#revelations #endtimes

I have heard people say they are not that excited about going to heaven. They don't find bejeweled walls and streets of gold all that exciting or interesting. Some religions and religious people focus on these material things as an incentive to go to heaven. Some religions even talk of material and fleshly pleasures such as a mind state of nirvana or the fleshly excitement of being given virgin brides. No none of that will be what we will be excited about in the New Heaven and New Earth.
Life as a river will be flowing out to all there from the prescence of God. Absolute Love will engulf us with His life giving presence. The tree of life from Eden will be there we will not eat from it, but it's leaves will bring peace and healing, there will be a curse no more, nor will anything accursed ever enter there. All will walk in the eternal light of His Absolute Love. All will be Kings and Queens and there will be no need for conquering or fighting forever and ever.  

Rev 22:1-5 "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

I feel the need for Thanksgiving and Singing. Let's enter into the Holiday Season!! Preparing for the second advent.

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love

Joy to the World Lyrics
The words and lyrics of the old Christmas carol 'Joy to the World' were written in 1719 by Isaac Watts (1674-1748). The father of John Watts was a Non-conformist and so extreme were his views that he was imprisoned twice. His father's influence over Isaac was demonstrated when he choose to attend Non­conformist Academy at Stoke Newington in preference to a University. Watts was ordained as a Pastor of an Independent congregation. He wrote many hymns and Carols and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree by the the University of Edinburgh in 1728. The music to the carol is by George Frederick Handel (1685-1759).

#revelation #endtimes

In this seventh and final vision we see a glorious sight of delight for those who have endured through the inter-advent period. The radiance of the Glory of God and the Lamb will be there. The faithful will be forever in covenant with The Absolute Love. The cities walls will be built of precious gems and stones a they will be worthless as currency or means of trading. All will be freely given and received. There will be no temple and no need we will have direct access to the One True God there. Nothing unclean, or dangerous, or perverted or sick will be there. There will be no falsehood, or deception even though the gate will never be locked and will continually be open.

Rev 21:9-27 "Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed-- 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 on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement.The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass. And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day--and there will be no night there.They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life."

We will declare with Paul about all that was endured here on earth.

2Co 4:7-18 "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

We do not lose heart, but by faith in the Absolute Love our sufferings now "light and momentary" are preparing for us "an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison".  

http://www.science-essentials.org/2011/11/16/one-human-race-secondary-activities-6-12/

#endtimes #revelation

Reminiscent of what we saw yesterday the first earth has passed away and in this new redeemed heaven and earth God dwells with man, no tears, no death, no mourning, crying or pain. The Absolute Love has made everything new. Best of all The way, The truth and The life is there. Like in Eden in the beginning we will walk, with, abide in and have fellowship with The Absolute Love. As He promised you will never thirst again, all will be satisfied in Him.

Rev 21:1-8 "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

Another thing about this new earth and heaven is there won't be any people doing any evil things against other people. We will all be changed, you and I will be totally faithful to one another, we won't have any perverted or deceitful thoughts or desires, and the best of all there will be no rebellion in seeking after other gods or idols. Jesus Christ, Isa Al Masih, Yeshua Messiah will be totally satisfying for all that we need or desire.
If you have not found Him to be all that for you, you can come He is satisfying above all things.

Joh 4:7-14 "A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock." Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

#revelation #endtimes

The time, meaning and scope of "The Millennium" is disputed over and sometimes even a cause for division among honest followers of Christ and Biblical Scholars. Why do I think this chapter that talks about the reign of Christ refers to these last days that we are in, in the inter-advent period between the Resurrection of Jesus and His coming again?

1. Jesus is reigning now from heaven and the risen saints raised with Him are reigning with Him.

1Co 15:23-26 "But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

2. Revelation 20:7-15 is a clear capitulation of the end of Revelation 19:17-21.

Revelation 20:7-11 "And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them,and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."

Rev 19:19-20 "And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur."

Revelation 20:12-15 "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Rev 19:21 "And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh."

It is by the "Sword of His Mouth" that this judgment of death comes, the second death the final death of being judged and thrown into the lake of fire. A reminder from John's Goapel that Jesus is the "Word of God".

