiah 61:7-8
God loves to take someone whose life is in fragments, and who has turned their life over to God; He likes to take them and transform then and bless them beyond measure.
You need to start living a life of expectancy. There is no greater testimony than a transformed life. You should learn to enjoy where you are now on the way to where you are going.
The final teaching for this series was to press past anger and unforgiveness.
When your spirit/soul/mind get full of anger you can't grow spiritually. No matter how we feel, we need to choose to do what is right.
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59
We need to pray for forgiveness for the people who hurt us. They are probably in pain and are lashing out at you. Being godly says more to your enemies than anger.
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21
God is faithful and will bless you if you do the right thing. Put your anger aside and bless your enemy. When you do good to others you are paying back Satan. Anger is in itself not a sin, it is what you do when you are angry that is the sin. When you choose to move beyond your anger, you get a release. It no longer has a hold on you.When you are angry, talk to God about it.
If you repress your anger, it will come out in other ways; depression, overeating, bitterness, resentment.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12
If we want to be a witness to those that hurt you before God, we need to pray for them and ask God not to charge them with the sin. Instead ask God to bless them. This may lead to them turning to Christ. Our example is more powerful than our words. We need to forgive as God has forgiven us.
The conference was very powerful, and really showed how holding on to our past hurts could be detrimental to our walk with Christ. When we press past these hurts, we are opened up to a world of blessing and God can really use us to be a blessing to other people.
Each day Pastor Mike Shepherd did an altar call. Praise God, more than 1100 people turned their lives over to Christ!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The Rapture: What Will Happen?
Before I continue on with Revelation chapter 4, I would like to talk about the Rapture. There are three schools of thought on when the Rapture will occur. The first is the pre-tribulation rapture, which I believe and will discuss. The second is the mid-tribulation rapture, in which some people believe that the Rapture will occur during the midpoint of the seven year tribulation period. The third view is the post-tribulation rapture, which they believe will occur at the end of the seven year tribulation period and before the Glorious Appearing of Christ. These two views are the minority view, I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture and I will be discussing Bible verses that support this view.
First, what is the Rapture? The Rapture is meant for the church age, the time from Pentecost until the present time. The Christians that have believed in Jesus and trusted Him for their salvation will be caught up to heaven and given their incorruptible bodies. Even the ones that have been in the grave, or have been cremated will be given their perfect bodies at this time. These Christians will be taken out of the world at this time in preparation of the Tribulation period that is to come. God will be sending down judgement on the world in a last effort to get the attention of non-believers. The ones left behind after the rapture are not lost, they still have a chance to turn to God and to trust Jesus for their salvation. They will have to endure the horrors of the Tribulation period, but even if they die during this time, they will be with Christ.
The word "rapture" does not occur in the Bible at all. The Latin word rapere was translated from the Greek word harpazo, which means "caught up", it became commonly known as the Rapture. Many people say that the church did not start preaching about the Rapture until Reverend Morgan Edwards in 1742. Grant Jeffrey found a writing from 373 AD in which Ephraim the Syrian had been writing about the Rapture.
"For all the saints and the elect of God are gathered prior to the Tribulation that is to come, and are
taken to the Lord, lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sin."
As you may have seen in the news, some people like Harold Camping this past year, try to predict the day that the Rapture will occur. No one knows the day that this will happen.
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[f] but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matthew 24:36-44
Even Jesus did not know when the day would be, He said only God knows. If Jesus did not know, do you really think someone could "figure it out"????? We are only told about the signs that Jesus would be returning for His church so that we may be ready.
According to these verses, the Rapture will come at an unexpected time. I believe that this proves that the Rapture will have to come before the Tribulation period. If it were to happen at any other time, like mid-tribulation or post-tribulation, then it would not be unexpected. We would be looking for it to happen at a specific point. The only way these verses can make sense is if the Rapture occurs before the Tribulation.
What will happen when the Rapture occurs? Many people know that the people that believed in Jesus for their salvation will be taken up to heaven.
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53
There are many other verses in the Bible that prove that there will be a Rapture.
