Revelation 11:1-14:20

I pray that none of us are here on earth to witness this part of Revelation, it is frightening especially for those not saved. The scary part is some is already happening, so what a great bible study this would be, and to be prepared to answer questions to those who are skeptics. I have so many questions, and don't always know if I am interpreting Revelation correctly, and really want to gain knowledge in this area. Knowing there are so many thoughts, beliefs, interpretations, I did some research on my own. Much can be misleading so discernment is pivotal anytime you look for other interpretations, but found a couple very interesting and insightful and would like to know your take on this part of the book. So here goes....
These are 2 responses from "Christians" to questions from skeptics

I found much of the information here in #1 truthful, insightful, and learned some things I did not realize...
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#1-Yes, I believe that the apocalypse is a real thing. It is beginning to happen. Some of it already has. 

Why don't you believe the whole Bible? The Bible is God's written Word to us.
It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit.

When reading the Bible, you need to ask who, what, why, where and when.

For an example, in Genesis, Moses was not there when God created everything. He wrote what God told Him to write, in the way that he could explain it. Which is why it appears like a fairy tale to some. If we had been there, we would have seen how real and awsome it was.

In the Revelation, John saw heaven. This was new to Him and there was no human way to explain some of the things that he saw and was told.

“Above all you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20-21. (New International Version)

Breakdown of the Bible
36 human authors inspired entirely by God over 1600 years.
66 separate books

39 Old Testament
Genesis- The creation of the world, sin, flood and birth of Israel
Exodus to Esther- History of the nation of Israel
Job to Proverbs- the books of poetry and wisdom
Isaiah to Malachi- Prophecy or foretelling of the future events to come.

27 New Testament
Matthew to John - Four Gospels representing the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ now with all authority in Heaven and earth.
Acts- Birth of the Church (The Bride of Christ)
Romans to Jude - Letters to the Churches
Revelations - The ultimate future plans for: The Church, Heaven, Hell, a New Heaven and a New Earth.

Here are some Bible Study Resources for anything you may want to look up:
http://www.Biblegateway.com
http://www.Ntgateway.com
http://www.Bible.org
http://www.bible-history.com
http://www.answersingenesis.org/

P.S. Hey Jan, you said
If you want to know about this mark and about who's who when Antichrist comes, check out Cain, Satans son. Oh, you think it weird that Cain is not Adams son? Check out Genesis 5:1, where the complete geneology of Adam is listed: you won't find Cain listed there, because Cain simply was not Adams son.

Genesis 4:1 says Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man. Later she gave birth to his brother Able. Can you come to my avatar for an explaination? God bless and thanks.

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I found #2 to be very thought provoking myself.

#2-Yes, the Book of Revelation is true.

Yes, we are in the end times, prophecied when Judah returns and establishes an independent state (May 15, 1948); that begins the Generation of the Fig Tree, the final generation of this age.

However, you are confused with this mark of the beast. It is not a social security number, or a chip surgically placed into the hand; I don't care if they tattoo you from head to toe with "666", its not gonna change what you think or believe. The Mark of the Beast is IN YOUR FOREHEAD; whats in your forehead? Your brain. This "mark" is in the minds of all those deceived who believe that the Antichrist is the true Christ. Antichrist will come in prosperously and peacefully - he's gonna be disguised as Jesus, acting like Jesus; he'll be teacher/preacher/savior.
What is 666? Which teaching seal is regarding Antichrist? The 6th.
Which trumpet sounds that Antichrist is thrown out and onto earth? 6th. Which vial
concerns Antichrist? the 6th.
6th seal
6th trumpet
6th vial
Thats all; people make this much more complicated than it is: If only people would slow down, and read and learn in the simplicity that God teaches.
If you really want to understand the mark of the beast, here is a bit of information for you (I am a disiplined student of the manuscripts).
When you read "Count the number of the beast", that word "count" does not mean to count like 1-2-3-4 ; it means to enumerate over a long period of time, as when a rock is worn smooth by water running over it for a vast period of time. So what does that mean? It means that mark has a history, and if you check back in the beginning, you will see what the history of that mark is, and also a deeper study as to what God wants you to know about these end-times, and about the Antichrist and his entourage.
So where is the beginning of the mark of the beast? The Garden of Eden. When Cain murdered his brother and God threw him out, a mark was placed on him - the mark of his own father, the devil (yes, blood father, "sperma" in the manuscripts).
If you want to know about this mark and about who's who when Antichrist comes, check out Cain, Satans son. Oh, you think it weird that Cain is not Adams son? Check out Genesis 5:1, where the complete geneology of Adam is listed: you won't find Cain listed there, because Cain simply was not Adams son.
"Wormwood" is just another name for Satan (he has about 35 in the manuscripts)
and when it states that wormwood will fall, thats Antichrist getting booted out and onto earth - the death mentioned is spiritual death, not physcial death. People are already spiritually deader than a hammer,
but when Antichrist comes and the mass believe he is Jesus Christ, spiritual death will be in worldwide mass.
Anyway, I've been wordy enough........

