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What we can say with some assurance is that certain verses of scripture are being fulfilled; the biggest general one being an increase in knowledge and travel ( Daniel 12:4). In fact; the idea of the Gospel being preached to the whole world along with some other statements in Revelation seem to show an worldwide network of video which we have today.
To warn of anything clearly prophetic in scripture for now and the future is being obedient to sounding the trumpet as Ezekiel warns we must do (See Ezekiel 33). God does nothing without warning the prophets ( Amos 3:7). This is certainly true during the time of Jacob's trouble with the 2 witnesses and 144,000 Jews proclaiming the Kingdom to come but certainly there is a need to preach repentance today as many of the promises and warnings to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3 have direct application today; especially the Revelation 3:10 praise to the Philadelphia church; and likely Revelation 2:22-25 to Thyratira where it appears many could be left behind who are caught up with seducing spirits or literal immorality with seductive women.
Revelation 18:5 talks about Mystery Babylon and her sins piling up into heaven and whether our nation is Babylon or it is centered in Israel itself or the new city planned for Abu Dhabi we can certainly say with the statement in Daniel that in general leaders have become completely wicked ( Daniel 8:23) is the season for Antichrist to appear. No doubt also our sins in America align with many statements about a mingled people that used to know God and have prostituted themselves; in our case with sex traffic and pornography that we have either directly supported or turned a blind eye to; to the countless millions of lives terminated in the womb; to the shocking number of crimes in this country; etc.
I will say this as a positive note for those who are out there giving the alarm that it is a necessary practice; the church is mostly asleep.
Since it is 2 AM I likely will have some other ideas later today; but a summary is this.
1) Always include scripture in context to bolster anything you sense the Lord is showing you.
2) God will not fully unleash His judgments until the Tribulation and
3) In the church age there is a certain conditional state where prayers can modify; delay or perhaps eliminate certain actions by God.
I myself have felt that scripture itself with its general admonitions particularly in regard to blessings and cursings can be very predictable in a prophetic sense in the fact that we always reap what we sow. One specific example involved someone I used to know who talked about a friend who drifted into sin and started having mental problems. That principle of sin and its repercussions basically is either directly or indirectly affecting all mankind due to their fallen nature; and of course this side of eternity we can turn back to the Lord and avoid an early demise and eternal wrath.
With the subjectivity regarding anything that is a dogmatic statement to prayers of others to thwart an event even a true utterance may be uncertain to the listener. I am convinced no specific day can be proclaimed for a particular event to happen.
One big example of this is all the failed predictions for the Rapture. Using human logic; an author I wrote to over 20 years ago who has since likely died was making predictions and the framework was the idea that has long since failed that 1948 had to mean the last 40 year generation had started with Israel becoming a nation in a day ( Isaiah 66:7-9). The idea of the generation where all things come to pass of course comes from Matthew 24:34. This could be referring to AD 70 exclusively but that isn't logical with supporting scriptures. It also could mean that the generation that begins to see the birth pangs will not pass until all things are completed. We are past 2028 for His return with a 7 year trib.
In keeping with the theme of Independence Day; let us always remember the day we came to faith (if indeed we have a specific day we remember that happening). Some have Christian families so they kind of "eased" into the life of faith and perhaps later understood the significance. For me it was some date in May 1982; not sure exactly when I prayed with my friend and his mom to receive Christ after the Lord graciously allowed my friend and a second friend within a few months of each other and independently from a different church that attended my High School to witness to me. That was a secular school so pretty remarkable.
Anyway; I was restless and wanted to post a general thesis about what some may call "extrabiblical" revelation; or perhaps others would phrase as not believing in cessation of certain spiritual gifts. I focused on that subject in the past although may want to go into it further at some point; but the concept of having a dream or vision from the Lord is very popular today.
