One of his heads seemed to have a deadly wound. Revelation 13:3

Posted on 08/03/2015 by remso

One of the guys at this mornings “bible study” asked the question, do you think God will punish us for not doing more, or even something about these horrible baby abortions? I raised my hand because it was now time to say something – I had been silent all morning. I said, there was a day that I was reading in Isaiah when I saw God saying, “I have called you be a watchman upon the wall.” God spoke to me and said, this is what I have called you to. And that is why I write, for it is the primary thing I can do.

You, my readers, are who I am talking to, and I blow the trumpet about things that I believe are related to end times events.

Revelation 13:3 ESV One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.

A comparative verse.

Revelation 13:3 AMP And one of his heads seemed to have a deadly wound. But his death stroke was healed; and the whole earth went after the beast in amazement and admiration.

Let’s start with a logic approach to understanding. Without any other information, what do we know of that has multiple heads? Nothing, so are we looking for some creature with multiple heads? No.

The mere fact that it refers to multiple heads tends to end the possibility of this being a human, does it not?

Our context initiates with:

Revelation 13:1-2 ESV And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. (2) And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.

In earlier posts I pointed out how this imagery is also found in the book of Daniel in the Old Testament. Daniel tells us that these are empires or governing bodies. Yes, a governing body can certainly have a man running it, but Daniel did not get so specific, so neither can we. Therefore, this head that sustains a deadly wound and is healed is an empire or governing body.

Given the premise that the beast rises from the sea, and appears to have a singular body indicates that there is a central theme running through all these empires. Since Daniel started with the Babylonian empire and ended his definitions with the Grecian empire(s), what could be the commonality if we extend this thought up until the nineteenth century? Everyone of them ruled over the Jewish people of God. The Medes and Persians were Assyrian, and the Grecian empire which ended with the Seleucid empire controlling what we now consider the Middle East and Mediterranean regions. If we add into this mix the Ptolemaic dynasty, which included Egypt and the Northern African nations, we effectively have what became the Ottoman empire.

If the Ottoman empire was that head, was it wounded and presumed dead? Absolutely. The empire, founded in 1299, officially ended on November, 1, 1922, when the Ottoman sultanate was abolished and Turkey was declared a republic. The Ottoman caliphate continued as an institution, with greatly reduced authority, until it was abolished on March 3, 1924.

Territorial changes of the Ottoman Empire

Territorial changes of the Ottoman Empire (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If it took a fatal wound, when did it come back and in what form? It resurrected in 1979 in the form of the Iranian revolution, where the American embassy was taken hostage. Fifty-two American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for 444 days (November 4, 1979, to January 20, 1981), after a group of Iranian students, belonging to the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam Ayatollah Khomeini, took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.

The goal was to rule the world under an Islamic Caliphate, but that takes time, and support. Consider what the Iranian revolution did to Iran; it threw the country into the dark ages once again. We can that the Taliban did the same thing to Afghanistan.

Have there been other Caliphates attempting to control the world? Certainly, and none paid any attention until ISIL raises its ugly head, because none had such a global impact. Beside that they were always seen and merely angry young men, tired of oppression. However none, until recently, has ever been able to regain a foothold like the Ottoman empire did.

  • Rashidun Caliphate (632–661)

  • Umayyad Caliphate (661–750)

  • Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258, 1261–1517)

  • Fatimid Caliphate (909–1171)

  • Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba (929–1031)

  • Almohad Caliphate (1147–1269)

  • Ottoman Caliphate (1517–1924)

  • Sokoto Caliphate (1804–1903)

  • Khilafat Movement (1919–1924)

  • Sharifian Caliphate (1924–1925)

Let’s say we have established what this wounded head is. What do we see next in the passage?

Revelation 13:3 ESV One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.

“and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.”

The whole earth means just that. Look around you and what do you see? What seems like the entire earth following Islam.

The word marveled is the one that upsets me. It is the Greek word thaumazō and means: to wonder; by implication to admire: – admire, have in admiration, marvel, wonder.

Now that we have had ample time to see the handy work of Islam, how could a reasonable person have anything but a vile disgust for Islam, and yet this scripture tells us that the world is in admiration of it. Consider how our Islamic American President fawns over them, calling the atrocities they commit, the acts of frustrated young men, instead of the global terrorism that it is.

As a student in 1999 I was a computer room lab assistant, working with students from every corner of the world. One of things I actually enjoyed was interacting with the foreign students. Some that stand out in my mind were from Persia and Indonesia. None of us had any clue about Islam. We lived naively under the imagery of Humphrey Bogart, heart-broken, leaning across the piano, smoking a cigarette, and saying, play it again Sam, in Casablanca.

Screenshot of the title screen of the trailer.

Screenshot of the title screen of the trailer. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We all saw the travel shows, and most of us wanted to experience the mystery of Morocco. I thought it would be amazing to see the architecture of Tangiers or Turkey. And churches have sent missionaries to Nigeria, Chad, even Somalia, but any of those nations is like putting your head in a mouse trap as Boko Haran – an Islamic terrorist organization – will kill you.

I do not understand, outside of Satan blinding the minds and eyes of people, how anyone could follow such a beast.

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And the dragon did give to “it” his power – Revelation 13:2

Posted on 08/01/2015 by remso

Over the course of three weeks I was asked to do a personal bible study on Revelation with one fellow, while a second began asking questions about the “beasts” in Revelation 13, which made me think I need to have a better understanding about the book of Revelation.

Do you realize that this book, written by John, is: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, so that he could tell his servants what must happen soon. Albert Barnes, in his commentary states: “The word rendered “Revelation” – Ἀποκάλυψις Apokalupsis, whence we have derived our word “Apocalypse” – means properly an that is, nakedness; from ἀποκαλύπτω apokaluptō, to uncover. It would apply to anything which had been covered up so as to be bidden from the view, as by a veil, a darkness, in an ark or chest, and then made manifest by removing the covering. It comes then to be used in the sense of disclosing or revealing, by removing the veil of darkness or ignorance. “There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed.” It may be applied to the disclosing or manifesting of anything which was before obscure or unknown.”

The things in the book were meant to be known, and we are in the time of unveiling. As my grandpa used to say, “landsakes” when he was slightly agitated or trying to get a point across. I am tired of hearing, “no one can really understand the book of Revelation”, and they say this as though they are the source of all wisdom. You do not understand because you are not applying yourself to understanding, or you just do not want to. A friend of mine essentially tells me, it is all too scary and I just do not want to know. That I can understand, but it is our hope and faith that is meant to carry us through. What do think is giving those Christians that live in places where the governing bodies condone the horrendous violence against them, the strength to make it through another day? Hope and faith. Now ask yourself, when was the last time a bible teacher tried to strengthen your hope?

