The Wellness List of a Church! Part 13

Whatever church we attend is a reflection of who we are. If we are a praying church, so are we. If we are a giving church, so are we. We need to measure ourselves by the lives we live, and often times, the churches we attend. In this study of the Book of Revelation, we see that each of the letters to the seven churches were designed for real churches that existed at that time in the region of Asia Minor, but we also learned that each of these letters pertains to a specific nature that can be found in the hearts of Christians. What we will learn in this process is which church are you in your own spiritual life?

We pick back up in Revelation 2:1-7 ~ " Revelation 2:1-7 ~ "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles, but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you. You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor. You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." (NIV). 

We learn that Jesus walks among His church in verse 1. "walks among the seven golden lampstands." When we look at the church we are attending, what is the atmosphere of the church, is it warm and inviting? Is it caring and reaching out? What does your church feel like?

Isn't it comforting to know that Jesus walks in the midst of our church? It would be wonderful to take a peek into the spiritual realm, to see what is happening in the middle of a church service. You might be more than surprised at what you would find. We'd see both angelic and demonic presences in the church, at war. Daniel's answer to prayer was delayed by 21 days because the angel was delayed in battle in the spiritual realm. I find it comforting to know that Jesus walks in the midst of the church. Think about that next time you attend church!

He gives the church at Ephesus a report. Do you really want Jesus' presence in church? If so, you might not like what He has to say. Jesus is like a doctor who is here to give the results of a medical exam and like all good exams, there is always good news and bad news.

Are we truly willing to obey Jesus in all things? Verses 2 and 3.

Revelation 2:2-3 ~ " I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles, but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary."

The question you must sincerely ask yourself, is are you really willing to obey Him in all things?  Jesus is giving the church of Ephesus the results of His examination and the diagnosis is this, on the outside, the church of Ephesus would be a pastors dream church. It was a large happening church, active, busy, and influential with a vision! They were a church that was doing it, and doing it right. It was a tremendous church. When we look at ourselves, we think we can't possibly be like this church, but honestly, can you honestly say that? Are we at least doing some of what this church was doing? Jesus says "I know" that you are right in 10 of 11 points.


1. "I know your works" This is the works spoken of by the apostle James, works that flow out of a true faith in God. It is the kind of "works" that proves your faith is real. We have a tendency in the Christian church to put down works because people have a tendency to trust in their works. We are not to trust in our works. We are to trust in God because we love Him, we do our works because we are obedient to Him. We do not do works to earn salvation or to earn God's favor. That is the gospel.

Ephesians 2:8-9, ~"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." 

If we are truly Christians, then there will be works flowing out of our lives. Jesus said, we would know them by their fruits or deeds. The people on their way to heaven is based on what they are doing with their lives. It's our way we can tell, if we are truly being a Christian. We should be able to look at our lives, and see the work we are doing. Does your Christian life, have works? The only person who can answer this is YOU. These are the works that provides proof of our faith that it is real. 

2. "I know your labor" This word "labor"  means that they served so faithfully, and so long that when they stopped, they would have hit the bed exhausted. It speaks of the fact that it cost them something to serve Jesus, and they loved it so. There are so few even here in any church. They were serving Jesus that way in their lives. Can you answer this question honestly, "Are you serving Jesus in such a way be it in our day, in our job, or in church, are we exhausted for God?" You feel victorious! From whatever you are doing, do you feel great afterwards based on the efforts you gave serving God? You can't wait to get back out there again. Very few people know what it's like to live Christianity like that! To serve Him to the point of exhaustion! We need to run our own self diagnosis on our own Christian life. It's not too late to get busy doing stuff for Jesus!

3. "I know your patience" This means having a happy face and a glad heart to continue onward in the face of difficulty. They had a great attitude. There were no whiners. They actually got better when things got hotter. Instead of getting bitter, they got better. There was no complainers. When you begin to do a self evaluation on your own Christian life, how are you doing so far?

4. "I know that you cannot bear those who are evil" They were committed to confronting evil and correcting it in the lives of the congregants. Church discipline was being applied. There are very few churches today, who obey Christ in this area, and it is one of the reasons today that churches are weak and polluted, sick from within.  We have lost this in this day in age. When it's done biblically, it strengthens the church. It needs to be done in love, but it needs to happen, and it will be stronger for it, and those will come back restored.

So again I must ask, are you really willing to obey Jesus in all things?

5. "you have tested those who say they are apostles and aren't." They were a church who took church seriously. They protected people against false teachers, false prophets and self proclaimed leaders.  They knew Bible doctrine, and protected the church, exposing them to the false doctrines that were being preached in the city. "You give money to this ministry and you'll be blessed." why don't they give their own money, why don't you give money to the people if you're a ministry and then you'll be blessed. There are those that are hurting and the church looks the other way. Think about it. They didn't tolerated those shenanigans or charlatans.

6. "I know you have found them to be liars." These false Christians, pretended to be apostles, were openly and publicly exposed before the body of the church.  There is a false teaching that is native to the cults but is also found in the Catholic church, the heresy of apostolic succession. Mormonism claims it, Jehovah's Witnesses claim it. There is no such thing.

7.  "I know you have persevered." They never gave up. They persisted. They fought on against an evil world, and the attackers of the church. They weren't quitters.

8. "I know you have patience, or better endurance." The desire to stay with it, to stick it out. To make it work. To be part of the solution and not the problem. That what they started to do, they stayed with it regardless of the attack against them. Out of the 100% of the church only 10% do the work, the other 90% sit back. Out of the 10% that do the work in the ministry, people are going to criticize you, and someone will question your motives. Keep doing it for Jesus and stop worrying about what the 90% have to say. Do it unto the Lord. It doesn't matter what they say. If your heart is in the right place, keep doing it for God. Don't let people pull you down. Don't take it personally. If you're in love with Jesus, do it for Him. Don't get your feelings hurt over it. Have a heart like a dove and skin like a rhino. Endure. Keep going!!!

9. "I know you have labored for my name's sake." To plod, to put one foot in front of another until you reach your destination. "You've continued on for Me." says Jesus. To keep moving forward even if only by an inch. You are still moving forward for Jesus. You know why you are doing what you are going.

One last time, are you really willing to obey Jesus in all things?

10. " I know you have not become weary." They never lost sight of the fact of why they were doing what they were doing. They knew what they were doing had a purpose. It was for Jesus Christ and for His glory only. What a tremendous church.

These are 10 wonderful and commendable characteristics that any church would love to hear in a report about how they were doing! In a sense it was like saying, "My, but this church has listened well to its spiritual leaders over the years! So when you look at your Christian life in all honesty, how do you measure up? How does your own church measure up? The results might just surprise you!