Rev 2:11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death."

3. Large numbers in prohetic literature throughout Scripture indicate a long period of time that has a conclusion, not myriads and myriads as in uncountable, but a large number of unknown scope or length. (i.e. 144,000 in Revelation 14, 12,000 from each of the sons of Israel and 1,000 in Revelation 20.)

G.K. Beale the author of the "New International Greek Testament Commentary on Revelation writes: "The events in vv 1-3 and vv 4-6 occur during the same period, which is referred to as '1,000 years," That this is not a literal chronological number is apparent from: (1) the consistently figurative use of numbers elsewhere in the book. (2) the figurative nature of much of the immediate context ("chain", "abyss", "dragon", "serpent", "locked", "sealed", "beast"), (3) the predominantly figurative tone of the entire book (so 1:1), (4) the figurative use of "1,000" in the O.T. (my add Old Testament prophetic literature), (5) the use of Jewish and early Christian writings of "1,000" years as a figure for eternal blessing of the redeemed....
The overall analysis of vv 1-6 supports a figurative meaning. 1,000 is the third power of ten, and, if figurative here, might represent a long era and, at least, would signify and ideal epoch."
"The New International Greek Testament Commentary on Revelation" William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1999, page 995.

Do you want to be free from the judgment and this second death? All who follow Jesus Christ, the Absolute Love, those found having faith in Him will be made alive at the second resurrection, at His return.

1Co 15:19-22 "If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

http://www.science-essentials.org/2011/11/14/one-human-race/

#endtimes #revelation

Often we make interpretation of prophecy too difficult, full of speculation, with no connection to what came before or after and with no understanding or connection to the writers time, situation and place historically. Prophecy is often misunderstood because we see it mainly as telling about future happenings, however this is seldom the case. From Isaiah to Zecharia and now Revelation the word of the LORD given to the spokesperson is a mix of past and present, the now, the near and the future declarations of God. Prophecy in the Scriptures is more forth telling of a message of judgment as it is foretelling of the future.
It is clear that John is seeing this seventh vision,the seventh and final parallel section of Revelation more and more from a heavenly perspective. In the middle of writing what he was seeing it is almost a pause, as if John said to himself or the Lord reminded him, these reigning on thrones people are, part of the "first" (in Greek probably prior) resurrection. The second resurrection is yet coming when Jesus Christ returns to earth for the final judgment.

Rev 20:4-6 "Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years."

There will only be two resurrections, one has occurred and it is the central point of earth's history. Those who looked forward in faith from the two witnesses-the olive oil and the wine; the olive tree and the lampstands all the faithful raised at the resurrection of Jesus and now reigning with Him this is the first(prior) resurrection and John did not want anyone to misunderstand and think this was some yet future earthly reign on earth. It would draw me to think of the beheading of John the Baptist at this point. Those saints of the faithful of Israel and followers of the Messiah who looked forward to the coming of Christ in faith raised and reigning now with the LORD.

Mat 27:50-53 "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many."

John who is writing was eye witness to the resurrection and spent time with Jesus both before and after He was raised from the dead. This is the first resurrection, there has only been one, yet after this inter-advent period at the final judgment when Satan is finally cast into the Lake of Fire. (This is not another time this is the same final judgment mentioned over and over again in the visions of Revelation. See my previous post on Revelation 19:20,21)
This is at the second coming of Christ. Then there will be a final resurrection of the Christ followers.

1Th 4:15-18 "For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words."

Then this world at His coming will melt in the midst of His Absolute Love, Purity, Faithfulness and Judgment.

2Pe 3:7-13 "But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the  earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."

 In tomorrow's blog why we should not see the the mention of 1,000 years as chronological and why it refers to these last days in which we are living.

#revelation #endtimes
The seventh parallel vision highlights even more the perspective of heaven on the triumph and control over evil and the ultimate picture of what Absolute Love has prepared for those who have taken hold of love. Just as the evil of fallen angels has been controlled from the beginning, they have been kept in eternal chains until the great day of judgment, even Satan only being able to do what God allows. For the inter-advent period Satan has the added chain of being restrained from deceiving the nations.