Do a word search on hope; Paul centers on it because God does. In his letter to the church at Rome Paul explains to them (I am pulling from several translations as each has a piece of clarity I want you to see.):

Romans 8:17-18 BBE And if we are children, we have a right to a part in the heritage; a part in the things of God, together with Christ; so that if we have a part in his pain, we will in the same way have a part in his glory. (18) I am of the opinion that there is no comparison between the pain of this present time and the glory which we will see in the future. 8:19 ERV Everything that God made is waiting with excitement for the time when he will show the world who his children are. The whole world wants very much for that to happen. 8:20-21 ESV For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope (21) that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Adam’s transgression in the garden (he was told not to eat off that tree and yet he did – with a full knowledge and understanding – a treasonous act) brought down the house on everything. Is it possible that God intended for this to happen? I believe He knew and coordinated it into his plan to restore all things back to his original plan.

Have you ever thought, how could I serve or live under a God that manipulates things in this way? It has crossed my mind, but then I look back at who and what Adam was before the fall. There he was with his wife in the most peaceful and contented state a human could live in. NO mental health issues, and no one wanting to kill you, merely for fun. Even after the fall, Jesus walks in the garden, the creator of the universe, and asks – out of respect – where Adam was. I strongly suspect that a person who can walk through walls can see through trees, and yet He still had respect for the man he created. He gave Adam free will, just as we have, because He hoped for a relationship of mutual trust, love and respect.

Our hope is based in the faith that this will all be restored, and it will. You should of course understand the idea behind an apologetic. It is the defense of the gospel, and no, we are not apologizing for anything. However in showing the world that God’s word is true, we present evidence. The evidence is that which tends to stand up in court, such as:

  • Physical evidence – He rose from the dead, walked through walls, walked on water, and rose up into heaven – all as he said he would. Physical evidence also includes things like the dead sea scrolls.

  • There is the testimony of credible witnesses. Paul tells us that he had first hand accounts from men that walked with Jesus. After Jesus rose from the dead he was seen by over four hundred people (I believe the number is 500 but I thought I would be conservative.)

  • And documentation. It is clearly understood that the new believers had a common, written creed passed among the new and growing church, within months, along the lines of – We believe, and it stated the common evidence. The gospels were written within forty years of Jesus death. While things like the Greek philosophers were written somewhere around sixteen hundred years after their death. How good is your memory after that long? Documentation also falls under the physical evidence category, but one of those is the Codex Sinaiticus.

I admit I am not an apologist, if I was I would have given you precise information, but hopefully you get the idea. We have a hope and it is based on valid evidence. Evidence feeds our faith, and faith gives us hope. We were told that He is coming back for us and we would live with Him in eternity. Well that will happen, one way or the other. We were told that we would be spared from God’s wrath, and we will, but that in no way guarantees you that the world, under the power of evil people, would come crashing down on you. If you don’t believe that just ask our dead Christian brothers and sisters in the Mid East. He will come for those who await Him, and then, in the twinkling of an eye, we will be healed and whole.

Now, can we jump into Revelation 13:2 and this dragon that is giving it power to something?

Revelation 13:2 MKJV And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and its feet like those of a bear, and its mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him its power and its seat and great authority.

This imagery meant much to the Jewish reader, because they knew Daniel’s prophecy.

Daniel 7:3-7 MKJV And four great beasts came up from the sea, different from one

"And behold another beast coming up out o...

“And behold another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb…” (Book of Revelation, 13:11) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

another. (4) The first was like a lion and had eagle’s wings. I watched until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on its feet like a man. And a man’s heart was given to it. (5) And behold another beast, a second, like a bear. And it raised itself up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said this to it: Arise, eat up much flesh. (6) After this I saw, and lo, another, like a leopard, which had four wings of a bird on its back. The beast also had four heads; and rulership was given to it. (7) After this I looked in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, frightening and terrifying, and very strong. And it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the rest with its feet. And it was different from all the beasts before it; and it had ten horns.

Daniel wondered what these things were and so the angel explains.

Daniel 7:15-18 MKJV I Daniel was distressed in my spirit in its body, and the visions of my head troubled me. (16) And I came near one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the meaning of the things. (17) These four great beasts are four kings; they shall arise out of the earth. (18) But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.

Now here is the question I want to ponder. Since “the dragon gave him its power and its seat and great authority” who is the dragon and who is he giving this power and authority to.

Satan told Jesus that “all this” was his to give. Jesus did not argue the point.

Matthew 4:8-9 MKJV Again, the Devil took Him up into a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. (9) And he said to Him, All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.

What we see in Revelation 12:3-4 is Satan.

Revelation 12:3-4 MKJV And another sign was seen in the heavens. And behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads! (4) And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them onto the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman being about to bear, so that when she bears he might devour her child.

Satan claimed, in the time of the Savior, all power over the kingdoms of the world, and asserted that he could give them to whomsoever he pleased. See the notes on Mat_4:8-9.

But we have a problem as we attempt to understand and it comes through translation.

There is no him in Revelation 13:2. Not one of these has been defined as a man as yet. Moreover, if I take this literally, we still are dealing with symbology that sounds like it was pulled out of mythology.

Young’s Literal translation reads more appropriately:

Revelation 13:2 YLT and the beast that I saw was like to a leopard, and its feet as of a bear, and its mouth as the mouth of a lion, and the dragon did give to it his power, and his throne, and great authority.

By operating under the idea that Satan is giving direct power to a man, then we go looking for a man, and that may not be the case – as yet. Since we know that we are dealing with fallen empires, then lets see if we can pick out an empire that fits the description of “it.”

One of the clues we have comes from Daniel.

Daniel 9:26 KJV And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Was the Messiah cut off? Absolutely; this was Jesus Christ and they put him on a cross and he was buried. (We know he rose again on the third, but that is not relevant to the discussion at the moment.) What is important for us is the timing we see in Daniel’s prophecies.

The passage states: “after threescore and two seeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself”. As a stand alone sentence we only get 62 weeks out of the seventy that were declared to Daniel. The previous verse gives us seven more weeks of years and I will show you.

Daniel 9:25-26 KJV Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. (26) And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Now we have seven weeks plus sixty-two weeks, equaling sixty-nine weeks. 69X7=483 years. However Daniel 9:24 tells us that the entire length of the time period is seventy weeks. 70X7=490 years. This leaves us with an undefined gap in time, but that is not for this discussion.

Allow me to give you a quick way of comprehending what this idea of weeks is all about.

As Israel wandered in the desert God gave them commands, it really amounted to a sort of retraining process for Israel, as they were deeply embedded in idolatry and the ways of the nations. Very few of them knew God. In order to get their attention they were told that during a given seven-year period, and he told them when that started, they were to work the land for six years and let it rest for the seventh. To disregard this command brought punishment, and Israel was seventy years in captivity because of their disregard. Hence, a week (7) of years. The Jewish mind got this immediately.

You should have picked on the fact the sixty-nine weeks came and went. Jesus was crucified, but not as an aspect of the seventieth week. How do I know that? Pay attention here:

Daniel 9:24 KJV Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

So, the defining things that make the seventieth week are:

  • To finish the transgression

    What does it mean to finish transgression? Assuming that you are a believer may falsely tell me that you understand that Christ died and rose again for the purpose of forgiving sin (all of them) and bringing us into the kingdom of God as a part of His body. Having done that one might say the transgression is finished. Common sense tells you that transgression is still running rampant.