What Does A Real Church Look Like?

A church isn't comprised of a building but of the people in that building. Let us never forget that. Some people get all emotional and attached to a particular location, but the church consists of a body of believers and in most cases non believers. Did you know that the book of Revelation is the most avoided and least taught book of the Bible, even in Protestant churches? Wonder why that is? How sad that is really because more than ever, the book of Revelation is more relevant to us now than ever before.

Remember when we started this study into the book of Revelation, we learned that there is a blessing for those that read it and for those that hear it read. So why do most churches simply skip the book of Revelation? It become an indictment against the ministry, leadership or pastor of that particular church when that happens. If the book of Revelation seems strange to us, perhaps we fail to have a clear understanding of the Old Testament. The book of Revelation cross references more Old Testament books than any New Testament book of the Bible. Now that we open our Bibles up to chapters 2 and 3 in the book of Revelation, we come to the most avoided sections of the Bible of all, because it is the most convicting.

The section of the book of Revelation will bring to light what kind of church you belong to and are and perhaps that is why it is the most avoided. What kind of a church we are is reflected upon what kind of a Christian we are. It has been said, so goes the family, so goes the nation. We have yet to see what kind of a nation America will be 10 to 20 years from now, but as so goes the family, so goes the nation. So it makes sense that so goes the Christian, so goes the church, and you can't divorce yourself from that truth as we shall soon see as we study these letters to the seven churches. How you are, is how your church will be!

How the demeanor and the attitude of the church isn't based on the pastor, its not based on the staff, it is based on those who attend a church. We will see if we walk with God or not will set the atmosphere of a church. We see that each of these letters to the seven churches are written by Jesus, Himself.

Revelation 2:1-7 ~ "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles, but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you. You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor. You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." (NIV). 

A study was conducted quite awhile back from the Institute of American Church growth to measure what they call the "love" character of their churches and what they discovered might just surprise you. They discovered that growing churches are more loving, than churches that are not growing. Growing churches are more loving than those that are stagnant. There is an obvious love in those churches for their members and for those visiting. Growing churches scored 35% higher than static or shrinking congregations regardless of the churches theological position, it's denomination or its location. These churches were attended by more people because of the love factor experienced in these churches.

What scored less than the "love factor" category was the churches leadership, its liberal or conservative theology, its facilities or even its evangelical passion. People in growing churches report that they, experience a sense of welcome-ness and acceptance and encouragement, an overall love challenge to know God more, and to reach out to one another with acts of love.

We know that the apostle John, known as the apostle of love, the same one that penned the gospel of John and the three epistles of 1-3 John, and woven through these books is one central theme,

1 John 4:7-8 ~ "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Even when John was more than 100 years old and had to be carried quite literally in and out of church daily, would hold up his finger to heaven and command those who heard him, to "love one another." Everything he wrote about was about love. He even claimed that he was the disciple that "Jesus loved."

So where did John get this line of thinking? From Jesus of course.

John 13:35 ~ "By this all will know that you are my disciples, ...if you have love for one another."

All the world will know if you are a true Christian, is that you will have love for one another. We ended chapter one with a very special key. Just as every lock comes with a key, so does the book of Revelation come with a special key which we will refer to often found in Revelation 1:19, "Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this."

We learned yesterday that when Jesus gave this verse, He was outlining the entire book of Revelation.

"the things which you have seen," we discovered sums up all of Chapter 1. Where John has been sharing with us both his experience and his introduction to the Revelation.
 "the things which are," outlines Chapters 2 and 3. Here John has been given seven letters from Jesus Christ. Each letter is a report on the state of the local churches in Asia Minor, but each of them represents the universal church of the earth and our very own spiritual pulse. This is from the birth of the church, known as the church age to the culmination of the church. Meaning the world today, on this date.
 "and the things which will take place after this." outlines from Chapter 4 to Chapter 22. John after the introduction is made clear, and after the age of the church is complete on earth, record the judgments and tribulations that shall come upon the earth, which will herald Jesus' Second Coming to the earth.

This outline is very simple, but very powerful. It's the truth of the book of Revelation if we study it carefully.  Sandwiched between chapters 1 and 4, are chapters 2 and 3, which is where you and I are living today, right now in this very hour, in our personal lives and in the life of our church! Each time Jesus addresses the church, seven times, He says, "He that has an ear, let him hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches."

If Jesus were to shout from heaven to us or if he were to cry aloud, I believe that if Jesus was to audibly speak to us today, He would say this to our church today.

 "He that has an ear, let him hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches."

These letters that Jesus has written to the seven churches, must be taken seriously. These letters will challenge us, encourage us and correct us. If there was ever a spiritual tune up to be given, this is it for the Christian church! These letters apply to the churches today.

1. Each of these letters were written to the first century churches and they are as applicable to us as they were to the congregation of that time.

2. In each letter, Jesus says, "I know your works,"

3. In each letter to the church, Jesus says, "To him who overcomes," The challenge is given to each of us, to hold on, to persevere, to keep on going.  It breaks my heart today to see so many Christians giving up on their faith, on God, on commitments, on their marriages, and families, in light of what is happening in their lives today. The Bible warns that in the last days there will be a time of great apostasy and I believe we are seeing that happen today. When people would fall away from their faith.

4. In each letter to the church Jesus says, "He that has an ear, let him hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches." In an encouragement and understanding way.

5. In each letter to each church, Jesus gives a description of himself that pertains in a particular way to what that church is in need of.

These are the corporate letters to the churches today. Throughout every age and in every church, these seven natures of a church exist. These are seven real churches of that day, but it also an applicable to the churches we are in today.

These are personal letters to each of us today. Telling us that in every church these seven natures of a church exist, and that in the life of every Christian, we may experience any of these natures during our own lives. It is an exhortation to us today!

Remember this! Jesus Christ is the First and the Last, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, that He is the Lord, The Almighty, the One Who Was, Who Is, and Who is to Come, the One enthroned in Heaven above. He is awesome in His appearance, wearing a brilliant robe of righteousness, with a face as bright as the sun, having eyes as a flame of fire!

It is good for you to know that all premillennial, conservative, Bible students hold to the understanding that these seven churches also represent the chronological order of the church throughout the ages. Those scholars believe that we are living in the last days of the Laodicean church period, which I believe as well.

We begin today with our study into the first church of Ephesus. The word Ephesus means "desirable."
It was a wealthy and powerful city of the Roman Empire. Ephesus had nearly a bank on every corner. It boasted of its diversity and its open religions.  Many temples existed there, but none as grand as the temple to Diana, the Seventh Wonder of the Ancient World. It was 425 feet long, 260 feet wide and 100 feet high and had a combined seating capacity of 24,000 people. Because of its location, beauty and affluence, Ephesus was also a great place of commerce. It was located on the coast, a seaport at one time. It has since eroded quite a bit. The New York of its time. It was known as the Central Bank of Asia. It is located in what is today, Turkey.