I had a particular dream about an EMP type event more than once; and part of it involved my Dad oblivious to everything on his computer which now with his advanced Dementia seems to not be something that can truly happen; albeit he is in his own world. I can't explain feeling the heat from the flash of light and asking a friend of mine he seemed to think that wouldn't happen if something exploded 60 miles up. It is possible that the vantage point I had was distant from where it hit but I remember it being in New Jersey and it was likely a clear day; probably in September.
I mention my own experience because it forces me to be impartial as to judging any validity in discarding what obviously isn't true. Part of my other experiences were of a vision when it comes to the mark of the beast to come; I didn't see anything in regard to personal acquaintences but always sensed it would happen when my parents were still alive; now that my mom died it won't.
The Devil is the last thing we need to fight ( James 3:15).
We are as Ephesians 6 indicates; to be in full armor for although we are involved in the battlefield we are relying on Christ's intercession and strength; for in our own strength there is no hope. I don't think this point is emphasized enough and lack of scriptural knowledge on the subject is foolish. I won't bother at this late hour to look up all the verses but Daniel in particular emphasizes the powers and principalities that were directing the actions behind the scenes of different empires that were to continue for centuries no doubt with the same entities; namely Michael and Gabriel and Lucifer and his minions.
The accuser of the brethren is mentioned as finally being cast out of heaven in Revelation 12:9. Whether he is accusing just us at present or the saints in heaven until this is finally completed in the middle of the Tribulation as far as I can tell isn't clear to me but I am convinced we are all a part of the prayer and activity and get a "front row seat" as it were to God's judgments on earth. This has; no doubt lead to the accusation of non believers of us escaping and gloating over what comes to pass. God is just and if we accuse Him of being unjust of course that increases our judgment.
God is the one who is going to grant the authority for the Antichrist to rise to power and succeed in all He does for a short time as Daniel and Revelation make clear. I would be bold enough to suggest that when we can see clearly we will even now begin to understand how much Satan blindsides us in blocking our view of God and His blessings for His children. If we are His own we recognize His voice and with so many false voices today we need to focus attention on Him alone. If the enemy accuses us we must confess to the Lord immediately. If he tempts us or puts thoughts in our mind we must rebuke him as it is NOT sin until we pursue it. Maranatha.
RP
My COGIC Worship: 1 Corithians 15:3-4 KJV.
I Worship God that Cutts off, defeats, destroys false gods, idols, wickedness. I Worship God that shows me innocent of my faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I Worship God that wants you to believe in the kingdom of God and serve Jesus Christ. I Worship God that judge fairly and in injustice to prevail in me.
Here are some summary points
1) Many times God places things on our heart that are of little interest to others and we must bear the burden alone in full reliance on the Lord. This could involve our own personal struggles that we are not always free to share or the Lord for some reason forbids it. This may involve asking for forgiveness for others that have mistreated us as one example.
2) We must be alert to all methods of deception. This involves the world flesh and Devil.
a) The world. The world system and it's many forms of deception have been crafted by the enemy for many centuries.
There are vices which affect some and not others but no doubt there are one or two which we personally struggle with
in particular. Finding any comfort in the things of the world is something which we shouldn't do ( 1 John 2:15-16). Nor
should we rely on its riches or our own resourcefulness to supply our needs. This of course must be balanced by wisdom and hard work but ultimately we rest on the finished work of the Lord and trust Him to meet our needs. We focus on meeting needs of others whenever we can.
b) The flesh. It seems almost unnecessary to remind anyone of this issue in regard to distraction in our prayer life as it no doubt is painfully obvious to anyone trying to walk in the Spirit. Maybe I am assuming after almost a decade of not watching television; watching movies etc. that it is easy to simply not partake in some useless if not corrupted entertainment; although I am online and of course along with everyone else need to be vigilant to quickly bypass the scantily dressed and suggestive ads that pop up sadly quite often on Christian sites.
c) the Devil. I will conclude for today at leat on that third subject. BTW sorry can't seem to correct these margin issues.
I am on a roll here; but like a brick wall there is the very difficult discussion I am about to address on prayer in regard to the destruction of the wicked. Whether it is necessary to actually do this or not; we should know that David prayed many of these prayers and having the broken and contrite spirit that Psalm 51 mentions is imperative to avoid our own hypocrisy in some "holier than thou" prideful attitude.
