“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” (II Cor. 5:17)
Question: As a new creature in Jesus Christ, what kind of meaning does your life have in these latter days?
Fulfilled prophecies in the Bible are a strong indication that we are living in the latter days. In the light of that, I think it is expedient that we all look at our own salvation: past, present, and future.
Over the years, I have asked many people, “Have you ever wondered why we are on this earth?” Some had never thought about it, but most has pondered the question and were interested in knowing more about out reason for being. From the Bible we know the rebellious history of men and God’s loving purpose for his creation. The problem is that we, the created, tend to ignore God and go our own way. But when man decides to open himself to his Creator, the very meaning of life is opened to him. Only then can we see how destitute we are without God and how much we need a personal relationship with Him.
In the beginning, Adam and Eve had a personal relationship with God—they understood when God said, “Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you should not eat, for the day you eat of it you shall die” (Gen. 2:17). Only God knows what is good or bad for our lives. But in their disobedience, Adam and Eve believed Satan’s lie. In Genesis 3:4-5, Satan said, “You will not die, for God knows when you eat of it [the tree of the knowledge of good and evil] your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Their desire was to be like God—to be equal to God—to be their own god.
Well, they ate of that tree and man has had trouble with pain every since. Even though Adam and Eve lived many years physically, they lost their spiritual life that day. They separated themselves from their Creator by believing they knew what was good or bad and they refused to obey God. That is what the Bible calls sin. It says, “As sin came into world through on man and death through sin, so death spread to all men because all men sinned” (Rom. 5:12). This sin that brings spiritual death has affected every human being since the beginning: “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). If we live with sin and without spiritual life, there can be no personal relationship with God. Without that relationship, we’re all adrift in the sea of life without anyone to really depend on. To continue without that relationship is to get by the best we can until life is over, never knowing the true meaning of life or what God has planned for our lives.
GOD’S PLAN FOR MAN
Of course, God knew very well that men would go their own way and try to be their own god. So He began working with them right where they were, teaching each generation a little more about His plan for mankind. As more people came into relationship with Him, God began to reveal that He intended to pay the penalty for man’s sin Himself. The penalty was death, so He was to come to earth as a human being and die for the sin of the world. As the Bible account progresses, prophets spelled out the details of the coming “Messiah.” In the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, we’re given a detailed prophecy about the coming of this Messiah and His death. Later, we read the account of how He came and willingly died on a Roman cross for your sin and mine. Then, exactly according to prophecy, He was resurrected by the power of God. His name is Jesus, God’s son.
Because Jesus paid the death penalty and lives again, God has promised eternal life to those who repent or turn away from sin. Eternal life is a free gift of God to those who don’t want to go their own way anymore, to those who believe that Jesus’ death paid for their sin and receive Him into their hearts and lives. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).
WHAT THEN IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?
Are we here to eat, drink, and be merry and then just die? Or are we here to be part of a glorious plan God has for our lives? Scripture says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are becoming new” (II Cor. 5:17). A Christian has a new kind of life—the very life of God which is spiritual life. We are on this earth to be “born again” of the Spirit of God. Then we are to grow and mature in that spiritual life because we have a personal relationship with God. The God of the universe is a Person who loves us personally and desires out fellowship. Through that relationship He makes it possible to grow and to become what we are created to be—the family of God.
Does your life have that kind of meaning? If it does, it is because you have made a deliberate decision to repent knowing that Jesus’ death was full payment for your sin. It also means that you have opened your heart to the life of Jesus and desire to love and obey Him daily. It means that Jesus Christ is your constant companion now and forever. I hope you find that your life has that kind of meaning. I pray that you will not fail to search your heart and know.
Suggested Additional Scripture:
John 17:3 John 5:24-26
John 3:15-16 Titus 2:14
John 3:36 I Corinthians 2:9
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Seeking Forgiveness
Psalm 32:1-5
Our God, you bless everyone whose sins you forgive ans wipe away. You bless then by saying, "You told me your sins, without trying to hide them, and now I fogive you." Before I confessed my sins, my bones felt limp, and I groaned all day long. Night and day your hand weighed heavily on me, and my strength was gone as in the summer heat. So I confessed my sins and told them all to you. I said, "I'll tell the Lor each one of my sins." Then you forgave me and took away my guilt.
