The Only Book of the Bible That Comes With A Blessing

Everyone undoubtedly has heard to the Book of Revelation, but to be honest, how many of you have read the entire book? Have many of you have understood what you have read? It is the only book of the Bible that promises a blessing on those who read it or hear the words read to them. Did you know that?

I do have a question, have any of your churches taught on the Book of Revelation, not merely quoted a few scriptures from the book here or there, but a chapter by chapter, verse by verse study of the Book of Revelation? For ten years, our church has not. Which is disappointing considering where find ourselves sitting in the world currently. Who wouldn't want to know how it is all going to turn out, what's next, and how can we survive? Trust me, there is no doomsday prepper show that can prepare the world for what is coming, and the last thing you want to do is be here when hell literally is unleashed on earth, like the world has never seen before.

The Bible is flawless in its ability to predict future events with such clarity and detail, it is downright scary. Now more than ever, as chaos, violence and crazy lawlessness prevails in the world, you need to be prepared and I'm not talking stockpiling silver, gold, and food supplies either. In order to survive what is coming, you need to be spiritually prepared. To enter into the Tribulation without knowing where you stand in regards to your eternal salvation is just plain crazy, who would want to.

Hard to believe that the book of Revelation is just 22 chapters long. But in it, holds what will happen just prior to the Tribulation Period, but also during and after. Some people think things are crazy and chaotic now, but it is nothing compared to what we will see in the future. Now before you go thinking I am predicting anything, I am not, I am simply stating what the Bible says to be true, step by step and it begins with knowing just who Jesus Christ is. To deny Him, is to set your choice for an eternity in hell unfortunately, there is no other choice by rejecting Him.

That is why I am going to showcase my blog for as long as it takes to walk you through the Book of Revelation, in a study beginning tomorrow that will outline what is going to happen and what the stage will begin to look like before it does.

Jesus warned us to be aware of the signs just like looking at a tree can confirm what type it is, and what season we are in. It will be that apparent, but only for those who are looking. It will be a study you don't want to miss out on, and I am not sure how long it will take, but I want to help you understand what most are missing and I've been reading about the book of Revelation for most of my Christian life. It was what drew my into a relationship with Jesus in the first place and being a huge lover of Bible prophecy and future events, called eschatology I thought I would invite you to join along with me. I hope to create such a desire to read this book in your heart and hope you share these insights with others and perhaps open up your own study in the Book of Revelation among your church and friends.

Most people shy aware from this book simply because they don't understand the meanings behind what John is writing about, and believe it's a code book of sorts that many can't figure out believing it to be a bit symbolic in nature. Some parts of it are, but most are quite literal in interpretation as well. The one thing for sure, is you don't want to be here when it all begins to unravel and I believe we are beginning to see the stage being set and the players lining up to assume their roles in this event. I hope that by going through this book, you might see the urgency in getting the word out to a dark and fallen world, that unless we turn back to God, these plans of God's will move forward.

Revelation 1:3 ~ "Blessed is the one who reads the word of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near." (NIV).

Why is Israel So Important to God?

Replacement theology is something as Christians we have to look out for. It is when people will take what the Bible says and turn it around to mean something it quite clearly does not. In the book of Revelation 12, we have already discovered that this portion of scripture is filled with symbols, wonders, and signs and there are those that would try and convince you that the woman referred to in this chapter is the church, the twelve stars represent the 12 apostles, she brings forth the child which is Jesus which we do whenever we preach, this is ludicrous. The woman represents Israel and the 12 stars represent the 12 tribes, Jesus came born in Bethlehem, that is in Israel, His first coming was to Israel and His Second Coming will be to Israel. He will sit on the physical throne of His physical father David in Israel. The woman is Israel and she is the one being attacked by the fiery dragon whom we know to be Satan, and thus the reason for the identity of the woman is so vital. You need to understand this. To learn more about this visit John Walvoord's website. A great dependable scholar that will help you understand who the woman is.

Satan is locked into a battle with God's chosen people.

Revelation 12:1 ~ "A great and wondrous sign appeared in the heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head."

This is not an actual woman but a representation of something and in this case it is the nation of Israel. The Catholic church believes this is the representation of Mary. It can't be Mary because she is pregnant in heaven, and Jesus is already enthroned in heaven. Who is she pregnant with and by whom? 

Genesis 37:5-9 ~ "Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan,. This is the account of Jacob. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. Joseph has a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, "Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it. His brothers said to him, "Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us? And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brother. "Listen, he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me."

We know that Joseph had 11 brothers and with himself added made for 12 sons of Jacob.

Genesis 37:10-11 ~ "When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you? His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind."