Keep that gospel armour on and in place.

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#3-GOD's Word is true. And 666 is not a bar code. Satan comes in the 6th tumpet, 6th seal, 6th vial.

You will not be able to "buy and sell" in his beast system (Rev 13) unless you sign up to worship him. He will have a world wide credit card.

Wormwood is one of Satan's names. He is playing Jesus, and not out killing people. Waters are people Rev 17:15, and are made bitter because of Satan. But Satan is not here yet.

Rev 8:11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

1/3 of the people are killed a "spiritual death".

Rev 8:12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

Sun is symbolic of Chirst, 1/3 was darkened with deception.

Rev 8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

Three more "Woe" trumpets

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Interesting reads and discussion, I know it's a lot to take in, but would like to know your thoughts? Have any of u studied Revelation extensively? 

God Bless!

Julia

Revelation 7:1-10:11

John 3:16 ESV 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life

As HE paid the ultimate price for us by giving up HIS only SON,and as HE uttered these words in John 19:30.... "It is finished", we were saved.

To see the masses of the saved, and to be standing before the throne of my Savior...Oh what a day that will be...... all of us praising together and saying......Thanks be to God!

In Revelations 7, we are  definitely in the eye of the storm, which is always the calm part. of any storm. However,we don't live life and learn life lessions and grow through the calm part. It is the rough seas we survive through and the HELL that is coming if we are not prepared as Christians. No one likes to talk about that part, not even me. If I could avoid it I would, but it's coming right after we pass through the eye in Revelations 7...

Revelations 7:9-15

⁹ After this I looked and a vast host appeared which no one could count, [gathered out] of every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. These stood before the throne and before the Lamb; they were attired in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.

¹⁰ In loud voice they cried, saying, [Our] salvation is due to our God, Who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb [to Them we owe our deliverance]!

¹¹ And all the angels were standing round the throne and round the elders [^[b]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] and the four living creatures, and they fell prostrate before the throne and worshiped God.

¹² Amen! (So be it!) they cried. Blessing and glory and majesty and splendor and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and might [be ascribed] to our God to the ages and ages (forever and ever, throughout the eternities of the eternities)! Amen! (So be it!)

¹³ Then, addressing me, one of the elders [^[c]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] said, Who are these [people] clothed in the long white robes? And from where have they come?

¹⁴ I replied, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they who have come out of the great tribulation (persecution), and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

¹⁵ For this reason they are [now] before the [very] throne of God and serve Him day and night in His sanctuary (temple); and He Who is sitting upon the throne will protect and spread His tabernacle over and shelter them with His presence.

I want to be HIS servant and feel HIS prescence every day that I live on this earth!

I give all praise and glory to my Father, my protector, my shield! He clothes me in righteousness, loves me unconditionally and I am thankful HE is a forgiving God. 

Isaiah 43:25 (NLT)

“I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake

    and will never think of them again.

HE promises us no more hunger, or thirst as HE is all we ever need! The best thing is, we don't have to wait for the 7 trumpets, HE provides all of this for us here and now if we just trust HIM enough to let HIM! HE is "the bread of life"!

Over these past months that HE has kept me "still", HE is teaching me that HE will always be there to provide for me. As this is the first time EVER in my life to not be working fulltime, it has been a test in faith for me for sure. HE is so faithful, and so good,  and as I stressed over how I was going to pay for something I really needed when knew I had no means to do so, I learned to be patient, to trust, to lean on HIM,and not to fret. Each time, I was provided what HE knew I needed, not what I thought I needed. HE is so smart, HE always knows JUST what I need, and I am so thankful for HIM!

In Revelations  7:17 HE promises...

the second part of this verse is escpecially comforting...

No more worry, no more crying, sadness, depression....... 

I think of all of the parents that lost their children/family in the school shooting incident. I pray they feel the love of our Father as we do, and know that HE is holding their angels in heaven as they continue to grieve. I also pray that those who do not know HIM are saved, and that all are relieved of the emptiness, the anger, the guilt, depression,  and sadness that consumes them. I pray they feel HIS prescence, HIS love enveloping them and making them stronger in their faith and in turn changing this devastating event into one of healing for all involved.

Oh what a day that will be when there are no more tears, just joy!