    This is where taking the time to look at the origins of the words comes in handy because the phrase, “to finish transgression” in the Hebrew, gives us more leeway for understanding because of the meaning of the words. Finish is the Hebrew word kawlaw’ and means to restrict, while transgression is the Hebrew word pesha’ and means revolt.

    Can we extrapolate and eventually find evidence that the revolt is restricted in the earth? Perhaps once we consider the impact Christ makes on the life of dedicated follower. Even though Christ death was all-encompassing, relieving everyone on earth from sin, nothing about this act changes the heart; that only happens when you accept Christ into your life. Sadly though, people still continue to sin, and the world certainly does. I would say in general that the revolt has yet to be restricted.

    When will that happen? First, when Jesus comes back to earth and sets the martyred Saints up as judges. I suspect that there will low tolerance for revolt during this time. I might consider this the end of transgression. The true end will be at the end of the millennial reign when Satan will be permanently done away with as we enter eternity.

  • To make an end of sins

    This is essentially the same response as the answer I gave for transgressions. You have to think through the scenarios scriptures gives us, for during the millennial reign people will still have to come before the Lord and bow in worship. Failure to do that will result in punishment or death at the second infraction. Obviously sin or can we say revolt will still be a problem. If I can take the actions of the cross

  • To make reconciliation for iniquity

    The word reconciliation is the Hebrew word kaphar, and means to cover. Ask yourself, in light of the cross, was iniquity covered? The answer is yes, but still to this day we preach about sin, as though the cross and Jesus death was not enough.

  • To bring in everlasting righteousness

    Everlasting is the Hebrew word olam, and means: properly concealed, that is, the vanishing point. Where is the vanishing point? After the 1000 years as we migrate into eternity.

  • To seal up the vision and prophecy

    To seal up seems self-explanatory, but it also means to close up. God is closing the prophecy. The word vision is the Hebrew chazon and means: a sight (mentally), that is, a dream, revelation, or oracle: – vision. Clearly all this takes us to the end of time.

  • And to anoint the most Holy.

    I recently got accused of putting the cart before the horse, as I responded to a question addressed to the bible study group. In a way this feels the same way, but is it? We see Jesus doing this very thing to the heavenly places. It is possible, even likely that there will be a final crowning ceremony in heaven at the end. How appropriate that would be.

    Hebrews 9 tells us Jesus entered into heaven itself and cleansed the holy place. He did this once for all time.

    Hebrews 9:22-28 KJV And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (23) It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (24) For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (25) Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; (26) For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (28) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

    Hebrews chapter one implies that Jesus has already sat down, anointed by God.

    Hebrews 1:2-9 KJV Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (4) Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (5) For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? (6) And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. (7) And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. (8) But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (9) Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

The transitional return to the seventieth week is initiated by the Antichrist person signing the peace treaty for the seven-year period. Many might ignore this but the time covers the entire time of wrath.

I do not believe we will be here to see this signing, but maybe. I was asked when we will know who the Antichrist personage is, and my response was, probably not until he signs the peace treaty. Turn your life over to Christ now, and you to can have a hope and future with Him.

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A beast with ten horns and seven heads; really? Revelation 13:1

Posted on 07/31/2015 by remso

This title is fairly close to what one of the guys said, as he ranted on how no one can understand the book of Revelation.

This particular guy acts like a baby and I am quite certain he would have to be spoon fed to get him through most the Revelation. The oddity is that he was a gunnery sergeant in the military. He of all people knows that there are rules to making and keeping things working, like a mortar. Those things have to be cleaned or they blow up in your face. Where did you learn that skill set? You either read it, or listened intently because you wanted to go home that night.

Why do we not apply this level learning to the word of God?

As you read Revelation 13:1 you get the sense that John is in mid-thought, and it may help us gain clarity and context if we back up a step.

Revelation 12:17 ESV Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

The dragon/Satan, standing on the sand of the sea, is doing what, looking for more victims? That seems to be his one purpose and goal – killing off those that represent God’s kingdom.

Revelation 13:1 ESV And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.

The Beast from the sea with seven heads

The Beast from the sea with seven heads (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Satan/the dragon standing on the sand of the sea and now John sees a beast rising up out of the sea.

What John saw, chronologically, places the dragon in the second half of the seven-years of God’s wrath being poured out on the earth. Satan is merely a tool to carry out that end. What you do not get a sense for is any precise timing, everything seems to fall within the last of days on earth.

The beast, rising out of the sea, takes us back in time to Daniel, and yet it has an impact on us today. This is not mythical, neither is this a mystery, but deadly real, and this last ruler is alive today.

John was a Jew, and if he failed the memorization aspect of Torah school as a kid, locking him into a job as a deckhand on a fishing boat, that was not the case anymore. Therefore John wrote with an understanding of scripture and prophecy.

I get it, many of you balk at the mere concept of prophecy, but this was God’s way of communicating ideas to those who belong to Him, and it is still valid today. John wrote as the Holy Spirit inspired him and it corresponded with words spoken through the hearts of men, inspired by that same Holy Spirit, hundreds of years earlier, such as the prophet Daniel.

To the Jewish mind prophecy is repeatable patterns, so what patterns do we find?

  • a beast rising up out of the sea

  • with ten horns

  • like a leopard

  • like a bear

  • like a lion

Where else do we find anything like this? The prophecies of Daniel.

Daniel 7:3-7 ESV (3) And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. (4) The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. (5) And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ (6) After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. (7) After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

The first beast, like a lion, is explained in Daniel 4:34. It is also the head of gold on the statue that Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream and Daniel told him that it was him. This first beast then is the Babylonian empire represented by Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar lost his sanity, eventually regaining it when he acknowledged God as supreme.

So, in terms of prophecy, what Daniel describes in chapter four, correlates with Daniel chapter seven. “and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it.”

Daniel 4:34 AMP And at the end of the days [seven years], I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding and the right use of my mind returned to me; and I blessed the Most High [God] and I praised and honored and glorified Him Who lives forever, Whose dominion is an everlasting dominion; and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.

Daniel had one more beast than we see in Revelation 13:1-2, but it is not assigned an animal form, however this thing is extremely dangerous, and does have its correlating identity.

“and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.”

We find the iron, in the form of the fourth kingdom, in Daniel chapter two:

And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, (Daniel 2:40-44 ESV)

The ten horns are an aspect of what we saw in Daniel 7:3-7. If you do a search for the “ten horns” you only find it Daniel and the Revelation.

Daniel 7:20 KJV And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

Daniel 7:23-25 KJV Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. (24) And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. (25) And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Revelation 17:7 NASB And the angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.

The last aspect of Revelation 13:1 that I want to discuss is:

“and blasphemous titles (names) on his heads.”

Seven heads (I suppose this is because you tend to need a head to hold a crown) and each head has a blasphemous name on it.

What does that mean?

