Barry Forder - Calvary Chapel Portsmouth

The Mystery of Godliness

Barry Forder — Mon, 12 May 2025 13:21:30 +0000

The Mystery of Godliness – 1 Timothy 3:16

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory”. The apostle Paul used the word mystery 21 times in his epistles: the mystery of God (Colossians 2:2), the mystery of faith (1 Timothy 3:9), the mystery of iniquity (2 Thessalonians 2:7), etc. In each case, the “mystery” involved a declaration of spiritual truth, revealed by God to Paul through divine inspiration The Greek word musterion (“mystery”), when used in the New Testament, refers to the things of God that were once hidden but were later revealed through Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). A mystery is that which can only be known through the revelation of God (Romans 16:25–26; Colossians 1:26–27). It is something that in times past had been hidden but is now revealed to God’s people.

Summary of the Mysteries revealed to Paul

Mystery of the Kingdom of God
1. Luke 8:10; Mark 4:11;
Mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven
1. Matt 13:11
Mystery of Manifestation in the Flesh
1. 1 Tim 3:16
Mystery of Salvation by Faith
1. Eph 3:19; Rom 16:25,26; 1 Tim 3:9
Mystery of the Will of God
1. Eph 1:9
Mystery of Gentiles in same Body
1. Rom 16:25; Eph 3:3
Mystery of the Bride of Christ
1. Eph 5:10; Eph 2:6; 1 Cor 6:17
1. Cf. Col 1:26,27; 2:2; 4:3
The Mystery of the Harpazo
1. 1 Cor 15:51; 1 Thes 4:12-18
1. OT: Isa 26:19-21; Ps 27:5; Zep 2:3
The Mystery of Iniquity
1. 2 Thes 2:6-12
Mystery of the Seven Churches
1. Rev 1:20
Mystery of Israel’s Blindness
1. Luke 19:42-44; Rom 11:25
Mystery Babylon (Counterfeit Kingdom)
1. Re 17, 18 (Cf Gen 10:10, 1^st mention)