Out of the life of Jacob came the 12 sons. Out of the 12 sons of Jacob was formed the nation of Israel. Over and over in the Bible, God says that He is the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. What is Jacob's name when God changed it to Israel. Joseph's life by the way, one of Jacob's sons, was sold due to the envy of his brothers into slavery for 20 pieces of silver. When Jesus was betrayed he was sold by Judas for 30 pieces of silver which would have been the equivalent based on currency value at that time. There are quite the parallels between the life of Jesus and the life of Joseph. Both were falsely imprisoned and rejected by their own people. They were both led away into the world, where for Joseph, Egypt would have been that other world at that time. They were both wrongfully accused and imprisoned, but due to God's grace, He rescued Joseph from prison to rescue all of Israel including his own family. All of Joseph's parents and brothers bowed down before him not recognizing his rise in status in Egypt or knowing who he was.

There is no doubt then to who the woman is, it is Israel who would bring forth a son.

Romans 9:1-5 ~ "I speak the truth in Christ - I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit - I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs in the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen!"

Satan is not just fighting against a single enemy but against the nation of Israel and her people. Did you know that Satan has hated Israel. That is why they have gone through so much throughout history. Satan is fighting against a divine mission.

Revelation 12:2 ~ "She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth."

In the future, Satan will launch an even bigger attack against the nation of Israel, and has been against Israel for these last 2000 years, has been against Israel since its inception, through our father Abraham.

Isaiah 26:17 ~ "As a woman with child and about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pain, so were we in your presence, O LORD."

Isaiah 9:6-7 ~ "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah 66:7-11 ~ "Before she goes into labor, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son. Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children. Do I bring the moment of birth and not give deliver? says the LORD. Do I close up the womb when I bring delivery? Says your God. Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you mourn over her. For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance." 

Zion is another name for Israel. We need to stand with Israel because God says so. God commands us to do so, even though we don't agree with all of their politics. God blessed Abraham that all nations would come from Israel. There will be a rise in antisemitism in the last days because the Bible has says so. This is the reason churches are exempt from taxes so they can bear the burden of those in need did you know that? This is one of the main reasons I believe that America has been so blessed in the past.

Psalm 2:7-9, 12 ~ "I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son, today I have become your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him."

More missionaries came from America than ever before. America is in place to bring forth the second birth of Israel since May 14, 1948 and I believe that America has served its purpose. America has rejected God since the removal from the courts, prayer in schools. We fail to trust in God anymore and instead turn to money and what we can get for ourselves. So do we simply give up? Not at all, we need to be actively working as if God isn't going to come back at anytime and stay busy doing the things He has called us to do, working for the betterment of things in our city, our government and doing all we can so one day we can stand accountable to God for what we did with our time while we were waiting for God to arrive.

Rescued From The Island

Well I told you I would reveal the secrets behind the questions to the movie items in Castaway in comparison to what those items would represent in your own life. If you haven't answered the question and have no idea what I am talking about, click here for yesterday's post and read that one first before coming here for the finale.

The first question I posed was what is Wilson represent in your life?

Or the volleyball that Tom Hanks held onto until he was washed away one night at sea and it was a choice for Tom to swim to Wilson and abandon his raft at sea or let Wilson go. He chose the best, and let Wilson go, if he had tried to swim to save him, he would have exhausted himself so much that his death would have been likely.

So what does this question mean to you in your life today? It simply is rephrased as this, who gives me companionship?

My response to that question before I knew the real meaning behind the items was my husband Steve. When I thought about the question, I thought back to the symbolism of the volley ball character Wilson and what that meant to Tom Hank's character in the movie. The one person you'd be willing to risk your life for, and couldn't see your life without. I think it's a great statement of where Steve's value comes into play in my life.

The next question was What is the FedEx box in your life?

Again back to the movie where this is the only box he does not open on the island, cares for it, and makes sure when he is rescued that it is returned to the rightful owner. Many have speculated it contained all he needed to get off the island, but we will never know. The real meaning behind the question is this,

What gives me purpose?

For me it was my computer as sad as that sounds because I saw the item as something I can't do without in my life, and what my life centers around and where you find me most days. Sad because it should represent hope. What gives me hope? Yet knowing that I am encouraging people through blog posts and visiting their blogs, praying for them via emails, and blessing them with wonderful books does give me hope in my life right now. It makes me feel like I am making a difference in the lives of the people I can touch.

The next question is whose image would you draw on the cave wall?

In the movie Hanks draws his finacee's picture over and over on the wall as he counts down the number of days he has been on the island. What the question really means is ...

Who gives me relationship?

My response to that question was God which is a perfect answer since He is the author and creator of everything. I can find no greater answer than that one. He defines what works and what doesn't in any relationship including how to sustain one.

The last question was about the plastic sail Tom Hanks creates to get himself off the island and the question was,

What is the sail in your life? - It means, What provides me a way to overcome obstacles?

Just like the sail was the only way that Hanks could get his raft past the reefs during the high surf, which was the only obstacle keeping him from leaving the island. My response to this question was prayer. It's where I find myself in the midst of my own personal storms or praying for those who need their own way out of obstacles. I cry out to the only one who can help.

I hope this really touched you and I would encourage you to ask these same questions to the people in your life. Their own answers may just surprise you and them.