I have heard this stated as both a question and a spiritual position “that someone had blasphemed God and committed the unpardonable sin”, all my life. However it was Jesus himself that defined what blasphemy was, and he directed his comments at the religious leaders – the pharisees.

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. (Matthew 12:24-32 KJV)

What did the pharisees do? They attributed the works that Jesus did, the works of “the Holy Spirit” to the devil. Did you notice in the passage that horrible things get said against the Son as well, but those things are forgiven. I am not so sure I see the blasphemy written upon these heads as being forgiven. It does however seem to play a role in their identity.

If each of these heads has blasphemy written upon it, then what is that telling us? It is telling us that these ruling authorities are in opposition to God, and by Jesus definition attributing the work of God to the devil. Is the attribution direct, perhaps not. Look at what the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica:

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 MKJV (3) Let not anyone deceive you by any means. For that Day shall not come unless there first comes a falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition, (4) who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God.

These people or empires are opposing and exalting themselves above all that is called God. What does it mean to oppose all that is called God?

  • Because we are in Christ and a part of his body, is it possible that in the spiritual realm we are called God?

  • Jesus told everyone that would listen that he was the physical presentation of God. Doesn’t that make him God as well?

  • Is the Word of God a part of who He is? Jesus was and is the Word, and therefore God.

Who does that, opposing and exalting themselves above God? Many, but one stands out in my mind and it is Islam. A “religion” where converts are demanded to acknowledge that there is only one god, Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger. So coming against even one of God’s creation is in effect blaspheming God/the Holy Spirit. (Let that settle in, you will get it.)

While all this can be overwhelming, the key for the believer is to hold to hope. However we have a problem as most of us have no idea what we are hoping in. Hope was the central message preached by Paul and it was based in our knowledge of all Jesus did and our being caught up to be with God. Thinking you are excluded from deadly tribulation just because you are a believer is wrong on so many levels. Jesus guaranteed you tribulation. He even said they will hate you because of your relationship with Him. Nonetheless, as a believer, you are excluded from the wrath that is to come. This wrath is God’s wrath being poured out on the earth and its inhabitants, unfortunately people will still be coming to the Lord, and both this beast and the one to come will be actively hunting and killing Christians.

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What does it mean to be blessed?

Posted on 07/21/2015 by remso

In Matthew chapter five we find the Beatitudes.

You know them as the “Blessed are the ….” statements.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Sermon of the Beatitudes (1886-96) by Jame...

The Sermon of the Beatitudes (1886-96) by James Tissot from the series The Life of Christ, Brooklyn Museum (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

(Matthew 5:3-5 KJV)

What does it mean to be blessed?

The Greek word from which we get blessed is: makarios – meaning, supremely blest; by extension fortunate, or well off.

So, if I look at this first blessed statement and restate it, I get this: “Well off are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

This alone gives me problems because I see this condition in recovery every time I go there. People that are poor in spirit because of their hangups, but they are anything but well off. So this must have a meaning beyond the idea of bouncing around like a cheerleader, leading people into the kingdom with our phony smiles.

One of the men in our Monday morning bible study responded to some of the foolishness that was being voiced with, Consider that these statements were made to the disciples, while the crowd – in general – was excluded. This information was deeper than Jesus wanted or needed to go with the crowd that followed him around because they wanted to get something out of him.

This entire talk was meant to build something inside the disciples that would sustain them in the future, help them to understand this journey they were going to embark on, and in time, sustain us – the church – as well.

Now I want to know too.

Being well off, does not put smiles on people’s faces all the time. Why not? Because it is never enough.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3 NASB)

Let’s try looking at this in another version.

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule”. (Matthew 5:3 MSG)

Now it is making more sense to me because this is the typical reason you find people in recovery, as they finally hit the end of their rope.

“the poor in spirit”

Poor is the Greek word ptōchos – pto-khos’ From πτώσσω ptōssō (to crouch; akin to G4422 and the alternate of G4098); a beggar (as cringing), that is, pauper (strictly denoting absolute or public mendicancy,

MEND’ICANCY, a. [L. medicans.] Beggary; a state of begging.

This person is definitely hurting, but are they willing to be honest. I can just about guarantee you that the community around you are aware of your brokenness.

Spirit is the same word that we use for the Holy Spirit or human spirit.

If the implication here is a human with the Spirit of God in them – and it is, then we are talking about a member of the church body. Look, I get it, we are not all super-fans, or body builders in church. Some don’t even know what a protein shake looks like (that is my analogy to opening their bible.) They are however on the same team, and found in this condition they are broken and desperately needing help, not a baseball bat to the head.

An aspect of the nonsense heard at bible study was the weekly barrage of guilt and condemnation over sin. If you are a follower of Christ, you have received your forgiveness for your sins, and that put you into the arms of the Father, never to be released. So if I continue to “sin” then I need to change my thinking and or surroundings, because I am certainly not thinking as clearly as I should.

“and God’s servants must not be troublemakers. They must be kind to everyone, and they must be good teachers and very patient. Be humble when you correct people who oppose you. Maybe God will lead them to turn to him and learn the truth. They have been trapped by the devil, and he makes them obey him, but God may help them escape.” (2 Timothy 2:24-26 CEV)

If sin is merely missing the bulls-eye, we are all capable of doing that, but in reality the target is large, and for the most part easy to hit. Doesn’t that show that most of us are trying, and really do not wish to find themselves in a beggarly state.

We understand that “blessed” really has little to do with joy or the condition of your face – as in a smile, but could.

Paul wrote to the church in Rome:

May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in your faith, that you may be overflowing with hope by the power of the holy Spirit! (Romans 15:13 Moffatt NT)

Joy is the Greek word chara, and means cheerfulness. So while one might obtain a cheerfulness from possessing some thing, like a sixty foot luxury ocean power cruiser, it is not what God wanted us to learn here. I will show you why:

For all that is in the world–the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life–is not from the Father but is from the world. (1 John 2:16 ESV)

For me, the bottom line here is this. I am better off when I live like this:

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are–no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought. (Matthew 5:3-5 MSG)

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The Rapture is Imminent – Revisited. Part 1

Posted on 07/10/2015 by remso

English: The Flight of the Prisoners, c. 1896-...

English: The Flight of the Prisoners, c. 1896-1902 , gouache on board, 8 15/16 x 11 5/8 in. (22.7 x 29.7 cm), Jewish Museum, New York, NY. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I came across a blog entitled: The Rapture is Imminent. Since I happen to feel strongly about that I indulged myself.

The page began with “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city“, however the prominent caption read:

The Great Tribulation – The Seventieth Week of Daniel – It’s All About Israel.

With a title like The Rapture is Imminent, and an opening line of “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city“, the association my mind wanted to make, but now clarify is: I am supposed to be looking for some connection between the seventy weeks and the Great Tribulation?

What can I determine from the statement, “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city“?

  • That God is mad at Israel and Jerusalem. Is that the case? Absolutely. Israel played the harlot rejecting not only God, but the Son that came in the form of the Messiah.

The quote about “Seventy weeks …” is taken from the prophecy of Daniel, so let’s start there.

“Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. (Daniel 9:24 NASB)

Seventy weeks – we are talking about 70 sabbatical periods, each of which is seven years (70×7 = 490 years). Let me be honest, At first I found myself floundering in this, and then I remembered, this a Jewish book and the words that Daniel wrote would have made an immediate connection to the sabbatical years for the Jewish reader.

Moses breaking the tabletsThe LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath to the LORD. For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits, but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the LORD. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. (Leviticus 25:1-4 ESV)

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament – www.ivpress.com, tells us: “seventy sevens. A period of seven years was the sabbatical year cycle (see especially Leviticus 26:34-35 and the reference to it in 2 Chronicles 36:21). Seven sabbatical year cycles constituted a Jubilee cycle, at the end of which slaves were set free and land was returned to its proper owner (Lev 25). Seventy sabbatical cycles equal ten Jubilee cycles.”

Did Israel follow this rule of keeping the Sabbath years? No, they ignored it and found ways around it, therefore God gave the land its Sabbath. So, over the course of time, God had Israel temporarily removed from their land.

Question: is God more interested in land than people?

No, he was interested in Israel learning to trust and comply. Having lived in Egypt for over 400 years, they were deeply assimilated into the culture of the Egyptians and followed their gods. This is shown rather quickly when Aaron created the half man, half calf god Molech, that the people demanded, because Moses stayed on the mountain so long.

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.” And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. (Exodus 32:1-6 ESV)

Offering to Molech (illustration from the 1897...

Offering to Molech (illustration from the 1897 Bible Pictures and What They Teach Us by Charles Foster) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A golden calf, it sounds rather benign to the non-spiritual ear, but there was nothing benign about it. Stephen – a follower of Christ, whom we find in the seventh chapter of Acts, is dragged before the Jewish council and there he makes an eloquent case for the gospel of Christ in his own defense. Stephen lays out a Jewish history for these learned men, and none of them disputed what he said. In Stephen’s argument we gain details about the events of Exodus 32:1-6 that we do not find anywhere else in scripture. The silence of the council lends validity, but why were they silent?

John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible states: “the Syriac version here reads in the singular number, “and he made them a calf”; this was a most shameful and scandalous piece of idolatry. The Jews themselves are so sensible of the horribleness of it, and of the guilt of it, and of the reproach that lies on them for it, that it is common for them to say (c), “there is not a generation, or an age, in which there is not an ounce of the sin of the calf.”

The IVP Bible Background Commentary informs us that: “The episode of the golden calf was the incident in Israel’s history of which the rabbis were most ashamed; they felt it was the most sinful of Israel’s acts. But they grew defensive when pagans queried them about it (Josephus earlier even omitted the incident), and several centuries later they argued that the pagans who accompanied Israel, not Israel, made the calf.”

Apparently the hope is, if you don’t speak of it, then perhaps the problem, or embarrassing situation will go away. Having spent some time in recovery and heard the testimonies of many that have struggled so long to overcome co-dependency, ignoring a problem never made it better. While I can understand the Jews disgust and humiliation over roasting babies on the arms of an idol called Moloch. Perhaps, their dishonor is at the acknowledgment that God, the name they would not even pronounce out of respect, killed about three thousand people over this incident.

Now, here we are talking the rapture being imminent. While the outcome for those caught up, is the glorious reality of a life forever with Jesus in eternity, the grievous facet is upon those left on earth during the seven years that follow. It will be the time of God’s wrath, but it will include the wrath of Satan, lived out in the hearts of evil people.

You can solve the problem of being left behind by acknowledging that Jesus Christ is God, and that you need and receive Him into your life. Should you do that, in that moment you become His and a member of the family of God.

On my original attempt at clarifying and redefining the blog post about the Rapture being Imminent, it turned out to be nine pages long. As much as it bugs me, I am going to turn this into parts, and this is part one.

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We already made the transition. A look at Colossians 1: 13.

Posted on 07/08/2015 by remso

Colossians 1:12-15 MKJV

(12) giving thanks to the Father, who has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. (13) For He has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son; (14) in whom we have redemption through His blood, the remission of sins. (15) who is the image of the invisible God, the First-born of all creation.

English: the first of the Epistles to the Colo...

English: the first of the Epistles to the Colossians (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On the cross Jesus Christ removed the punishment for sins. As Paul writes: He has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son, why then do we keep acting like every infraction requires our putting Jesus back on the cross in an attempt at reestablishing our place afresh in Him. As I watch people continually struggle, it is easy to believe that this life of deliverance must be a process. I think that because we keep slipping into the grip of darkness. Why do we do that? There is an answer!

My first response is that we are probed for weaknesses and then fed some deception based upon that weakness. Adam was not deceived, Eve was; Adam stood right there, watching what happened.

Genesis 3:13 ESV Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

 I think I can understand how Adam felt in those moments. He knew what the Lord had told him, and Adam made sure Eve knew as well; we know this because we have no record of God speaking to Eve. That does not mean it did not happen, but scripture is very intentional in telling you about the path of the man, and though Eve no doubt plays a role, God’s contract is with the man.

Having come from a religious background, one in which so many things had the potential of causing you to lose your salvation, I came home to my beautiful wife, whom, after a little over five years of marriage I almost despised, and she says to me, I have smoked Marijuana with my brother, here have some. What is so odd about this moment in time is that I met her at church, and she never expressed any interest in drugs, and she had a girlfriend that she loved, who almost died in a car crash due to drugs. So what do I say? Well then, let’s go to hell together. No it did not send me to hell, I was living in it. It is possible that Adam thought, I only have this one option for a wife and now she may be dead in a few seconds, there are no other women to choose from, so I will just die with her. (Yes I know, everything about this scenario screams co-dependency, but that is such a major aspect of what we inherited from Adam when he committed treason.)

The second thing I see is the fact that Adam said and did nothing. In those minutes before the fall Adam had choices; he was the healthiest, both mentally and physically, man could ever be, so he did not cower before the pains of codependency; he just stood there watching. Could he have forcibly stopped her? I suppose so, but God gives us the freedom to choose who we will serve, so no, I do not think it crossed Adam’s mind. Perhaps scolding or chiding her about her foolishness, or inability to see the trouble she is heading into. Maybe that would have put Eve back on track. But then I think, God has never spoken to me like this. No, it was all about the free will of the person, and Adam got pulled into the trap, all it needed was the right bait, and Eve was it.

Although history since this time has proven itself to be rather cataclysmic, it is really the result of two things: man’s ability to make his own choices – whether right or wrong, and the fact God needed Adam’s treason to play itself out because in time God would eliminate Satan and any influence this fallen angel had on creation.

Doesn’t this point you to a logical explanation. Colossians 1:13 tells us that people walking this earth, walk as free men; free from the penalties that were passed through Adam’s treason. I feel comfortable saying treason because Adam knowingly subjected himself to a new master – Satan – in taking the fruit from Eve’s hand and eating it.

How is that we walk free on this earth, knowing full well that people, are still to this day in slavery; many, slaves to their own vices?