Psalm 51
You are kind, God! Please have pity on me. You are always merciful! Please wipe away my sins. Wash me clean from all of my sin and guilt. I know about my sins, and I cannot forget my terrible guilt. You are really the one I have sinned against; I have disobeyed you and have done wrong. So it is right and fair for you to correct and punish me. I have sinned and done wrong since the day I was born. But you want complete honesty, so teach me true wisdom. Wash me with hyssop until I am clean and whiter than snow. Let me be happy and joyful! You crushed my bones, now let them celebrate. Turn your eyes frim my sin and cover my guilt. Create pure thoughts in me and make me faithful again. DOn't chase me away from you or take your Holy Spirit away from me.
Make me as happy as you did when you saved me; make me want to obey! I will teach sinners your Law, and they will return to you. Keep me from any deadly sin. Only you can save me! Then I will shout and sing about your power to save. Help me to speak, and I will praise you, Lord. Offerings and sacrifices are not what you want. The way to please you is to feel sorrow deep in our hearts. This is the kind of sacrifice you won't refuse. Please be willing, Lord, to help the city of Zion and to rebuild its walls. Then you will be pleased with the proper sacrifices, and we will offer bulls on you altar once again.
Proverbs 28:13
If you don't confess your sins, you will be a failure. But God will be merciful if you confess your sins and give them up.
Joel 2:12-17
The Lord said:
It isn't too late. you can still return to me with all your heart. Start crying and mourning! Go without eating. Don't rip your clothes to show your sorrow. Instead, turn back to me with broken hearts. I am merciful, kind, and caring. I don't easily lose my temper, and I don't like to punish. I am the Lord your God. Perhaps I will change my mind and treat you with mercy. Then you will be blessed with enough grain and wine for offering sacrifices to me. Sound the trumpet on Zion! Call the people together. Show your sorrow by going without food. Make sure that everyone is fit to worship me. Bring adults, children, babies, and een bring newlyweds from thier festivities. Tell me servants, the priests, to cry inside the temple and to offer this prayer near the alter: "Save your people, Lord God! Don't let foreign nations make jokes about us. Don't let them laugh and ask, 'Where is your God?'"
Matthew 6:14-15
If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, your Father in heaven will forgive you. But if you don't forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Hebrews 4:14-16
We have a great hight priest, who has gone into heaven, and he is Jesus the Son of God. That is why we must hold on to what we have said about him. Jesus understands every weakness or ours, becasue he was tempted in every was that we are. But he did not sin! So whenever we are in nedd, we should come bravely before the throne of out merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.
1 John 1:5-10
Jesus told us that God is ligt and doesn't have any darkness in him. Now we are telling you. If we say that we share in life with God and keep on living in the dark, we are lying and are not living by the truth. But if we live in the light, as God does, we share in life with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus washes all our sins away. If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in our hearts. But id we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and his message isn't in out hearts.
Our God, you bless everyone whose sins you forgive ans wipe away. You bless then by saying, "You told me your sins, without trying to hide them, and now I fogive you." Before I confessed my sins, my bones felt limp, and I groaned all day long. Night and day your hand weighed heavily on me, and my strength was gone as in the summer heat. So I confessed my sins and told them all to you. I said, "I'll tell the Lor each one of my sins." Then you forgave me and took away my guilt.
Psalm 51
You are kind, God! Please have pity on me. You are always merciful! Please wipe away my sins. Wash me clean from all of my sin and guilt. I know about my sins, and I cannot forget my terrible guilt. You are really the one I have sinned against; I have disobeyed you and have done wrong. So it is right and fair for you to correct and punish me. I have sinned and done wrong since the day I was born. But you want complete honesty, so teach me true wisdom. Wash me with hyssop until I am clean and whiter than snow. Let me be happy and joyful! You crushed my bones, now let them celebrate. Turn your eyes frim my sin and cover my guilt. Create pure thoughts in me and make me faithful again. DOn't chase me away from you or take your Holy Spirit away from me.
Make me as happy as you did when you saved me; make me want to obey! I will teach sinners your Law, and they will return to you. Keep me from any deadly sin. Only you can save me! Then I will shout and sing about your power to save. Help me to speak, and I will praise you, Lord. Offerings and sacrifices are not what you want. The way to please you is to feel sorrow deep in our hearts. This is the kind of sacrifice you won't refuse. Please be willing, Lord, to help the city of Zion and to rebuild its walls. Then you will be pleased with the proper sacrifices, and we will offer bulls on you altar once again.
Proverbs 28:13
If you don't confess your sins, you will be a failure. But God will be merciful if you confess your sins and give them up.
