BIBLE PROPHECY AND REVELATION

GNOSTICISM - A DEVIL'S PIT

2012-01-15T21:45:00.000-08:00

In the following examplewe can learn about wolves in sheep clothes and how they try to deceive us ... The poster Gary McGaugh makes clear in his statements on Revelation 1 that he sees things Spiritually only - which is typical for a gnostic approach to things, something the Apostles and the Church fathers had problems with - it is good for study purposes, because it can help us not to fall into the pits of the devil (who is not this poster), too:

Gary McGaugh wrote: "Understanding doesnt come from scripture, understanding comes from God the one who inspired what we read."

God says: "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:13-17 KJV)

Vera says: "We all knew already what Gary McGaugh wrote above... but it does not mean the Scriptures are worthless. We believers HAVE this Spirit, so when we read the Scriptures we will understand them, and we do not need people who tell us anything else than God's Word says."

Gary McGaugh wrote: "As I said before, to one will see in script one way, and the same script will be something else to another."

God says: "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Timothy 4:1-4 KJV)

Vera says: "See what I mean"?

Gary McGaugh wrote: "If one is seeking the revelation of the Christ outside somewhere and yet to come, seeking Christ yet to come, then one hasnt experienced what it is for Him to actually come and reveal in one who the Christ really is. He is come to me and made His abode in me. I no longer have to seek Him, who He is, what He is, His purpose for me, or what I must do. It is opened to me, and dont think in terms of a book of revelation but an actual event, The revelation of the Christ actually happend."

God says: "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." (Revelation 1:7 KJV)

Vera says: "Amen. I will believe God. Jesus will come for all to see, and if this had happened already, there would be tons of reports about it. So to keep up their views, they have to make it all something that happened "within" – but they are just confused and think accepting Christ in one's heart would be the Second Coming of Christ as described in the Bible. The first is happens all the while, the latter will be in the future and, to repeat God, *for all to see*."

Gary McGaugh wrote: "The hardest thing God faces is for us to recieve Him in our being. Saying one is of Christ according to the law is not the same as actually being that person of Christ we are suposed to be, one in the same with Him, Christ in you."

Vera says: "There he has one sentence that really contains truth! Go figure! What can we learn from that? The false teachers do not have it ALL wrong. They actually come up with some truth to gain trust, and then the believers believe them the rest."

God says through Paul: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." (Romans 16:17-18 KJV)

by Vera Six

The cites of Gary McGaugh are from: Bible Study anyone. (n.d.). In Facebook [Christian Bible Study]. Retrieved January 15, 2012, from https://www.facebook.com/groups/108814939227054/

Exercises: Revelation, Chapter 1

2012-01-05T23:31:00.000-08:00

I have made a list of questions that might be helpful to understand Revelation Chapter 1 (not going into detail regarding the seven churches, because chapter 2 and 3 deal a lot with them):

Who is mentioned in Revelation 1:1, and what are their tasks?
Can you say what John is doing and why? What is John writing about?
What is meant by "for the time is at hand" in Revelation 1:3? Which time is meant? (Compare to Mat 4:17, Mat 26:18)
What do the seven Spirits which are before His throne represent in Revelation 1:4? (compare to Revelation 1:20)
Where and how does Jesus appear in Revelation 1? How is He described there? Can you make a list of attributes?
"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." (Revelation 1:7 KJV) Compare it to Matthew 24:30. What does it mean?
Try to find other verses where God and clouds are mentioned. What do clouds usually represent?
How does John introduce himself? Why was he on Patmos?
What is Jesus' voice compared to in 1:10? Where else in the Bible are trumpets mentioned, and what a symbolical meaning do they have?
By which words does Jesus introduce Himself?
What do the seven golden candlesticks represent in Revelation 1:12?
Where does John see Jesus first, and what does this picture suggest?
How is Jesus clothed in John's vision there, and does it have a symbolical meaning (Rev 1:13)?
What about His hair? White like wool, as white as snow - is there a symbolical meaning?
What about His eyes? They were as a flame of fire (Rev: 1:14). Try to find other verses in the Bible were this is mentioned (it turns up thrice in Revelation, for example).
Do Jesus' feet "like unto fine brass" mean something?
What is His voice compared to? Find other verses where water has a symbolical meaning.
What do the seven stars in Rev 1:16 represent? Where exactly are they in John's vision?
What is the symbolical meaning of the sharp two-edged sword in Revelation 1:16 that comes from Jesus' mouth? Do you know of other verses where this image turns up?
What is His countenance in Revelation 1:16 compared to? Are there other verses?
What do you think why John fell at Jesus' feet as dead in Revelation 1:17?
What does Jesus mean by it when he says, "I am the first and the last, I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore"?
Why does Jesus lay His right hand on John?
There are keys mentioned in chapter 18. What does Jesus tell John about them? What does it say about Jesus?
Which things was John to write down? How many aspects of time can you see there? (Rev 1:19)
What is the mystery that Jesus reveals in the end of Rev 1:20
The number 7 appears a few times in this chapter. How often, and in which connection?

END TIMES --->>> THE ANTICHRIST WILL EMERGE FROM THE CHURCH

2011-02-23T06:01:00.000-08:00

END TIMES --->>> ::: Tunesia ::: Egypt ::: Yemen ::: Bahrain ::: Libya ::: Christchurch ::: ... ::: ... ::: ...

2Th 2:1-12 KJV

(1) Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

(2) That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

(3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
(4) Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
(5) Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
(6) And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
(7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
(8) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
(9) Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
(10) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
(11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
(12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Tunesia, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain, Libya, ...

But when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified, for all these things must first occur, but the end is not at once. And He said to them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And great earthquakes shall be in different places, and famines and plagues. And there ...shall be terrors and great signs from Heaven. (Luk 21:9-11 MKJV)

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars. And on the earth will be anxiety of nations with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men fainting from fear, and expecting those things which have come on the earth. For the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then they shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luk 21:25-27 MKJV)

The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away. (Luk 21:33 MKJV)

When Jesus was crucified for the sin of mankind, the timess of the gentiles started:

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luk 21:24 KJV)

It was a time of grace, a time for the Church of Christ, a time for the gentiles, but it is over!

There will be seven years of tribulation...

"...for then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world to this time; no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days should be shortened, no flesh would be saved. But for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ! Or, There! Do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders; so much so that, if it were possible, they would deceive even the elect. Behold, I have told you beforehand. Therefore if they shall say to you, Behold, He is in the desert! Do not go out. Behold, He is in the secret rooms! Do not believe it. For as the lightning comes out of the east and shines even to the west, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered.

And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall bedarkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from the heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man shall appear in the heavens. And then all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of the heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall
gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." (Mat 24:21-31 MKJV)

The Antichrist will EMERGE from the Christians...

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1Jn 4:2-3 KJV)

"Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months. And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his dwelling—that is, those who dwell in heaven. And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation. And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made—the Book that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered." Revelation 13:5-8 (NLT)

"For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." (Matthew 24:24, NKJV)

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Jesus' Spiritual and Literal Kingdom

2010-04-13T17:29:00.000-07:00

"We will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of Antichrist; for if it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision. For that was seen not very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of Domitians`s reign." (Against Heresies, v.xxx.3)

This was written by Irenaeus (120-202 AD) who was an early church father and who wrote the above in 180 AD. Preterists claim those men who lived in those times would not have known... Sure, the people in those ancient times did not have TV, radio or internet, but they were not stupid, and were informed about such important matters like Jesus' Coming back to earth.

PRETERISM (interpreting the Bible saying that Jesus came back in 70 AD) IS A LIE! They say it He came back in 70 AD Spiritually only. But they confuse this with the kingdom of God that is within God's people, also known as the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus left us shortly after His resurrection known as Pentecost.