Because the freedom, in God’s eyes, is from the penalty of what Adam did, which we all inherited. It is so much easier to wrap your mind around if you can picture the result of Adam’s actions as something that changed his DNA. Since then, because he is the genetic father of all, we inherited that same damaged chromosome, God simply calls it sin. This should help to explain why Jesus, had to be born from above, from God; for to be born from man would have caused him to have that damaged chromosome as well, and that would never work.

Because of our foolish actions, motivated by self will, we are taken captive by the enemy to do his will.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 ESV And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, (25) correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, (26) and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Notice though, we have, through the help of others prayers and correction, the ability to escape from the snare of the devil. I see this happen all the time in recovery.

Yes, there are snares – small game hunters still use them. Snares are set with bait for the express purpose of attracting victims into the trap. If you are taking the bait because you are hungry then consider getting fed somewhere else. (Okay, I admit that was meddling, but seriously, if you are not getting fed in your congregation, then GET OUT, and find some church body that will feed you.) I am going to let you in on one of the great mysteries of life – there are no perfect churches, but I can think of a few that are trying. The other side of this snare issue, is that you took the bait because you wanted it. Your actions had nothing to do with the necessity to live, you indulged your selfish desires and got trapped because you wanted what you saw.

———————-

I have heard this question – in various forms – many times. If the penalty for sin has been removed, why then are still being punished, thrown into the lake of fire with Satan and his fallen angels? I rarely hear anyone adequately explain it. Sadly, most people merely assign all those brought before the throne of God to hell. Where do we look to find the answers to this.

While it is God’s hope that all be saved, clearly not all are. If, as I showed you from 2 Timothy 2:24-26, many are taken captive by the enemy to do his will, does that not imply some form of willingness to follow.

Revelation 20:10 ESV (10) 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.

Revelation 20:15 ESV And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

You are an intelligent person, so you caught this immediately: “the devil who had deceived them”. Yes, many of you got deceived, we saw this in the garden story, but remember Eve was the one that got deceived; Adam, made the choice, knowing full well what he was doing. In that moment Adam switched teams; he committed treason against God. Do not worry too much about Adam though, because Jesus Christ went into hell, ripped the keys to death out Satan’s hand, and preached good news to those in captivity. That tells me that God showed Adam mercy as well.

Keep in mind that the point here is that the tortuous and eternal separation from God was really meant for Satan and those that followed him. Initially, it was only the angels that followed him. Obviously Satan has gained a rather large following by trapping people.

And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

A close examination of Matthew 25 where Jesus speaks of the dead being brought before the throne of judgment may shed some light on the character of God. Here the dead are separated into what he refers to as sheep and goats. Since Jesus is presented to us as the shepherd in Matthew’s gospel, it only makes sense that he tells the story in this way. While I strongly suggest that you read Matthew 25:31-46, I am only going to give you a portion of it for space sake.

Matthew 25:31. 32 ESV “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. (32) Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

There is much confusion about this last throne because:

  1. People (“followers of Christ”) cannot see that this throne and the one we find in Revelation 20 are the same.

“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.” (Revelation 20:11-12 ESV)

Let’s talk about this for a minute. “I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne,” At what point do we find everyone among the nations dead? At the end of the millineal reign, after the last great war against God. This war is initiated by the nations; “Christians” have no role in this, unless God has us in the battle as soldiers (Since the time of Christ’s physical return to earth, no Christian has died).

When the “nations” are brought before Jesus, he does not say whether they are dead or not, he merely calls them the nations; this should be easy to grasp for the believer as we understand that it is our bodies that are mortal, while our spirit is eternal. In understanding bible prophecy a clear distinction that there are three people groups is vital. There are the Jews (God’s chosen), the nations (everyone outside of Christ), and the Church – the body of Christ. So the nations are just that. Since no man really dies is it important to distinguish whether there live ones among this group? No, so you do know if this, like what we see in Revelation 20, is a collection of dead being brought before the throne.

One more thing. Some would say that what Jesus does in sitting upon his glorious throne is happening at the beginning of the millenial reign. While that might be, there are some problems with that theory, such as: It is said that he brings all, Christian and non, ignoring that the passage clearly states that he brings the nations before him.

  1. They tend to only see Jesus, represented as the angry, vengeful God, not finding their names written in the book of life, and therefore sends them into the lake of fire where Satan is.

Revelation 20 makes no mention of sheep. The explanation, which you should have already picked up on, is that Matthew 25 shows us Jesus as the shepherd – an aspect of His nature and character – while Revelation 20 presents us with Jesus as an angry God.

  1. Keep in mind that the book of Revelation is a revelation of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the person we are experiencing in Revelation 20 is Jesus. Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit, are one.

——————————–

Colossians 1:13 ESV (13) He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

Colossians 1:13 not only tells us that we were delivered, but that God has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. The NASB used the term transferred instead of translated. To be transferred is to be conveyed from one to another. However, here you sit. Doesn’t that show that something beyond your sight, emotions, and feelings is involved.

Paul’s letter to the church at Colossi, is written to followers of Christ. These people understood that our relationship with Christ is being described here in verse 13. That understanding does not happen without a purposeful reading of Paul’s letters, or the Holy Spirit directly teaching you, or someone who has an understanding of Paul’s letters conveying them to you. Therefore I can also learn that this not written to the those outside of the relationship with Christ as they cannot and will not understand.

But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. (2 Corinthians 3:14-16 ESV)

I would completely understand if you said to me, 2 Corinthians 3:14-16 applies to the Jews, and I thought about that too, however, I know people like this. I speak to them about God’s word and their responses cause me to walk away scratching my head and saying, how do they not see that? The other things that convince me that it is for us and for today, is that

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV)

and we are dealing with the New Testament, which was effectively written to the Church – us, therefore I see 2 Corinthians 3:14-16 as useful information.

I recently spoke with someone about the idea that this world is not reality, much like the movie “The Matrix“. Where would I get that idea? Because Jesus – after he was no longer in the tomb – walked through walls, and appeared in various places – without walking. After his death and resurrection Jesus shows up on a beach and eats fish with the guys. How does one explain that, since dead guys tend to not do that? He also ascended up into the heavens, defying gravity, when He was done with His mission here on earth. The only type of being that can do that is someone who lives outside of our reality, time, and dimensions.

His name is Jesus Christ. Receiving him is all about faith. Jesus was hung between two thieves, and too will die, as he did. However they wasted no time giving him lip, and yet, one of those thieves saw something different, and he perceived information about this Jesus he had not understood before. It changed him in such a way that he yelled at the other to shut up, “for this man has done nothing wrong.” Turning to Jesus, that thief asked Jesus to remember him as He went to paradise, and Jesus did. If you feel you have enough information then you should make the decision to believe and follow Him as well. Time for the church – the body of Christ is very short and those of us still alive when Jesus returns for His church will be caught up to be with Him forever. After our departure God will pour out His wrath upon the earth and it’s inhabitants. The deadly aspect of the time of wrath will be magnified after this, as people will continue to kill each other. As a heads up, Islam will become your greatest foe.