Joel 2:12-17
The Lord said:
It isn't too late. you can still return to me with all your heart. Start crying and mourning! Go without eating. Don't rip your clothes to show your sorrow. Instead, turn back to me with broken hearts. I am merciful, kind, and caring. I don't easily lose my temper, and I don't like to punish. I am the Lord your God. Perhaps I will change my mind and treat you with mercy. Then you will be blessed with enough grain and wine for offering sacrifices to me. Sound the trumpet on Zion! Call the people together. Show your sorrow by going without food. Make sure that everyone is fit to worship me. Bring adults, children, babies, and een bring newlyweds from thier festivities. Tell me servants, the priests, to cry inside the temple and to offer this prayer near the alter: "Save your people, Lord God! Don't let foreign nations make jokes about us. Don't let them laugh and ask, 'Where is your God?'"
Matthew 6:14-15
If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, your Father in heaven will forgive you. But if you don't forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Hebrews 4:14-16
We have a great hight priest, who has gone into heaven, and he is Jesus the Son of God. That is why we must hold on to what we have said about him. Jesus understands every weakness or ours, becasue he was tempted in every was that we are. But he did not sin! So whenever we are in nedd, we should come bravely before the throne of out merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.
1 John 1:5-10
Jesus told us that God is ligt and doesn't have any darkness in him. Now we are telling you. If we say that we share in life with God and keep on living in the dark, we are lying and are not living by the truth. But if we live in the light, as God does, we share in life with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus washes all our sins away. If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in our hearts. But id we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and his message isn't in out hearts.
Seeking Salvation Part 2
Romans 5:1-11
By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God. Christ has also introduced us to God's undeserved kindness on which we take our stand. So we are happy, as we look forward to sharing in the glory of God. But that's not all! We gladly suffer, because we know that suffering helps us to endure. And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope that will never disappoint us. All of this happens because God has given us the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with his love. Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. But God showed how much He loved us by having Christ die for is, even though we were sinful. But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed His life's blood, we will also be kept safe from God's anger/ Even when we were God's enemies, He made peace with us, because His Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by His Son's life. And in addition to everything else, we are happy because God sent our Lord Jesus Christ to make peace with us.
Romans 10:5-13
Moses said that a person could become acceptable to God by obeying the Law. He did this when he wrote, "If you want to live, you must do all that the Law commands." But people whose faith makes them acceptable to God will never ask, "Who will go up to heaven to bring Christ down?" Neither will the ask, "Who will go down into the world of the dead to raise him to life?" all who are acceptable because of their faith simple say, "The message is as near as your mouth or yout heart." And this is the same message we preach about faith. So you will be saved, if you honestly say, "Jesus is Lord," and if you believe with all you heart that God raised him from death. God will accept you and save you, if you truly believe this and tell it to others. The Scriptures say that no one who has faith will be disappointed, no matter if that person is a Jew or a Gentile. There is only one Lord, and he is generous to everyone who asks for His help. All who call out to the Lord will be saved.
Ephesians 1:3-14
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the spiritual blessings that Christ has brought us from heaven! Before the world was created, God has Christ choose us to live with Him and to be His holy and innocent and loving people. God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God's own adopted children. God was very kind to us because of the Son He dearly loves, and so we should praise God. Christ sacrificed his life's blood to set us free, which means that our sins are now forgiven. Christ did this because God was so kind to us. God has great wisdom and understanding, and by what Christ has done, God has shown us his own mysterious ways. Then when the time is right, God will do all that He has planned, and Christ will bring together everything in heaven and on earth. God always does what he plans, and that's why He had Christ choose us. He did this so that we Jews would bring honor to Him and be the first ones to have hope because of Him. Christ also brought you the truth, which is the good news about how you can be saved. You put your faith in Christ and were given the promised Holy Spirit to show that you belong to God. The Spirit also makes us sure that we will be given what God has stored up for His people. Then we will be set free, and God will be honored and praised.
By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God. Christ has also introduced us to God's undeserved kindness on which we take our stand. So we are happy, as we look forward to sharing in the glory of God. But that's not all! We gladly suffer, because we know that suffering helps us to endure. And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope that will never disappoint us. All of this happens because God has given us the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with his love. Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. But God showed how much He loved us by having Christ die for is, even though we were sinful. But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed His life's blood, we will also be kept safe from God's anger/ Even when we were God's enemies, He made peace with us, because His Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by His Son's life. And in addition to everything else, we are happy because God sent our Lord Jesus Christ to make peace with us.