I am convinced that this is a priority issue that also encompasses prayer that must be discussed. As my earlier posts suggest there is a sort of merging of the concept of people dying in the seal judgments with the plagues and hell in the 5th seal. Isaiah himself states that hell enlarges herself ( Isaiah 5:14).
When we are saved; TRULY Born Again we understand we truly were enemies of God; helpless in our sin and we indeed were on the broad road to destruction before He called and chose us. At least it USED to be taught that way. Today's "seeker friendly" attitude is something that I have no doubt stating that will be part of the concept of "spewing out of His mouth" in regard to a lukewarm church mentioned in Revelation 3:16 which I would suspect means someone is left behind in the Tribulation. Whether their faith is true or not no doubt a remnant there was saved or Jesus sould not have addressed it. Now of course that actual church along with all the other ones in Asia Minor in the region of Turkey are long gone but the concept stands today.
Whether we feel like it or not God wants us to love the things He loves and hate what He hates. There are many corresponding verses which I will leave the reader to study. Let's veer to the other side on that concept; the idea of loving our enemies. God is backwards to our flesh; but we only begin to realize that after we are saved. We are a peculiar people ( 1 Peter 2:9). We are aliens to this world ( 1 Chron. 29:15).
1 Peter 5:8-10
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
I have touched on verse 8; but often verse 9 isn't considered. How often do we pray for others so that they will not fall for temptation? Most often I would guess that would be a mother praying for their children; but all of us should pray for our fellowservants in Christ in that regard. It is easy (at least for me) to assume I am the only one going through stuff and isolation is a tool of the enemy. We need a healthy balance of "alone time" as well as healthy fellowship. It is too often I fear that people are either stuck in one mode or another.
Prayer is an action which we make a conscious choice to routinely practice. It also should involve an openness to the Spirit for spontaneous prayer. Again there should be both or a person either tends to be restricted to the people and place he or she is gathered and a particular agenda. Answered prayers need to be remembered even if they are months or years later.
Today more than ever proper praise of the Lord is imperative if we are to have close fellowship with Him and with His church.
I am not even sure if many who call themselves non cessationists shall I say open to the Spirit's giftings are still this way today that much but instead are drawn to emotions instead. A proper frame of mind will indeed cause our emotions to properly express the Spirit's work. Hard prayers such as I brought up in my first post to convict hearts for many will never be approached because our human compassion overrides God's plans and purposes.
I have listened to some online and my overall conclusion is that now more than ever we need to be clear that judgment is coming; and we need to be ready for His coming. As to the Rapture; one could argue all Christians are raptured. Whatever the truth is in light of the references in my last post I am not taking any chances if I can avoid it. One can surely say many who think they know Christ are fooling themselves and at the very least many will find themselves getting into heaven as through the fire and suffer loss. ( 1 Corinthians 3:15).
Today as I see it and I am sure I have said this several times before if not more often; it is those that profess Christ that often give us the greatest resistance today. There are several reasons for this; first I believe we are well under way with the judgment that begins at the house of God ( 1 Peter 4:17). This causes many to "beat their fellow servants" who are trying to give meat in due season ( Matt. 24:49; and Luke 12:42). Our house truly is divided; and separation among the household of God is most evident today; and that will be followed by the world as a whole. The wheat and the tares will be separated; and soon.
These sobering facts mean that we need to pray that we guard our hearts against such deception ( Proverbs 4:23). Rebuke is in order for those who will listen; and of course we need to pray in particular when to persevere in fellowship and when we need to move on. I am in that process now. We need to discipline ourselves as well as seek Godly counsel and accountability lest we be hearers of the Word and not doers.
Vigilance means being in a constant mindset of prayer. As I probably have said many times by now we can learn a few things from the enemy of our soul; firstly that we need to be as diligent as the accuser to ensure we have confessed all known and unknown sins. If the enemy is constantly on the prowl we can't afford to ever let our guard down.