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What are the things we cannot see?

Posted on 07/06/2015 by remso

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18 KJV)

“for the things which are seen are temporal“: temporary, transient, for a time, things that don’t last forever, for a season. “but the things which are not seen are eternal.“

What are the things we cannot see: Faith; the Father; heaven; or even hope. And yet, I can see those things in my spirit, because of the Holy Spirit that lives in me.

Jesus, said, no man has seen the Father, He is the invisible God, however, Jesus walked this earth, in every occurrence, as the physical representation of God. I have never seen Jesus, and I doubt the shroud of Turin is an accurate representation of him, but I do know he was a Jew, as are some of my family. Because of that I have an image in my memory of an uncle laughing and I suspect Jesus looked a lot like that.

I just finished watching the Matrix once again. If you watch it and connect different aspects with what we see in scripture, you will begin to see that it parallels the story of Jesus, his choice to die, rising to new life, the power He acquires through the process, and the best part, that same life – imparted to us through belief,

poster for The Matrix

poster for The Matrix (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

allows us to become “the one”, just as Jesus is. In believing, and desiring the “meat of the word”, we can begin understand that everything going on around us is not real. Reality, the unseen world, is the real world. This is the world of the Spirit where God exists.

Like Neo in the Matrix, Jesus could see what was going on in the background, not because He was the Son of God, but because He – as a man – believed and chose to understand. In a sense, He took the red pill.

In the movie Morpheus offers Neo two pills. The red pill will answer the question “what is the Matrix?” (by removing him from it) and the blue pill simply allows for life to carry on as before. As Neo reaches for the red pill Morpheus warns Neo “Remember, all I’m offering is the truth. Nothing more.”

The message received by Neo

The message received by Neo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On more than one occasion, while watching the movie, I found myself sobbing, not because it is sad, but because something inside me tells me there is so much more and I am not living in it. I stopped the movie and said, God, I am not even sure what you are telling me, but if you are inviting me to see and be a part of it, the answer is yes.

The way to begin that transition is to invite Jesus Christ, God’s Son, into your life, giving Him control. It is much like taking the red pill as there is a little mystery involved. All I am offering is truth, nothing more. There will be pain involved, welcome to the world of the believer, but when you begin to see what Jesus saw you will never want anything other than the living water.

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Concerning Eternal Security.

Posted on 06/23/2015 by remso

Bible study this morning touched briefly on the subject of eternal security. The man who leads bible study asked, how many of you believe in eternal security. Here is my take on this – if you do not stand for something, you will stand for nothing, and so I was the first to raise his hand. My codependent head anticipates no good coming out my actions, but you have to choose to be brave and do what the Holy Spirit tells you to do. While it went well, there are definitely differing opinions, but the man who got my attention was the brother who told about losing his son. He briefly recapped what that night was like and how the autopsy found alcohol in his boys system. A police officer stayed with the boy all the way to the hospital where he died. When the family made it to the hospital the officer told them, your son has made such an impact on my life, for apparently this young man, who was possibly criminally negligent, spoke of Jesus to the police officer all the way to the hospital before he died. In light of eternal security what does this tell me about this young man? God was not only, in him still, but all over him, and it is quite possible that Christ now lives in that police officer because of him.

At the end of the meeting one of the men came up to me and asked me, what then does Hebrews 6:4-8 mean. I still had the computer on and so I pulled it up quickly. I saw immediately where he was going with it, but he added something. He said, “I fell away for a time.” I responded with, so have I, so it definitely does not mean impossible, now does it. He sincerely wanted to understand, and because they now perceive me as bold and unafraid to challenge scripture he asked. I told him I would find the answer, and this is it.

Think on this – for it seems to speak in opposition to eternal security.

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. (Hebrews 6:4-8 KJV)

“it is impossible “

The translators of the King James Version of t...

The translators of the King James Version of the Holy Bible intentionally preserved, in Early Modern English, archaic pronouns and verb endings that had already begun to fall out of spoken use. This enabled the English translators to convey the distinction between the 1st, 2nd and 3rd person singular and plural verb forms of the original Hebrew and Greek sources. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Immediately I am confronted by the difference between the KJV and the NASB. The NASB states the sentence like this.

For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, (Hebrews 6:4 NASB)

They bypass the concept of impossibility. Why?

Here is NASB with the references to the Strong’s numbers. Something is clearly missing, or did the KJV unnecessarily added it.

For in the case of thoseG3588 who have onceG530 been R1enlightenedG5461 and have tastedG1089 of R2the heavenlyG2032 giftG1431 and have beenG1096 madeG1096 R3partakersG3353 of the HolyG40 SpiritG4151, (Hebrews 6:4 NASB+)

Now, compare this with the KJV:

ForG1063 it is impossibleG102 for those who were once enlightened,G5461 G530 andG5037 have tastedG1089 of theG3588 heavenlyG2032 gift,G1431 andG2532 were madeG1096 partakersG3353 of the HolyG40 Ghost,G4151 (Hebrews 6:4 KJV+)

Look at the word impossible in KJV. The reference is to the Greek word adunatos. From G1 (as a negative particle) and G1415; unable, that is, weak (literally or figuratively); passively impossible: – could not do, impossible, impotent, not possible, weak.

G1 – A al’-fah Of Hebrew origin; the first letter of the alphabet: figuratively only (from its use as a numeral) the first.

G1415 – dunatos doo-nat-os’ – From G1410; powerful or capable (literally or figuratively); neuter possible: – able, could, (that is) mighty (man), possible, power, strong.

Is possible that the KJV is wrong? Let’s see. We will go to the Septuagint, from which the KJV was derived.

adunatonG102 A-NSN garG1063 CONJ tousG3588 T-APM apaxG530 ADV photisthentasG5461 V-APP-APM geusamenousG1089 V-ADP-APM teG5037 PRT tesG3588 T-GSF doreasG1431 N-GSF tesG3588 T-GSF epouraniouG2032 A-GSF kaiG2532 CONJ metochousG3353 A-APM genethentasG1096 V-AOP-APM pneumatosG4151 N-GSN agiouG40 A-GSN (Hebrews 6:4 LXX-BYZ)

There it is right there, the very first word. Impossible?

As I mentioned, the brother in Christ that pointed this out to me, added, I fell away. I responded with, so did I, and yet I would not doubt for a moment that this man is a man of God who loves the Lord. I know I do. However, if I allow myself to compare myself with others, especially those who have fame and money, the junk we foolishly we think we are entitled to because of false teachings, I will collapse into myself, overwhelmed by self doubts. That is what my codependent head leads toward. This makes me think impossible is not the concept they are trying to convey, or we are just missing the point.

Let’s look at the context of the statement and see if we can sort it out.