Romans 10:5-13
Moses said that a person could become acceptable to God by obeying the Law. He did this when he wrote, "If you want to live, you must do all that the Law commands." But people whose faith makes them acceptable to God will never ask, "Who will go up to heaven to bring Christ down?" Neither will the ask, "Who will go down into the world of the dead to raise him to life?" all who are acceptable because of their faith simple say, "The message is as near as your mouth or yout heart." And this is the same message we preach about faith. So you will be saved, if you honestly say, "Jesus is Lord," and if you believe with all you heart that God raised him from death. God will accept you and save you, if you truly believe this and tell it to others. The Scriptures say that no one who has faith will be disappointed, no matter if that person is a Jew or a Gentile. There is only one Lord, and he is generous to everyone who asks for His help. All who call out to the Lord will be saved.
Ephesians 1:3-14
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the spiritual blessings that Christ has brought us from heaven! Before the world was created, God has Christ choose us to live with Him and to be His holy and innocent and loving people. God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God's own adopted children. God was very kind to us because of the Son He dearly loves, and so we should praise God. Christ sacrificed his life's blood to set us free, which means that our sins are now forgiven. Christ did this because God was so kind to us. God has great wisdom and understanding, and by what Christ has done, God has shown us his own mysterious ways. Then when the time is right, God will do all that He has planned, and Christ will bring together everything in heaven and on earth. God always does what he plans, and that's why He had Christ choose us. He did this so that we Jews would bring honor to Him and be the first ones to have hope because of Him. Christ also brought you the truth, which is the good news about how you can be saved. You put your faith in Christ and were given the promised Holy Spirit to show that you belong to God. The Spirit also makes us sure that we will be given what God has stored up for His people. Then we will be set free, and God will be honored and praised.
Seeking Salvation
John 3:1-21
There was a man named Nicodemus who was a Pharisee and a Jewish leader. One night he went to Jesus and said, " Sir, we know that God has sent you to teach us. You could not work these miracles, unless God were with you." Jesus replied, "I tell you for certain that you must be born from above before you can see God's kingdom!" Nicodemus asked, "How can a grown man ever be born a second time?"
Jesus answered: I tell you for certain that before you can get into God's kingdom, you must be born not only by water, but by the Spirit. Humans give life to their children. Yet only God's Spirit can change you into a child of God. Don't be surprised when I say that you must be born from above. Only God's Spirit gives you new life. The Spirit is like the wind that blows wherever it wants to. You can hear the wind, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going.
"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. Jesus replied: How can you be a teacher of Israel and not know these things? I tell you for certain that we know what we are talking about because we haven seen it ourselves. But none of you will accept what we say. If you don't believe when I talk to you about things on earth, how can you possibly believe if I talk to you about things in heaven? No one has gone up to heaven except the Son of Man, who came down from there. And this Son of Man must be lifted up, just as that metal snake was lifted up by Moses in the desert. Then everyone who has faith in the Son of Man will have eternal life. God loved the people of this world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them! No one who has faith in God's Son will be condemned. But everyone who doesn't have faith in him has already been condemned for not having faith in God's only Son. The light has come into the world, and people who do evil things are judged guilty because they love the dark more than the light. People who do evil hate the light and won't come to the light, because it clearly shows what they have done. But everyone who lives by the truth will come to the light, because they want others to know that God is really the one doing what they do.
Romans 1:16-17
I am proud of the good news! It is God's powered was of saving all people who have faith, wheather they are Jews or Gentiles.The good news tells how God accepts everyone who has faith, but only those who have faith. It is just as the Scriptures say, "The people God accepts because of their fait will live."
Romans 3:21-31
Now we see how God does make us accptable to Him. The Law and the Prophets tell how we become acceptable, and it isn't by obeying the Law of Moses. God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ. All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. But God treats us much better than we deserve, an because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from out sins. God sent Christ to be our sacrifice. Christ offered his life's blood, so that by faith in him we could come to God. And God did this to show that in the past He was right when He accepts people who have faith in Jesus. What is left of us to brag about? Not a thing! Is it because we obeyed some law? No! It is because of faith. We see that people are acceptable to God because they obey the Law. Does God beling only to the Jews? Isn't he also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, he is! There is only one God, and He accepts Gentiles as well as Jews, simply because of their faith. Do we destroy the Law by out faith? Not at all! We make it even more powerful.