I am not one to put my faith in politics and am not going to attest to any clear evidence our Commander in Chief is a Christian.
I'll let others argue that point; nonetheless I am grateful that today as with other recent meetings he has consulted on the phone with Mr. Putin. There is apparently some sane conversation; albeit Russia is intransigent on achieving its goals which seem pretty evident to include almost complete annihilation of the country in question where they have been at war since 2022. There have been other discussions which may bring temporary peace; at least to the African nations he has brokered peace with Rwanda and Congo last week. In terms of the expanded Abraham Accords we certainly can't avoid implications that either lead toward or will ultimately broker the covenant confirmed with many in Daniel 9:27; since the 2 state solution obsession lives on after decades of failed efforts. Nonetheless; I am grateful for every day we don't have judgment on this country; but mark my words the time is coming. War; famine and pestilence in the seal judgments are coming in their fullness soon; and perhaps some other things will have partial fulfillment beforehand.
I am sorry to say that there has been things in my life regarding sin that have dragged me into a feeling of hopelessness and doom. I can probably say that all of us here need to walk consistently in the Spirit to overcome; especially today. The doom that is coming SHOULD make us motivated to warn others to flee the wrath to come; whether it be the Tribulation or hell (a sort of simultaneous thing if we read ( Revelation 6:8). I believe Satan wants us to be afraid that we will be left behind. Truly the Lord warns us in Luke 21:36 to be praying we are worthy to escape all these things to come to pass; and that same concept is shown by the overcomers in the Philadelphia church in Revelation 3:10. Let us submit our lives fully to the Spirit
Whenever possible, it is good to have quality online prayer with other believers especially those on the mission field. Unfortunately our church hasn't updated their technology and has been slack in finding; for instance a missionary not heard from in Ukraine for at least several years. I have tried to be clear in regard to what may be perceived reality and what is actually happening.
The news reports tend to focus on the Middle East and the "special military operation" going on in Ukraine. Africa and South America are certainly less in focus. Any good news isn't told; admittedly seeing constant footage of endless war and suffering is needed for those who wish to put their head in the sand; but we also need to be balanced praying for those in their everyday circumstances. We can; for instance forget where persecution occurs such as Africa in particular we also have problems with prosperity and other spurious Gospel messages although I suspect much of that group of people as they are in this country are often left alone as they aren't much of a threat to Satan's agenda.
At this point; we have seen more influx of those from other nations coming to evangelize here as of late from what I gather; and we certainly need to start reaching out here in spreading the Good News at least opposing the mindset that we will hold out until we can travel to a faraway land to do the same.
Now being a blessing to others whether it is sending funds; or doing service for those in church which I just did last Sunday for a few hours for someone moving into a new home is helpful; I certainly am lacking in the gift of service so I need to do all I can to learn from others who have this gift. Occupy until I come ( Luke 19:13) certainly has many meanings and practically speaking we shouldn't slack in helping others ( Galatians 6:9). Jesus was always doing the work of the Father ( John 5:17). In our own puny way let us do so also
Perhaps a good way to start this commentary series is to focus on what we should NOT be praying about. John makes it clear from scripture we shouldn't pray about a sin leading to death ( 1 John 5:16). Paul sort of expands on that when expelling a brother when he says that: To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. ( 1 Cor. 5:5). These verses show that we indeed should desire a person returns to fellowship as the man did who committed the heinous sin of sleeping with his father's wife ( 2 Corinthians 2:7-8); which I assume the verse on restoration is referring to from 1 Corinthians.
Now the 10000 dollar question is what sin leads to death; clearly the result of all sins is death; but we could say someone who murders someone could qualify for that particular sin. Or in the above verses we should pray that through God's discipline someone repents not pray for them to be restored before repenting; or seek somehow to circumvent God's clear instructions not to fellowship with those who proclaim Christ but live i willful lifestyles of sin We see in 1 Corinthians 5:11 that particular instruction.