The letter to the church of Ephesus, was a letter of a church without love. The first point we come to in dealing with what kind of church are we, are we a church sincerely desiring of Jesus' presence? We need to ask this of ourselves and of our own churches. We see that Jesus holds the church in his right hand.

Revelation 2:1 ~ "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:"

Revelation 1:20 ~ "The seven stars are the angels (real pastors/teachers) of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven (real actual) churches."

These things says He who holds "them" - the seven messengers! Jesus is in the presence of the church. Do we pray for Jesus' presence in our churches or are we far too critical of what is broken in our own churches? Talk to God about what needs to be done in your own church, do you desire the presence of Jesus Christ in our church? This church was missing its love factor. Yet Jesus still has control over the church. He has a strong grip on it. He is not leaving the church. 

In Greek the word "hold" is  "krateo" meaning to have in a grip. To have seized with dominance. To control by direct use. Direct use, means to have authority over another.

Meaning that the execution and implementation of God's will for His church is to flow through His leader who is under His direct ownership. To put it another way, the pastor or teacher is Jesus' slave. Jesus is saying, "No matter what your pastor, your church, the people, you are under my absolute authority as Your Lord and Savior! Scripture says He will never leave us or forsake us. This means the church shouldn't be focused on honoring itself, its pastor or its location. It isn't about the church, it's to be all about Jesus and gaining His presence in it. It shouldn't be about a pope or the chapel, or how great the worship is there.

The question we need to ask ourselves is have we left our first love? These letters are about our personal walk of faith with Jesus right now. Are you ready for an honest look at yourself while reading these letters? Tune back into Monday for another look at the church of Ephesus again!

 

See It All Revealed in Just One Chapter - Part 11

Welcome back to our study into the Book of Revelation and we are hoping to finish Chapter 1, today. I know it has taken a bit of a long time, 10 study sessions in fact just to deal with everything John sees in the opening Chapter of Revelation, but if you have truly studied your Bible you know that you can't truly understand what is happening in the Book of Revelation until you have read the Bible in its entirety and thus the reason many people don't understand what they reading when the open this marvelous book and see the mysteries behind what we are reading.

Brass comes into play in our final study into Chapter 1, and it has a real significance that can be found all the way back in the Old Testament. When dealing with the instruments and objects used in the Temple that Moses created, we find brazen objects, or objects made from brass, like the brass or brazen altars and lavers, brass speaks to the judgments of God as well as brass in military terms speaks of action, So when we see Jesus Christ coming back for the second time, not for the Rapture, but in returning to the earth, He is coming in judgment on the earth and its inhabitants. When Jesus came to the earth the first time, He brought healing and salvation. Even the verse He quoted from Isaiah when reading the scrolls in the temple, He stopped at a pause, or a comma. Why? Because the very next part of that Scripture speaks of God's judgment and that is exactly where we find this Jesus now in the Book of Revelation, ready to dispense judgment or picking up right where He left off the last time He was on the earth.

He is going to be bringing judgment, wrath and His purging power to the earth before He establishes His coming Kingdom here.

He is the Jesus who's for us, having suffered the wrath, that we find in verse 15, of Revelation Chapter 1, ~ "His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters."

Jesus has suffered the wrath of His Father in our place, for the payment of sin. It is the very nickname we give to the military whenever referring to them, we call them the "brass." The leadership of the military is known as the brass. It is the military that brings judgment in the way of action on the nation it is invading. What Jesus do you relate to today? The Jesus that comes in judgment to the world, that kind of brazen Jesus or the Jesus that suffered the wrath of God in payment for our sins so that we might have salvation through Him? Are you fearful and afraid of Him and His coming because you don't know Him and He is coming in judgment or are you saying thank God for that brass, that nature of Jesus dying in our place for the salvation that can only be found in what He did, the judgment that I was supposed to receive instead?

When Moses had the serpent staff, what did he make it out of? That's right brass! He held it up for the people to look upon it for the salvation of their sickness they were receiving because of their sinful hearts and actions. The serpent, the original origin of sin, on a pole, judged, Satan was judged regarding the cross. Jesus paid for our sins when He was lifted up, as He stood in our place as it were on the cross as God heaped upon Him all the sins of the world. Notice how his feet are the ones like bronze glowing in a furnace. This is the same Jesus who before used to have his feet washed, they now no longer have to worry about getting dirty, they are now no longer subject the anger of men.

Zechariah 12:10 ~ "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son." (NIV). 

He is the one who is for us, having first called us by name. (Verse 15 and 16).

"and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance."

Jesus' mouth has two different aspects, the sound of it and the sword of it. If you have ever been around a massive storm surge with pounding waves, or the sound of a mighty waterfall, you can not only hear the roar of the water, but you can feel its power as well. It is something to be awed by and respected. It puts fear into you. It's symbolism. Moving water is the symbol of living water. The sound of the water, has a tendency to calm you down. Sometimes when Jesus speaks to us, that it is soothing, calming peace, and at other times, it can put fear into you as well. I am so glad it is that same Jesus that calls me by name.

John 10:27 ~ "My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me." 

John 10:3-4 ~ "The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they  know his voice. "

And the sharp-two edged sword is the Word of God.

Revelation 19:15 ~"Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations."He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty."

But in His glory in His revelation, He sounds like a roaring sea or a cascading waterfall.

Hebrews 4:12 ~ "For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

Who is Jesus today? He is the Jesus who comforts us.

Revelation 1:17-18 ~ "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am live for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."

He is the Jesus who comforts us with authority.

"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last." Revelation 1:17. 

There are six very different things to grasp here.

1. "He laid his right hand on me."

You want God's right hand on Your life. You want to be seated at His right hand. The Bible tells us that it is God's right hand of strength don't ever be on God's left side. On the right side, God says He will argue for you, to enter into His kingdom. Apparently God must be right-handed. Don't argue. Get on his right side. This the hand of favor and of blessing. If an agreement was to be struck, it came through the right hand. If acceptance was given, it came through the right hand. If an association was to be enjoyed, it came through the right hand. Because of "His right hand."

In Matthew 25:34 ~ "Then the King will say to those on his right, "come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 

Matthew 25:41 ~ "Then he will say to those on his left, "Depart from me you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."  

Psalm 18:35 ~ "You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great."

2. "He said to me, "Do not be afraid." 

Imagine for a moment if you, right now, could hear the voice of Jesus Christ speaking to you. "Stop worrying or stop being afraid." The natural question is why should I stop worrying. Here comes the reason why we shouldn't be afraid or worry.

