jaunita

[From 7:1-4 what do we learn about God? What is this seal supposed to do for the 144,000?] ____________________________________________________________ What do we learn about God? What is this seal suppose to do... We learn that He will stop, the very winds of the coming storm, to make sure that those, that are His, may be 'sealed' in, and protected first. Just as God 'sealed' up the ark, with Noah and his family safely inside, so will our God place His seal upon all those that have believed on His Son.

(Revelation 6) Who initiates this great storm of destruction represented by the Seven Seals? Against whom is it directed? Is it just?' ____________________________________________________________ 'And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals.........' It is the Lamb, Himself that initiates this, by the opening, [breaking] of the first seal. ____________________________________________________________ 'And the Kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens, and the rocks of the mountains' It comes upon the whole earth, and its inhabitants. 'The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance' [2Peter. 3:9] ____________________________________________________________ Is it just? Yes; God through His love, gave His only begotten Son, that ALL that would believe, would be saved. We have been given every chance to chose life, through the Son... God is always just; [it rains on the just and the unjust] God through His prophets, preachers and teachers, has warned of this day, that is coming....those that had an ear, heard. 'Even so, come Lord Jesus'

(Revelation 5:9, 12) What made Jesus so worthy of opening the scroll and thus bringing history to its consummation? Why was this act so noteworthy and praiseworthy? Jesus, the Son of the most High God, became the Lamb; The supreme sacrifice, once and for all! No more were bulls, lambs, etc. needed for the temporary remission of sin! His obedience to the Father, His love for us unto death, makes Him, and Him alone worthy to open the scroll. We owe Him all.

Desiree, I'd like to say how sorry I am to hear about your Grandmother, my prayers are with you. OK, a couple of my favorites; Ten Thousand Years (all time favorite!) Nothing but the Blood He Lives!!! Hallelujah, We shall rise!! OOPS! I guess my age is showing!

'Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now have I kept thy Word' (psm.119.67) 'Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; Neverthe less, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby' (Heb. 12:11) The churches are up-braided for leaving their Groom, their first love, Jesus. Jesus loves the Church, which is His Body, and will complete that which He began, in all of us (we are the church!). He promises blessings to those who stand, and are over-comers; And judgment to those who don't; The Church of 2000 yr.s ago, is no different today; there are those who will compromise in their walk, and those who through hardships and trial, will over-come this world. I've always taken the letters to the 7 churches, as both a warning, and a promise. Its also made me very aware, that Jesus is concerned about every thing that goes on within His body.

'Why are so many churches a "hotbed of apathy"? Matt.24:12; 'As wickedness increases, in the end times, the love of many shall wax cold' Why do we get 'apathatic'? Cold love. By loosing our zeal for Jesus, and allowing our selves to become luke-warm in our walk, we run the danger of finding ourselves possessing a love that has grown cold. Jesus's words spoken in Matt. 24, were not a 'maybe or 'if', they were prophetic in speaking of those who belong to Him, in the last days. Many churches today, have become self-satisfied...have stopped looking outward into a lost world, and are looking inward, unto themselves. Wickedness, (or lawlessness) abounds today; We see it when we step out the door, on our TV's, in our news sources (papers TV's etc.) The danger of this 'over saturation' is in allowing our conscious to become seared..which will result in a hardened heart. (unfeeling) We will find ourselves no longer caring about our brothers and sisters in Christ, no longer caring about the lost, poor or needy; Much of this 'coldness' has been brought in, to our houses of God, by the trend of glorifiying man, and discrediting the supremacy of God. I believe this is a danger, all Christians face today...cold love, luke-warmness...I admit that I myself have had to fight through this many times...push on, in fact, when I didn't feel like it. It can come upon you like a 'cloud' of passivity. I believe it is a spirit, one that needs to be fought off daily. 'How can we combat spiritual apathy and an insipid witness in ourselves?' By regaining our first love, and if need be, doing our first works over. Asking God for a fresh vision, eyes to see and ears to hear, what He is saying to His body today. Looking at others, saved and lost, through the eyes of our Lord; And remembering that this life is just a vapor, fleeting, and that there is an eternity ahead.

" Why do you think the religious compromise required by participating in heathen religious practices in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive?" This participating caused an 'unholy mixture' to creep in to those churches and people, who began well, but allowed their faith to become polluted. "What compromises do twenty-first century Christians struggle with?" I would say, the same things that have always been; People are no different today, then 2000 years ago. Human nature always wants it all; We want God in our lives, but we also want what the world offers as well, we want to blend the two, and hope it will all work out in the end; God allows no compromise, and has provided a way for us to attain this seperation from the things of the world.....its called the Cross. Only by embracing the Cross of Christ, being willing to allow ourselves to be crucified upon it, (all that we are, have, and ever hope to be) and picking up our own Cross, can we be overcomers. The reason for not doing this, is we have left our first love....Jesus.