"When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:6-8 KJV)

Preterism is a lie, because Israel has only been restored in 1948, and not before. The fall of Jerusalem was the last destruction that took place, and the Jews were spread into the Diaspora until then.

According to Acts 1:6-8 (see above), Jesus' Second Coming has not taken place yet, because if Jesus had come back in 70 AD, all the people on earth would have witnessed that.

The following verse underlines this:

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.(Revelation 1:7 KJV)

When God says "every eye", He means "every eye".

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The Kingdom of God is about now and here and then:

"Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:14 KJV)

"Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." (John 18:36 KJV)

There were two kinds of kingdoms Jesus was talking about... the Kingdom of God that was about the love and holiness by the Holy Spirit that was to fill the hearts of His followers, and a real literal kingdom that was - and still is - to come.

"That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thess. 2:2-4 KJV)

But there was nobody sitting in the temple of God in Jerusalem. This temple was destroyed, and we are waiting for that same temple being built up again, so this all can take place. We have to watch out for that "third" temple, and we are warned not to believe anything else.

God Bless You!

Nah, Jesus has not come back yet! Preterism is a Lie

2009-07-28T17:34:00.000-07:00

"We will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of Antichrist; for if it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision. For that was seen not very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of Domitians`s reign." (Against Heresies, v.xxx.3)

This was written by Irenaeus (120-202 AD) who was an early church father and who wrote the above in 180 AD.

Full Preterists cannot...

...have the LORD'S SUPPER
...celebrate EASTER
...celebrate CHRISTMAS
...pray the LORD'S PRAYER
...confess to the APOSTLE'S CREED

Full Pretrism is a full lie!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty.
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
who was born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary;
crucified under Pontius Pilate and buried;
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of the Father,
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
And in the Holy Spirit;
the holy Church;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the flesh.

Preterists choose not to agree with the Apostles' Creed but make up a gospel of their own instead... Now I say it with the Apostle Paul:

I marvel that you so soon are being moved away from Him who called you into the grace of Christ, to another gospel, which is not another, but some are troubling you, and desiring to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from Heaven preach a gospel to you beside what we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we said before, and now I say again, If anyone preaches a gospel to you beside what you have received, let him be accursed. For now do I persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Gal 1:6-10 MKJV)

Preterism Refuted

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:12-26 KJV)

Telling the people that the resurrection of the dead has taken place Spiritually already is robbing people of the chance they have for the future.

Christians are told to be on the watch day and night... for Jesus will come like a thief and they should be holy.

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (2 Peter 3:13-14 KJV)

How could they if they believe that Jesus came back in 70 AD?

After the first and second warning, reject a man of heresy, knowing that he who is such has been perverted, and sins, being self-condemned. (Titus 3:10-11 MKJV)

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:3 KJV)

But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:16-19 KJV)

In addition, Preterists steal the hope of the Christian believers:

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV)

Preterists cannot do what Christ told the Disciples:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)

In Full Preterists' views the Second Coming of Christ took place in 70 AD, so what should Disciples of today preach?

Preterism denies (or changes) most of the New Testament, and there will not be much left. Take this, for example:

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (2 Peter 3:13-14 KJV)

Peter speaks of a promise, but what a promise would be left for the people of today? Shall we listen to the Preterists not to look for such things, or shall we listen to Peter?

Peter writes in his second letter:

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (2Pe 3:7, KJV)

Full Preterists say that this is not valid for us anymore, for Peter was speaking of a near future in 70 AD, when the Solomon Temple fell and Jerusalem was taken and so many killed.

Preterists rob the people of the TRUTH by their claim that the Judgement has already taken place in 70 AD! They actually fear Judgement, but please do not ask me why.

Peter describes the destruction of the earth and everything around it.
Preterists see the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem described there.

Peter writes in that same letter:

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10 KJV)

Now please tell me, how could this describe the fall of Jerusalem, especially if one regards the fact that the New Testament deals with CHRISTIANS? Why should Christians have regarded this the END OF EVERYTHING, while the Christian churches had been founded by the Apostles already - in Corinth, Ephesus, Rome, Minor Asia, etc...???

Preterists are dreamers that do not want to believe God's Word when He informs the people of the coming Judgment. Peter warned:

For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished (2 Peter 3:5-6 KJV)

And the following of Peter's words were obviously only valid for the people BEFORE 70 AD if we believe the Preterists and not the Apostles:

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 KJV)

So why would someone come to repentance hundreds of years afterwards?

Preterism is a LIE – the Preterists are probably not aware of that, but it is what it is.

This lie is not just about a verse or two, but affects almost the whole New Testament, especially the Book of Revelation:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:1-4 KJV)

Preterists will TEACH the people that this was all fulfilled in 70 AD already... Can you imagine the consequences of that?

And they also reject the following (or paraphrase it to their liking or whatever they do so it fits their self-composed Bible:

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7 KJV)

Preterists want you to believe that *every eye* saw Jesus coming in some symbolical clouds on His Second Coming in 70 AD.

Preterists cannot even sign the Nicene Creed or the Apostle's Creed, either:

The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty.
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
who was born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary;
crucified under Pontius Pilate and buried;
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of the Father,
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
And in the Holy Spirit;
the holy Church;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the flesh.

Preterists would have to kick the fifth line from the bottom out, because it is related to future events which they deny, since they claim they have taken place already.

Please notice that the Creeds were created to save the Church from false teachers and filter them out, because...

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. (Galatians 5:9 KJV)

It was not only Peter who fought against the false teachers of his time... but Paul, John, Titus and Jesus Himself, but the church fathers, too.

Having studied their claims for years now, I have come to the conclusion that Full Preterism is a deadly sect like the Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists or the like, and their replacement theory also fosters a really bad form of Anti-Semitism.

Last not least, let me stop this article with the following Scripture:

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:21-27 KJV)

Rev 01:12-20: Jesus' Appearance

2009-05-08T18:36:00.000-07:00

(12) And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; (13) And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. (14) His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; (15) And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. (16) And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. (17) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (18) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (19) Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; (20) The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. (Revelation 1:12-20 KJV)

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Jesus Divine Appearance

John turns around to "see" the voice. He sees "seven golden candlesticks" (12), and in their middle he sees Jesus Christ, dressed like a king with a long garment and a golden girdle, who reveals Himself as "the first and the last" (17) and the one who was resurrected, and who is eternal (18). His white head and hair like white wool, as white as snow, speaks of His being blameless, without any fault; He is God's lamb. But white is also the color that represents brightness, light. While the color black absorbs light completely, the color white reflects it. But the white of His countenance does not reflect the sun; He is shining Himself like the sun. God is light, such a light as daylight, like the shining sun. He came to earth "to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:79 KJV) Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the father now, but He left His Holy Spirit on earth, who is shining brightly through His people, the Christians, whom He told: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16 KJV) We glorify the Father by our good works, but we should not boast, because they show the light that Jesus brought into this world, and which the Holy Spirit sends out from us now that Jesus is with the Father: "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:5 KJV) We humans could not do anything good on our own without Him. When John sees Jesus, he "falls at his feet as dead" (17). John is completely overwhelmed with Jesus' Holiness and Divinity, recognising God, and so much in awe that he feels like dead. This appearance of Jesus seems to be very impressive on him, and he feels fear, but the Lord Jesus comforts him, touches him by laying his right hand on him, saying, "Fear nor". Then Jesus reveals who He is, and that He has "the keys of hell and of death" (18). So Jesus has the power to decide who has to stay in hell and who is not, as much as He can give life or take it away. He is the master of death, and we are promised that everybody who believes in Him will have eternal life (cf. John 3:15 ff.), which is why the Apostle Paul could say, "... Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:54-55 KJV)

The Seven Stars and the Seven Candlesticks

In (20) Jesus clears up that the seven candlesticks represent the seven churches. Jesus is the center of them as He is the center of the churches today. He is their light, and whatever they are doing, they are simply a reflection of the light of God's face. They are golden, the candlesticks, golden like Jesus' girdle. This is a hint to us that Jesus and the churches belong together. They both have the attribute "golden", which is often used for something that is Royal, Divine, Holy. Jesus also holds the seven stars in His right hand (16), and in (20) he explains that they are the angels of the seven churches. Angels are often used as God's messengers, and it seems God is ready to send them out.