For it is impossible for those once having been enlightened, and having tasted of the heavenly gift, and becoming sharers of the Holy Spirit, and tasting the good Word of God, and the works of power of a coming age, and having fallen away, it is impossible for them again to renew to repentance, crucifying again for themselves the Son of God, and putting Him to open shame. (For the earth drinking in the rain often coming upon it, and producing vegetation suitable for those for whom it is also worked, receives blessing from God; “but bearing thorns and thistles,” it is deemed unfit and near a curse, of which the end is for burning.) Gen. 3:17, 18 But, loved ones, even if we indeed speak so, we have been persuaded better things concerning you, even holding fast salvation. (Hebrews 6:4-9 LITV)

“For it is impossible” I think we already have the comprehension that impossible is too strong of a word for what the Holy Spirit is trying to convey.

We pointed out that adunatos means unable or weak, as well as passively impossible. But what are we really trying to say.

“Let us first consider the subject of these verses. The writer described certain people with four phrases: (1) once enlightened, (2) experienced the good things of heaven, (3) shared in the Holy Spirit, and (4) tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come.” Life Application New Testament Commentary

When you take in all aspects, as the commentators have, it sounds like the person in question has experienced the full life in Christ. These people are unable to renew themselves again to repentance.

Heb 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance;

Another example that conveys the same idea, from the same writer.

For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, (Hebrews 10:26 KJV)

Since Hebrews 10:26 speaks of a sacrifice for sins then we put this idea of impossibility or inability into the realm of a sacrifice. If we were living under the law, there would be lambs still to be slaughtered; that was common place under the law, but we are not under the law, and Jesus Christ, the Lamb, became the last and final sacrifice for sins which separated us from God. We, for some reason, seem to reject this, or ignore it.

So the person who continually comes down front, presenting themselves each week as a sinner, not covered by the grace of God, tends to make God look like a fool, as they expect someone to hang Jesus on the cross for them once again. What is the problem here? Perhaps it lies in what we are or are not telling people.

Paul shows up in a town and this is the message that he preaches – your sins are forgiven and you now have a hope that He will come back for you and receive you into heaven with Him and the Father – no matter how stupid you have been .

If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:6 KJV)

“seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

This is very close to what we see in Hebrews 10:26. Our efforts to present ourselves each week, a crying baby that needs its diaper changed because we chose to go roll around in the mud pit that the world offered, demonstrating that we do not understanding this hope that is ours. Know this, you will not get Jesus Christ to put himself back on the cross for you. To ask him to do so is like saying that his sacrifice was not enough for, or you just do not believe what he did.

There is no doubt that we fall into sin, but is not always premeditated. None the less, it still gets us all muddied up, doesn’t it. Does that change how God sees you? Absolutely not! Do you need to get washed up? Certainly. It is only natural for people to cringe when you are covered in mud, trying to hold a conversation with civilized people. So, if you cannot go running back to the cross in an effort to re-crucify Christ what do you do? You repent. In other words own your actions, admit that you are powerless over your own life, and turn your life over to God, yes, once again. Tell God about your failures, talk to him, admit your wrong, and then make a concerted effort to get to know his character through his word, allowing the water of the Word of God wash you.

Jesus, in John 13:4-10 knew full well the nonsense Judas and Peter would pull, and yet he did not berate them, telling either they were eternally lost. He merely pointed out that they were clean because of Him, and merely needed to wash their feet from time to time.

He rose from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then comes he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou know not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needs not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. (John 13:4-10 KJV)

Paul, pointed out in 1Corinthians 6:11 that those who had come to knowledge of Christ through his teaching, were washed and set aside for God’s good work, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV)

To the Ephesian church he compared the believer to the wife, the bride of Christ. In that comparison he points out that we are cleansed and washed by the water of the word. He did this so that we could be presented to himself in splendor.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27 ESV)

There is one last aspect I need to cover. The writer of Hebrews compared this same person to a once productive field, but now bears thorns.

(For the earth drinking in the rain often coming upon it, and producing vegetation suitable for those for whom it is also worked, receives blessing from God; “but bearing thorns and thistles,” it is deemed unfit and near a curse, of which the end is for burning.) (Hebrews 6:7-8 LITV)

Notice that the verse says, “but”. But implies the potential, or a time of neglect. No field is free of weeds, they are always controlled. The mere fact that the wind blows, or birds fly guarantees that you will have weeds at some time. However, the good gardener, or land owner, knows what crop they planted and therefore pulls up things that were not intentional. This is what we do, and we use the word of God to help with that. If you realize that you simply do not have the strength to remove your own weeds then you need to get around people who have strengthened themselves, through trials, and God’s word, and allow them to help you. It is called humbling yourself.

As the bible study came to an end I raised my hand once again and said, I am not even sure why we have to have this conversation, because as a believer I have no intention of doing anything but pursue Jesus Christ, and I dare you to try to strip that salvation out of me. I believe Jesus was speaking to something along this line when he told the listeners this parable:

Again, the kingdom of Heaven is compared to treasure being hidden in the field, which finding, a man hid; and for the joy of it, he goes and sells all things, as many as he has, and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44 LITV)

For me, Jesus was that treasure and many years ago,I stumbled upon it. Having finally found what I was looking for I bought the field and have no intentions of giving it up. I suspect the Word of God is that field, and Jesus is the treasure. Fortunately, He presents himself, and offers himself to all. The result of accepting, or should I say, buying the field, is the joy in knowing that you now have a permanent hope and a knowledge that you will spend eternity with him, if you allow him in. I suggest you give him, on a daily basis, all the corners of your heart.

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When is Jesus coming back?

Posted on 06/13/2015 by remso

Many churches have cut back on studies and groups because it’s summer. Problem there is, God does not take the summer off, and we are quite probably in the last days.

remso's avatarA Voice in the Wilderness


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Surprisingly, it is often the small things that give me inspiration; I suppose it is because they speak to something deeper within me. Such is the case with this. I feel the need to talk about this idea of knowing or not knowing when Christ will come back.

I know that evokes immediate negative reaction and emotion in many. I am also aware that most of what you feel or think about the topic stems from tradition, an understanding based in what you have been taught, or just another false teacher that led his flock to ruin, death, or at minimum embarrassment, as the entire world watched. The most recent that comes to mind was the guy that told his followers to sell everything because the Lord was coming back at a particular time, and they certainly would not need it. I wonder who got all that money? You…

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Life tends to get real ugly.

Posted on 05/30/2015 by remso

In less than a year so many things have changed. Princip Ergodan of Turkey and his Prime minister are setting up the global caliphate, and Ergodan has declared himself god on several occasions. What an exciting time we live in. Stay strong in the Word and do not let false teachers lead you astray. You have the Holy Spirit in you, leading you, and guiding you; you know what is true, stay fast to it. Until then, I will see you on the other side.


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remso's avatarA Voice in the Wilderness

2 Thessalonians 2:2-3 NASB (2) “that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. (3) Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,”

This kicks off with Paul writing to the Thessalonians – a body of believers which seem to be in a panic because someone has sent a letter to the effect that the day of the Lord has already come. They are convinced at this point, that they have missed the bus. Considering how intense life will get immediately after the rapture happens I could understand why they might go into panic mode.

A thought as I make…

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