3. "I am the First and the Last"

I am the totality of God's revealed Word to man. I am the consummation from Genesis to Revelation and Beyond. I am the Word from the First and the Last. Christian, next time you are afraid, remind yourself of this, you can grab hold of God's promises, because He is the First and the Last.

This title is reserved exclusively for God alone!

He is the Jesus who comforts us with all power. (verse 18).

"I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am live for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." ~ Revelation 1:18. 

Jesus Christ Is the Almighty God. I would invite you today to know this Jesus today, the one who lives forevermore. To have your sins forgiven, to give Him your life!

4. "I am he who lives and was dead." 

"I am He who lives, " That is alive and never to die again. That is good news. Put your faith in Him who lives forever and you will never be disappointed again.

"and was dead, and behold, " that is "my body suffered to the extreme, look at it!"

5. "I am alive forevermore."

That is I will be alive throughout the eons upon eons of ages. Epochs without end.

Christian, how long will you live in heaven?  Alive throughout the eons upon eons of ages, epochs without end.

Christian, how long will you be secure in heaven? Saved throughout the eons upon eons of ages, epochs without end. As long as Jesus lives. FOREVER!

Hebrews 7:25 ~ "Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." 

He is the Jesus who comforts us - with all rule. 

6.  "I hold the keys of death and Hades."

Satan's been evicted friends. All he can do now is panic. Panic, by blinding people to the truth. Panic, by keeping you busy instead of serving. Panic, by stealing you away from worship. Panic, by having you be lazy toward church things. So why would you ever want to be on the defeated team?

Jesus has the Supreme Rule. He is saying I have the keys, you enjoy the kingdom.

Who is Jesus Christ today. He is the Jesus who comforts this way. (verse 19-20)

"Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now, and what will take place later. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches." ~ Revelation 1:19-20

Jesus Christ himself gives us the outline of the entire book. It's so important he says, "Write it down!" It's what we tell people to do when something is important and we don't want them to forget.

He is the Jesus who wants us to know that He knows. He even gives us the outline! He must like three point sermons. If you focus on Revelation by Jesus' outline, you'll never go wrong with Bible prophecy.

Write these things. (1) which you have seen. (Chapter 1).
(2) the things which are, (Chapters 2-3)
and the things that will take place later. (Chapters 4-22).

He is the Jesus who wants us to know that He will teach us. (verse 20).

The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels (protecting angels or faithful pastors) of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches." Jesus calls his pastors, messengers, same word for angels. His messenger to that church! That pastor by God has been installed as that messenger to that church. The book is now open! We just concluded Chapter one and you know what has been revealed in just that one chapter?

He will teach us about Himself. So what do we know so far?

He is Jesus.

He is the Christ.

He is the faithful witness.

He is the first begotten of the dead.

He is the prince of the Kings of the earth. 

He is the One who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.

He is the One who comes with the clouds.

He is the One who was pierced for us.

He is the Alpha and the Omega.

He is the Beginning and the End.

He is the First and the Last.

He is the Lord.

He is the Almighty.

He is the Son of Man.

He is He that lives and was dead and is alive forevermore!

THIS IS WHO JESUS CHRIST IS! This has all been revealed in just one chapter in the Book of Revelation! He is our Savior and our Redeemer.

No Where to Hide - Part 11

The Bible has warned that in the last days, good will be called evil and evil will be considered good. It seems like all around us, what would have caused us to be a bit taken back is now being embraced as courageous, the ability to share what people have kept hidden for so long is now being accepted as the 'new normal.' Transgenders, homosexuals, and literally everything in between is being applauded that these life styles are now not only being brought in front of the public eye, but every organization and company is now supporting their cause. Everything that is, except for Christianity. It is the one thing that no matter what else is being accepted in this world, Jesus Christ, is still being pushed further and further in the closet and those that want equal rights with all the other groups are being labeled as intolerant.

Even in the midst of the Corona Virus pandemic, churches are being labeled as non-essential while abortion clinics are being kept open as an essential businesses. Suicides and domestic abuse are on the rise during this time and there is no one who can help them. Even doctors offices are closed and they are watching people die in their homes because they are too afraid of getting the virus. Even early detection for heart and cancer issues are being left untreated because of the lock down as well.

People continue to extinguish the light, so that they can continue to dwell in the darkness and not be ashamed by what they do. The Bible reminds us that men love the darkness more than they love the light. It's because the light exposes things and shines a bit of prominence on them. We have to remember that we are not in this world to become a part of it, but to bring a part of our world to this one and show the differences in what could be. That is our mission. If we continue fellowship with Him the light will continue to burn brighter and brighter. Our challenge in this life is are we maintaining fellowship with God? Lord may we spend sweeter time with you, more challenging time growing with You. We are longing to spend more time with Jesus as the time grows shorter before He will come again. We need to ensure we are spending time growing closer to God during these dark days ahead instead of walking apart from Him.

Revelation 22:16 ~ "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." (NIV).

What is the bright and morning star about? Light! He is the announcement of a new day coming, a brighter day! Just before the dawn, when things are the darkest, the bright and morning star appears, Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:19 ~ "And we have the world of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to is, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." (NIV).

Jesus is with us and He is with us as our High Priest.

Revelation 1:13a ~ "And among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest."

As John sees Jesus, he attempts to describe him among the seven churches.

Hebrews 4:15 ~ "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet without sin."

The reference that John is making in how He is clothed in a robe reaching down to his feet, is addressing His priestly robes. No longer an earthly priest, no longer in the temple, no longer in a confessional, or a pulpit, Jesus is wearing a priestly robe. But why? Because He is our priest. He is the only one we need to confess our sins too, not to another man dressed in a robe, or a collar. Jesus is our high priest and we have direct access to Him at all times.

Hebrews 4:16 ~ "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

1 Timothy 2:5 ~ "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,"

John said he saw someone "like a son of man" Jesus Christ is man, Jesus Christ is God.

Hebrews 10:21-22 ~ "and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." (NIV).

We don't need to tip toe into the presence of God, nor do we need to boldly walk in without any respect either like we own the place, for that would be blasphemous, but you can walk in and call Him Dad, Papa, Abba, I need to talk to You. Just like when your kids come to you telling you that they need to talk to you, no appointment is needed. Do we enter into the presence of God wanting to talk to Him with boldness? God invites us to do just that.