Jesus' Eyes are a Flame of Fire

His eyes are a "flame of fire". (14) In many commentaries that this means he looked at the churches penetrantly, which sounds plausible, because He has a check up on the seven churches in Chapters 2 and 3 of the Book of Revelation, a critical view, and also a rebuke of six of them. He wanted them to repent. But the picture of the flame of fire says more. A fire like that brings warmth, but can also destroy, and fire is also said to purify things. So while Jesus sees everything that the seven churches (which are examplary for all the churches) do or do not do critically, He also has a purifying or destructive power on whatever His eyes may see.

Jesus' Feet looked like Fine Brass

I wondered why Jesus' feet looked like "fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace" (15), but then I found out that brass, which is an alloy, looks white if it contains more than 51 per cent of zinc. So this would have made almost all of Jesus' whole body white, glowing and shining.

Jesus' Voice is like the "Sound of Many Waters"

Jesus' voice sounds like the "sound of many waters" (15). Water usually has the meaning of life, and life in abundance is what Jesus has come to earth for. He offers to everybody: "And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17 KJV) In chapter 14 of Revelation the comparison turns up again: "And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder" (Revelation 14:2 KJV). But it also refers to the majesty of His voice, which reminds me of Psalm 29:3-5: "The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty." (KJV) Sometimes the waters represent a multitude of people or tongues, as in Revelation 17:15: " And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." (KJV)

The Twoedged Sword

"Out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword" (16), which is the Word of God, which is "quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." (Hebrews 4:12-13 KJV)

The Scene compared to Matthew 17:1-7

The whole scene (13-18) is something that might have reminded John of the following event that happened during His dwelling on earth, on the mountain as referred to in Matthew: "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. (Matthew 17:1-7 KJV) This is also more evidence to believe that the Apostle John, James' brother, is identical with John in the Book of Revelation. I do not believe that the similarity of events was accidentally. John could really be sure that his vision came from Jesus Himself. It is especially in the Gospel of John that he speaks of Jesus as "light", as in John 1:4-5 (KJV): "In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."

103.07:Time of Origin/John

2009-05-05T19:17:00.000-07:00

Evidence No. 7: The similarities of the events in Matthew 17:1-7 where the Apostle John was present and Revelation 1:13-18

"And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." (Revelation 1:13-18 KJV)

The whole scene in Revelation 1:13-18 is something that might have reminded John of the following event that happened during Jesus' dwelling on earth, on the mountain as referred to in Matthew: "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. (Matthew 17:1-7 KJV) This is also more evidence to believe that the Apostle John, James' brother, is identical with John in the Book of Revelation. I do not believe that the similarity of events was accidentally. John could really be sure that his vision came from Jesus Himself. It is especially in the Gospel of John that he speaks of Jesus as "light", as in John 1:4-5 (KJV): "In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."

01 Rev. 1:10-11: God Speaking

2009-05-04T15:30:00.000-07:00

(10) I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, (11) Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

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While in Revelation 1:4 John addresses himself to the seven churches by referring to the true author, God, in an introduction, he is now giving a description of what God's voice had literally said.

John reports that he was "in the Spirit". I believe it was comparable to Peter's vision in Acts 10: "On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth" (Acts 10:9-11 KJV) It was a kind of Spiritual state that the Holy Spirit creates by His presence. Christians live on earth physically, but their Spirit in unity with the Holy Spirit is located in Heaven already. Christians are a new Spiritual creature. To say it with Apostle Paul: "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:16-17 KJV) The first thing John notices is not a vision, but something he hears: God's voice behind him. It must have been so loud that he compared it to a trumpet. I am always impressed by the fact that God's Word has a creative power. We can see this in Genesis when God created the world just by saying it: "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." (Genesis 1:3 KJV) John was in the Spirit, but he did not have a vision that was formed from things he saw in front of him, but he heard God's voice behind him. This God revealed Himself as the Alpha and Omega, which, according to Revelation 1:8 is God Almighty. God gave John His instructions to write everything down in a book and to send it to the seven churches in Minor Asia. We will hear more of the seven churches later. It is obviously not John who chooses the churches where to send the book, but God Himself, and we do not know why He chose those seven ones. They probably represented seven typical forms of churches with their good and bad sides. Reading about them can help us find out what our churches are still lacking, so we can pray for improvement and work into that direction.

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What does it mean for me now?

As a member of the Body of Christ it means that I should listen carefully to what God had to tell to His Church. It also makes clear that God can communicate with His people, and that His voice cannot be overheard if He wants people to hear it.

103.06: Time of Origin/John

2009-04-14T12:42:00.000-07:00

Evidence No. 6: Why was John to send the Book of Revelation to the Churches in Minor Asia and not to the Church in Jerusalem?

I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 1:9 KJV)

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In Revelation 1:9 John makes clear that he is one of the Christians, their "brother, and companion in tribulation". He also says that he was banished to the isle of Patmos because he had preached the Word of God, and for his testimony of Jesus Christ. Who else but John the Disciple could have given a better witness, he who had been at Jesus' side at the cross while all the others had run away? (cf. "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. " (John 19:25-27 KJV)

John's visions were addressed to the seven Christian churches in Minor Asia, to so-called "Heathen-Christians". If he had foreseen the fall of the Temple, this would have interested the Jews in Jerusalem more than the Christians there, because the Temple was not such an important place after Jesus' resurrection anymore for the Christians who know that God is not in the Temple anymore, but that their bodies are the Temple where God dwells in form of the Holy Spirit. Jesus ascended to Heaven and is sitting at the right hand of the Father now. He left us the Holy Spirit on earth, the third person of the Triune God, so we would never be orphans. Why should Jesus send John visions that were meant for the Jews ? It does not make any sense at all. No, the visions were for the Christians, the seven Churches which were not even near Jerusalem but in Minor Asia, and given that they stand symbolically for all the Christian churches, the fact that they were in Minor Asia makes clear that the visions were not meant for the Jews.

Another important evidence is that John did not address the Jews or Christians in Jerusalem. Why did he not warn them of the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem? He obviously did not, because there were not many left, and the fall of Jerusalem had taken place already when he had his visions. John the Disciple had been one of the founders of the first church in Jerusalem. The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 2:9 in the years 50-57 a.d.: "And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision." So John, James and Peter were to teach and pastor the Christians of Jewish origin, while Paul and Barnabas were to gain the heathens. Since they were in a close relationship with the Lord, that was not their decision but God's. So why should God tell John to preach to the Jews in Jerusalem, and then before the destruction of many there give John visions of the Temple in Jerusalem and send it to seven churches in Minor Asia, Heathen -Christian churches? The people there would have felt pity for Jerusalem, but it did not mean anything to their lives, because it was far away. Travelling was a hard thing in those times. We know that Paul had founded a number of churches in Greece, like in Ephesus or Corinth. So why would God send John the visions, and not Paul if the visions were seen before 70 a.d., before the destruction of the Temple?

There is just one logical answer to all of these questions, and that is that the Apostle John received the visions from the Lord after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and his visions did not refer to this event at all.