There was a man named Nicodemus who was a Pharisee and a Jewish leader. One night he went to Jesus and said, " Sir, we know that God has sent you to teach us. You could not work these miracles, unless God were with you." Jesus replied, "I tell you for certain that you must be born from above before you can see God's kingdom!" Nicodemus asked, "How can a grown man ever be born a second time?"
Jesus answered: I tell you for certain that before you can get into God's kingdom, you must be born not only by water, but by the Spirit. Humans give life to their children. Yet only God's Spirit can change you into a child of God. Don't be surprised when I say that you must be born from above. Only God's Spirit gives you new life. The Spirit is like the wind that blows wherever it wants to. You can hear the wind, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going.
"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. Jesus replied: How can you be a teacher of Israel and not know these things? I tell you for certain that we know what we are talking about because we haven seen it ourselves. But none of you will accept what we say. If you don't believe when I talk to you about things on earth, how can you possibly believe if I talk to you about things in heaven? No one has gone up to heaven except the Son of Man, who came down from there. And this Son of Man must be lifted up, just as that metal snake was lifted up by Moses in the desert. Then everyone who has faith in the Son of Man will have eternal life. God loved the people of this world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them! No one who has faith in God's Son will be condemned. But everyone who doesn't have faith in him has already been condemned for not having faith in God's only Son. The light has come into the world, and people who do evil things are judged guilty because they love the dark more than the light. People who do evil hate the light and won't come to the light, because it clearly shows what they have done. But everyone who lives by the truth will come to the light, because they want others to know that God is really the one doing what they do.
Romans 1:16-17
I am proud of the good news! It is God's powered was of saving all people who have faith, wheather they are Jews or Gentiles.The good news tells how God accepts everyone who has faith, but only those who have faith. It is just as the Scriptures say, "The people God accepts because of their fait will live."
Romans 3:21-31
Now we see how God does make us accptable to Him. The Law and the Prophets tell how we become acceptable, and it isn't by obeying the Law of Moses. God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ. All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. But God treats us much better than we deserve, an because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from out sins. God sent Christ to be our sacrifice. Christ offered his life's blood, so that by faith in him we could come to God. And God did this to show that in the past He was right when He accepts people who have faith in Jesus. What is left of us to brag about? Not a thing! Is it because we obeyed some law? No! It is because of faith. We see that people are acceptable to God because they obey the Law. Does God beling only to the Jews? Isn't he also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, he is! There is only one God, and He accepts Gentiles as well as Jews, simply because of their faith. Do we destroy the Law by out faith? Not at all! We make it even more powerful.
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Revelation is happening
This world is going through a lot of hard times and mainly with money. The U.S. economy is really bad, and that is effecting the whole world. The President is coming up with a stimulas plan that is suppose to help the U.S. Well this is all part of the Revelation. There are things that have happen that the Bible said it would. Things are going to get worse and not better. It has been predicted that the next elected Pope would be the Anti-Christ, and that Obama is not really going to help this country but make it worst. It also been predicted that the Rapture would happen around 2012. For those that don't know what the rapture is; it's when all true christians are going to be taken away by God. Then the ones that don't believe will be left behind. Then the Anti-Christ would conquer the world, and that would be 7 years of hell. If no one wants to be left behind I suggest you get right with the Lord now. Follow His will and you will be alright. Now its not going to be easy, as long as you believe in Him and ask Him to take control of your life He will show you the way and take care of you. Read the Bible and know His word and tell everyone that they need to be saved and have eternal life with Jesus. If you want to know what is to come read Revelation which is the last book in the Bible. If you don't understand what it means give me your questions and I will find your answers. Now I was told that we should remember Psalm 23. I will tell you if you don't have a Bible.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my sheperd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Don't wait to long to find your way to God, because no one really knows when this is going to happen. Love God and be free and live happy.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my sheperd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Don't wait to long to find your way to God, because no one really knows when this is going to happen. Love God and be free and live happy.