Jud 1:6 "And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day-- "

Job 1:12 "And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. "

Now from the coming of Jesus Christ to earth and His defeat of death and sin on the cross Satan is chained to "not deceive the nations any longer" This is the inter-advent period, where those redeemed from every tribe, tongue, people and nation are called to repent, believe and follow after Christ. Yet, at the end that binding will be released and His fury will be unleashed.

Rev 20:1-3 "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while."

This short time of release is reminiscent of the end of Revelation 17 where the kings of the earth join in the rebellion and fury of the beast and war against the Lamb for "only a little while". This is certainly the short time before the second coming of Jesus Christ and final judgment.

Rev 17:8 "The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come."

Rev 17:11-14 "As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful."

Though Satan will be released just before the return of Christ to take part in the final judgment of Absolute Love over rebellion and anti-christ, anti-love, this time will be cut short by the grace and mercy of Absolute Love.  

Mat 24:22 "And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short."

#revelation #endtimes

The sixth vision ends as the others have, with the celebration and vindication of those who have followed God, even though they were persecuted and killed they never gave in to the pursuit of finding satisfaction in anything other than God. Absolute Love produces people who love God and love one another. Absolute Love is a love of righteousness and justice.

Rev 19 "After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants." Once more they cried out, "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever." And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!" And from the throne came a voice saying, "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great." Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure"-- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God." Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God." For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great." And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh."

Satan and those following thrown into a fiery lake. His demise was foreshadowed of long ago.

Gen 3:15 "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."

Eze 28:2-19 "Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because your heart is proud, and you have said, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,' yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god-- you are indeed wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you; by your wisdom and your understanding you have made wealth for yourself, and have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries; by your great wisdom in your trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart has become proud in your wealth-- therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you make your heart like the heart of a god, therefore, behold, I will bring foreigners upon you, the most ruthless of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor. They shall thrust you down into the pit, and you shall die the death of the slain in the heart of the seas.Will you still say, 'I am a god,' in the presence of those who kill you, though you are but a man, and no god, in the hands of those who slay you? You shall die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of foreigners; for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD."   Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me:"Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord GOD: "You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you.  All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever."

#revelation  #endtimes

2Pe 3:10-12 "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! "

In this sixth parallel and progressive vision in Revelation we see the full and final judgment of Satan and His followers. In the final judgment Absolute Love comes to earth. In the midst of the darkness that surrounds the people the glory of Absolute Love is blinding and overwhelming, it is set over against the darkness of His judgment as this world dissolves in the presence of the risen Jesus Christ, Yeshua Messiah, Isa Al Masih. All who worshipped things, wealth and power will be utterly undone.

Rev 18 "After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. And he called out with a mighty voice, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast. For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living." Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues;
for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed. As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, 'I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.'
For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her."
And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning.
They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, "Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come."
And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls. "The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your delicacies and your splendors are lost to you, never to be found again!"
The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud. "Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls! For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste." And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off
and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, "What city was like the great city?" And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, "Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been laid waste. Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!"
Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more; and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more, and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery. And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth."

Isa 13:9-11 "Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light. I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless."

On that day the patience and plan of Absolute Love will be completed. Justice will be brought to those hanging on to their guilt. It does not have to happen for you, Absolute Love is gracious, merciful and forgiving. YHWH, Jesus, Yeshua, Isa he is holding out mercy, grace and forgiving love to you, you only need to lay your guilt and shame on Him. He is powerful and worthy enough to take it upon Himself.

Rev 4:11 "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."

Rev 5:8-13 "And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"

His very nature is Absolute Love. Love is necessarily Just.

Exo 34:6 "The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty"

http://www.science-essentials.org/2011/11/09/whats-so-unique-about-humans-secondary-activities-6-12/

#endtimes

The scope of all false religious movements and false prophecy is the attempt to bring about their own individual agenda for world domination to bear upon everyone else. Whether it be Israel, Iran, the U. S. or Russia and China.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/11/07/why-irans-top-leaders-believe-that-end-days-has-come/

The Kingdom of God, is not of this world. (cosmos) The distinction of the Kingdom of Satan and the Kingdom of God are sometimes not quite as evident, sometimes Satan acts like a sheep in order to infiltrate. Yet often the difference is clear. Those bent on domination are of Satan, over against humble reliance on love, the Absolute Love. Those bent on destroying and killing are of Satan, over against those who are defenders of the weak and truth who seek after peace and safety are of the One True God!