Revelations 8-10:11

We should all be prepared at this point, if not, we are destined to a life of pain, suffering, and terror which I would not wish on my worst ememy. 

Matthew 24:10-20 ESV 

And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. ..

 In time, God’s wrath against sin will be released against all sin. :

Romans 2:5-6

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁵ But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. ⁶ He will judge everyone according to what they have done.
The time of this wrathful reaction to sin is a day of judgment (day of wrath) , thus God’s wrath is a judicial action, done perfectly through God’s complete knowledge.

Our job here on earth, however long HE has numbered for us should be :

Hebrews 12:14 ESV

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Mark 16:15-16 ESV 

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

and the greateast command that HE gives to all of us...

John 13:34-35
New International Version 
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”


Love and Peace to you my sisters in Christ and I wish you all a Blessed New Year in 2013!

Ezekiel 20:1-22:16 & Ezekiel 22:17-23:49, 24:1-14, 2 Kings 24:20-25:2, Jeremiah 52:3-5, 39:1

This book is really making me dig deep, makes me think outside of myself which is necessary for my growth with my FATHER in heaven!

Ezekiel is a sober reminder of the tenuous place our country is in, and the continuing saga over territory in The Holy Land. The leaders we choose are so vitally important as they are the driving force behind alliances with other countries. We must be careful of the company we keep as a nation. We should be placing our faith in God instead of placing faith and seeking security and strength from alliances with political powers.
This also translates to us in our personal lives as well, and God does not play favorites as in Isaiah below, pretty powerful words to digest.

Isaiah 24:1-6

New International Version (NIV)

The Lord’s Devastation of the Earth

24 See, the Lord is going to lay waste the earth 
    and devastate it;
he will ruin its face
    and scatter its inhabitants—
² it will be the same
    for priest as for people, 
    for the master as for his servant,
    for the mistress as for her servant,
    for seller as for buyer, 
    for borrower as for lender,
    for debtor as for creditor. 
³ The earth will be completely laid waste 
    and totally plundered. 
The Lord has spoken this word.

⁴ The earth dries up and withers, 
    the world languishes and withers,
    the heavens languish with the earth. 
⁵ The earth is defiled by its people;
    they have disobeyed the laws,
violated the statutes
    and broken the everlasting covenant. 
⁶ Therefore a curse consumes the earth;
    its people must bear their guilt.
Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up, 
    and very few are left.

Scary stuff as we know the current climate of our nations and it's people.

Thankfully He is a merciful and loving God and the righteous will be spared, but we as Christians have so much work to do! By prayer and supplication we must ensure that our nation is saved!

Isaiah 26:2-4

New International Version (NIV)

² Open the gates 
    that the righteous nation may enter,
    the nation that keeps faith.
³ You will keep in perfect peace 
    those whose minds are steadfast,
    because they trust in you.
⁴ Trust in the Lord forever, 
    for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

Amen to that! HE is THE ROCK!

Revelation 21:24-27

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁴ And the nations of those who are saved^[a] shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.^[b] 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). ²⁶ And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.^[c] 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes^[d]an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

We are the nation, the people that can bring HIM all glory and honor! What a small price for us to pay compared to what HE sacrificed for us!
Yet before HE died on the cross,HE said a prayer for us! The sacrificial LAMB!

John 17:20-26

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Prays for All Believers

²⁰ “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³ I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
²⁴ “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
²⁵ “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I have made you^[a] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

So our work is laid out for us....spread HIS WORD so all nations can be unified in HIM! 


Peace and blessings to all!

Ezekiel 17:1-19:14

Ezekiel 18:21-22

New King James Version (NKJV)

²¹ “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. ²² None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live.

Our FATHER in heaven is a loving and forgiving GOD, and He clearly states what HE expects from HIS children. Obedience to HIS Word is all HE asks of us. HE wants us to "turn from our old ways and live!"

It seems like it is such a simple thing to do, yet everyday it seems to be a struggle to keep my feet from the fire! 3 steps forward, 2 steps back. Am I the only one who struggles with this? 

It's not that I have turned back to my old ways, but there seems to be an endless list still to be worked on, tweaked, refined. Like a gem HE is polishing me daily to remove the dirt, the grime, the flaws, until I shine brilliantly for HIM!

I want to be that brilliant gem, to be a shining light for HIM! I want to be like the Proverbs woman!

Proverbs 3:15 She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.

Proverbs 8:32-36

³² “Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For blessed are those who keep my ways.
³³ Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.
³⁴ Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
³⁵ For whoever finds me finds life,
And obtains favor from the Lord;
³⁶ But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.”