I think from these verses there are proper times when we should pray for conviction of sin; and that applies to a professed Christian who is either lapsing in sin or has progressed or never removed themselves from such a lifestyle but our approach is different. The nonbeliever MUST be convicted as John 16:8 states so that sin; righteousness and judgment to come are paramount in their fear of God that is the beginning of wisdom. ( Proverbs 9:10).
Too many people seem to think that rebuke and prayers for conviction and lovingkindness; mercy and compassion are mutually exclusive. We need only to look at Christ to see how both exist; with more warnings of hell than statements about heaven; and yet sacrificing His life throughout his earthly ministry and atoning death.
I hope this does you good. I heard someone say How easy it is, with time and emotion, to allow the truth received to become diluted. But now I'm moving towards true love is also watchfulness. - But keeping it, oh, that part is harder. My soul, made for feeling, hasn't always known how to watch.
So, I hope that these words - will be for you a reminder that true faith is simple, the way is narrow, and God's heart is wide in mercy. (Be it Revelation 3:20; See Matthew 12:7; See Hosea 6:6) But our Lord declared firmly and tenderly: 'I want mercy, not sacrifice'. Thus, even those who see themselves without religious titles or external merits can find welcome in Him, for the door that is Christ - as John tells us - there is no key, no ritual, but only trust and step by step. ( Matthew 9:13; John 10).
Revelation 19:12 - His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and we saw that in his vision in Chapter 1 Verses 9 through 18. Flame of fire in scripture always represents judgment.
And on His head were many crowns; Here, the word is DIADEMS, for the royal crown. He is King of all kings, and Lord of all lords. So, He has many crowns.
Revelation 19:14 - And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, and that would be us, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Revelation 19:15 - And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron:
We see this in Psalm 2:8-9. He's going to rule them with a rod of iron. And He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
What the bible is now picturing for us is actually what is being prepared right now, a large wine vat, and the grapes of wrath are being put into this vat. And what they used to do is they would get in with their feet and trample on the grapes until the juice comes out.
And so, our time is being depicted as a time when you're throwing the grapes in the vat, and when the vat is full, the Lord Himself will come and trample down the winepress with the fierceness of His wrath.
Revelation 19:11 - And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He does judge and make war. In other words, the emphasis is that everything the Lord does is in righteousness. He makes war, and He judges, and it's all righteous.
Please notice, because this is what I alluded to back in Chapter 6 Verses 1 and 2 at the breaking of the first seal, because remember there was a white horse that came out, and the one sitting upon it had a bow in his hand. And he went out to conquer those upon the earth.
And for many years, scholars believed that was a picture of the second coming of Christ. But I showed you how it lines up in Mark Chapter 13. The first four phases that Jesus gave was the revelation of the false messiahs.
The red horse was the wars and rumors of wars. The black horse was the famine. And the pale green horse was death, either by the beasts of the land, or people, or earthquakes, or various events.
That person back in Revelation 6:1-2, he came on a white horse, but he had a bow. He didn't have a sword. His crown was a STEPHANOS, a wreath, where the Lord here, He's going to have DIADEMS, not one, but many.
So, the white horses match, but everything else is different. And that's why Revelation 6:1-2 is not the revelation of Christ at His second coming. This here is the second coming. That was the representation of the false messiah.
Here Christ comes on a white horse. And He was called faithful and true. And in righteousness He does judge and make war.
Revelation 19:4 - And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God who sat upon the throne, saying, Amen; Again, that's from the Hebrew which means so be it. They said Amen; Alleluia.
Revelation 19:6 - And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
The Greek word for omnipotent (PANTOKRATOR) means the almighty. He reigns!
Revelation 19:8 - And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white:
The word white is the word LAMPROS which means bright. Clean and white: for fine linen is the righteousness of saints. So, we as His bride, we will be clothed in white, fine linen. And notice that this is all taking place in heaven. We are there!