The reference to Jesus being referred to as the "Son of Man" is used to describe Jesus over 70 times in both the Old and New Testament. Jesus, refers to Himself as the Son of Man, it is His title. Just like King in the gospel of Matthew, symbolized as a lion, an animal of nobility. In the gospel of Mark, Jesus is referred to as a Servant, symbolized as an Ox, a beast of burden or ministry. In John's gospel, Jesus is referred to as the God the Son, symbolized as an Eagle, an animal of glory and splendor. But it isn't until Luke's Gospel that we see Jesus referred to as the Son of Man, symbolized as the face of a man, Christ becoming human for us.

We see John describing Jesus, the Son of Man, dressed in a robe down to His feet, and it makes reference of that in Isaiah 6:1 ~ "I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exhalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple."

His glory fills the entire temple! The Bible also refers to his chest being girded about in a golden sash, in Revelation 1:13a, it is an announcement that He is God, He is man, and that He is priest forever! This is very important to us, because Jesus came down to earth from Heaven, He is God. He is also man, born from the flesh of a woman, Mary, in the child of Jesus Christ, but this God, this man, came to die for us, risen again from the dead to be our eternal priest. He is the priest forever and He has the golden sash across His chest. signifying His priesthood, one of the Levites, who also had a band across their chests with golden thread woven in it. Jesus' band across His chest is solid, a symbol of His glory.

He is the Jesus who is for us in verses 14 and 15.

Revelation 1: 14-15 ~ "His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters."

We see this Jesus as one who has judged our sin. "His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire." His head and his hair were white like wool, symbolizes His great authority. His head, his hair, white, glowing and emanating the light of glory. It is Jesus alone, that possesses all authority, according to the Bible, and perfect judgment. They still do this in England in Parliment, where the justices come out wearing white wigs, because they represent authority and judgment, or righteousness and of power.

Matthew 28:18 ~"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been give to me."

The Jesus that sits on the throne in heaven is sitting there in all authority, power, glory and righteousness, perfected in the glorious light of heaven. The one with the authority to judge. The good thing is that He is there for us. He has judged our sins at the cross. Yet the book of Revelation is dealing predominately with the Second Coming of Christ, and when He comes back, He will be doing so to judge the earth and their sins. All because they refused to accept Jesus Christ, as their Savoir, as their Messiah, and their Lord and King.

The scripture goes on to describe his eyes were like blazing fire. Remember it's not that Jesus eyes were blazing fire but that they "looked like blazing fire."Fire speaking of absolute and perfect judgment. He sees all things, dreams, thoughts, visions, emotions and motives, and knows why we do and say what we do, and there is no where we can hide that Jesus can't see. Those flames speak of His perfect insight into our souls and motives. He knows the motives of our actions.

Psalm 44:21 ~ "would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?"

It's like being in a courtroom where the judge knows everything. He knows why you did what you did, what your motives were and what you were thinking. No one will be able to stand before Him and hide anything from Him. He will know it all before they utter one word. And they will know there is no one they can blame or an excuse that will get them out of where they now stand before Jesus.

Daniel 7:9 ~ "As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze."

2 Cornithians 5:10-11 ~ "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad, Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it also plain to your conscience."

John 5:22-23 ~ "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. "

A lot of Christians forget that we don't have to live in fear of losing our ability to get to heaven. You and I will have to stand before the judgment seat of Christ, where he will judge us for what we have done as Christians and for what we haven't done as Christians. We will have to give an account for what we did with the time we had as Christians before Him. This is what Kathleen did with her money, this is what Kathleen did with her time, this is what Kathleen did with her witness, and the Bible states that we will receive the disciplinary action of Christ or the blessings of Christ. It has no bearing at all, on my eternal destination as a Christian, neither will it have on yours as long as you are a Christian. This is the only judgment for believers. We will not stand before the Great White Throne Judgment mentioned later in Revelation.

You can fool the entire world but you can't stand before Jesus Christ and attempt to fool Him. Jesus is with us in those moments when the shades are drawn, when no one is around. Jesus sees it all. There is no where we can hide what we do from Him.

Tomorrow, we will wrap up all of Chapter 1 before heading into the seven churches! Hope you'll join me and be sure to share with others you might think will be blessed. 

Seven Golden Lampstands - Part 9

Last week we looked at the rapture of the church in correlation to the reference in Revelation Chapter 1 and the reason for John's exile on the island of Patmos. Remember that the word "Revelation" means the unveiling, the knowing, the revealing. Today we will take a look at Jesus as He is now in heaven in all His glory and power. Picking back up where we left off in the Book of Revelation, let's look at Chapter 1:12-20.

"I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone 'like a son of man,' dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.  When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches." (NIV). 

Remember as we look at this portion of scripture it has been some 50 years since John had seen Jesus face to face. John knew Jesus in a personal way. It was John, who laid his head on the chest of Jesus, he refers to himself in the Bible as "the one who Jesus loves." Meaning he had a very close and personal relationship with Jesus. He was the only apostle that stood at the foot of the cross while Jesus died and was the one Jesus instructed to care for His mother.  Now however, John sees Jesus in a completely different way.

He sees Jesus revealed in all of His glory and grandeur. Remember the last time we see John, we see him in the Spirit on the Lord's Day and it's a great place to be, in the Spirit of the Lord. John was being transported into the spirit realm, and he sees Jesus Christ, no longer the humble Galilean who preached on the shores of the sea, but the enthroned Son of God in power and worshiped by all in heaven. This is just one of many visits John will take into the spiritual realm. For when the Bible says "in the Spirit" he is announcing he was taken to a place of the time or eternity where all is now before God and he sees the events that are taking place in the earthly realm. It's like John takes a journey in a time capsule so to speak. He is transported from one place to another where time has no limits. He sees things that in his time, have never been seen before, except through visions given by God through His prophets.

John says he is "In the Spirit" in Revelation 1:10 and he also says it in Revelation 4:2 ~ "At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it." 

In Revelation 17:3 ~ "Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered in blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns."

In Revelation 21:10 ~ "And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of the heaven from God."

As you remember before that John heard behind him a loud voice like a trumpet, which we have learned is not a talking trumpet, but the voice of God announcing His intentions to John. Interestingly in the Bible, trumpets were primarily but not exclusively used as an announcement, to call people to worship, to war or for celebration. Isn't it interesting that according to the Bible, God will call His people home to heaven with a blast of a trumpet at the moment of the rapture?

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ~ "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 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. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we are are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly no precede those who have fallen asleep. 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. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the cloud to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore, encourage each other with these words." (NIV). 

Notice that God appears in the atmosphere, not to earth and there will be a sound of a trumpet blast and the Bible says that those who have died in Christ will be resurrected first and then those of us that are alive, shall be caught up to meet them in the air, and we will be gathered together with a trumpet blast to be with the Lord and we shall always be with the Lord.