01 Rev.1:9: John on the Isle of Patmos

2009-04-12T13:42:00.000-07:00

I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 1:9 KJV)

(photo by Chris Vlachos)

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John introduces himself as the author of the Book of Revelation, speaking of himself as a Christian brother who shares the persecution and hard times that the seven Churches, whom he is addressing to, are going through. The seven churches stand for all the churches, because seven is the number of completeness. (cf. Rev.1:4-8: John addresses the Seven Churches)

John was banished, and the churches were persecuted, something which all of the churches have to go through. If we have a look into this world, this has continued until today, and the Bible says that there is no Christian that would not suffer persecution.

John is in tribulation, but on the other hand he has the inner peace of Jesus Christ, and can be patient and wait on Patmos, an island that was probably not much populated in those times, if at all. The early Christians dated his stay to about 94 or 95 a.d., and believed that John was banished to Patmos by the Roman Emperor Domitian as a punishment for preaching the Gospel, like he writes himself in the verses above and which was forbidden under the Romans and often ended in banishment or being killed for it. Thus a Christian was hindered to spread God's Word by sending him into banishment. Domitian, who ruled from 81–96 a.d., had continued the persecution of Jews and Christians for rejecting the Roman gods. The Romans did not really see a difference between the Jews and the Christians, so whenever there were problems, both were persecuted the same for it.

The first Christians could obviously preach the Gospel without being persecuted much. Pontius Pilate was not much interested in the conflicts among the Jews after Jesus was crucified. But the Sanhedrin had some Christians arrested after they had succeeded in converting a number of Jews to Christianity. The first Christian who was killed for his faith in Jesus Christ was Stephanus, stoned probably in 36 a.d. (read Acts 6:8 - 7:60).

When the Jewish King Harod Agrippa I wanted to please the Sanhedrin in 44 a.d., he had Apostle James beheaded and also Simon Peter executed. 66 a.d. the zealots had started a riot, which had ended in the destruction of the Herod Temple in Jerusalem. Many Jews had to flee, but came back to Jerusalem later. Emperor Hadrian prohibited all the Jews to settle in Jerusalem in 135 a.d., and Judah was no longer called Judah, but Syria Palestine. After Emperor Nero (54-68) had blamed the terrible fire in Rome on the Christians in 64 a.d., many Christians were arrested and accused of arson, and they were sent into the circus for a show where they had to suffer a cruel death. They were devoured by dogs or lions, crucified or burnt.

The past tense "was" suggests that John wrote parts of Revelation after his banishment on Patmos, which would mean he did not have to spend all his life there in this isle which looks like a paradise for tourists today, but which surely was no fun to stay in ancient times. I have the notion that John might not have written all of Revelation chronologically, but later added things before he sent the book to the seven Churches, while he might have written down the visions on Patmos. We do not know if he could escape from there, or if he was set free again. But it is said that Emperor Domitian lost his interested in the persecution of Christians when they explained that their kingdom was not of this world but a Spiritual matter.

This was the time when John wrote the Book of Revelation on Patmos. All of the four Gospels are said to be written down after 70 a.d., which was after the big loss of the Temple for the Jews and the ongoing suppression of Jews and Christians under the Romans conquerors.

We do not know much about Patmos in those times, but it is a beautiful Greek island today, good for vacations. A visit to http://www.patmos.gr/ or to the pictures on the official website on http://www.12net.gr/photos/index.htm is worthwhile to get a better impression of this island with its beautiful beaches, architecture and villages. But on the other hand, please keep in mind that the place where John received the visions is not really important, and could have been anywhere else.

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John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 1:9 KJV)

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As a Christian I feel personally addressed by John in this verse, and know that he is a family member in the family of Christian believers, the Body of Christ. We have something important in common, and that is one Lord, one faith. I am glad to live in a country (Germany) where Christians are not persecuted yet. It is more a kind of rejection which most confessing Christians have to face, like being excluded from parties, or excluded from getting a job. Confessing Christians are often mocked, but Jesus is more often. We have to stand that, and it might get easier when we think of all the martyrs who even had to give up their lives for their faith.

There is still a lot of Christian persecution in this world, and also a lot of anti-Semitism. The number of those Christians who are killed for their faith ("for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ") every year are many thousands. Please pray for them, and also for their families, and pray for protection against any form of persecution in the world. I do not know what might be worse, slaughtered Christians for their faith, or Christians that slaughter for their faith. Jesus does not need this. God is in control anyway, so please have faith. Just think of the Israelites, and how they won the most useless looking battle if the Lord was on their side. The devil is defeated, and everything will be good. All it takes is patience, but faith even more. John writes that he was in this patience, and in this faith, "the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ".

"Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." (John 18:36 KJV)

John was in the kingdom of God, which Jesus had preached in His time on earth already: "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15 KJV)

John was on an island where he might have been alone, far away from his Christian brothers and sisters. He might have prayed much, and the Lord was always around him there. In tribulation we are often much closer to God than in times of peace and joy. Many people start to ask for God in times of trouble, and they forget about him afterwards. He was not banished because of a crime, but just for the testimony as a Christian. We Christians have all to reckon with that, but like John, we can be assured that the Lord is with us, no matter what happens.

Lets us all pray that we will be "in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ" in times of tribulation and trouble, and reckon with the Lord's help to give us the necessary strength, also to those who already need it right now. Let us pray the Lord allows meet our brothers and sisters in peace. My heart goes out to those brothers and sisters in Christ who cannot do that. Let us all become like eagles and get away from places of horror, and let us fly back into His kingdom which nobody can take away from us.

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31 KJV)

Amen.

105.01: Jesus Second Coming on Earth - He is Coming in the Clouds!

2009-04-05T08:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, He is coming in the clouds. There is no need to doubt about that, though many people think this is a metaphor. But they seem to forget that God is Almighty and can do so. Why should He not come back in the clouds?

We humans cannot see God. If we saw Him, we would die at once, because nobody can stand facing God as long as we are still caught in our sinful flesh. God and sin does not go together, and light destroys darkness.

God usually hid Himself when contacting the Israelites, and He very often did so in a cloud, or He spoke through a burning bush. So when John says Jesus will come back in the clouds and Daniel says so as well as Mark and Matthew, why should we still doubt it? God can do that. The fact that we humans cannot do that does not mean God cannot do it, either. I often find myself making God as small as that and do not have enough faith, though Christians should know that “with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37 KJV) Luke described Jesus ascending like this:

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:9-11 KJV)

Do people really doubt that, too, that Jesus was taken up, which could be observed by the people around when it happened? Luke, who was a doctor, did not write the book of Acts metaphorically but described the story of the Apostles very realistically. Jesus was taken up and then a cloud received Him. A little later Luke writes in the verses that two men in white told the people that Jesus would come back the same way as they had *seen* Him go to Heaven. It is real, not just a metaphor. Luke’s language was rather objective. He did not even call the two men in white Angels, but he described what people had given witness to. Especially Luke took good care of being objective.

But let us continue with Revelation. John continues in the same verse that every eye shall see Jesus when He comes back. Why not? Nobody would doubt that President Obama could be seen by every eye when speaking the oath as a President of the USA - but some of the same people doubt that Jesus can be seen by everybody when He comes back. I do not even believe this will be via TV, but this would be one possible way. I simply believe that God can make us all see it, and there is no other means necessary but His words. Finally, He created the heaven and the earth, and everything else.

105.02 Addendum: Jesus Second Coming on Earth - The Sepulchre was Empty

2009-04-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

People tend to mix it up, but there are two events: one is when a person is born again by the Spirit, the other is when Jesus comes back a second time. This event will be for all to see and has not taken place yet. The rapture will be a physical event - one is taken, the other left. How do you explain that the sepulchre was empty three days after Jesus' death? I can tell you: He left in His body.