Joh 18:10, 11 "Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?"

Joh 18:36 "Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."

Joh 4:19-24 "The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

This world is passing away, Absolute Love has not forsaken it, He is transforming us while we are in it. He is preparing both that place and us.  Those seeking a permanence and dominance on earth are of Satan, as opposed to those focused on being forever in the presence of the Absolute Love.

Joh 14:1-4 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going."

1Jn 2:15-17 "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

#revelation #endtimes

The war for absolute individualism, total autonomy is the war against relational attachment to the Absolute Love. Fallen mankind will rather be under subservience to self and anti-christ, than acknowledge dependence on God and as His image bearer relate in interdependence with others.

In a final battle the beast will reappear, the vision is now clearly future for the ten horns are "ten kings who have not yet received royal power" and "the waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages".

Rev 17:9-18 "This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful." And the angel said to me, "The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth."

What we are seeing is the result of this quest for ultimate independence, for anarchy, for no controls on the self, autonomous existence. I had a very interesting experience with this search for ultimate autonomy in a recent visit to San Francisco.
Across the bay in Oakland were daily protests going on in the current occupy movement which is protesting against institutional and corporate control and greed. They were attempting to and succeeded in closing down one of the busiest shipping ports in the world through the strategy of a general strike. Of course it was well noted that most of them were not in any labor union. In the midst of this mostly peaceful demonstration what were being described as anarchist groups were not satisfied with the shutting down of the port, they came in among the protesters and began setting fires, looting and destroying property.
Then in San Francisco amongst the many autonomous homeless and indigent those begging for money. If you ask the majority they would not go with you to a restaurant to to buy some bread for them at a store and restaurant, no they really want to be left alone, if only you would provide them with a means to go their way to fuel whatever their individual desires are. (You may think me uncaring or even mean, but this is because you have not had the opportunity to work closely with a rescue mission, or a detention/correctional facility or a addiction recovery ministry.)
Then also was the attempted ban on nude dining in the city and the attempt to make it law that if you were nude you would put a towel or cloth down before sitting on a public bench or chair. There are even recognized in the age of tolerance of almost anything in the name of autonomous choice some limits to that tolerance.

Nancy Pearcy talks of this drive for individualistic autonomy as she talks about the results of Marxist thinking, which leads to Social Darwinism as a result of the divorce of force of morality entering into the sciences whether it be social sciences or biology any absolute moral system according to atheistic darwinism is excluded from science. Why? Because it is not believed by the elite in science. They say because it cannot be emperically tested, it is of faith. Darwinism is believed. Why? Not because it can be tested. It cannot, as Darwinists are wont to point out it takes billions of years for evolution to occur. No it is by faith for them also, but moral absolutes must be omited for they are of faith and it is a competing faith against Darwinism. Survival of the fittest means eliminating the competition, in this sense the idea of God is the competing source against the ultimate superiority of man. I will take God's side in that competition. I talk more about this dilemma of science in my book "Absolute Love".

In the twentieth century this individualism has progressed to a full blown sexual and amoral revolution as Nancy Pearcy decsribes in talking about the founder of Planned Parenthood.

"The left-right split in American politics used to be over economic issues, such as distribution of wealth. (My note-that is still here) But today the split tends to be over issues of sex and reproduction, abortion, homosexual rights, no-fault divorce, the definition of family, fetal experimentation, stem cell research, cloning, sex education and pornography...
Just listen to some of the architects of the sexual revolution, like Margaret Sanger, the founder of planned parenthood. Most of us know Sanger as an early champion of birth control, but not everyone knows she wrote several books expounding a complete worldview. Sanger was a committed Darwinist, a champion of Social Darwinism and eugenics ... Her goal was to construct a "scientific" approach to sexuality based on Darwinism.
Sanger portrayed history as a struggle to free our bodies and minds from the constraints of morality- what she called the "cruel morality of self-denial and sin". ocial lls: "She touted sexual liberation as the "only method" to find "inner peace and security and beauty". She even offered it as way to overcome social ills: "Remove the constraints and prohibitions which now hinder the release of inner energies[ her euphemism for sexual energies], and most of the larger evils of society will perish.
Finally, Sanger offered this sweeping messianic promise.: "Through sex, mankind will attain the great spiritual illumination which will transform the world, and light up the only path to an earthly paradise." Nancy Pearcy
"Total Truth:  Study Guide Edition" page 142-143 Crossway Books 2005