Now John is hearing the voice of a trumpet, which is the voice and calling of the Lord Jesus Christ and we see what John sees, the appearance of Jesus Christ, in all of His glory and power, we will never see Him quite the same ever again. When we get a glimpse of who the real Jesus Christ is, it won't matter what people say about you or do to you. It doesn't matter what kind of slander they create or what kind of story they might tell, because when Jesus Christ is enthroned in your life, you can stand firm in the things of this world, because you know where your strength is found.

Hebrews 13:6 ~ "So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (NIV). 

When you see Jesus enthroned in all His glory and power, it is hard to imagine bowing down to any other person in this world no matter how great they were or think they are today. John was given the greatest revelation to all mankind. So who is Jesus Christ today? There are four key points.

1. He is the Jesus - who is with us (verses 12-13).

"I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone 'like a son of man,' dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. ~ Revelation 1:12-13 (NIV). 

He is always with us in the light. "I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands," so what John sees at this point is the voice of one speaking is the one in the midst of these seven golden lampstands. The seven golden lampstands are no doubt examples of light. There are two interpretations of what the seven golden lampstands represent according to scholars. The first is that as Jesus is standing, there are seven individual lampstands surrounding Him, and He is standing in the middle of them. Yet in the Old Testament in both the Tabernacle and in the Temple in Jerusalem, there is a menorah. It has a single root and rising up from that root are seven branches total. It is the same seven lampstand menorah, is also forever illuminated in heaven. The ones created on earth, were in exact detail of the one that is in heaven forever. You can either see this a seven individual lampstands with Jesus standing in the middle representing the seven churches or it is understood that it is the seven lampstand menorah which represents the single root of Jesus with the seven lampstands branching off of it, representing the completeness of God, the completeness of the churches with Jesus walking in the midst of them.

It is a symbol of God's dwelling, because He dwells in this glorious light, the menorah or these lampstands were a symbol of light, and they are a picture of the church illuminating against the dark background of a sinful world. It is the very same reason whenever you go to buy a diamond in a jewelry store that it is placed against a dark black or blue background to intensify or project the aspects of the diamonds ability to illuminate light, so it is with the church. The darker the days get, the more evil and cynical, barbaric and lawless the world gets, and the more the church or a people hang on to Jesus, the more it will shine. That is the point. Our homes, our lives, our churches and communities will not compromise. It will stand for righteousness and holiness and if God brings back a revival it will be a return to the holiness in the lives of Christians! Where the world no longer has a grip like it has on so many people today.

1 John 1:5-7 ~ "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son purifies us from all sin." 

John 8:12 ~ "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but have the light of life." (NIV).

Which means we can not be living in sin, a rebellious life against God, Christian or not, by the way, and living a life asking God to bless and hear our prayers. The Bible says, he will not listen to our prayers and he will not lead and guide us because we are walking in sin. Walking after self, walking after our own agenda.

So the seven lampstands represent the seven local churches of Asia Minor, but because there are seven of them, the also represent the Christian church in totality of the New Testament age.

Matthew 5:14-16 ~ "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (NIV). 

We as a church, have a responsibility to be that light that Jesus is talking about here. You can take any light or flame and move it away and eventually it will burn out. It is out of fellowship with the light and it will be reduced to just an ember. When we get distant from Christ or distant from fellowship, and thus the reason it is imperative that you attend church that teaches the Word of God for fellowship, and strength for one reason alone, because God has told you in the Bible to do it.

Why? For this one reason, that together, we may burn brighter, it is through fellowship that we can see the power and glory of God at work, in our personal lives, in our churches and communities. We need to spend more time fellowshipping with one another. Stop saying the church is too big and you don't know anyone. Put on your goggles, go the edge and simply dive in. Find out who is there. Why do you think churches are growing and getting bigger, for your comfort? No to affect the world more!! Larger church, larger resources, larger vision.

Tomorrow we will continue our study into the remainder of the verses in this section. Thanks for stopping by today and if you are blessed by this study, please share it with others. It is amazing to see how God will use this to change lives simply by sharing it on your social media pages.

Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega! Part 8

We look around us today and believe that our hope lies in the governing bodies of the world to ensure peace, but it will NEVER be found within any government on earth, only in the salvation and glory of Jesus Christ. No U.N. flag will grant us what has been sought after since creation, freedom from war and a true peace until Jesus returns. Picking back up in our study in the Book of Revelation 1:7.

"Look, he is coming with the clouds and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen."

We learned yesterday in our study that Jesus will return in the clouds at His Second Coming and that EVERY eye will see him. The Book of Revelation is not clear how that will happen but with the invention of the internet, smart phone technology and plain supernatural power, it will happen. But that event has not be fulfilled yet.

We pick back up with a look at "even those who pierced him;"

Lets look at some references to that in the Old and New Testament.

Zechariah 12:9-11 ~ "On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem. And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. On the day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo." (NIV). 

Let us remember that most of the Jewish people living in Israel refuse to accept Jesus Christ of Nazareth as their Lord and Savior. They want nothing to do with Yeshua Hama-shech, or Jesus the Christ. But salvation is coming to the nation of Israel again,"they who pierced Him," it was the "religious" leaders of Israel, those who prevented the nation of Israel from coming to faith in Jesus Christ. Religion can often be a dangerous thing.

Matthew 23:13 ~ "Woe to you, teachers of law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, not will you let those enter who are trying to."

Matthew 16:6 ~ "Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Saducees."

Remember this was written 1000 years before Jesus was pierced.

Psalm 22:16 ~ "Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet."

We know that Jesus Christ is coming again and it will be a universal event and He is bringing judgment. Revelation 1:7b ~ "and all the people of the earth will mourn because of him." You should circle the word people or tribes, meaning all the ethic groups from every social level. EVERY SINGLE PERSON EVERYWHERE.

So why are they all going to be mourning because of Him? Because He is coming back in righteousness, He's coming back in power and in glory, and He is coming back in judgment. I believe the rapture of the church will clearly happen before the Second Coming. What you don't want to do is be one of those people who are left behind when that happens. That push off God's invitation of grace. He says here in Revelation 1:7b ~ "and all the people of the earth will mourn because of him;"

The word mourn used here is a sad word, it's not "Oh? Jesus is the one. Let's welcome Him back. Jesus is the one!" That is not what the word here implies. It's not the mourning where they realize "Oh we blew it, now we understand." The word here means they are mourning because they are against Him. They are trembling, they have been caught. It is the word you use when you have been 'busted' for a crime. The people of the earth will be 'busted.' The Jesus they mocked, will be the Jesus that comes in glory.

Isaiah 26:19-21 ~ "But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead. Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed upon her; she will conceal her slain no longer." (NIV).

