Saturday, February 1, 2014

The Book of Revelations

Hello my para beauties! I trust everyone has had a wonderful weekend and a blessed Sunday. I pray everyone special to you and who you love is healthy. I've been receiving so many prayer requests from all over as many are struggling with sickness or struggling dealing with the loss of a loved one. May God bring you peace in these terrible times. When I lost my father I felt like part of me died too. In these times we must seek God's face for peace of mind. It's part of life and they are now with Jesus Christ in Heaven. It takes time but mourning a death does become more tolerable.

Now let's discuss the book of Revelations in general.

This is a summary in the best format I can offer. Or rather bits and pieces so it's not so overwhelming or puts the brain on overload. From my point of view. I am certainly not stating this is it, no o other views are correct. This is just my humble opinion. The name of the book, Revelation, is a translation of the title in the original New Testament Greek, Apocalypsis the origin of the other name by which the book is now known, the Apocalypse. The Greek term denotes an unveiling or uncovering—thus, a revelation. A very interesting title with very interesting events to come as we are warned.

Many ask why was this book written? Well, as I mentioned above, the book's very name means to reveal —to unveil, to open to understanding what otherwise could not be comprehended. Yet most people believe that this final book of the Bible cannot be understood at all, that its language and symbols are too confusing to make sense. I can understand why. It's very intimidating.

The author of the Book of Revelation is John, who is an exile living on the island of Patmos. Many of the early church fathers believe that he was the same person as the apostle John. However, some believe the writing style of Revelation suggests that the two are not in fact the same, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, although it is possible that the author of Revelation was an apostle of John.

The Book of Revelation's apocalyptic and symbolic language has resulted in a vast array of interpretations. The events depicted are often considered to be an illustration of the early Christian persecutions, but the symbolism is also interpreted quite literally, suggesting that the Book is really about the end of the world, and that the events it describes will occur. Some Christians do not accept the Book of Revelation as canonical, and the decision to accept it in the final list of canonical books was highly controversial, according to the article "Meander Travel: Book of Revelation."

The Vision Of The Worlds End

Revelation is a book written to reveal the future, and Jesus Christ is the One who does the revealing: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place … Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him” (Revelation 1:1,7).

Here is the theme of Revelation—the time of the end of the age and the return of Jesus Christ to establish God’s Kingdom on earth.

John explains where he was when he received this vision of the end time: “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet” (Revelation 1:9-10).

The Lord’s day (also known as “the day of the Lord” or “the day of Christ” throughout Scripture) is the time of God’s intervention in human affairs when He establishes His Kingdom. (Plainly in this context it does not refer to a particular day of the week for worshipping God. To better understand which day God has set aside for rest and worship, please download or request our free booklet Sunset to Sunset: God’s Sabbath Rest.)

The apostle Paul, referring to this same time, says: “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3).
In another epistle Paul calls it “the day of Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:2). The reason is that Jesus Christ, the Lord, intervenes in a powerful way at this time to take over the world. This is why this end-time period is called the Lord’s day.

John’s vision of the Lord’s day begins in Revelation 4: “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne” (verse 2). After describing the scene in heaven, John focuses on a scroll God holds that lists end-time events. “And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals” (Revelation 5:1).

Only Jesus Christ, called the Lamb, is worthy to open the seals and unleash these end-time events. When God the Father determines the time is ready, He authorizes Jesus to initiate the events written on the scroll. They include the terrifying end-time occurrences prophesied throughout the Scriptures to take place during the 3 1⁄2 year period.

The seven seals describe the events before and during Christ’s return to rule the earth. “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels …saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’” (Revelation 5:11-12). Here Jesus Christ is being authorized to unleash the final events and then establish His Kingdom.

The first seal (Revelation 6:1-2) represents widespread deception by a false Christianity that began in the days of the apostles (Matthew 24:4 – 5). The second seal (Revelation 6:3-4) refers to the increasing devastation caused by war as the end approaches (Matthew 24:6-7). The third seal (Revelation 6:5-6) represents increasing hunger and famines (Matthew 24:7). Other consequences of war and famine are represented by the fourth seal (Revelation 6:7-8)—such things as disease, plagues and civil unrest that kill many people (Matthew 24:7).