And without controversy… The expression “without controversy” translates the Greek term homologoumenos, which literally denotes ‘that which one confesses’, hence, it might be rendered “confessedly,” “undeniably,” “most certainly.” It is a declaration of absolute confidence. great is the mystery of godliness… The word “godliness” in Greek is the noun eusebia. This term, along with its various cognate forms, suggests piety, devotion, religion, or a disposition of God-towardness. It could be considered ‘God-like-ness’, and the explanation that Paul himself gives in the rest of this verse speaks of the completed work of Christ – who, though a man, was more God-like than any other man. Christ’s ‘Godliness’ is not simply because He was God in the Flesh, but also because he was completely in the will of His Father. The mystery of Godliness has much to do with obedience. One commentator phrased it, “Undeniably, great is the strategy of the divine plan of salvation” and indeed the whole of God’s incredible plan is encapsulated in this verse! Paul now lists six magnificent statements that take us from before the foundation of the world to God’s conclusion of all things. “God was manifest in the flesh” This is a clear statement of Christ’s Deity. It speaks of that which the whole of the Old Testament alludes to, from the Seed of the Woman in Genesis 3:15 to the Ark in Genesis 6-7; from a father offering up his only son in Genesis 22 to a suffering servant in Isaiah 53. Although we have a number of ‘pre-incarnate’ appearances of Jesus in the Old Testament (a physical manifestation of God), the concept that God – the Creator & Sustainer of all things would willingly take on human form to reach out to His own creation is truly staggering thought! John wrote: “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). This affirmation was in direct conflict with certain gnostic ideas of antiquity which asserted that Christ could not have possessed a body of flesh, since flesh was intrinsically evil—a concept which John labels as the spirit of the anti-christ (1 John 4:2, 3). The New Testament reveals that Jesus was manifest in the flesh for the following reasons: (1) He became flesh so that men might see, in visible form, a commentary on Deity. John affirmed that Christ came to “declare” (exegesato—to give an exegesis of) the Father (1:18). Thus, to view the Lord was to comprehend something of the nature of his heavenly Father (John 14:9). (2) He became flesh to identify with us (Hebrews 5:1-10). Having lived in human form, and thus been subjected to temptation (Hebrews 4:15), he is able to effectively function as our high priest, hence, come to our aid when we are tempted (Hebrews 2:17, 18). (3) He was manifested as man to provide us with a model for living (1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6). (4) Since it is impossible for Deity, as a spirit being, to die (cf. 1 Timothy 6:16), Christ became flesh so that he might be subjected to death (Hebrews 2:9, 14), hence ‘legally’ qualified to become a direct and exact substitute for man in order to put away sins (1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 John 3:5). (5) Finally, the Lord was manifested that “he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8), which, of course, will be realised ultimately at the time of his second coming when He will wrest the control of this world from Satan and reclaim as the Second Adam what the first Adam lost – the title to this world – again as a man bearing the legal right to reclaim the earth as a kinsman of Adam. “Justified in the spirit” First, we must note that the word “justified” does not suggest that Christ at one time was sinful, hence, at some point, was pardoned or justified from sin. That cannot be the meaning (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22). The term denotes a vindication. Though Jesus was manifested in the flesh, and “put to death in the flesh” by his enemies (1 Peter 3:18), God Almighty vindicated the Lord Jesus, raising him from the dead. Thus God the Father by raising Christ from the dead set His seal of approval and acceptance on His completed work. Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). But what does the phrase “in the spirit” signify? There are several possibilities, both grammatically and contextually. Most translations capitalize the term “Spirit,” suggesting that there is an allusion to the Holy Spirit. If that is the meaning, the phrase could be a reference to the Spirit’s operation at the time of the Lord’s bodily resurrection. In Romans 8:11 Paul wrote: “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwells in you.” One commentator observed that “the word ‘also’ suggests the Holy Spirit not only will raise our bodies, but ‘also’ was the agent of the Father in raising Christ”. Others think that “Spirit” in 1 Timothy 3:16 is a general reference to the Spirit’s operation in the life of Christ. The Lord’s miracles, message, etc., climaxing with his resurrection, demonstrated his deity, hence, in spite of his death at the hands of cruel men, the Saviour was vindicated. In 1 Peter 3:18 the apostle states that Jesus “was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.” It has been suggested that Jesus was raised by the re-energising of his body through his spirit, though some also see “spirit” as a reference to the Holy Spirit in this passage. All that Christ did He did in and through the power of the Holy Spirit – He did everything ‘right’, there was no fault found in Him. He was justified in his actions and decision to come to this world as a baby, to live and die for mankind, and to rise from the dead to become LORD of all for all eternity. “Seen of angels” Angels were intimately involved with the work of our Lord. Note the following: (1) Angels were associates of the preincarnate Word (cf. John 1:1, 14). When Abraham was visited by “three men” at the oaks of Mamre, two of them are identified as angels (Genesis 19:1) while the other is a divine person who subsequently rains “upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of heaven” (19:24; cf. 18:1, 21). (2) Angels heralded the impending birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:26) and praised God when Mary brought forth her child (Luke 2:13). (3) After Christ concluded his temptation ordeal in the wilderness, “angels came and ministered unto him” (Matthew 4:11). (4) When the Lord experienced great agony of soul just prior to his death, “there appeared unto him an angel from heaven, strengthening him” (Luke 22:43), and had he so chosen, he might have summoned thousands of angels to deliver him from the curse of Calvary (cf. Matthew 26:53). (5) Angels were present at the time of Christ’s resurrection from the grave (Matthew 28:2ff; Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4; John 20:12) and at his ascension into heaven (Acts 1:10). (6) Finally, the angels of heaven are subject to him (1 Peter 3:22), and praise him saying, “Worthy is the Lamb that hath been slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honor, and glory, and blessing” (Revelation 5:11, 12). All of this said, a strong possibility is that this has reference to ‘messengers’ – i.e. those who were the witnesses (Apostles etc.) of His life and ministry, and who then bore testimony in the Gospels and Epistles and through the early church. “Preached among the Gentiles” This, of course, suggests the universal scope of the Saviour’s redemptive system—a fact that was predicted in the Old Testament (Isaiah 2:2; 11:10), previewed in the earthly ministry of Christ (Matthew 4:15ff; 8:11), announced in the “great commission” (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47), and implemented by the apostles, prophets, and others, as revealed in the book of Acts. We must note in passing that when the New Testament speaks of preaching “Christ,” such expression not only denotes the historical facts regarding the person of Jesus, but also the truths concerning his kingdom and how to gain entrance into the same (cf. Acts 8:5, 12, 35ff). “Believed on in the world” Though a majority in the first-century world did not believe on Christ (cf. Isaiah 53:1; John 12:37; 1:11), nevertheless, many did (Acts 2:44; 4:4; 5:14; 9:42). It must be understood, however, that the expression “believed on” does not denote a mere “faith-only” concept as implied in some of the creeds of protestantism). Rather, “faith,” or “believing” in Bible terminology, that avails in God’s sight is that which is active in obeying the Lord, as the following evidence indicates: (1) John declares that “whosoever believes” should not perish, but have eternal life (3:16), while the writer of Hebrews affirms that eternal salvation is given to those who “obey” the Son (5:8, 9). Obviously, therefore, believing in Christ must include obedience as a requisite to salvation. (2) John 3:36 affirms: “He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him” (ASV). Note how the terms “believeth” and “obeyeth not,” as correctly reflected in the American Standard Version, stand in bold contrast. To believe is to obey! (3) The Scriptures speak of being “obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7). (4) When the jailor at Philippi heard Paul’s proclamation of the gospel, acknowledged its validity, evidenced penitence, and submitted to immersion (Acts 16:31-33), Luke sums up the entire process by saying that he, along with his family, had “believed in God” (16:34). (5) Romans 5:1 announces: “Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” In the same inspired document, however, the apostle argues that one is “made free from sin” after he has “become obedient from the heart” to the pattern of divine instruction (6:17, 18). Since “peace with God” and being “made free from sin” are equivalent, it necessarily follows that the “faith” of 5:1 includes the “obedience” of 6:17. Indeed, one of the major emphases of the book of Romans is the “obedience of faith” (cf. 1:5; 16:26). (6) The author of the book of Hebrews stresses that those Israelites who perished in the wilderness were condemned because they were “disobedient,” which, in fact, was an expression of their “unbelief ’(cf. Hebrews 3:18, 19; 4:3, 6 – ASV). The terms are employed interchangeably. (7) The discussion of James, that faith apart from works is “dead,” “barren,” etc., is too well-known to need elaboration at this point (cf. James 2:14ff). “Received up in glory” This refers, of course, to the Lord’s reception into heaven some forty days following his resurrection from the dead. Jesus had prophesied that he must suffer and then enter into his glory (Luke 24:26); and so, following his bodily resurrection, he was “received up into heaven” (Mark 16:19; cf. Acts 1:2). In these latter passages, the same verb (analambano) is used as that employed by Paul in his letter to Timothy. When Jesus entered into this glorious realm, all authority was made subject to him (Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:20ff). Thus, Paul’s great “mystery of godliness,” when unfolded, is rich indeed. It is the gospel in seed form. It is intellectually satisfying, emotionally rewarding, and practically motivating. May the church of the living God recognize her mission to proclaim these pearls of truth in a world that languishes in darkness and has no hope apart from the mission and message of Christ. To this end let us dedicate ourselves.