Revelation 19:10 - And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
The entire message of the Tanak (the Old Testament), and the entire message of the New Testament is the testimony of Jesus Christ. The book of Revelation is part of the testimony of Jesus Christ. It is all part of the testimony of Jesus Christ. It is not centered on us. Every message and every teaching is centered on Jesus Christ.
When we are taught from the New Testament, we're taught because we belong to Christ. So, my testimony should give honor to His testimony to who He is. And that's the whole message of scripture.
Revelation 19:1 - And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
And after these things I heard a voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia;
There is no Greek word for the word Hallelujah. It is a transliteration in Greek for the Hebrew that means praise YAH, HALLELU, and then YAH, which is God's name in the Old Testament, YAHWEH.
It is interesting that the Greek just transliterates the Hebrew, and we just transliterate it from the Greek. But it means give praise or worship to YAH.
Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God:
Revelation 19:2 - For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
For true and righteous are His judgments:
What an attitude now from before when believers were wanting to know where's the victory?
True and righteous are His judgments. And I emphasize to you that as we move through the various stages of judgment, that sometimes a fourth, or a third of people or things were destroyed at various times in the judgment period.
It would seem to some that God was inflicting a slow death just to make them be tormented. But in reality, as I pointed out to you in these different sections, God was only destroying a few so that it would give the rest of the people a chance to repent.
Even during the Tribulation Period, there's going to be a time when God is going to allow people to repent, but John repeats over and over again, they refuse to repent of all of their evil, and all of their wickedness, so that in the end when it is all destroyed, we can say for true and righteous are His judgments!
For He has judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of His servants at her hand.
Revelation 18:4 - And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
And I heard another sound from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people. This will be the call of God during the Tribulation Period. Come out of her, that is, this harlot, this system, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. So, he says come out of her so that you will not be caught in this judgment.
Revelation 18:6 - Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
She's going to receive double judgment because of what she did to the saints. And this is the prostitute, the whore. The religious system.
Revelation 18:14 - And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
And the fruits that your soul lusted after are departed from you. Interesting. These are all the things that people lusted after that the antichrist's system gave to them if they would just bow down and worship the image.
Revelation 18:23 - And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
Interesting, it's called sorcery. Intoxication of the mind is a sorcery. And all the nations are deceived by satanic philosophy and the way of the world.
and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal./ And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel."
This square within a circle is how the Spirit defines the new heaven and new earth. They have been blessed in his Son and set apart as a new creation. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."(2 Cor.5.17).
There is another earth which is the outer darkness.
Either you see the truth through the true Light or see through you naked eyes. Blessed are they see through the eye of faith. Amen
A schematic drawing or plan that shows the details of how something operates or is put together.
Throne
Rev.4.1-4 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne." and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald."(v.3)
And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. (v.4)
Here we have a circle to represent the heaven. The city is foursquare to fit within the circle and it is situated in the firmament or heaven where the right hand of the most High, the risen Christ is seated. (Heb.1.1-3) The two groups of 144,000 each make up the holy Jerusalem.
Rev.21.10-11 that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,/Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
clear as crystal is where St John, A sea of glass. "And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal."(4.6) In the will of God this glass is mingled with fire.(15.2)
Before the throne is an altar and the voice comes from the world framed by the word of God as distinct from earth which is the footstool of God.(Isa.66.1)
Rev.6.9-11 "I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:/And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
The Holy Jerusalem
Rev,21.16-17 "And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth:
"And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
Mark 10:45
"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
Blessings
(Part 2):
Now, in Verse 6 which you asked about, it says, "Who gave himself as a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." A more literal translation of this verse reads, "the One who gave Himself a ransom on behalf of all, the testimony in its own time."
What that's saying is that Christ died for every one of these leaders, even Nero himself. And so, we should pray on their behalf that they come to know what Christ has done for them.
Now, before this is taken the wrong way by anyone here, please know that I am not promoting prayers for the dead because we are not to pray for the dead. What I am saying is that when Paul wrote this, he is telling them that even though Nero is evil, they were to pray for him and all. This would apply to us also in our day. We are to pray for all men, even those we might view as evil.