Salvation from the book Revelation
Now I am going to tell you about Salvation that comes from the book Revelation in the back of the Bible. In the black front is what the scripture reads and in the read font is what it means. Now this is just the first part of the Revelation I will be going over more detail when I get some more research done. The book will mention the Seven Churches. The Seven Churches are is Asia which were selected by the Holy Spirit to portrayt the entirety of the Church Age. I have also heard that the Seven Churches is also the True Christians that follow God and that is what He will Rapture when He comes. Now John which was the last living deciple was given this vision by God, so he will be the one telling everyone what God has shown him. On another note I have gotten these scriptures from a study Bible so they will help make a little more sense. Here we go with the scriptures:I pray that you will be blessed with kindness and peace from God, who is and was and is coming. (refers to Sanctifying Grace and Sanctifying Peace, all made possible by the Cross.) May you receive landness and peace from the seven spirits before the throne of God. (is given to us in this manner to emphasize the seven fold aspect of the Operations of the Holy Spirit [ Isc. 11:2 ]) May kindness and peace be your from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness. (earthly life of perfect obedience) Jesus was the first to conquer death (refers to His Resurrection, which is the First fruits [ Rom. 8:23 ]) and he is the ruler of all earthly kings. (refers to His rulership of the world, which is a key theme of the book of Revelation.) Christ loves us, and by his blood he set us free from our sins. (the Cross proves the fact of His Love in no uncertain terms.) He lets us rule as Kings and serve God His Father as priests. (made possible by what Christ did at the Cross, and only by what Christ did at the Cross.) To Him be glory and power forever and ever! Amen. (Christ is the Redeemer, so He deserves the "Glory and Dominion," which will be His forever and ever.) I will have more for you as soon as I get some more study. I don't want to over whelm you by giving to much. I will also be talking about what will happen in the seven years of the Tribulation which would be after the Rapture of the Seven Churches and our True Christians. This will happen in my life time and it will happen soon. I hear some where around 2012, but no one really knows. So if you want to be ones of those Christians that get called in by the Lord I suggest that you ask the Lord for your forgiveness and let Him into your life. Study the Bible and know His word and spread His word to everyone. I wouldn't want to be one of those people that are Left Behind because in those seven years its going to be hell. It will be worse than watching people get torture in a scary movie. If you have any questions please let me know. You can always email me.
Revelation
What is said before reading the book of Revelation
There are three (3) main parts to this book: (1) There are evil forces at work in the world, and Christians may have to suffer and die; (2) Jesus is Lord, and He will conquer all people and powers who oppose God; and (3) God has wonderful rewards in store for his faithful people, who remain faithful to Him, especially for those who lose their lives in his service.There are seven letters to seven churches. These letters show what different groups of the Lord's followers will do in times of persecution ( 2:1-3:22). The Vision of God's throne (4:1-11) and of the scroll and the Lamb (5:1-14) show that God and Christ are in control of all human and supernatural events. Opening seven seals (6:1-8:5), blowing the seven trumpets (8:6-11:19), and emptying the seven bowls(16:1-21) are among the visions that show God's fierce judgment on the world. After the suffering has ended, God's faithful people will recieve the greatest blessing of all:God's home is now with his people. He will live with them, and they will be His own. Yes, god will make His home among His people, He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying or pain. These things of the past are gone forever. (21:3-4)What I have written are some of the things that I will be going over in the book of Revelation. Now I have mentioned in my last blog about the Seven Churches. Now these Seven Churches are real churches and when the Lord write these letters to the Churches they are for all churches from age to age. Meaning that as times goes on these churches have had different generations through them. So the letters are not just the Churches back in Jesus time, but for ours as well. I want to mention that we the Rapture comes that we do disappear. The first people that will disappear would be the Christians that have died already. Their souls and spirits are already with the Lord and while their body are still here on earth. Now when the Rapture happens their soul and spirit will reconnect with their bodies and then they will be taken back to heaven. This will happen in a blink of an eye. After the dead get taken then the Christians that are alive will be taken in a blink of an eye. Their bodies will just disappear and all that will be left is what they were wearing. These Christian's will be living with God for 7 years in Heaven, and when the 7 years of Tribulation is over God and His believers will come back to earth. Now I don't want to get ahead of my self but I wanted to get that part clear. Now most people think that Heaven is a place high in the sky on clouds, well that isn't true. Heaven is a real place, some people may say that it's on another planet or even in another dimension. No one really know, but they do know it is a real place and that is where God's throne is. Now as I learn more in my Bible Studies at church I will continue to let you know what I have learn. In the Mean time I will write to you what I have found out on my own when I get the chance. I will try to write something every other day. I know that I will write something every Wednesday after Bible Study. Until next time. Have God in your heart and He will lead you to happiness. God Bless.