"When good men (or women!) stand by and do nothing, evil prevails" I don't know where that quote originated, but its true; When we as Christians, stand by and allow evil and 'blatant' sins to occur in our Churches, or fellowships, it will only grow...case in point, some of the "churches" (denominations) that welcome homosexuality, as a life style, and nothing more...not accepting that it is sin. If we close our hearts to Gods Word in one matter, it won't be long before our hearts become 'hardened' to Gods Word...period! A hardened heart, cannot be reached, nor can it hear the voice of God speaking. The big word is Compromise...God doesn't tolerate it, and neither should we. (How has your culture tended to take the edge off your own Christian moral convictions or forced you to be quiet about them?) Quiet about it? Not me! I don't relish the idea of standing before my Lord someday, and having Him ask me why....Why I didn't stand up, and speak up, for Him and His Word. God is saying to us all, in these dark days of tolerant compromiseing for the sake of 'peace' and unity...(which is no peace or unity, unless it be based on the Word of truth!) ...'Choose ye this day whom ye will serve......'

A Church, or congregation, will lose its 'first love' by becoming more focused on 'what' rather then on 'who'; Any time we take our eyes off of Jesus, the Cross, and the Blood, and focus more on works, performance, etc. we have left our first love. Jesus must always be at the center of all we are, and do. Genuine love for Jesus, reflects the same; 'Focus on Him, and His Word' This doing away with our 'first love' will result in a falling away from our purpose here, which is to reflect the love of Jesus to a lost and dying people....and becoming no different than the world. We as Christians are told, we are the 'salt' in this world...that which preserves; When we lose our 'saltiness' and have nothing more to offer than programs, meetings, and a country-club atmosphere, we have missed the mark. To regain our first love...our purpose as well, we must return to basics... That is Jesus...and Him alone.

'What is the significance of the exalted Jesus walking among the lampstands? (1:12-20) What does this teach us about the church? What does it teach us about Jesus? ' The significance of Jesus walking among the lamp-stands, shows that He is ever watchful of His Bride...That His presence is 'ever there' among His people, and His Church, (which in reality, is the Bride, made up of you and I, not a building) This teaches us that 'The Church'..the Body of Christ, belongs to Him, and that He is ever-faithful to protect and watch-out for her. (praising God); " the lampstands gather their light from Christ. The church has no light without Christ. Jesus" I don't believe I've ever heard it put any better than that, praising God..! That was a great word! love you all....jaunita

' The vision of Christ among the lampstands (1:12-20) is much different than the Carpenter-Teacher who walked the roads of Galilee and Judea. Why? What overall emotions is this vision of Jesus among the lampstands designed to evoke in the reader? Why is this understanding of Jesus important to a balanced faith?' Here we see Jesus...the eternal Son, in all His Glory. ('And in the midst of the candle-sticks 'one like' unto the son of man....') Jesus first came as the sacrificial Lamb...At His return, He will appear in all His Glory...as the warrior King. Just as He, in all His Glory, caused John to fall at His feet as dead, I believe when we see the coming of our Lord, we will do the same... Balance is important, in our viewing of our Lord; He is a God of love, peace, longsuffering, etc......But He is also a God of wrath and judgement; I don't like to use the word duality, when speaking of the Lord, but its the only word I can think of to explain the complete picture of this.... We received a small glimpse of the anger of the Lord, when Jesus 'up-braided' the religious leaders, and in His clearing of the Temple, of the money changers. (giving me, the idea that Jesus hates religion!) There is such a thing as 'holy hatred'....hating the things that God hates, also 'holy anger or wrath'....The fear of the Lord, (to inable us to keep this balance,) should be evident as well, in us.

'In what countries are Christians presently experiencing tribulation or persecution for the faith? How can the Book of Revelation be a comfort and encouragement to them?' I would have to agree with all who have answered above...All Christians, in every country are facing persecution today. The only other comment I would add to this, is there are many facing this 'self-same' persecution, coming from those sitting in the houses of God. I believe we are seeing a separation going on in Gods House today...a call, going forth from our Lord, to; "Choose ye this day, whom ye will serve" .....this in its self, is bringing separation, and persecution, to those choosing to stand up for the truths of God. Comfort comes to those that choose to stand for God...knowing that eternal life and peace awaits, those that endure. (Praise God)