I hope this helps.
God Bless!!!
(Part 1):
In 1 Timothy 2:1-8, Paul is giving instruction concerning prayer. In Verse 1, it says I encourage therefore, and it lists four things: supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
When he says for all men, he goes on to say in Verse 2, "For kings, and for all who are in authority." Please keep in mind that when Paul is writing this, Nero was in charge. Paul says pray for the kings and pray for everybody that's in authority.
Verse 2 tells us that the reason why we should pray for everybody is so that we can live in peace. How do we as believers today make the connection? Well, instead of bad-mouthing government, instead of protesting, we are to pray for them.
Verse 3 tells us that this is the type of thing that God wants us to be doing in prayer. All the evil people, and all the bad leaders, we are to pray for them, not be against them.
The reason why this is the right thing to do and why it is acceptable to God is given to us in Verses 4 through 6.
It is God's desire for everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Even the people that we don't like, and all the people that we don't agree with, we are to pray for them.
According to Jesus in John Chapter 7, the Holy Spirit has been given to convict the world of judgment and of sin, and of the righteousness which will come. So, we can and should pray for the evil ones of the world and pray that God's Spirit will convict them of their need of Christ.
That doesn't assure that they're going to be saved. But our number one concern for all people should be not to badmouth them because of the kind of people that they are, or because they are evil, but to pray for them.
Why? Because God wants to see all people come to know Christ and to the knowledge of the truth. God wants everybody to come to that knowledge.
Please see Part 2...
You are welcome. I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I hope to wrap this up by the end of next week!
God Bless!!!
Revelation 17:12 - And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
And that's the 10-nation confederacy that is already formed. But three will be absorbed into the seven.
Revelation 17:16 - And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
Now what in the world is going on here?
The beast is only going to allow the religious system, the prophet, to ride this beast for so long. And the ten nations are going to give their allegiance to this woman. But when the antichrist is through with her, then he's going to turn against her, as well as the kings because they're going to be on his side, and she's going to be destroyed, this religious system.
Revelation 17:17 - For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
God says this is my will. Give all of your allegiance to this woman. But God says that once my plan is fulfilled, then I'm going to turn them against her. And they will destroy her.
Revelation 17:18 - And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
And the woman which you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth. That's Rome, cryptic Babylon.
Revelation 18:3 - For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
Everybody's mind was intoxicated with the economic, political, and religious system of the world.
Revelation 17:9 - And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
And here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills, on which the woman sits. It's the city on seven hills. Does anybody know what it is? It is Rome. It is cryptically known as Babylon in the book of Revelation. There are other theories out there but with every other description we are given in Revelation Chapter 17, Rome fits every category.
Revelation 17:10 - And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he comes, he must continue a short time.
Now what all this means is that there are five kings that have ruled. At the time of John is the sixth. So far, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, the Medo-Persians, and Greece have ruled. The sixth is Rome that's under the rule at the time that John was writing.
He's going to tell us in Verse 11, just to throw more confusion at us, he says that one is going to rise up, who is the seventh, and will become the eighth. So right now, the sixth is ruling, and the seventh is yet to come, from John's standpoint.
There are seven kings. Five are fallen. One is, and that would be Nero or Domitian at this time. And the other is yet to come, the seventh one. And when he comes, he must continue a short space. That would be the antichrist, with the old Babylonian system. He will only have a short time. In fact, heaven is going to declare that he only rule for an hour.
Revelation 17:3 - So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
So, he's caught up in the spirit realm and he saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast. This would be the same beast of Revelation Chapter 13, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. Yup, that's him!
Revelation 17:4 - And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet color, the color of royalty. And she was decked with gold and precious stones and pearls. Boy, she's looking good! Having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
Revelation 17:6 - And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration (THAUMA MEGA) meaning astonished. He was thoroughly taken in by this sight, a beautiful woman riding on the beast. He was astonished, awestruck!
Revelation 17:8 - The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Again, it's not a matter of switching books. Again, another book in which they are not in.