There are three (3) main parts to this book: (1) There are evil forces at work in the world, and Christians may have to suffer and die; (2) Jesus is Lord, and He will conquer all people and powers who oppose God; and (3) God has wonderful rewards in store for his faithful people, who remain faithful to Him, especially for those who lose their lives in his service.There are seven letters to seven churches. These letters show what different groups of the Lord's followers will do in times of persecution ( 2:1-3:22). The Vision of God's throne (4:1-11) and of the scroll and the Lamb (5:1-14) show that God and Christ are in control of all human and supernatural events. Opening seven seals (6:1-8:5), blowing the seven trumpets (8:6-11:19), and emptying the seven bowls(16:1-21) are among the visions that show God's fierce judgment on the world. After the suffering has ended, God's faithful people will recieve the greatest blessing of all:God's home is now with his people. He will live with them, and they will be His own. Yes, god will make His home among His people, He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying or pain. These things of the past are gone forever. (21:3-4)What I have written are some of the things that I will be going over in the book of Revelation. Now I have mentioned in my last blog about the Seven Churches. Now these Seven Churches are real churches and when the Lord write these letters to the Churches they are for all churches from age to age. Meaning that as times goes on these churches have had different generations through them. So the letters are not just the Churches back in Jesus time, but for ours as well. I want to mention that we the Rapture comes that we do disappear. The first people that will disappear would be the Christians that have died already. Their souls and spirits are already with the Lord and while their body are still here on earth. Now when the Rapture happens their soul and spirit will reconnect with their bodies and then they will be taken back to heaven. This will happen in a blink of an eye. After the dead get taken then the Christians that are alive will be taken in a blink of an eye. Their bodies will just disappear and all that will be left is what they were wearing. These Christian's will be living with God for 7 years in Heaven, and when the 7 years of Tribulation is over God and His believers will come back to earth. Now I don't want to get ahead of my self but I wanted to get that part clear. Now most people think that Heaven is a place high in the sky on clouds, well that isn't true. Heaven is a real place, some people may say that it's on another planet or even in another dimension. No one really know, but they do know it is a real place and that is where God's throne is. Now as I learn more in my Bible Studies at church I will continue to let you know what I have learn. In the Mean time I will write to you what I have found out on my own when I get the chance. I will try to write something every other day. I know that I will write something every Wednesday after Bible Study. Until next time. Have God in your heart and He will lead you to happiness. God Bless.
What to expect after the Revelation
During the seven years, God will pour out three consecutive sets of judgments- seven seals in a scroll, which is called the Seal Judgments; Seven Trumpets; and Seven Bowls. These judgments are handed down for the purpose of shaking us loose from whatever shred of security we might have left. As the scroll is opened and the seals are broken, revealing the judgments, the first four are represented by the horsemen- the Four Horsemen of the Apocolype. If you have ever been exposed to such imagery and language before, you probably considered it only symbolic. The Four Horseman are white, red, black and pale. The White horsemen represents the Antichrist, the red horse signifies war, the black horse famine, and the pale horse death.
Now lets look at Revelation 6:1-2:
Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and See" And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
It's not God's intent to convey individual personality through the imagery of these horsemen, but rather world conditions. They don't all refer to specific people, because, for instance, the fourth horseman is called Death. The First horseman; the Lamb is the one that opens the first seal and reveals that horseman. The Lamb is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died for our sins, was resurrected, and will Rapture His Churches. In Scripture the first in a succession is always important- like the firstborn, the first day of the week, the first commandment. The first rider, the first of the four horses of the first seven judgments, is important! He sets the tone. He is the key to understanding the rest of the horsemen, the rest of the Seal Judgments. Who is this first horseman? Clearly he represents the Antichrist and his kingdom. His purpose is conquering and to conguer. He has a bow in his hand, a symbol of aggressive warfare, and yet there is not mention of an arrow. So how will he conquer? Other passages indicate that he is a 'willful king' and that he will triumph through diplomacy. He will usher in false peace, promising world unity. Will he be victorious? Yes! He has a crown. I say it again; The rider of the white horse is the Antichrist, who comes as a deceiver promising peace and uniting the world. The Old Testament book of Daniel 9:24-27- says he will sign a treaty with Israel. He will appear to be their friend and protector, but in the end he will be their conqueror and destroyer. Our only hope is in Christ, and even in him we will likely suffer, but at least you will be saved and go to a better place.