What does this tell us about the Father? The Father is the speaker here in 1:8 and in 21:6. But Jesus is the speaker in 1:17 and 22:12-13. What is the significance of this for our understanding of who Jesus is? 'And God said..'Let "US" make man, after OUR likeness.....' Gen.1:26 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God'...Jn.1:1 Jn.1:2 goes on to say, that the same (the Word) was in the beginning with God, so this is telling us, Jesus was, is, and always will be. When God, the Father spoke the world into existence, Jesus, Himself, was the 'Word' spoken, from the mouth of God; The trinity is one of the mysteries to be sure! Only through the revelation of the Spirit, are we able to comprehend this mystery...and even then, its hard to put into words... In a class I was teaching, some years ago, the way I explained it was this way; Just as we..mankind, are a 'trinity'...body, soul and spirit, so is God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The difference being, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, have always, and will always, operate as One, in all things. We as body soul and spirit, can become "fragmented"..not working in unision. It is only through accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour, do we become 'one' ...whole, within ourselves, because of Him, and in Him. "What is the significance of this for our understanding of who Jesus is?" Jesus and the Father are one...for all that the Father is, and has...belongs to The Son...power, authority, etc. When we listen to Jesus, we are listening to the Father.

"Why is the theme of testimony and witness so important to that purpose? How is Jesus as the "faithful witness" (1:5) supposed to encourage us? Why are we afraid to be clear witnesses in a culture where we aren't persecuted?" We are made over-comers, by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony...Jesus, who is our 'living' testimony, once died, but rose again unto eternal life, points the way for us. As the ultimate example, of one persecuted for rightousness sake, we draw strength from His life and example.....For who of us, has had to endure, unto death? As someone brought out already, we who live in countries that allow freedom of worship, will be called upon to experience persecution....persecution of a different type perhaps, but persecution, nevertheless..Jesus said in Jn.15:20... 'Remember the word that I said to you; The servant is not greater than his Lord...If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you....' (And who's to say, that before the coming of our Lord, we won't be called upon to 'endure unto death?) 'Why are we afraid to be clear witnesses in a culture where we aren't persecuted?'.....Good question! I can only give an opinion here on this; I believe it is for many reasons...the biggest being 'spiritual' laziness, (or slumber). Pride, hardness of heart, luke-warmness...take your pick. My question would be, why is it that those Christians in countries that suffer the greatest persecution for their faith in Christ, (sometimes even unto death) the ones that 'bare greater witness?' Many in 'free' nations, where the opportunity to witness for Christ, seem to have left their first love...have forgotten the 'simplicity' that is Christ Jesus, and taken on the ways of the world. The search for truth...(Jesus being all truth) seems to have been replaced with head-knowledge...a philosophizing of the Word. We can only know Him by the Spirit...not by the mind. I agree with Marilyn, we are indeed on a slippery slope!

Hello All! So good to be back, and to already 'see' a few familiar faces! I am looking forward to this new study, on Revelations....and hearing from some old 'voices' and some new ones, on what will prove to be, I'm sure, a wonderful study. My name is Jaunita, and I live in KY., the beautiful 'blue grass' state. This is my fouth study with Pastor Ralph, and can honestly say, they have all been great...Thank you Pastor Ralph, (ahead of time!) for the time and effort put into these studies....they are truly a blessing. See you all on the board! jaunita

I believe Gideon WAS honoring his mother and father; By obeying God. I recall a time before my parents had come to know Jesus as Lord, They arrived unexpectedly at my home when I was getting ready to leave, to work in the ministry God had placed me in; It was important that I be there that day...I had given my word. My parents became very up-set that I wouldn't change my plans, and stay with them. They could not understand, that to be about my Fathers business, was my life, and still is. There, in fact were many tears on my mom's part, and hurt feelings on my dads. My point is, I put God first, and before my parents left this world, they both came to know Jesus as Saviour. God will honor us, and our prayers when we place Him first in our lives! Somewhere in Gideon, this truth was placed by God.

"Though shall have no-other God's, before Me"....I did a little studying on Ba'al worship, and the "beginnings" of it...found it interesting. The children of Israel never abandoned the one True God..(Yahweh) but instead their sin was one of "syncretism",,,,attemting to blend the worship of God, with the worship of Ba'al and Asherah. This as today, is compromising. God has told us, as He did the children of Israel, that we shall have no-other Gods..." God commanded Gideon to erect an alter and to offer up sacrifice's unto God. Gideon risked his very life in doing this...going against his neighbors, and family. The fact that he choose to do this at night, when the risk was not as great, shows his fear...but in the circumstance's, understandable. I don't believe it shows weakness on his part.....if he had been truly weak, he could have refused to obey God...out of fear of man.

God had sent many before Gideon, (Deborah comes to mind), to judge and lead Israel into the right way...But it seem's after every battle won by God for them, and the death of each judge (prophet) they fell into apostocy....following after other gods..that were no gods at all! "Thou shall have no other God before me" The word compromise comes to mind...The children of Israel, as we do today, believed they could compromise with the "world" (their enemy's) and still be in God's will. They, as we, are called out, an example to the world....there is no place for compromise.