The dead Saints will be resurrected and taken up into the sky like the living Saints. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead: And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. (Acts 13:29-31 KJV)

Do you believe that? I wonder how people believe God could raise His Son like that, but He cannot raise us humans like that. Jesus ascended into Heaven *in* His body. Otherwise he must have left His body on earth. Do you believe He did? His body has never been found on earth.

Jesus was *the first*, His Saints will follow... And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. (Revelation 1:5 KJV)

104.04 Just some Thoughts

2009-04-02T18:30:00.000-07:00

Thought No. 4

"And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 1:6 KJV)

We shall...

...praise the Lord for ever and ever.
...allow Him dominion for ever and ever.

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I have thought about that, and some ideas struck my mind. We shall praise the Lord for ever and ever. I am reminded of the Lord's Prayer where it says:

"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10 KJV)

and also a little later:

"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever." (Matthew 6:13 KJV)

This was to be prayed to the Father, but John now says that all glory is to Jesus, and dominion as well - all power and glory to the Father, power and glory to the son - for ever ... please think about it, and do not forget that our God is the One God in Three Persons. The fact that Jesus claims that all the glory and power be to the Father and John claims that it is to the Son is no contradiction but more proof that the two persons are One, which Jesus expressed by the following words:

"I and my Father are one." (John 10:30 KJV)

This started the Jews to hate Him, because this is what happened after He spoke out that He was ONE with the Father:

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. (John 10:30 KJV)

Jesus tried to convince them, but they did not listen - for all they were listening to was the law, but they did not have God in their hearts:

"Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God." (John 10:32-33 KJV)

They accused Jesus of blasphemy, because he had "made Himself God".

And this is true for all Christians: Jesus is God!

Do not believe the cultists who come along and speak of the Father without the Son.

Jesus knew they would crucify Him, yet He reminded them of the law and what it says:

"Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?"(John 10:34-36 KJV)

Well, this is really funny... They held the law against Jesus and told Him He would blaspheme by breaking the law and called Himself God while He was fulfilling that same law. I wonder today if they really did not see that, or if they just did not want to see that. Could it be that the Jews, God's elected people, actually did not have enough faith in their God to believe that He would send the Messiah?

But they could not see, because they were blinded by God Himself, for He had a plan to redeem this fallen world from death. The father had to sacrifice His Son, so the devil would not have a hold on the people anymore. God knew His creatures too well to see that they would never get rid of their sinful nature by their own works, but He loved us too much to give us up. That was why Jesus, Yeshuah, the Lamb of God, who was without any sin, had to pay for the sins of the world on the tree in our place, so everybody who believes in Him can be saved.

In His unconditional love Jesus gave His life away for His friends. We can see how much His love must be for us from that fact, considering that He did not just die, but He was crucified, which was one of the cruellest death a person could die. But there was more than that... He carried all the evil of this world on His shoulders when on that tree to reconcile "the world unto himself" (which is just possible if Jesus and the Father are ONE):

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21 KJV)

Yes, Jesus must have suffered much "for he hath made him to be sin for us...", and with all the sin on His shoulders, the Father hat to leave Him, because sin and God do not go together, so Jesus spoke the last words "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34 KJV) and died. Death is a place where God is not. Being left by God is what made Jesus suffer, and which makes everybody suffer. If we die and have not reconciled with God, there will be no way for us to be together with God anymore.

Some people ask, "Why is there so much evil in this world?" I think they should better thank the Lord that He has still left His representative, the Holy Spirit here, so they do not have to ask, "Why is there only evil in this world?" And that state makes me think of hell... But why not choose Heaven and look for God, and see how much beauty, love and grace the Lord has still for us here, while we had nothing else to do but sin? Just look around, and see the sun. Amen.

103.05: Time of Origin/John

2009-04-02T15:46:00.000-07:00

Evidence No. 5: The same Wording by John in the Gospel, his Letters and in Revelation

Please read the following verse from Revelation, please keep in mind the wording in bold:

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5 KJV)

Though I could find a similar wording once by another author (Paul) in the whole New Testament in the King James Version in Hebrews 11:17 ("By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son"), there is much more evidence that John who wrote Revelation and John who wrote the Gospel of John and the letters of John are identical. I could find almost the same wording in the New Testament by John several times.

Please read the evidence yourself:

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:18 KJV)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18 KJV)

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9 KJV)

There is much more evidence like this in Revelation. Actually, it is striking, and not really difficult to find.

Rev.1:4-8: John addresses the Seven Churches

2009-03-30T16:04:00.000-07:00

The seven churches of Revelation in the area which is Turkey today. John wrote the Book of Revelation in letter form on Patmos, an island where he was banned to.

(4) John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; (5) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (6) And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (7) Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (8) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1:4-8 KJV)

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John addresses himself to the seven churches in Minor Asia, in the area where there is Turkey today.

The number seven occurs very often in the Bible and stands for completeness. So we can say that John is addressing himself to the completeness of all the various Christian churches. It is interesting, however, that there are no Christian churches left in that area today, and that it is almost completely Muslim today.

In Revelation 1:1 we could see that John is just the writer, a kind of messenger like the Angels, who tell him what Jesus told them from God the Father, John is not the author, and here in verses 4-5 John writes that God Himself (which is, and which was, and which is to come, cf. Exodus 3:14) and from Jesus Christ whom he describes more detailed in verses 5-7. Again we find the number seven for completeness. The seven Spirits represent the Holy Spirit, and all the three, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit represent the Triune God in three persons. While the Father and the Son are located in Heaven, Jesus is represented on earth by the Holy Spirit, one of the three persons of God. The Holy Spirit is the mediator between God and man and brings our prayers to God’s Throne. He is Spirit, and His location is on earth and in Heaven (and probably elsewhere) at the same time. The seven Spirits, like the seven Churches, show up that the complete person of the Holy Spirit is before God’s Throne, but He is on earth as well, because He can be at different places simultaneously. I do not doubt that the other two persons of God can do that, too, but they do not do so, because the earth is a rotten place where they do not want to be because of all the sin. Leaving us the Holy Spirit on earth is another form of grace this earth and everything on it should be grateful for.

John praises Jesus for His faithful witness whom we can trust and whose words are true. Jesus is the "first begotten of the dead", something which Paul expressed in his letter to the Colossians by "who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead" (Colossians 1:18 KJV) or by "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept." (1 Corinthians 15:20 KJV) The firstborn sons were always something special in Israel. They inherited more than the other sons. When the Israelites had left Egypt, the firstborn sons belonged to God:

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine. (Exodus 13:1-2 KJV)

Jesus was the first to overcome death by leading a sinless life, something humans will never be able to. But through His sacrifice we can all live and be born into life from the dead through our faith in Him. John praises Jesus for His love for us, and as the one who died for us and for our sins by shedding His blood and washing them therein, so we can now come to God without any guilt. As if that was not enough, Jesus even gave us a very high position and made us "kings and priests unto God and his Father" (see verse 6), so we are no slaves but free, even kings with power, and priests with His authority. Brothers and sisters, are you aware that we are now His kings and priests already, holy in His eyes? Well, I am far from holy and still a sinner, and it is good that God sees me through the blood of Jesus which cleansed me, and that He does not hold my short-coming against me. Apostle Peter also says we are priests and holy:

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. " (1 Peter 2:5 KJV)

John praises Jesus as the "prince of the kings of the earth" in verse 5, which means that Jesus is above anything else there is and has all the power of this world. Jesus is LORD. The idea is repeated later in Revelation 19:16 where John calls Him "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" (KJV). I do not think we have deserved to be honoured like we are - but what do I know? God knows better, and all we can do is say "Thank you, Lord, for making us your kings and holy priests, and please give us the chance of behaving worthily on earth, so everybody can see we belong to you.” But it is difficult to behave like kings and holy priests on this earth all the time, and we really need God to sanctify us, for we are far from that, so very far. Look at all the abused children, the raped women, the shot civilians, the wars, the environment, all the hate. We are so far from being perfect. But there is hope for us, and Revelation speaks of it as we will see in the further run.