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1-3
7Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:7-8
10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. 1 Thessalonians 1:10
The coming wrath would be the Tribulation that will come upon the earth once the church is removed.
9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:9
13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ Titus 2:13
The Blessed Hope is another name for the Rapture. It is what we look forward to so that we do not have to suffer through the Tribulation period where God will unleash His wrath on the earth.
10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. Revelation 3:10
This is another verse where we are told that we, the church, are to be saved from the Tribulation. That does not mean that Christians do not suffer tribulations and trials while we are on the earth. God never claims that we will be exempt from these things, but it is a promise that we will not have to suffer the final seven years of the Tribulation when God will pour out His wrath, like nothing you have ever seen or experienced.
I felt that I needed to discuss the Rapture at this point, before I began on the next part of Revelation because the church is notable absent from chapters four through nineteen.
Before I begin on chapter four, I would like to invite anyone that has not accepted Jesus free gift of salvation and wishes to do so to pray the following prayer:
Heavenly Father, in Jesus' name I confess that I have sinned and ask for forgiveness. I ask that Jesus come into my heart and become my Lord and Savior. I believe Jesus died for my sins and was raised from the dead.
Thank You Father for saving me in Jesus' name. Amen.
First, what is the Rapture? The Rapture is meant for the church age, the time from Pentecost until the present time. The Christians that have believed in Jesus and trusted Him for their salvation will be caught up to heaven and given their incorruptible bodies. Even the ones that have been in the grave, or have been cremated will be given their perfect bodies at this time. These Christians will be taken out of the world at this time in preparation of the Tribulation period that is to come. God will be sending down judgement on the world in a last effort to get the attention of non-believers. The ones left behind after the rapture are not lost, they still have a chance to turn to God and to trust Jesus for their salvation. They will have to endure the horrors of the Tribulation period, but even if they die during this time, they will be with Christ.
The word "rapture" does not occur in the Bible at all. The Latin word rapere was translated from the Greek word harpazo, which means "caught up", it became commonly known as the Rapture. Many people say that the church did not start preaching about the Rapture until Reverend Morgan Edwards in 1742. Grant Jeffrey found a writing from 373 AD in which Ephraim the Syrian had been writing about the Rapture.
"For all the saints and the elect of God are gathered prior to the Tribulation that is to come, and are
taken to the Lord, lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sin."
As you may have seen in the news, some people like Harold Camping this past year, try to predict the day that the Rapture will occur. No one knows the day that this will happen.
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[f] but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matthew 24:36-44
Even Jesus did not know when the day would be, He said only God knows. If Jesus did not know, do you really think someone could "figure it out"????? We are only told about the signs that Jesus would be returning for His church so that we may be ready.
According to these verses, the Rapture will come at an unexpected time. I believe that this proves that the Rapture will have to come before the Tribulation period. If it were to happen at any other time, like mid-tribulation or post-tribulation, then it would not be unexpected. We would be looking for it to happen at a specific point. The only way these verses can make sense is if the Rapture occurs before the Tribulation.
What will happen when the Rapture occurs? Many people know that the people that believed in Jesus for their salvation will be taken up to heaven.
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53
There are many other verses in the Bible that prove that there will be a Rapture.
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1-3
7Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:7-8
10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. 1 Thessalonians 1:10
The coming wrath would be the Tribulation that will come upon the earth once the church is removed.
9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:9
13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ Titus 2:13
The Blessed Hope is another name for the Rapture. It is what we look forward to so that we do not have to suffer through the Tribulation period where God will unleash His wrath on the earth.
10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. Revelation 3:10
This is another verse where we are told that we, the church, are to be saved from the Tribulation. That does not mean that Christians do not suffer tribulations and trials while we are on the earth. God never claims that we will be exempt from these things, but it is a promise that we will not have to suffer the final seven years of the Tribulation when God will pour out His wrath, like nothing you have ever seen or experienced.
I felt that I needed to discuss the Rapture at this point, before I began on the next part of Revelation because the church is notable absent from chapters four through nineteen.