This clearly delineates the two events, the Second Coming and the rapture for one another.  The first half of these verses is clearly speaking of a resurrection. Dew evaporates in the morning never to be seen again. It speaks of God's people to "enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while" why do they have to hide? Because a day is coming when God will punish those remaining on the earth for their sins.

God said "his people" are hidden away from a time when all His wrath is poured out upon the earth, and that is exactly what the book of Revelation speaks about concerning God's judgment.

So who is He that is coming? We move on to verse 8 in Revelation 1 ~ "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

We know that He is the eternal one. The word Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and Omega is the last. We would say "A to Z" in English, in Greek it is "Alpha and Omega."  But this is a reference that Jesus is the complete and total Revelation of the Word of God to all mankind, and doesn't the Bible say He is the Word of God?

But it's open ended at the end because the Word of God will not come to an end, it continues on. What He is saying is "My Word, which is My Son, you have come to know. But in all time and eternity, you will get to know Him forever more. Even when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we don't know all the ins and outs of who He is, but we know enough that we want Him into our life and we will spend an eternity learning all there is to know about Him. It will take that long to truly know and understand how wonderful and truly awesome He is.

Jesus Christ is also the Ruler of all the ages.

Revelation 1:8 ~ "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

He is the beginning and the end. It is a reference to the governor of time.

Isaiah 9:6 ~ "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." (NIV).

We say Everlasting Father, but what it really means is the Father of All Time. He is the Ruler of Time, and what is more precious to us than money these days, Time!!! All the names or titles of Jesus Christ are titles strictly reserved for God alone. The Alpha and the Omega, The Beginning and The End, The First and The Last, God the Father, manifested His will for mankind to be saved through His Son, Jesus Christ, and it's through Him and the preaching of His Name and of His Salvation that men could come into that wonderful relationship with God. It's not a religion by the way, it's a relationship.

John 8:58 ~ "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"

He is also the ever present God back to Revelation 1:8, ~ ""I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." (NIV).

This is a title reserved for God alone, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." The word "Almighty" here is the one and only, all omnipotent and omnipresent. There is only one says the Bible. When it says "he is the one who is" means I am here right now. When it says, " who was" means I was there back then. When it says, "Who is to come" means I will be there when...

This is the God that you and I worship!!!

He was there, He is here now and He will be there in the future! Wherever we are, He is there!

Our final point today, is Jesus Christ is coming again because that is what the Bible says. in Revelation 1: 9-11 ~ " I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord's Day I was in Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches to Ephesus, Syrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea."(NIV).

So why was John in prison again? And on a dump of an island called Patmos. No one takes a tour to Patmos. You go to Turkey, head south on the Aegean Sea, and you can see the island of Patmos, nothing but a barren volcanic rock. Rome sent prisoners there to dig in the mines, and then when they were done, they would just throw them into the ocean. It's a horrible place, there is not one bush, shrub or ounce of greenery anywhere. And that is where Rome sent John. It's kind of funny how he got there. He was preaching, he was the pastor of a church in Ephesus, he was the longest living apostle, all the other guys are dead, and they can't get rid of John.

He was a tremendous witness, he was arrested because he loves the Bible and he tells people about Jesus. He was arrested for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. The arrested him, put him in a pot of boiling oil to make an example out of him, but according to church history, he came out just fine. They got so mad that nothing hurt him, they put him on a ship and sent him to Patmos to die as an old man. So what does God do, it's a desolate and lonely place, and in John's loneliness he sees the glory of God. The book of Revelation is revealed to him in his old age, more than 100 years old, and during this time the emperor of Rome, Domitian, dies. Minerva now comes into power with a little more compassion towards Christians, and has John sent back to Ephesus where he lives out the rest of his days. He spent every ounce of his life preaching in the church, even to the point he has to be carried in, because he could no longer walk.

But today we live in such a godless, lawless society. No life is valued, no one is safe. Before when people robbed you, they would hold a gun towards you and ask for all your money, now they simply shoot you and take what they want anyway. How far we have fallen in this world, where we will sell baby parts from aborted babies for profit. Jesus reminded us that when He comes back, people will have a heart against the law. They will be lawless.

Notice how John compares himself as both a "brother" and "companion" he didn't say I got a robe, stand back, kiss my ring, give me a reserved parking spot. He is a "brother" and "companion" in suffering, kingdom and patient endurance. The Bible clearly reminds us that in this life, we will have tribulation. Are you having a rough time? Are you having a rough life? The Bible says we will have rough lives, Christians, we have rough lives and tough times. But they have a purpose and a meaning. No matter what we are struggling with, in our lives, there is a meaning to our suffering. In fact when you have a meaning to suffering, it makes suffering actually helpful. But if you don't have a meaning to your suffering, your suffering is hopeless. We are like John, we are "brothers" and "companions" because we too suffer and have tribulation in this life. We can relate to John.

2 Timothy 3:12-13 ~ "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived."(NIV).

John was being arrested, tortured, beaten, boiled and left to die simply for believing in the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus, what a wonderful thing to behold, you know you are doing the right thing when that happens.

Verse 10, reminds us that there is a time to listen, " On the Lord's Day, I was in the Spirit and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, "(NIV).

What we know for sure is that the voice was NOT a trumpet, based on the use of the word "like" it's a simile or symbolic. It's as of a trumpet, meaning a trumpet is NOT talking. He simply hears a loud voice that catches him off guard, not that he turns around and sees a trumpet talking to him. Whoever is speaking to him is speaking to him as clear and loud and bright, as like a trumpet. Like when a trumpet makes an announcement. Whenever Israel was called to battle, called to worship, called to congregate, how did they do it? A trumpet! Isn't it interesting that the church will be gathered together the same way? A trumpet!

I believe that is why God told Moses to make two silver trumpets, one represents Israel and the other, represents the church, but that is just an opinion and isn't really part of the study. Numbers 10:1-3.

So why should any of this matter? Because without a doubt, Jesus is coming back. And so many people believe they have all the time in the world to make the decision to accept Jesus into our life. We don't know when it will happen, and trust me death, can happen when you least expect it. Don't believe for one moment you might have enough time to make that decision at that moment. It might be too late. Trust me don't wait.  

ARE YOU READY FOR JESUS TO COME BACK TODAY? 

Join me tomorrow for the continuation of the Jesus we see at the conclusion of Revelation Chapter 1!

What is the Second Coming?

Getting back to our study into the Book of Revelation and picking back up with the nation of Israel who we know to be a place and a people specially handpicked from God. Back in the biblical times, the nation of Israel entered into a covenant with God to follow Him and all His ways, but as we all can attest to, despite our best intentions, it didn't last. Their hearts weren't in the right place and soon Israel began to rebel against God. So God used Israels' enemies to scattered her to the ends of the earth, but God didn't allow them all to die. He saved a remnant that He would bring back to His land again, which happened on May 14, 1948, when the nation of Israel became a nation in one day for the second time. Ever since that time, enemies of Israel have been doing their best in hopes of destroying her again and taking over the land, but the Bible is quite clear that this will NEVER happen.