In what way does Gideon blame God for his troubles in 6:13? (see exposition). Is Gideon's assessment accurate? Why or why not? Why do we blame God? What's the danger and how can we stop short of this in the future? I feel Gideon is no different than any of us today...We see problems and trial's, coming our way, and our first response is "God, where are you, why are you allowing this to happen?" Gideon feels forsaken. Is he correct? No, for God promised to never forsake His people; Because of disobedience, on the part of the children of Israel, they in fact, had forsaken God and His commandments. We all have a tendency to look for someone to blame, when circumstances seem to be out of control in our lives....."God, you helped "so and so", why aren't you helping me now?" Done it myself! The danger in this, is we can allow ourselves to get into unbelief...doubting Gods promise to never leave us or forsake us...this is sin. We need to remember, if we have given our lives to Christ, He is in control..we no-longer belong to ourselves. "If we are buildt upon the Rock (Jesus), when the storms come we can be assured He is there...in control" love, jaunita

Hello, My name is Jaunita, I live in KY., the beautiful "Blue Grass state" I'm single but am soon to be a bride, in the greatest wedding to ever take place...the Wedding of the Bride of Christ, to her wonderful Groom, the Lord Himself! This is my third study with Pastor Ralph, and I'm looking forward to starting....These studies help to keep me focused on Gods word even on days when, because of work and other obligations, I might neglect the Word. Thank you Pastor Ralph! love jaunita

I have loved this study! I must admit, taking this study was a selfish act on my part...I had felt like my vision, for and about, the church, (Local) had been tainted by bad experience's through the years. Not to get to personal, I have a child who 15 years ago, was violated, in the church....so you can see where I'm coming from. The study has helped to remind me, that Christ loves His Church, so how can I not love, what He loves? As I said in the previous post, the body of Jesus, is a family, and as a family we will have problems...But through our love for Jesus, and our love for each other, there is nothing we can't over-come through Him. I'm believing God for complete healing, and praising Him for a "fresh vision" for His body. God Bless you Pastor Ralaph, for the time and effort put in...and God Bless some of you that took the time to write me (seeing, in the Spirit, that I really needed it!)..... All of your post's have been a Blessing! Praying I "see" you all, in the next study. love, jaunita

Julie...I haven't received any word of a new study, yet...so I've decided to go back, to one earlier (I didn't get to do) So I already signed-up for the one on "Gideon"....If there is a new one, I'd like to know also!! anyone know?

We are "one body", with "many parts"; Once we come to realize this, it's not so hard to love...with Christ-like patience and actions. Like any other family, we'll find there are members we may not "click" with...Remember "Uncle Harry"? (we've all got one in the family!!) he drives everyone crazy at family reunions with his same old jokes, same old stories..same ole "same ole"....Guess what? He's still family, and I bet if someone outside the family talked about him, you wouldn't like it one bit! Well that's the way we are...family; We may disappoint each other at times, we may even "drive each other crazy on occasion, but we still love each other! The love Jesus has placed in each and every one of us, for His body (our "family") is eternal; Eternal...that's a loooong time, to know, that we will be together! On a personal note, let me say how much I have enjoyed this study, and the new friends, in Christ, I've made. I'm sorry to see it come to an end. May God Bless, and Keep You All!

The Church...body of Christ, is glorious and precious in the sight of God, because His only begotten Son spilled His blood and laid down His life for it!...We are bought with a price. "And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts; in that day, when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth His own son"Mal.3:17. I believe Darleen is right, Paul is talking about the present day Church,(era) and the one to come. God see's us complete...a finished product! I heard someone say it this way....We are like a tapestry..standing in front up close, someone could miss the beauty of the woven fabric and entire picture....from above it can be beheld in all its beauty! This is how God see's the Church, decked out in all her finery, be-jeweled, as a Bride! Praise the Lord, that He see's us completed.

"Every Word of God is pure..."Proverbs30:5a. ...."Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever"1Peter1:23 We know from God's word, that life and death, are in the tongue; Words are powerful, even those spoken by us, to each other...How much more powerful, the word's of God? After coming to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour, we need the Word to cleanse us of the pollutants that have been instilled in us, and those taken in by a life of sin. I believe it is an "on-going" process for all. I've been in church's where the Word was not taught and seen the results in those, that were not taught...it was sad and my heart went out to them....When Jesus spoke of Himself, being the Bread of Life, in Jn.6:53-68, the Word say's many departed from Him...But Peter, when asked if He would depart also, replyed "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the Word's of eternal life" Jesus is the Word...and in receiving the Word in us, we are receiving Him. As far as "how" we use the Word, I believe we should look to Jesus as our example....He spoke, only what He heard His Father tell Him!...If we rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us, we'll know how to approach someone, and speak God's Word, "in season"! (And if that means speaking of hell, then so be it....Remember, Jesus didn't have a problem telling the "religious elite", that they were full of dead mens bones! Matt.23:27)