We can read in verse 7 that Jesus Christ will come back for a second time, and we are also informed which way this will happen. Jesus will come back with the clouds. This can be read all over the Bible, in the Old Testament (like in Daniel) and the New Testament, and in almost the same wording. Please compare the verses…

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. (Dan 7:13 KJV)

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. (Mar 13:26 KJV)

And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. (Mar 14:62 KJV)

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Mat 24:30 KJV)

Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. (Mat 26:64 KJV)

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke 21:27 KJV)

In verse 8 God speaks Himself and tells us through His prophet John who He is, namely “Alpha and Omega” which were the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet. In God are all things completed. He is the beginning and the ending. He refers to Himself as Alpha and Omega four times in Revelation, in verse 1:8 and the following verses:

"Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last" (Revelation 1:11 KJV)

"And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end." (Revelation 21:6 KJV)

And finally He also refers to Himself as Jesus right after referring to Himself as the Alpha and Omega:

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. […] I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.“ (Revelation 22:13-16 KJV)

Also compare it to

"Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6 KJV)

The first and the last, the redeemer, the King of Israel, the LORD of hosts.

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What does it mean for me now?

While the first book of the Bible describes how God created the world in six days, the last book, the book of Revelation is the Book of completion of God’s Creation. The number of completeness, number seven, is mentioned 31 times in the Book of Revelation (King James Version), which underlines this. Revelation shows how we humans will be made complete and sanctified, and what it takes to be healed. God created the world and man, but only through Jesus’ work of redemption can we be completed. Paul wrote:

“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:10 KJV)

If someone is complete in Him, he is a new creature:

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-20 KJV)

Yes, it is done! The devil, still raging on earth, has no claim on us anymore if we are in Jesus Christ, who has redeemed us. We are to wait for Jesus’ Second Coming, which will be the way He left when He was taken up and received in a cloud. I may believe in the completeness of God’s creation and that He, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, has all the power there is and has a plan to complete what He started. God’s Word will be done, for He is in control, always.

I want to thank God for all His mercy and grace.

104.03 Just some Thoughts

2009-03-29T20:15:00.000-07:00

Thought No. 3
I agree, Revelation and the proclaimed destruction of the world is all to be seen in the light of Creation. It is God's plan for us to live with Him. We were made for that, and probably nothing else, and that He could provide us with His everlasting and Divine love. We are His creatures - on our way to perfection, sanctification. We Christians are perfect in God's eyes already - ready for Heaven. He does not see our short-coming anymore. Our sins have all been washed away in the precious blood of Jesus Christ, whom the Father resurrected from death. I thank the Father for that, and Jesus, and I know I have not deserved it by anything. It is all God's grace that allows me to live with God. It does not start in Heaven - it started the day I surrendered, and I have a piece of Heaven already right now. He sends me His peace every day anew, and I would not know what to do without it. I have no idea how I could live one day without God. But I had not known Him. I knew I was missing something, but did not know it was God. It is so difficult to explain that to unbelievers. I know I also tried to understand believers, but it did not work, because God was not there for me, just someone abstract in the distance - too far away for me to reach. But then the miracle happened, and He reached out for me! I am just glad that I was open enough that I did not close my ears when that happened... Now I can see that I am His beloved creature, and that He wants to save the people from eternal death, which we would all have deserved. It would have been a problem for us if God had destroyed the world aright after the Adam's and Eve's fall, but God did not give up on us, and I often ask why He wants someone like me.

God does everything just at the right time. He is outside of the time and can see everything that has ever happened in no time. But we do not know much of His ways. But we know that His word will never come back void.

It is interesting... There are Christians today who reject the Creation as described in Genesis - but do they not have to give up the hope of Heaven as well? And what remains for them?

104.02 Just some Thoughts

2009-03-29T18:01:00.000-07:00

Thought No. 2

Whatever you do, do it with God, and read and listen to what He has to say.
Do not change the meaning of the Bible to your personal liking.
There are metaphors in the Bible, sure, as there are in most other books. Metaphors are used to illustrate things for a better understanding.
If you read the Bible literally, you might face the problem that you have become a letter idiot.
Last week I told someone the way after I was asked. I told him, "Go straight on until you can see a white house." He could have thought, oh, she meant that literally, and I must look for a white house... but there was no real white house, because it was kind of beige, because the rain had washed the color away. He might as well have thought, oh, it was meant metaphorically! I must look for a house of the Government in Washington D.C..
Actually both was wrong. He should have understood what everybody would have understood... he might never have found the way. The truth was I was speaking of a white house that looked white to anyone. Would I have used metaphors to tell him the way? No, I used what I thought he would understand best. Who dares saying God would use speech that nobody can understand and we all have to guess? God is not stupid.

103.04: Time of Origin/John

2009-03-29T16:02:00.000-07:00

Evidence No. 4: The same Idea of John in the Gospel and Revelation

Please pray, and then read the following verses:

"For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced." (John 19:36-37 KJV)

"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen."
(Revelation 1:7 KJV)

John is taking up the Old Testament prophecy in Zechariah:

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." (Zechariah 12:10 KJV)

The fact that this idea turns up in John's Gospel as well as in Revelation (but not in the other three Gospels) is more evidence that the authors are identical.

104.01 Just some Thoughts

2009-03-26T19:56:00.000-07:00

Thought No. 1

Jerusalem and the Herod Temple falls. (70 AD)
Heavens and the earth will be destroyed. (yet to come)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
God makes things new, a new Heaven and a new earth first. (yet to come)
God makes a New Jerusalem where he Himself is the Temple. (yet to come)

[Idea: God will destroy first, then build up. God is creating new things from the old things. We know all the things that John describes in Revelation, but God will give up the imperfect world and make a perfect one. God could create completely new things but makes a heaven, an earth and a New Jerusalem, and new, perfect humans. He seems to love His creation and does not want to give it up.]

103.3: Time of Origin/John

2009-03-26T19:28:00.000-07:00

Evidence No. 3: John refers to the New Jerusalem by Name

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (Revelation 21:1-5 KJV)

As you can read above, John does very concretely speak of Jerusalem when he means the future Jerusalem. He describes it precisely, in these verses as well:

And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me 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; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: 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. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. (Revelation 21:10-27 KJV)

His literally mentioning of the New and future Jerusalem and precise description of the Holy City as John could see it in his vision, and his not literally mentioning the fall of the old Jerusalem or describing it in any form precisely, is another evidence that he looked upon this event as in the past from his point of view.

Another point is that if he had seen the destruction of the old Temple and of Jerusalem in 70 AD, this vision would have been of a warning character, like so many prophecies are in the Scriptures. God has never sent visions of destruction to His prophets without giving His people the chance of repentance. If Revelation had been written before 70 AD, the hope of a way out of the dilemma is missing. If the visions he describes are yet to come true, we are all told what to do to get out of the dilemma that God will destroy this place here, and that there will be a Judgment. (The topic about what we are to do if we want to be blessed is taken up following this link: 101. Addendum: Things to Do )

103.2: Time of Origin/John

2009-03-26T19:16:00.000-07:00

Evidence No. 2

Actually the year when John wrote the Revelation to the seven churches does not really matter. Even if he wrote it before 70 AD as some people claim, it would not have changed the course of history as foretold. Some people claim he foresaw the destruction of the Herod's Temple in Jerusalem and the defeat of the Jewish rebellion against the Romans siege, but that is really very doubtful.