So I will watch, I will wait, and I will listen. I need to learn to be still so I can hear what HE has in store for me,what HE wants from me, and what HE wants me to be! I don't know what that is right now, but I know whatever it is will be grand, it will be beautiful, and HE will shine brightly through me! I want HIS spirit to be alive in me and I in HIM!

Ezekiel 18:30-32

New King James Version (NKJV)

³⁰ “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord God. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. ³¹ Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?³² For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!”

I am so thankful and blessed to be able to return to this blog with my sisters in Christ! Know that if I am not blogging, I am still in HIS WORD, and you are all in my thoughts and prayers daily!
Love you all! :)

Proverbs 1-13

I love the book of Proverbs and the wisdom that He reveals! Having my boys home again this weekend reminded me how important it is for me as a mother to continue to impart His wisdom to them. They are never too old to stop being taught, and I have been neglectful in this area as of late. I see them as "all grown up", and realized if I am still learning and growing in Him, they could be as well! I hope to never stop growing in Him, and want that for my boys as well. I have really good intentions, then fail to put them into action. What good does that do?
Once they are off to college and seeking and gaining worldly wisdom, it is imperative that they continue to seek His wisdom even more! Every college campus is surrounded by professors, peers, and people who are not Godly, and who can easily impart their doctrines on our sons and daughters that are "simple" minded. Only His doctrine is sound and gives true knowledge and wisdom. I pray that their minds become saturated with His Word.

Proverbs 1:4-7

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴ To give prudence to the simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion—
⁵ A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
⁶ To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

This is where His wisdom and His Spirit of discernment is tantamount. This is what I pray for my boys most of all! Yes, I want them to graduate from college and gain a degree, to have a goal and be successful. But even more they need to use the gift that God gave them and use it for His purpose! Making the most money or securing possession's is not what makes a person happy. How they use the gift's God has blessed them with for His good, is priceless! They need only to seek Him to be truly a success in life!

Proverbs 8:17-22

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁷ I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me.
¹⁸ Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring riches and righteousness.
¹⁹ My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
And my revenue than choice silver.
²⁰ I traverse the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
²¹ That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.

²² “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.

I pray for all of our children and our children's children to heed the wise counsel of His Word, to guard it in their hearts, and use it to glorify Him!

May your children and children yet to come be blessed with His wisdom!

1 Kings 3:16-28, 5:1-18, 2 Chronicles 2:1-18, 1 Kings 6:1-13, 2 Chronicles 3:1-14, 1 Kings 6:14-38

 In Kings 3:16-28, we find the two women with newborns, one which sadly died, and in that mother's grief she decided to switch the babies. Now Solomon is put in the position to decide who the real mother of this child is, and asks them to cut the child in half. What a decision to have to make! In the process, the true mother of the child was revealed. I can't imagine the thought of literally dividing either of my sons, which the other mother was willing to do, unbelievable! Solomon was given great wisdom and discernment by God to make decisions for his servants. This is something I pray for my sons, that God gives them His wisdom and discernment when making choices in their life. I pray that they find Godly women someday, and that whatever they do in life, they ultimately serve God in whatever path God leads them.

In Kings 5 & 6 we see Solomon is given charge to build a temple. What an impressive and massive building to be given the honor to build! Of course, Solomon was given plans by God, the greatest architect of all! :) Solomon also used only the best contractors for each area of the building paying attention to each detail in the plans God laid out for him to follow. I would have loved to see the intricate carvings like the tops of the pillars shaped liked lilies, and the ornamental buds, the baths and even the carts were detailed. They just don't make anything with that kind of workmanship anymore, and it's hard to find workers that are so dedicated as well as trustworthy.


 It reminds me that whatever work God has placed before me, I should do it to my best ability, and the work should glorify Him! God has been so faithful to me in all aspects of my life, but as far as my work is concerned it has always been laid out right in front of me.  Example: I have been praying about what I need to do as far as working. I have been a nurse for 23 years and in healthcare for 30. I am at the point where I want something a little different in the field. He knows that I have always worked, am a “people person”, and like to stay busy, if not I could become a recluse very easily! Anyway I was searching to see if I could find the best of both worlds, and there it was! No one else could have found this opportunity unless they knew exactly where to look. That’s how God works with me; He sets me on the right path. I now work as a nurse assessor mostly from home until I do a health assessment. I work when I want and how much I want which leaves time for Joel and I to still spend time together now that we’re “empty nesters” , to travel and see our sons, and or family. The best part of it for me is I am able to witness to my clients, which has happened several times already. Several of the clientele I accepted have been out of my area, in places where they don’t have any nurses to serve them. I don’t mind travel at all, and I enjoy driving, always have! He knows this, and He placed me to serve them! God is amazing!

All thanks and praise goes to Him!