Before I begin on chapter four, I would like to invite anyone that has not accepted Jesus free gift of salvation and wishes to do so to pray the following prayer:
Heavenly Father, in Jesus' name I confess that I have sinned and ask for forgiveness. I ask that Jesus come into my heart and become my Lord and Savior. I believe Jesus died for my sins and was raised from the dead.
Thank You Father for saving me in Jesus' name. Amen.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Letters to the Churches: Laodicea
The final letter is to the church at Laodicea:
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Laodicea was located about fifty miles from Philadelphia. They were a very wealthy city famous for its black wool. They were a city of bankers and financial centers that were completely self-reliant, so much that when an earthquake occurred in 60 AD they declined any help from Rome. Laodicea was a center for Hellenistic culture and had a large population of Zeus worshipers.
Jesus greets the church as the Amen, which was Old Testament for the God of Truth. He also calls Himself the ruler of God's creation, which was what Paul referred to Him as in Colossians
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Colossians 1:15
Jesus then criticizes the church for being lukewarm. They are complacent and indifferent. They have no spiritual fire or rejection of God, they are apathetic. They are going through the motions, but they have no heart for what they are doing. The church, much like the city itself prides itself on its self-sufficiency. They have gotten to the point that they are proclaiming that they are Christians, but they rely, not on God, but on themselves. Jesus says that he will spit them out. He will reject them for their self-sufficiency. The saddest part is that the church does not realize that they are not spiritually healthy. Jesus implores the church to open their eyes to what they are doing and to change their ways. They need to depend on God and not on their physical wealthy, which means nothing. Jesus tells the church that He is only rebuking them out of love, and that He is waiting for them to truly embrace Him, they only have to accept Him. Jesus then offers the ones who accept Him the right to rule with Him.
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Laodicea was located about fifty miles from Philadelphia. They were a very wealthy city famous for its black wool. They were a city of bankers and financial centers that were completely self-reliant, so much that when an earthquake occurred in 60 AD they declined any help from Rome. Laodicea was a center for Hellenistic culture and had a large population of Zeus worshipers.
Jesus greets the church as the Amen, which was Old Testament for the God of Truth. He also calls Himself the ruler of God's creation, which was what Paul referred to Him as in Colossians
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Colossians 1:15
Jesus then criticizes the church for being lukewarm. They are complacent and indifferent. They have no spiritual fire or rejection of God, they are apathetic. They are going through the motions, but they have no heart for what they are doing. The church, much like the city itself prides itself on its self-sufficiency. They have gotten to the point that they are proclaiming that they are Christians, but they rely, not on God, but on themselves. Jesus says that he will spit them out. He will reject them for their self-sufficiency. The saddest part is that the church does not realize that they are not spiritually healthy. Jesus implores the church to open their eyes to what they are doing and to change their ways. They need to depend on God and not on their physical wealthy, which means nothing. Jesus tells the church that He is only rebuking them out of love, and that He is waiting for them to truly embrace Him, they only have to accept Him. Jesus then offers the ones who accept Him the right to rule with Him.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Letters to the Churches: Philadelphia
The sixth letter from John is to the church at Philadelphia.
7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Philadelphia is Greek for "brotherly love", and was founded by King Attalus II Philadelphus in honor of his brother King Eumenes II Philadelphus. It was located at the foot of Mt Tmolus on the Cogamus river. This put the city on the main trading route, and made this city an important trading center and very wealthy. The city was founded to be a missionary city, spreading Hellenism (Greek culture and civilization). Another name for the city was "little Athens" because of the many temples located in the city, the chief of which was a temple to Baachus the god of wine.
Jesus identifies himself as the one who holds the key of David, what He opens no one can shut and what He shuts, no one can open. This means that Jesus has the authority to admit people to heaven, or to refuse them entrance. He alone is Holy and has that right. The church in Philadelphia was small, but they kept true to Jesus. They were probably persecuted by the Jews, but they did not deny Jesus name. In response to this, Jesus tells them that He has placed an open door in front of them, this is meant to be the door to heaven; a reward for their faithful service. He calls the Jews the synagogue of Satan, they are Jews by birth, but they denied Christ and persecuted the Christians. They will one day fall down at the Christians feet and acknowledge that they were the true church of Christ, this will happen at the final judgement. The final part of Jesus promise to the church is to keep them from the hour of trial that is going to come on the world. This refers to the rapture of the church before the seven years of tribulation, when the Antichrist will rule the world, and God will rain down many judgments. This is the view common among pre-tribulationists, though some post-tribulationists believe that the believers will have to endure the tribulation period, but God will protect them during this time. We will discuss the rapture at a later time.