And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (Mark 13:1-2 KJV)

This started the end time prophecy of the New Testament. Jesus life and death had fulfilled a number of Old Testament prophecies, but not all of them were fulfilled in the time between His birth and ascending into Heaven. In addition, He had already foretold the fall of Jerusalem and the Temple when on earth before it happened, and other prophets had done so, which means those events were mentioned in the Scriptures, so why not by John? There are two possible answers to this question. Either he had his visions before the fall of the Temple which he describes in Revelation. But this would have meant the end of the world, Armageddon. However, the world continued to be in existence for 1939 years. Many events which he describes in Revelation cannot be explained by that.

In addition, Jesus pointed to events that cannot be explained by the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Another much more plausible idea would be that John did not refer to past events at all and was writing after the fall of the Temple in 70 AD. There are many hints that back this up. Everybody will agree with me that John's visions described only future events from his point of view. His visions gave the hope for a New Jerusalem, while the old Jerusalem was destroyed, which John does not describe, however. He has the vision of the "New Jerusalem" in which God Himself comforted the people for their loss of Jerusalem:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (Revelation 21:1-5 KJV)

The order of the events is interesting. God makes all things new. Have a look at this order, please:

Jerusalem and the Herod Temple falls. (70 AD)
Heavens and the earth will be destroyed. (yet to come)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
God makes things new, a new Heaven and a new earth first. (yet to come)
God makes a New Jerusalem where he Himself is the Temple. (yet to come)

It can be used as a very rough time frame for the prophecy in Revelation.

103.1: Time of Origin/John

2009-03-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

I have started this addendum to collect evidence during the studies for the date when Revelation was written and for John's identity in the run of the Bible studies of the Book of Revelation.

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Evidence No. 1

Rev. 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John

It is the Father who is sending out his Word, Jesus Christ, which can also be regarded as evidence that John is identical with the author of the Gospel of John, which starts like this:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:1-3 KJV)

The Apostle John often spoke of himself as a third person narrator like he is doing here in our verses, too. Whom else would Jesus have sent the revelations but to John the Beloved? He had told the Disciples shortly before he left them that He had not told them everything yet:

"I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." (John 16:12-13 KJV)

And He did...

102.01 TIME LINE

2009-03-25T15:17:00.000-07:00

Time Line No. 1 (extended)

[I will use this as a first rough time line for the prophecy in Revelation:]

Jerusalem and the Herod Temple fell. (70 a.d.)
John wrote The Book of Revelation. (95 a.d.)Heavens and the earth will be destroyed. (yet to come)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
God makes things new, a new Heaven and a new earth first. (yet to come)
God makes a New Jerusalem where he Himself is the Temple. (yet to come)

REVELATION Things to Do

2009-03-25T14:49:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends,

I will list up the things we are to keep if we want to be blessed here below in the course of the Bible Study in this post and probably comment on them.

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Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

We shall...

... read or hear this prophecy.
... keep the things we are told in this book

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And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:6 KJV)

We shall...

...praise the Lord for ever and ever.
...allow Him dominion for ever and ever.
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Revelation 1:10-11: God Himself is telling John what to write in a book which is to be sent to the seven churches. ===>
As members of the Body of Christ we should...

...listen carefully to what God had to say to the churches.

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REVELATION 1:1-3: Jesus Christ Speaking

2009-03-24T13:47:00.000-07:00

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[I will write comments to the reader in brackets like these here. Have fun. Be aware that it is God's Word you are dealing with. Listen to what God has to tell you. I will be using the King James Version for my studies, referring to it by "KJV".

Before you read on, please pray to the Father in Heaven in Jesus' name to speak into your heart and let you know how He means the Bible verses in question. Painting by Jacopo Vignali, 17th century]

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Jesus Christ Speaking

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

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The revelation John is talking about here has its origin from God, the Father, who gave it to His Son, Jesus Christ, who sent an Angel of God to John, his servant, to write it down, so other servants, which means other Christians, can be blessed by reading it or listening to it. It is directed to God's Church, not to unbelievers, who might not really feel blessed and reject the Book of Revelation for this reason. It is a book for people who listen to God.

What is striking is that in verse 1 we get to know something about God from John: It is the Father who is sending out his Word, Jesus Christ, which can also be regarded as evidence that John is identical with the author of the Gospel of John, which starts like this:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:1-3 KJV)

The Word was God. Jesus Christ. Sent by the Father. And it is the same here, and it becomes clear that God the Father is the one who is speaking, which is manifested in the Son by who all things are made - you and me inclusively. This time Jesus does not come down from Heaven and leave the Father to dwell as a human among men, but He sends an Angel, a messenger, to John the prophet whom He had chosen. The Apostle John often spoke of himself as the beloved and as a third person narrator like he is doing the latter here in our verses, too. Whom else would Jesus have sent the revelations but him? He had told the Disciples shortly before he left them that He had not told them everything yet: "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." (John 16:12-13 KJV)

And He did...

[It is would be worthwhile to develop this idea, but it might lead away from the topic too much at this point of time, so I will keep this short here, which does not mean to go deeper into that later. For the moment I will listen to the Spirit who tells me that Revelation was written by the same author as the Gospel John, and since God is the real author anyway, it does not matter too much, only with regard to the question when the Book of Revelation was written exactly. I will continue to look for further evidence in the run of this study and come back to it later.]

Verse 1 also says that the events that John foresaw had to come to pass soon, and many of them did. Finding out which of them did and which of them have not yet is the target of this study. But we do know from Revelation 1:1 now that they will all have to take place, disregarding our own desires or decisions. We can see God's plan in that, and God's plan cannot be changed by us. There is a big chance for us Christians in that, because many horrible events will not shock us, but we can see that God is in control of everything, no matter how terrible the events might be that are to come. God is in control, and we do not only know about that, but about being safe in His hands, too, and that we have the promise to have a room in Heaven. Revelation can give us a tiny hint of what it will be like in Heaven. But we cannot imagine that yet, and I envy John for the visions he was allowed to see... I for one like most of you will have to wait, and see God's plan as revealed in this book fulfilled in history meanwhile.

Some people reject the Book of Revelation, and say it is because they find it cruel. But times have been cruel, and still are. People who know that God is yet in control, despite of life abortions, gen technology, bloody wars, hate, murder and times like they were when Noah lived on earth, can lead a much happier life than those who believe they can escape Judgment by ignoring the Book of Revelation. They act like an ostrich by digging their heads into the sand when danger is ahead. But we who read Revelation are blessed, because we are warned, and we are blessed for our hope of this beautiful world to come, which John describes for us. Since Revelation was written for believers only, those who hate it may keep their eyes and ears shut if they think they can prevent things to happen by that. I am sure they consist of unbelievers, backsliders and apostates or those who want to keep on living in sin without repentance, just as Revelation 1:3 says that they are blessed who read or hear Revelation and keep the things written in it.

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What does it mean for me now?

If I read the Book of Revelation or listen to it, I will be blessed because I will be well informed of the things that have taken place, are in progress or are to come. God did not send John all the visions to be passed on to just a few believers, but God wants His Church to be informed, about what they will have to face, so they can stand it, but also to strengthen our faith in Him when we find out that Scripture as in Revelation is the truth.

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REVELATION: GENERAL REMARKS

2009-03-23T17:04:00.001-07:00

If you ask me, the Book of Revelation, this prophetic book, is one of the most beautiful books of the Bible, the last book of the New Testament as well as of the whole 66 books of the collection of books called the "Bible". It is about the Second Coming of Christ and Judgment, about Heaven and hell, about hope and comfort for this world. It is usually divided into 22 chapters. It was originally written in letter form, letters to be sent to seven Christian churches in Asia Minor where the Apostle Paul had planted churches near Ephesus, and to many others. John is used by God who tells him what he is to let the churches know, and he also sent John some visions about the future. Meanwhile almost 2000 years have passed, and many of his visions have come true already.