We see Israel referred to in the Great Tribulation as the day of Jacob's Trouble, because Jacob was renamed Israel by God. Israel has always been and will always be the apple of God's eye. Woe to those who turn their back against her, much like the United States has begun to do for the first time since 1948 and may God help us if we don't wake up soon.

In the book of Daniel 9:24 ~ "Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your hold city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy." (NIV). 

These means 490 years for Daniel and his people, the Jewish people in the holy city of Jerusalem. To finish the transgression, which Jesus did on the cross, "to put an end to sin" - Jesus did that on the cross, "to atone for wickedness" - that is bringing us to God through His sacrifice and guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Sunday morning, "To bring in everlasting righteousness" - this has not happened yet. When Jesus Christ returns, He will set up His kingdom, the Bible says, and He will rule in righteousness.

Zechariah 12:9-11 ~ "On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem. And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. On the day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo." (NIV). 

This prophecy was written 1000 years before the birth of Jesus and speaks of His Second Coming. God is saying He will take out anyone who tries to mess with Israel. It is where Jesus will rule and reign. Jesus Christ is coming back and He is coming back in judgment.

Revelation 1:7 ~ "Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be~ Amen. "(NIV).

The book of Revelation is considered the book of books because the entirety of the Bible penned by 40 authors, 66 various books over 2000 years and Revelation is where we can get cross referenced to all the other books with such clarity and centrality of one theme, being Jesus. Just the book of Daniel, the book of Revelation quotes from it 31 times alone. This is the very reason so many people shy away from reading the book of Revelation, because they haven't ready any of the other books that have proceeded it. The book of Revelation also deals primarily with the nation of Israel continuing as a nation in the last days. In our lifetime, the nation of Israel still exists. It is the one nation that had existed, ceased to exist and now will exist forevermore. So many people mocked the study of Revelation, because the nation of Israel hadn't existed yet, but it does now.

We know that Christmas is coming when we see the stores bring out all their Christmas decorations even at the beginning of fall if not before then. We know Thanksgiving is near because we see the Christmas decorations out already. We know the coming of Jesus and the rapture of the church is coming soon because we see the signs on the horizon and the Bible is pretty clear just like Christmas decorations, as to what those days ahead would look like before He returns.

So in today's study we will look at three things from verse 7 in Revelation.

Jesus Christ is Coming Again. His coming will be a universal event.

"Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen." (NIV). 

This means that it will be a global event. This refers to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This is important. The first coming of Jesus Christ, He came to the nation of Israel, He was born in Bethlehem, presented Himself as King on Palm Sunday week, in Israel, in Jerusalem to the Jewish people. That was His First Coming. His Second Coming is very much like His First Coming in purpose, it's a presentation to the Jewish people and the nation of Israel, as the Messiah. Between the First and Second Coming, we have a predominately Gentile event known as the Rapture of the Church. The reason this is being brought up is because we are going to be looking at scriptures from two very different events.

But the first thing we see from John's perspective is the Second Coming, it is a universal event. He's coming in glory that everyone will see. No one will be able to miss this event. Notice that it says He is coming with the clouds. This has nothing to do with a weather event or a storm front that comes rolling in. It's not the clouds you or I would see. This is a glorious appearing in the clouds, not like anything we have ever seen before. John is warning people to pay attention because this isn't something you want to miss. He is drawing attention to this event. Jesus Christ is the only one who died and rose from the dead as our Lord and Savior and yet He is the one all the world mocks and makes fun of. No other religion tolerates that kind of abuse of who they worship, except with Jesus people think it's okay.

We will never see glory as we will when we see Jesus coming. No matter how great our church service or worship service will ever get close. We fail to think of Jesus that way, we think of Him as the shepherd on the hill with the lamb, the calm and happy version. We don't see Him as He is right now, sitting in His glory. Peter, James and John got a brief opportunity when they got to see Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah but even that pales in comparison to what Jesus will look like when He returns.

In Daniel 7:13 ~ "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence." (NIV).

He spoke of this 1000's of years before the mention of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 24:29-30 ~ "Immediately after the distress of those days "the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give off its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken." At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory." (NIV). 

Mark 13:26 ~ "At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory." (NIV). 

Luke 21:27 ~ "At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." (NIV). 

1 Thessalonians 4:17 ~ "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." (NIV).

Those are the events that are speaking of the Second Coming and the Rapture of the Church.  Wherever Jesus is, there is glory! The glory of Jesus when He returns will far surpass anything that Speilberg or Lucas have done for Hollywood. It will pale by all their efforts.

It states that Jesus is coming back with clouds. This is where some debate among scholars exists. They all believe in His glory, in the Second Coming the church is already present with Christ in Heaven when He returns. The church appears in Revelation 19:11 ~ " I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter" He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." (NIV). 

"The armies of Heaven" is a reference to the church. Fine linen is reserved for the bride of Christ, the church. Whereas the Tribulation Saints are given white robes to wear. The church wears fine, white linen. This is our wedding gown. We are riding a horse, in a wedding gown, probably with a helmet on, who follow Jesus on his own horse. There are some people today who won't believe this will happen until they see it. Trust me, you won't want to wait until You do. Time will be up by then if you see this sight and you haven't made a choice yet.

He is also coming in power, in strength and every eye will see Him. This is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and it is not the rapture of the church.

Matthew 24:30 ~ "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory." (NIV). 

Not those who are looking for Him. Not a select few that wait for Him. But every human being on earth will see Him coming. Nothing is impossible for God. He stands outside the laws of nature and physics and how He will bring this about, we know it isn't impossible when He makes is happen. He could make it happen in visions, dreams, in the atmosphere right in front of our face if He wanted, He could project Himself to every single person. He will be coming from the east to the west and stop on the Mount of Olives that will split in two. EVERY EYE will see him.

The Second Coming is a Coming, a returning and the Rapture is an appearance, atmospherically. The One is, to take away his church, the Other is to take back the earth.

Regarding the Countdown to the Second Coming, Matthew 24:21-27 ~ "For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now - and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect - of that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." (NIV). 

He promises when He comes back, people WILL know it. The Second Coming brings judgment and the establishment of righteousness, and the 1000 year presidency of Jesus Christ. The Rapture takes us into joy and excitement and wedding and a reception in heaven. These two events are at least 7 years apart from one another. and we will take a closer look at the rapture and the nation of Israel in tomorrow's study.