Jesus then tells the church that He will return soon, and when He does the church will be ushered into the new Jerusalem, where they would dwell forever.
7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Philadelphia is Greek for "brotherly love", and was founded by King Attalus II Philadelphus in honor of his brother King Eumenes II Philadelphus. It was located at the foot of Mt Tmolus on the Cogamus river. This put the city on the main trading route, and made this city an important trading center and very wealthy. The city was founded to be a missionary city, spreading Hellenism (Greek culture and civilization). Another name for the city was "little Athens" because of the many temples located in the city, the chief of which was a temple to Baachus the god of wine.
Jesus identifies himself as the one who holds the key of David, what He opens no one can shut and what He shuts, no one can open. This means that Jesus has the authority to admit people to heaven, or to refuse them entrance. He alone is Holy and has that right. The church in Philadelphia was small, but they kept true to Jesus. They were probably persecuted by the Jews, but they did not deny Jesus name. In response to this, Jesus tells them that He has placed an open door in front of them, this is meant to be the door to heaven; a reward for their faithful service. He calls the Jews the synagogue of Satan, they are Jews by birth, but they denied Christ and persecuted the Christians. They will one day fall down at the Christians feet and acknowledge that they were the true church of Christ, this will happen at the final judgement. The final part of Jesus promise to the church is to keep them from the hour of trial that is going to come on the world. This refers to the rapture of the church before the seven years of tribulation, when the Antichrist will rule the world, and God will rain down many judgments. This is the view common among pre-tribulationists, though some post-tribulationists believe that the believers will have to endure the tribulation period, but God will protect them during this time. We will discuss the rapture at a later time.
Jesus then tells the church that He will return soon, and when He does the church will be ushered into the new Jerusalem, where they would dwell forever.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Letters to the Churches: Sardis
Today we begin Revelation chapter three, and continue on with John's letters to the churches. Today's church is Sardis:
1 “To the angel[a] of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[b] of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Sardis was once the capital of the Lydian empire and one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. It was conquered by Cyrus of Persia, Alexander the Great, and finally it became a Roman city. Sardis was an extremely rich city that boasted one of the largest temple to Artemis the goddess of the hunt, the moon and fertility. There was also a very large population of Jews living in Sardis as well as many Christians.
Jesus begins by stating that He holds the seven spirits, which may be the seven angels of the church, or the pastors. He also holds the seven spirits of God, which stands for the Holy Spirit. Jesus has nothing good to say about the church, he immediately begins to admonish the church for looking alive but being dead. This means that the church outwardly seems to be doing what it is supposed to, but they had no spiritual life. Jesus tells them to wake up and repent. If they do not, they will not know when Jesus returns, and will not be ready. Jesus then points out that there are a few people in Sardis that were true Christians, and says that they will join Christ and live forever.
1 “To the angel[a] of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[b] of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Sardis was once the capital of the Lydian empire and one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. It was conquered by Cyrus of Persia, Alexander the Great, and finally it became a Roman city. Sardis was an extremely rich city that boasted one of the largest temple to Artemis the goddess of the hunt, the moon and fertility. There was also a very large population of Jews living in Sardis as well as many Christians.