The Book of Revelation was written by John who lived in exile on the Isle of Patmos. It was presumably written about 95 a.d.. The political situation in that time gives evidence for that. [*For a more detailed chapter about the history of that time please click here.]

I do not know why this is, but many Christians, even pastors, are step dancing around the Book of Revelation, thinking they would not understand it anyway, or it would be too difficult to be presented to the people. I have read through it, and I cannot really understand why that is. It is a thrilling and beautiful book at the same time, and it offers much: truth, hope and comfort for those who love God, Judgment and hell fire for those who do not. It is simple, is it not? Those who belong to God will live, and the others will die for a second time and forever while still existing. They probably do not like to hear that, but it is true.

Not everything we read in Revelation has come true yet. So all we can do is wait until things happen, and we will understand. We do not have to and should not fill all the gaps by our assumptions. Just think of the old prophets who said there would be a Messiah, but they did not recognize Him. Why was that? They already had their own ideas about how the Messiah had to be. Just an example, see how people react when they are biased: "Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see." (John 1:45-46 KJV) They had not expected the Messiah coming from Galilee Nazareth. They had not expected a poor carpenter but a king, someone who could stand against the much hated Roman government. They thought he would set them free, but they did not know that he was to come to set them free from sin and death, and that He would open the gates of Heaven. But it was all so easy, was it not? Yet many did not want to see or hear. And it has been like that until today. So better open your eyes, and reckon with the incredible! God can do miracles - just believe in them.

People have the tendency to prefer to believe the most complicated matter to the obvious, logical and just. Many also believe they have to study Theology before they can ever belong to God or read a Bible book like Revelation, or that they would have to be good before they could ask God to come into their lives. But who could ever be good enough if that was true? God gave us our understanding, and there is no need for anything else to understand God's Word but what God has given us to see the need for a Redeemer for our short-coming, because there would never be a chance to be good enough in a million years or more. So the only chance of Heaven is by God's grace, and all we can do is trust in Him and have faith.

In the Book of Revelation God shows His people much about His plans with us, the humans, whom He created after His image, yet far from being Godlike. We do not know why He created us. He did not say. We may have the notion why, because we know something: God is Love, and that is our origin. God, Divine Love, Agape, came down to earth to live a human life and die for our sins in our place.

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (John 3:14-19 KJV)

Keep this in mind when reading Revelation or any other Bible book. It is helps you reading the Bible if you never forget whom it is all about: Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The Lord. One of the three persons of God. Divine Love Personified. The Prototype of the perfect human. The Redeemer. The Way, the Truth and the Life. Our best Friend.

Before you deal with God's Word, please do not forget to pray and ask God to tell you what He really means, and that He speaks right into your hearts. Be open for what He wants to reveal to you, and please reject it if it is not in accordance with His Word, because in that case it cannot be from God. God does not send His Spirit to reveal anything that does not go along with the Bible to a few persons or even a single person only. Never! There is no need to add something to the Bible, or to leave things out. Just read it as it is! And believe that it is God who wants to tell you something, that He loves you and wants community with you so much! If someone comes and tells you something that does not go along with the Scriptures, check it and reject it, no matter how good it may sound, or how sophisticated. God does not need that. God speaks plain text to those who love Him. He does not speak in Riddles or in Quiz form. He uses metaphors and symbols to illustrate things for a better understanding. You might object that He did talk in parables in the New Testament. But checking that out, you will have to find that He does so to the multidudes, but explained clearly what He meant to the Disciples:

~~~~~~~~~Matthew 13:1-23 KJV~~~~~~~~~

"The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

~~~~~~end quote Matthew 13:1-23 KJV~~~~~~

Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Or, as this is said in Revelation 2:29 (KJV),

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

God Bless You All,

Vera

Introduction

2009-03-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends and Foes,

I will do a Bible Study on the Book of Revelation here with you, posting my results on this blog, and probably translate it into German later for another blog. I would really like to do a comprehensive research on this great prophetic book at the end of the Bible, written down by John on the Isle of Patmos, with you and be happy about your comments here, so I can be sure not to miss any important things. Knowing that this topic seems to be difficult, and knowing that there are several people who have a special view on end time prophecy, I have a deep longing to do this research now since the Spirit tells me so. In addition, I find Revelation one of the most beautiful books of the Bible and think that people are missing something awesome, one of the pearls of the Bible, a book full of hope and comfort.

Revelation is *the* book with *the* seven seals. But as the subject suggests, it is revealed what is meant for those who love God. I do not think that Revelation is more difficult than the other books of the Bible. Knowing the author is most important, having open ears to listen to Him and being able to read (or have it read) are the only means needed. There are symbols and metaphors in this book like in many other texts as well, but they are not as mystic as one might think. God does not leave us orphans.

After all the years reading and posting in alt.christnet.christianlife and other newsgroups, I found something out that will influence my posts. I have found out that most people are as lazy as I am. It takes time and love for God to deal with the Scriptures and go deeper into them. Most people do not want to take the time for that. But I think that Bible study is one of the most important things that Christians are to do. Bible Reading is listening to God, hearing His voice! Could it be that people cannot afford any time for that? Incredible. So this here is not for those who just want to stumble in for their unqualified opinion but do not want to take the time for a deeper study.

There is also a number of people in newsgroups who cannot keep track very well, so how could they ever read and understand (just from the plain text) whole Bible chapters or books and keep what they understood in mind?

Then there are those who do not even dare reading Revelation, because so many people have discouraged them to do so by claiming the book was so difficult and only they could tell them what God has revealed. The latter make a big mistake and confuse themselves with God and think the person who reveals is they themselves, while the big Revealer is God using John. I would like to encourage those who are interested and willing to take the time to find out the truth in Revelation with me.

Revelation can be read like any other book. It is much more than Science Fiction, however, because it is God's Word and deals with people's reality, fate and destination. It is the truth for anybody, not just for those who have read it, not just for Christians.

Methods:

I will start with an introduction about the Book of Revelation, where it was written, by whom and when, how it starts and more special things that are striking. After that there will be a comprehensive Bible Study for each chapter. I will start with Revelation 1, and you can find more ideas in other posts. I will elaborate things while posting, so my study will not be finished before I have finished Revelation 22. That means that I might add new ideas to former chapters later and so pick up an idea again after a while.

I hope you will have much fun with this Bible Study.

God Bless You All,

Vera

BIBLE PROPHECY AND REVELATION

GNOSTICISM - A DEVIL'S PIT

Exercises: Revelation, Chapter 1

END TIMES --->>> THE ANTICHRIST WILL *EMERGE* FROM THE CHURCH

Jesus' Spiritual and Literal Kingdom

Nah, Jesus has not come back yet! Preterism is a Lie

Rev 01:12-20: Jesus' Appearance

103.07:Time of Origin/John

01 Rev. 1:10-11: God Speaking

103.06: Time of Origin/John

01 Rev.1:9: John on the Isle of Patmos

(photo by Chris Vlachos)

105.01: Jesus Second Coming on Earth - He is Coming in the Clouds!

105.02 Addendum: Jesus Second Coming on Earth - The Sepulchre was Empty

104.04 Just some Thoughts

103.05: Time of Origin/John

Rev.1:4-8: John addresses the Seven Churches

104.03 Just some Thoughts

104.02 Just some Thoughts

103.04: Time of Origin/John

104.01 Just some Thoughts

103.3: Time of Origin/John

103.2: Time of Origin/John

103.1: Time of Origin/John

102.01 TIME LINE

****REVELATION**** Things to Do

REVELATION 1:1-3: Jesus Christ Speaking

****REVELATION: GENERAL REMARKS****

Introduction

END TIMES --->>> THE ANTICHRIST WILL EMERGE FROM THE CHURCH

REVELATION Things to Do

REVELATION: GENERAL REMARKS