All of the events in the first four seals have been occurring, with varying frequency and intensity, from Christ’s time to our day. But they have greatly intensified over the last century and will grow even worse in the suffering mankind will have to endure nearer the end.

The fifth seal (Revelation 6:9-11) brings us directly to the time of the end. It acknowledges the past persecution and martyrdom of God’s servants and announces they will have to wait “a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed,” before God avenges their deaths.

In The book of Matthew 24:9 Jesus tells His followers this will be a time when “they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” He also describes it as a time of “great tribulation

THE SIXTH SEAL

The next seal describes how “powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Matthew 24:29) after the end-time tribulation and martyrdom of the saints has begun but before God’s wrath is unleashed in “the day of the Lord” (Joel 2:31). These heavenly signs announce the beginning of the Day of the Lord.

Terrifying heavenly signs announce Jesus Christ’s direct intervention in world events to save mankind from itself. This shows that, while God has permitted the previous end-time disasters, Satan has been their driving force. Now God begins to demolish Satan’s kingdom, pouring out His wrath on a rebellious and insolent world.

“I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

“And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’” (Revelation 6:12-17).

Jesus described this sixth sign in His Olivet Prophecy: “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption [rescue] draws near” (Luke 21:25-28).

Consequently, in the latter part of the 3 1⁄2 years of Satan’s wrath, God will intervene, first with signs and wonders in the heavens, then by orchestrating His final punishments before Jesus Christ’s return.

Finally the seventh seal is opened (Revelation 8). It describes seven other aspects of end-time events, each announced with a trumpet blast. In the first four of these plagues God strikes the earth and mankind’s environmental support systems. The fifth trumpet’s plague inflicts great pain on those refusing to serve God. In the sixth trumpet plague, God permits an unimaginably destructive and all-out worldwide war to begin (Revelation 8-9).

With the sounding of the seventh trumpet, the Bible reveals that “the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets” (Revelation 10:7).

This mystery of the end time was briefly alluded to in the Garden of Eden and its meaning glimpsed by the patriarchs and prophets. John writes: “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’” (Revelation 11:15).

God is in control. Every prophetic detail will be carried out according to His time frame.

As Christ concluded His Olivet Prophecy in Luke 21:34-36, He warned His disciples who would live during the end time: “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Written By Jennifer L Auld

Gossip Quiz

By Pastor Stephen Piersall
God's Preservation Ministry, sfprs.org/
https://www.facebook.com/GodsPreservationMinistry

See original quiz here: http://sfprs.org/gossiping-quiz/


Think you don’t gossip? Take this quiz to find out…

1)     You and your friends are at a social event, and you see one of your friend’s smoking marijuana. You:

a)     Pray for them.

b)     Add them to your prayer list.

c)     Tell everyone on social media.

d)     Tell their spouse and pray for your friend.

2)     You walk by the magazine counter and see a headline about your favorite movie star cheating on their spouse. You:

a)     Pull out your wallet and buy it because you just have to know the details.

b)     You’re tempted, but walk away.

c)     Leave the magazine, but check out the story online. You won’t financially support those types of magazines.

d)     You walk away; those magazines are junk.

3)     You overhear your friend’s spouse telling everyone lies about their relationship. You:

a)     Confront them right there and tell them to take back the lies.

b)     Run and tell your friend.

c)     Post the story on social media.

d)     Spread lies about them and see how they feel when it is done to them.

4)     Your friends are sitting around when one starts telling you what they heard one’s teenager got in trouble at a party last weekend. You:

a)     Listen intently, then call everyone you know. You can’t keep a story that good quiet.

b)     Listen and analyze their actions with your friends.

c)     Go get another drink while they finish talking about it.

d)     Tell them you don’t feel comfortable talking about it and change the subject.