Jesus begins by stating that He holds the seven spirits, which may be the seven angels of the church, or the pastors. He also holds the seven spirits of God, which stands for the Holy Spirit. Jesus has nothing good to say about the church, he immediately begins to admonish the church for looking alive but being dead. This means that the church outwardly seems to be doing what it is supposed to, but they had no spiritual life. Jesus tells them to wake up and repent. If they do not, they will not know when Jesus returns, and will not be ready. Jesus then points out that there are a few people in Sardis that were true Christians, and says that they will join Christ and live forever.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Letters to the Churches: Thyatira
This letter is to the church at Thyatira:
18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, 25except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[b]—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Thyatira was smaller than the other cities mentioned in Revelation, but was still a thriving trade center and very wealthy. The city was well-known for its trade guilds and especially for its purple dye. Several gods were worshipped in Thyatira, Aesculpius, Baachus and Artemis. Their chief god was Apollo Tyrimnos, the Lydian sun god and the goddess Sambethe a Chaldean sibyl. Everyone belonged to a trade guild, these were the center of business and social events. Each guild was dedicated to a different god, and at each guild meeting there was a sacrifice to the god and a feast in their honor. Many of these feasts led to drunken orgies. The false prophets encouraged the people to join in, claiming that it was fine for them to be a part of this. Thyatira received the longest letter from John.
One of the few times that Jesus declares Himself to be the Son of God, He has only stated this thirty-two times in the Bible. His eyes like blazing fire represent that He is all knowing. His feet like burnished bronze symbolize His all encompassing power. Jesus at first commends the church for being known for their love, faith and perseverance, and that they were growing in these areas. Jesus then criticizes the church for allowing the false teacher "Jezebel" to lead them astray. She is nicknamed Jezebel after the original Jezebel who led the Israelites to worship the Baals. This "Jezebel" encouraged the Christians to be sexually immoral and to eat meat that was sacrificed to other gods. God had given her time to repent of her sins, but she chose not to repent. God would then send suffering on her for what she had done. Jesus then turns His attention to the church. He separates the church into three groups, the ones that commit adultery with her were those that compromised their morals, they were told to repent or suffer. The ones that are her children, those that followed her teachings diligently; like Jezebel they were not willing to repent, so God would strike them dead. The last group is the remnant, the faithful believers that did not follow Jezebel, Jesus tells them to hold on to what they have until He returns.
Jesus adds a final message to the believers that do His will until the end, they will reign with Him. Jesus will rule with an iron scepter, to maintain control. The morning star represents the new earth, where the believers will rule with Christ.
18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, 25except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[b]—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Thyatira was smaller than the other cities mentioned in Revelation, but was still a thriving trade center and very wealthy. The city was well-known for its trade guilds and especially for its purple dye. Several gods were worshipped in Thyatira, Aesculpius, Baachus and Artemis. Their chief god was Apollo Tyrimnos, the Lydian sun god and the goddess Sambethe a Chaldean sibyl. Everyone belonged to a trade guild, these were the center of business and social events. Each guild was dedicated to a different god, and at each guild meeting there was a sacrifice to the god and a feast in their honor. Many of these feasts led to drunken orgies. The false prophets encouraged the people to join in, claiming that it was fine for them to be a part of this. Thyatira received the longest letter from John.
One of the few times that Jesus declares Himself to be the Son of God, He has only stated this thirty-two times in the Bible. His eyes like blazing fire represent that He is all knowing. His feet like burnished bronze symbolize His all encompassing power. Jesus at first commends the church for being known for their love, faith and perseverance, and that they were growing in these areas. Jesus then criticizes the church for allowing the false teacher "Jezebel" to lead them astray. She is nicknamed Jezebel after the original Jezebel who led the Israelites to worship the Baals. This "Jezebel" encouraged the Christians to be sexually immoral and to eat meat that was sacrificed to other gods. God had given her time to repent of her sins, but she chose not to repent. God would then send suffering on her for what she had done. Jesus then turns His attention to the church. He separates the church into three groups, the ones that commit adultery with her were those that compromised their morals, they were told to repent or suffer. The ones that are her children, those that followed her teachings diligently; like Jezebel they were not willing to repent, so God would strike them dead. The last group is the remnant, the faithful believers that did not follow Jezebel, Jesus tells them to hold on to what they have until He returns.
Jesus adds a final message to the believers that do His will until the end, they will reign with Him. Jesus will rule with an iron scepter, to maintain control. The morning star represents the new earth, where the believers will rule with Christ.
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