Joy Wright

These two witnesses stay to the Truth, no matter what the cost. The continue to speak the Word, and stay resolute til the end. Oh that I would do this even now. Nothing keeps them from sharing the Word. They know that they have the power of God to back them, and that they are safe until their time comes to die. Is it so different now for me? God promises, "I will never leave you of forsake you." The witnesses show me that I can speak BOLDLY in the name of Christ! Their reward will not only be in heaven for eternity, but while they preach many will come to know Him.

I have gained some deep and meaningful insights to this study. I thank you for taking the time to find the original languages, the history, and the humble attitude in which you gathered your information and gave it to the world. I look upon my congregation now with the attitude of "what can I do to make this church better? What can I do to be a part of the structure, and help to make it a more functioning church as a beacon to the community. I no longer look on in criticism, but instead see that in order for the church to grow, I must be a part of that growth. I was raised as someone who did not believe in healing or tongues (ok, it was even hard for me to write that!) Yet I know that the church today must be ready to face the enemy and that spiritual gifts are available to all who seek them. Even those that I may not understand (yet), or may not agree with. I believe that the scriptures state for the equipping of the saints He gave some as apostles (even today), prophets (even today), evangelists, pastors and teachers. So in essence, I am saying this study helped me to see beyond my own thinking and stretch my belief system.

For the purpose of building up the believers. We are no longer to be children, but grown men (and women), tossed about by waves (of stress, distess, anger, strife, enemy attack). We are not to be easily swayed by false doctrine, but strong in what the Word teaches. Knowledgable in truth. The whole body can then be fitted together, every piece whole and healthy. And this is all for the building up of itself in LOVE. We are the light to the world. If we are not strong doctrinely, healthy in our bodies, souls, and spirits--who will be? Who will show the world that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life? We MUST be ready (with the armour of Christ) to give the world the truth! And we must give it in love.

I think of a "paid champlain" as someone who comes in to pray for one when there is a need or when they are asked. Chaplains don't ordinarily build up, equip, feed, or guide their flock. Pastors need to do these and more if a church is to survive the onslaught of the enemy.

Pastors and teachers give the weekly encouraging word. They build up and aid in equipping the saints. Through preaching, healing, listening, attending those in need, and giving the message of the Word, these valuable believers keep the church alive and functioning! What would we do without them? Sunday school teachers, greeters, ministers of a particular ministry--all help in promoting the message of Christ til He comes!

An evangelist in a local church has a gift ( and maybe passion, for some), for telling the gospel of Christ. He/she can give the gospel in very simple terms, and can share the good news of Christ easily and forthrightly. Evangelists are a necessary part of a congregation. They bring in new believers, or participate in classes where community members can attend and hear the salvation message. An evangelist keeps the church new and alive. Someone who is gifted as an evangelist can give a message on tithing and still have people respond by believing and being saved.

Churches can lose their love of the Lord through getting their eyes off Jesus, and looking toward man. They can become more interested in perfection and performance, rather than Christ's perfection and His performance on the cross. I read once that God has a plan, Satan has a program. All these things can cause Christians to lose sight of the Lord, and place them on man. I have seen true love in worship through the songs shared, through the prayers given, and the spirit of the church. When people are truly worshiping, God's message will be able to be heard. Worship opens our hearts to hear the word spoken to us in the message. We can begin to be open to His Word by listening to what God is saying to us as we prepare to hear what the Spirit is speaking. I have been in churches where there is little love. There is a definite spirit in a place when God's Love abounds.

Jesus walking among the churches shows us that He is with them (and us). He is the light, and is walking among the (representations) light, of Christ on the earth. "Where two or more are gathered, there am I in the midst of them." The significance of Jesus walking among us is that He is there and always will be there for us! He has not forsaken the church even now, and in the past, and in the future.

One baptism, as in all doctrine, needs to unite us as believers. Whether we are immersed as adults or sprinkled as children, we are still all believers who have ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, AND ONE GOD. This is where we unite. Yes, we need to study the scriptures to see what truths are held about these things, but these truths need never divide us! That was never the intention of Jesus as He died on the cross.

I believe that in every country Christians today suffer some sort of persecution. In America, however, we do not die for our beliefs. On my way home today, I heard of a 10 year old boy and his missionary father were burned to death in their van in India. China, N. Korea, and Cuba are some of the countries left where believers must go underground to practice their faith due to political regimes. Iraq (in the past), Iran, and other muslim-dominated governments bring about death for those Christians who witness. The book of Revelation gives all believers, especially those who are suffering in the name of Christ, hope, encouragement, and peace. We have a hope that Jesus Christ will return and be victorious over the enemy that so divides and persecutes us now. We are encouraged that even though we may suffer now, it is temporary, and all that we suffer will be our gain! And finally, we have peace that our Father, who is the Alpha and Omega, is ON OUR SIDE. He is in control, and therefore we have no need to fear!

The unity is through the Spirit. Not through our own desire to "tolerate" another Christian, but to work very hard at maintaining unity, as the Spirit would. In other words--Spirit driven peace, unity, and love. We are to maintain this unity in the Church today. No matter how we feel about someone, our feelings are subservient to the goal of unity. This needs to be our primary goal.

The Lord God--the Father, is the beginning and the end. Jesus also is the first and the last. Jesus said, "I and the Father are one." Here is a representation of both God the Father and Jesus as eternal beings. We are given the Scripture to explain who the Father is in relation to the Son. I have never been able to fully grasp the Trinity (too incomprehensible for my finite mind). Are they one Being, or three beings in One (in spirit)? I know that the significance of these words in Revelation are that when the Father was there, so was His Son. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word WAS WITH God, and the Word WAS God," John 1:1. Our Savior, who went through the cross for us, is eternal. He has always been here. He IS God. That in itself, is truly amazing!