5)     You and your friends usually talk about:

a)     Dating, friends, people at work.

b)     What’s going on in your lives.

c)     Sports, movies, music.

d)     Celebrities.

6)     Your friend’s daughter confides in you that she got pregnant. You:

a)     Tell Everyone.

b)     Ask your teens for advice because you need to know how to deal with it, without saying whom it is.

c)     Write about it on your social media.

d)     Tell no one. Just pray to God for what you should do.

7)     How many times a week do you hear yourself saying, “Did you hear about…?

a)     At least once a day.

b)     2 to 5.

c)     1 to 2.

d)     Never.



ANSWERS are at the bottom of this page.


“Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.” Proverbs 26:20


Gossip is defined as a rumor or talk of a personal, sensational, or intimate nature. As a noun (a person) and a verb (an action), gossip is often very busy. Which is why people who gossip is referred to as busybodies.

No one likes to be called a busybody. The busybodies are those people who spend all day and night probing the lives of other people, so they can share it with all their friends, family, and every stranger who will listen. To ally yourself with such a term is to admit you have no life! Yet, can anyone honestly say they’ve never gossiped?

Honestly, Christians gossip. In many cases, the spicy details that come out of a Christian’s mouth are more damaging than a worldly one:

1)     Christians are not supposed to gossip. The Bible clearly states that gossip and backbiting are on God’s no-no list.

a)     Leviticus 19:16 – “You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.”

b)     Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

c)     Psalms 34:13 – “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.”

d)     Ephesians 4:31 – “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.”

e)     James 4:11 – “Speak not evil one of another.”

2)     Whenever Christians do things they are not “supposed” to, two things can happen:

a)     Unbelievers receive more negative evidence against Christians. (How can Christians claim the Bible is the truth and way of life to live).

b)      Other Christians watching are affected in a negative way by discouragement and prideful thinking.


Christians spiritualize excuses to make them less sinful. This can be seen in the way the Bible is interpreted, for the most part, as it relates to; sexual sins, how and what to speak, eating habits, how and when to sleep, work, exercise, etc.

Christians like to overlook their favored habits of sin. They rationalize these habits no matter how bad, or harmful, or negative. They will make these habits more presentable, by dressing them up to look like something good or beneficial, or even calling it spiritual.

I can honestly say, I have been, am currently involved in, and probably will in my future be gossiped about. It is always tempting to correct the gossip, to identify the offender and to put them in their place. Trust me when I say, to take the correct Godly way is NOT at all easy. Experience has taught me that the best course of action is to forgive them (You do not have to confront them to do this) ignore the gossip and pray for these people. Being an Ordained Pastor and licensed by the State, I have a higher calling to be more respectable and exist above reproach as good as I can. Do I fail? Yes, every day. That is why it is important when you recognize yourself sinning to pray for forgiveness immediately, or if the day goes by, and I may not be aware of doing anything wrong, I pray before bedtime asking God’s forgiveness for those known and unknown to me.

I am not saying that we should live irresponsibly and disregard correction. We should simply live our lives the best the Bible tells us how to. To love God, love people, submit appropriately and try not to cause others to stumble through our behavior. If we work out our own walks with God, we can rest assured that what people say won’t matter. We should just accept that people gossip and leave it to God justify us.

So if we are going to say anything about others, let it be a testimony, let it be something good, which edifies the hearer. Perhaps the old adage puts it most aptly; “If you have nothing good to say about someone, say nothing at all.”

Let us look at the answers to the quiz you took, and no matter of the results good or bad say a prayer right now to God and Thank Him for revealing some truths about you in how you conduct your life.

Scoring Key

1)     A = 4,  B = 2,  C = 1,  D = 3

2)     A = 1,  B = 3,  C = 2,  D = 4

3)     A = 4,  B = 3,  C = 2,  D = 1

4)     A = 1,  B = 2,  C = 3,  D = 4

5)     A = 1,  B = 3,  C = 4,  D = 2

6)     A = 1,  B = 3,  C = 2,  D = 4

7)     A = 1,  B = 2,  C = 3,  D = 4