I will go to Daniel 9:26-27
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself; and the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. ( The phrase, "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off," gives us the exact time, even the very year that the Messiah would be crucified. The words, "cut off," refer to His Crucifixion. The phrase, "But not for Himself," refers to Jesus dying for mankind and taking upon Himself the penalty for mankind. In other words, He did not die for crimes He had committed, but rather for the cromes mankind had committed. The phrase, "And the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and sanctuary," refers to the Romans, who fulfilled this Prophecy in A.D. 70. However, the "prince," as used here, actually refers to the Antichrist, who has not yet come, but will come from among the ten kingdoms yet to be formed inside the old Roman Empire territory.)
And he shall Confirm the covenant with many for one week; and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (The phrase, "And he shall confirm," refers to the Antichrist. The phrase, "And in the midst of the week," refers to three and a half years, at which time the Antichrist will show his true colors and stop the Sacrifices in the newly-built Temple. At that time he will actually invade Israel, with her suffering her first defeat since her formation as a nation in 1948. The phrase, "Even until the consummation," means until the end of the seven-year Great Tribulation period. The phrase, "and that determined shell be pured upon the desolute," refers to all the Prophecies being fulfilled regarding the great suffering that Israel will go through the last three and a half year of the Great Tribulation.)
Now lets jump to Matthew 24:21-22
For then shall be great tribulation (the last three and a half years) such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be (the worst the worst the world has ever known, and will be so bad that it will never be repeated) And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved (refers to Israel coming close to extinction) but for the elect's (Israel's) sake those days shall be shortened (by the Second Coming).
Now everything that I have in read are the meaning of the verses that I have written. With any questions please feel free to write me. God Bless.
Now lets look at Revelation 6:1-2:
Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and See" And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
It's not God's intent to convey individual personality through the imagery of these horsemen, but rather world conditions. They don't all refer to specific people, because, for instance, the fourth horseman is called Death. The First horseman; the Lamb is the one that opens the first seal and reveals that horseman. The Lamb is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died for our sins, was resurrected, and will Rapture His Churches. In Scripture the first in a succession is always important- like the firstborn, the first day of the week, the first commandment. The first rider, the first of the four horses of the first seven judgments, is important! He sets the tone. He is the key to understanding the rest of the horsemen, the rest of the Seal Judgments. Who is this first horseman? Clearly he represents the Antichrist and his kingdom. His purpose is conquering and to conguer. He has a bow in his hand, a symbol of aggressive warfare, and yet there is not mention of an arrow. So how will he conquer? Other passages indicate that he is a 'willful king' and that he will triumph through diplomacy. He will usher in false peace, promising world unity. Will he be victorious? Yes! He has a crown. I say it again; The rider of the white horse is the Antichrist, who comes as a deceiver promising peace and uniting the world. The Old Testament book of Daniel 9:24-27- says he will sign a treaty with Israel. He will appear to be their friend and protector, but in the end he will be their conqueror and destroyer. Our only hope is in Christ, and even in him we will likely suffer, but at least you will be saved and go to a better place.
I will go to Daniel 9:26-27
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself; and the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. ( The phrase, "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off," gives us the exact time, even the very year that the Messiah would be crucified. The words, "cut off," refer to His Crucifixion. The phrase, "But not for Himself," refers to Jesus dying for mankind and taking upon Himself the penalty for mankind. In other words, He did not die for crimes He had committed, but rather for the cromes mankind had committed. The phrase, "And the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and sanctuary," refers to the Romans, who fulfilled this Prophecy in A.D. 70. However, the "prince," as used here, actually refers to the Antichrist, who has not yet come, but will come from among the ten kingdoms yet to be formed inside the old Roman Empire territory.)
And he shall Confirm the covenant with many for one week; and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (The phrase, "And he shall confirm," refers to the Antichrist. The phrase, "And in the midst of the week," refers to three and a half years, at which time the Antichrist will show his true colors and stop the Sacrifices in the newly-built Temple. At that time he will actually invade Israel, with her suffering her first defeat since her formation as a nation in 1948. The phrase, "Even until the consummation," means until the end of the seven-year Great Tribulation period. The phrase, "and that determined shell be pured upon the desolute," refers to all the Prophecies being fulfilled regarding the great suffering that Israel will go through the last three and a half year of the Great Tribulation.)
Now lets jump to Matthew 24:21-22
For then shall be great tribulation (the last three and a half years) such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be (the worst the worst the world has ever known, and will be so bad that it will never be repeated) And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved (refers to Israel coming close to extinction) but for the elect's (Israel's) sake those days shall be shortened (by the Second Coming).
Now everything that I have in read are the meaning of the verses that I have written. With any questions please feel free to write me. God Bless.
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