The Absolute Love is waiting patiently, judgment is building for the day of wrath, justice must be a part of love. Yet today grace Christ, that are not anti-christ.

Rom 1:21-32 "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them."

#revelation #endtimes

This sixth parallel vision is now taking us deeper into the end times, a more ominous vision of rebellion against God, a more global picture of violence against the followers of the Lamb. This picture of the adulteress woman and the beast whom she is in bed with is more extensive.
Babylon is the very essence of the captivity, persecution and destruction of the people of God. She is representative of the world empires Persia, Greece, Rome and beyond. A picture of despotic kings and rulers who set themselves up as absolute over against the Absolute Love. The very opposite of love, uncaring and unmerciful. Anti-Christs. This is something that comes and goes, arises and falls, is defeated and reappears, a picture of the inter-advent period.

Rev 17:3-8 "And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations." And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly. But the angel said to me, "Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come."

Mankind at the fall and throughout history has chosen a perversion of created order where individualism and collectivism are at odds with one another. In created order the image of God is highlighted in the value and dignity of the individual and the humble, mutual submission to the ultimate benefit of the loving relationship.
The Beasts kingdom is in opposition to this picture because he must be ultimate, and therefore in opposition to loving, humble submission to the benefit of others, he subjugates and enslaves those who give Him ultimacy in their lives. They, in an effort to gain ultimacy and independence for themselves, must take on the mark of the beast and be in chains.

Nancy Pearcy explains this phenomenon and explains how the focus upon naturalism as opposed to created order and image bearing bring people into this subjugation.
She explains the development of this through totalitarianism in general as a philosophy of governance.

"Let's go back before Marx to one of the sources of his ideas- Jean Jacques Rousseau. Most of the ideologies that bloodied the twentieth century were influenced by Rousseau. His writings inspired Robespierre in the French Revolution, as well as Marx, Lenin, Mussolini, Hitler, and Mao. Even Pol Pot who massacred a quarter of the population in Cambodia. So if you get a grip on Rousseaus thinking you have a key to understanding much of the modern ("fallen"-my addition) world. ...
Rousseau said the way to grasp the essence of human nature was to hypothesize what we would be liked if we were stripped of all social relationships, morals, laws, customs, traditions-of civilization itself. ... In it are lone, disconnected, autonomous individuals, whose sole motivating force is desire for self-preservation- whart Rousseau called self-love.... Social relationships are not ultimately real; instead they are secondary or derivative, created by individual choice." ...
If our true nature is to be autonomous individuals, then society is contrary to or nature: it is artificial, confining, oppressive. That's why Rousseau's most influential work, The Social Contract, opens with the famous line, "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains" ... For Rousseau, the really oppressive relationships were personal ones like marriage, family, church, and workplace." Nancy Pearcy
"Total Truth:Liberating Christianity From Its Cultural Captivity" page 141 Crossway Books 2005.

Ultimate autonomy in escape from relationship with The Absolute Love, sound familiar?: if not read the first several chapters of Genesis. The result is destruction of the self that was created for relationship. This is the legacy of those who remain in rebellion against the Lamb.

Mat 24:5-14 "For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

More on this captivity- this mark of the beast in tomorrows post.  

#endtimes #revelation

The Absolute Love is absolute in many ways. First the absolute love of God is the what defines the essence of what love is, anything that claims to be loving is subjected to the absolute criteria of God's love. In addition it is absolute in that, acceptance of God's love is acceptance and submission to loving God alone, there can be no love that is above or takes precedence above love to God, this is absolute. Marriage or any other relationship that claims to be loving must be subordinated to the Absolute Love. So all throughout Revelation and The Word of God as a whole speaks of infidelity or unfaithfulness to God in the language of prostitution and sexual immorality.