As we go into the last days, Christians are being persecuted more now than ever before in history. As the persecution intensifies, we need a guide to help us through. Revelation offers the encouraging words of hope and love we need to hear. More trials=more encouragement. Jesus knows and understands what we are going through and will go through. He experienced the utmost persecution and pain on the cross and in the events leading up to the cross. If He could endure this, and come out victorious, then we can also. Fear is a strong emotion. When we fear what others will say to us, or do to us, we become paralyzed to act. We create our own "persecution". I was taught to not "rock the boat", cause conflict or problems. I have been fearful to speak out the truth. I want everyone to like me. I don't want to be labeled a "Jesus Freak," etc. I have placed this as my priority over telling the truth of Christ's love for others.

My name is Joy. I live in California;and no, I am not running for governor! I am looking forward to this study, as I have read all the Left Behind series and would like a deeper understanding of Revelation. My aunt was a bible teacher, and taught this book when I was in high school. (Many moons ago.) I am currently going through the book of Ephesians with Joyful Heart, and have found the format and information wonderful. Thank you for providing this study.

The Church is being built together, being fitted together, into a "dwelling of God in the Spirit'. We do this through coming together in one spirit, one attitude, one mind, and one heart of love. Congregations that fight and have conflicting issues are not being fitted together, but are being torn apart. As representatives of Christ on earth, the Church has an obligation, a calling, to join together as one in love. Satan would like nothing better that to have churches break apart. What kind of message and representation does that show to the world? Surely, God is not glorified when we fight and show dissention. This also affects me personally as an individual believer. I am a part of the Church. I am to come to worship God with humility, love, peace, and joy. If I come to church with this attitude, I can grow in grace and be a part of the building together of "God in the Spirit". Only I can answer to God. I am responsible to God and to my own local church. And when I am responsible, then I can glorify God in all that I do.

The prophets brought us the teachings of the Old Covenant and the apostles brought us the New Covenant. Together they provide the Scripture we use and live by today in the current church. Jesus is the cornerstone--he gave the prophets the Word, provided teaching to the apostles, and gave us salvation and hope in the resurrection. I am not a builder, but I would think that the cornerstone, or "capstone" is the basis for the foundation of the building (in this case, the Church). If it would be removed, the whole building would collapse. We "grow" or "rise" to be a holy temple of the Lord through our love for one another. Eph. 4:16 states that "from whom the whole body, being fitted and held togehter by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love."

1a) We have peace and reconciliation with God (through Christ, His death and resurrection--He reconciled us to God so that we may now have fellowship, talk, walk, and live with Him daily!) And, access to the Father by one Spirit. We can come boldly before God now. Where we were not part of the family before, we are now able to come to the Father and speak to Him, any time, any where. Now we are admitted into His presence. c) Access is now possible because of what Christ did on the cross, and in His resurrection. He now sits at the right hand of God, ushering us into the presence of God. EC: Jesus fulfilled the two great commandments through His death. He said, "Not my will, but thine be done," and so died knowing that was the Father's will was for Him. He died so that man (His neighbor) might be saved, and live a life with access to the heavenly Father, as He had and has today!

5a) "according to the power that works within us." 5b) Super abundant power--more than we could ask for or can imagine. 5c) Are we afraid of this power? Are our simple human minds unable to comprehend or enjoy His "immeasurable power? ( "You have not because you ask not.") Either we do not believe it will happen, or we are afraid it may happen. 5d) The church, as the representative body of Christ, exhibits the full comprehension of Christ on earth. By believing, excercising, and participating in His abundant power, we show the world who God is and what He can do for us, through the church. We therefore glorify and bring honor to Him--the giver of that very power we display!

4a) Christ is head over all--everything created. He is the one in power, the one honored, and the one who is over all! We as the body--the church--are fully able to assess this power and give the glory back to Christ. Christ is the thought, we are the action. Christ left the earth with the command to "Go unto every nation and preach the gospel". We are the represention of Christ, who sits on the right hand of the throne, his orders, thoughts, and desires are spelled out in His Word and in our prayers. We are to act (the body) on those. 4b) With Christ as our giver of power, we have all we need to be a dynamic and powerful force here on the earth. All we need is to ask, believe, and wait upon the Lord to give us what we need to further the kingdom of God here on earth.

3--Christ not only was raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of God, but God, "being rich in mercy...raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus" (2:4,6)! We are there now with Christ, in this spiritual realm, with all the power that accompanies our risen Lord! We battle from a position of strength, with Christ by our side, as our authority, as our power and ruler.

2a) The heavenly realms were not so much a physical, far-off place, but a spiritual place in which they all dwelled. This shpere included angels, God the Father, demons, and men. Christ was seated there at the right hand of God, meaning that He held (and still holds) a position of honor, authority, and power. 2b) Under His Feet--Jesus Christ has all power, authority, strength, and might over all! This phrase places the conquerer as the one victorious over His enemies.

1a) The believers of Ephesus did not have the full knowledge or comprehension of God. Paul's hope for them was that their eyes of the heart would be enlightened so that they could 1)know the hope if His calling and, 2) know the riches of their inheritance through Christ and, 3) know the surpassing greatness of His power. His hope was that they would aquire the understanding of a spirit of God's wisdom. 1b) They were blinded by their lack of understanding of these truths. They did not understand that God has given us the power (we have it now--Jesus Christ is sitting at the right hand of God--present tense), and yet we must believe in that power to access it! 1c) Jesus crucifixion and resurrection. What greater power can we have than the power over death itself! We all have that power available to us, if we are willing and ready to use that for the glory of God.