Rev 17:1,2 "Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk."

In the final two visions we are given a much broader picture of the judgment and redemption of God. Chapter 17 begins the sixth of the seven parallels and progressive visions of Revelation. Unfaithful Israel and Rome are not the only focus of judgment and redemption but the whole earth, all peoples are involved in the beginning and culmination of Gods plan throughout history. If you want to get a fuller grasp of the plan of God study the book of Romans very diligently, but especially meditate on Romans chapters 8 - 11. For God is through His sovereign plan before the foundations of the world is putting together the best most possible world. No one there will be in rebellion nor will perversion of love toward God be in that place for all will know the love of God fully and in glad surrender acknowledge, no revel and delight, in His loving absolute power and presence.

Rom 11:30-36 "For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?""Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen."

In my book "Absolute Love" I spend a lot of time in study and reflection of the who God is relationally as Father-Son-Holy Spirit. The One God in three persons, One in essence, power, existence and personality, yet three in one. This relationship is essential to understanding the faithfulness and love of God. A love like no other Hesed- Agape- Steadfast Love. One of my new favorite writers is Nancy Pearcy she gives a special glimpse into the relationship of love within the One God.

"The human race was created in the image of God, who is three Persons so intimately related as to constitute one Godhead- in the classic theological formulation one in being and three in person. God is not "really" one deity, who appears in three modes: nor is God "really" three deities, which would be polytheism. Instead, both oneness and threeness are equally real, equally ultimate, equally basic and integral to God's nature"
The balance of unity and diversity in the Trinity gives a nodel for human scial life, because it implies that both individuality and relationship exist within the Godhead itself. God is being -in-communion. Humans are made in the image of a God who is tri-unity- whose very nature consists in reciprocal love and communication among Persons of the Trinity. This model provides a solution to the age old opposition between collectivism and individualism. Over against collectivism, the Trinity implies the dignity and uniqueness of the individual person. Over against radical individualism, the Trinity implies that relationships are not created by sheer choice but are built into the very essence of human nature. We are not atomistic individuals but are created for relationships. ...
In fact, certain virtues necessary for spiritual maturity- such as faithfuless and self-sacrificing love - can be practiced only within relationships." Nancy Pearcy
"Total Truth:Liberating Christianity From Its Cultural Captivity" Study Guide Edition Crossway Books 2005

 I will talk more about individualism as against collectivism in tomorrows blog as we continue through Revelation 17.

May you learn to deeply love by focusing on the Absolute Love.
2Co 13:14 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

Going Deep : Becoming a Person of Influence  by Gordon MacDonald

This book is about a small group experiment at the church Gordon MacDonald pastors. The experiment was about "GDP" (Growing Deep People). Gordon MacDonald goes through the thought process of doing something special with growing the church to be much more than it already was, about doing something special in the lives of people and building up a group of people who can be leaders and influencers in the church and throughout the community.
The idea for a GDP group gels together through interactions with leaders within the church and community. A special bond he has with a local Jewish Rabbi helps Pastor MacDonald see that to pattern His ministry after the ministry of a Rabbi, was to pattern his own ministry after the ministry of Jesus. After all Jesus was a Rabbi (Jewish Teacher) who had a very close group of learners. These learners, Jesus' disciples ended up turning the world around and spreading the Gospel message, the teachings of Jesus, throughout the known world at the time.
The book goes on to describe in conversational form how the group was formed, the process used in helping to "GDP", the significant ways that lives were changed and as all the good Rabbi's do the saying of goodbye so that the learners can go out to Grow Deep People. As the Rabbi taught growth stops or is muted if the teacher does not send learners out to teach what they have learned to others.

As I read this book I thought,; "when are you going to get to the point." Over two thirds of the book is about the thought process and the development of this idea about identifying the idea, processing how the group should look and then how the group was established and developed. 
It turns out I was very much chastised by my Lord for my impatience.
As the book moved deeper into the relationships and the changes made in peoples lives, I felt embarrassed by my lack of patience in the middle parts of the book.
Although I still feel some of the conversation was a bit run on and could have been condensed with still having the desired impact, I am glad I didn't give in to my impatience.
The last part of the story I absolutely was brought to tears for the interactions and the changes affected in peoples lives. I am sure I would not have had such a strong emotional reaction had Pastor MacDonald not taken such care to help us get to know the people involved and some depth of the process. I was finishing reading this on an aiplane ride and I am sure the person next to me was wondering why my eyes teared up and I had to stop to reflect often through the last portions of the book.

All in all I would recommend this book to anyone who works with small goups or in some type of leadership capacity. I don't mean just church leaders but anyone who wants to build up others to become leaders and people of influence.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

1Co 3:21-23 "So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's." 1Co 4:1,2 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy."

Yesterday I wrote about disputes or quarrels in the church. As I write this I have listened to Tony Blair talk today about his experience as British Prime Minister working with the factions in Northern Ireland to bring about peace. He also talked about his work in the peace process now in Israel with the Palestinians. He explained that the most difficult part is gaining trust between the parties that are in the dispute.

Trust is important in gaining peace, an unbroken, extended, lasting peace. Part of gaining trust is being trustworthy. If you are going to be a steward of the Prince of Peace, the Absolute Love, being trustworthiness is required.

What characteristics of bring about a sense that one has a character of trustworthiness?
Pro 11:12,13 "Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered."

The Absolute Love is completely trustworthy, have you put your trust in Him?

Psa 111 "Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name! The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!"

#endtimes #revelations

Yesterday I talked about the reference to olive oil and wine not being harmed in the midst of the weighing of costs in Revelation 6:6. The only ones not ultimately harmed, not left weeping with be shielded because the Holy Spirit has changed them and taken up house inside of them to keep them holy and acceptable to God.

Joh 3:5-8 "Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

I also said there were two things I heard last week that I have been contemplating and that I would consider the second thing today. What it is concerns different interpretive meanings about the book of Revelation. It was said last Sunday; "some people think the judgments of Revelation refer to AD 70 and the destruction of Jerusalem others think these judgments are yet future." Then the pastor said; "I personally believe these are future, they are events yet to come."

The thing that grieves me to the heart in the church is disagreement, no I mean fighting over insignificant points of interpretation. James gives us pause for our little quarrels.

Jas 4:1-3 "What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions."

Yet there are different interpretations among very knowledgeable and well known Christian scholars. I don't think this is a point to separate over though. To exclude others from fellowship even, as sometimes happens. "If your not a pre-tribulation, mid-tribulational, post tribulational and pre- millenial your not welcome in our fellowship."

When we get to the point where we are saying I follow John MacArthur, I follow R. C. Sproul, I follow Hank Hannegraff or I follow Tim LaHaye; this kind of quarreling stinks of the same problem in Corinth in the first century.

1Co 3:1-9 "But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building."

So what of the controversy is this something that refers to AD 70 or is it in the future yet to happen? It is not "either or", it is "both and". You cannot take the visions and warnings of the "nearness" and "closeness" of Revelation and not acknowledge that the Holy Spirit speaking through John was saying something very soon is to take place (in the first century) and you must realize that final judgment of this world, satan and his followers has not been executed. Jesus is coming back at a yet future date to bring final judgment.

Rev 22:10-15 "And he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy." "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates."

Rev 22:17 "The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price."

Rev 22:20,21 "He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen."

Don't be caught without the safety of the olive oil and the wine, they will not be harmed. When the measuring comes they will not be left wanting by Absolute Love.  

#revelation #endtimes

Blogging through Revelation has been an interesting, sometimes difficult experience, with the terrible thought of judgment and the consequences of rebellion and sin against a Holy amazingly patient, graciously absolutely loving God. It has also been a steady reinforcement of the redemptive power of falling upon His Absolute Love and sacrifice on my behalf, so that whatever life brings I will ultimately be safe and happy one day in His presence.  

The journey of going through Revelation on my own began when earlier this fall our church began going through the book on Sunday mornings. I have been contemplating all this week on two statements that I heard last week.

The sixth chapter was being read and in the midst of the rider on the black horse, with scales in his hand I heard this "and do not harm the olive oil and the wine." Rev 6:6. I had never heard it or seen it like that. The "olive oil" and the "wine". Certainly there is a type of weighing, measuring, judgment of cost going on here, but "do not harm the olive oil and the wine".

Olive oil and wine are references throughout the New Testament of the work of the Holy Spirit- the Holy Spirit's presence and power. A reference to anointing- having the Holy Spirit.

It reminded me of two passages in Matthew where Jesus talks about oil and wine in the context of the inter advent period.

Mat 9:14 "Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved."

Mat 25:1-13 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'"Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' "But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Have you asked Him for the gift? He is Absolute Love.

Luk 11:9-13 "And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

I will talk about the second thing that I heard, that I have thought on all week, in tomorrow's blog.

#revelation #endtimes

There was a movie a few years ago, called "Vantage Point" Revelation reminds me of that for the many reference to the Roman empire during the seven year Jewish war that ended with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70. In revelation we see from many vantage points the judgment, redemption and final triumph of the Lamb of God; Jesus Christ, Yeshua Messiah , Isa Al Masih. Here we see another reference to the destruction of that time.

Rev 16:16-21 "And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe."

Har Maggedon in Greek refers to the plain of Meggido, or more accurately the Hill of Meggido in Gallilee, South West of the Sea of Gallilee. Jotopata was the stronghold that was under siege for over a year, it stood on a precipice overlooking the plain of Meggido. Therefore it was hill of Meggido. Har Maggedon. It was the place where Josephus was captured by the Romans and the seige of Jotapata was the beginning of the 3 1/2 years of great tribulation.

"7. Now Jotapata is almost all of it built on a precipice, having on all the other sides of it every way valleys immensely deep and steep, insomuch that those who would look down would have their sight fail them before it reaches to the bottom. It is only to be come at on the north side, where the utmost part of the city is built on the mountain, as it ends obliquely at a plain. This mountain Josephus had encompassed with a wall when he fortified the city, that its top might not be capable of being seized upon by the enemies. The city is covered all round with other mountains, and can no way be seen till a man comes just upon it. And this was the strong situation of Jotapata."
From: http://www.ccel.org/j/josephus/works/war-3.htm

John's Revelation - “And there were noises and thundering and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.” (16:18)

Josephus - “for there broke out a prodigious storm in the night, with the utmost violence, and very strong winds, with the largest showers of rain, with continued lightnings, terrible thunderings, and amazing concussions and bellowings of the earth, that was in an earthquake. These things were a manifest indication that some destruction was coming upon men, when the system of the world was put into this disorder; and any one would guess that these wonders foreshowed some grand calamities that were coming” (“Wars of the Jews” 4:4:5)

John's Revelation - "Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.” (16:19)

Josephus - “it so happened that the sedition at Jerusalem was revived, and parted into three factions, and that one faction fought against the other; which partition in such evil cases may be said to be a good thing, and the effect of divine justice.” (5:1:1)

John's Revelation - “And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent.” (16:21)

Josephus - “Now the stones that were cast were of the weight of a talent, and were carried two furlongs and further. The blow they gave was no way to be sustained, not only by those that stood first in the way, but by those that were beyond them for a great space. As for the Jews, they at first watched the coming of the stone, for it was of a white color, and could therefore not only be perceived by the great noise it made, but could be seen also before it came by its brightness;” (5:6:3)
References found at:
http://www.preteristarchive.com/JewishWars/Josephus/credibility-and-importance.html

The fifth section is finished, completed by the poring out of the wrath from the seventh bowl.

#Revelation #endtimes

The bowls of wrath are not only to the rebellious city and unfaithful who rejected the Messiah, the wrath is poured out on the the throne of the beast and all his followers.

Rev 16:1-14 "Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, "Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God." So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, "Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!" And I heard the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!" The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds. The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty."

The interlude between the sixth and seventh bowls of wrath remind the followers of the Lamb to remain awake, pure and ready themselves in faithfulness.

Rev 16:15 "("Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!")"

1Th 5:1-11 "Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."

 2Pe 3:10-14 "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace."

Absolute Love is a pure love, unblemished. He will cleanse and wash us so we are presented pure and spotless before Him. Are you watching carefully and waiting expectantly?