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The Power of His Resurrection

Barry Forder — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 13:44:25 +0000

The Power of His Resurrection

In Philippians 3:10-12, the Apostle Paul states the following: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”

Paul tells us that the historical fact of the Resurrection of Jesus has the power to change us! Firstly, as a result of the Resurrection, we can actually know Jesus personally – if your heart is still beating that should stagger you and become your new no#1 goal in life! Secondly, by understanding what Jesus did for us in laying down His life in obedience to His Father, we can, in the same way, lay down the right to our own lives to God and begin to live… not merely ‘be alive’ but really begin to live the abundant life Jesus spoke of (John 10:10). Paul then tells us the reason Christ ‘took hold’ of us was so that we might ‘take hold’ of Him. By giving ourselves to Him, He gives Himself to us! Jesus loves you and wants an intimate relationship with you… but it has to be on His terms, because only He knows what is best for us.

To try to understand this incredible proposition we are going to look at a model found in the Old Testament book of Joshua – written around 1500 years before the time of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The model itself is yet further proof of the supernatural origin and design of the Bible; only a God who is outside of time could record events with such precision before they happen. God Himself lays this challenge before any sceptic: “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure” (Isaiah 46:9-10).

Models in Advance

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul’s definitive chapter on the subject of the resurrection, he makes the point that the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus had been foretold and recorded in advance in the Old Testament scriptures (see 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). We could actually go back to Genesis chapter 3 to get the first hint of Christ’s victory over Satan on the cross; but then in Genesis 22 we have the dramatic acting-out (two thousand years in advance) of the events of the crucifixion and resurrection. Abraham (a type of God the Father) is told to “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell you of” (Genesis 22:2). As we consider this, we start to see that, whilst being a real event that occurred in the life of Abraham, It was also a ‘model’ or ‘type’ of God the Father who, 2000 years later, gave up His only son for mankind.

This model becomes even more remarkable when we realise that the place that Abraham was told to offer up Isaac (on top of Mount Moriah), was later to be known as Golgotha, the very spot where Jesus was to be crucified. Abraham renamed the place: “Jehovah-jireh” which means, “In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen” (Gen 22:14). Thus, it would seem that Abraham actually realised he was acting out prophecy, anticipating what was to come. This is confirmed in Hebrews 11:17-19: “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son; of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”

From the account in Genesis 22, we know that an innocent ram was eventually sacrificed in the place of Isaac, and again in this we see a model in anticipation of Jesus who, like that innocent ram, was sacrificed in our place so that, like Isaac, we too could go free.

Before we come to our text in the book of Joshua, there is one other model we need to consider, for that will lay an important foundation.

The 7 Feasts of Israel

God, through Moses, led the Children of Israel out of Egypt through the Red sea and gave them seven Feasts (holy festivals) that they were to celebrate each year to continually remind them of what God had done for them, as wells as His continued provision and their obligation to be holy before their God. Various passages of scripture outline the Feasts and their purpose, such as Exodus 12:14-17 / Leviticus 23 :4-44 / Deuteronomy 16:1-16.

The 7 feasts in the order that they were to occur each year are as follows:

The Feast of Passover (14th of the 1st month Abib – our March/April time)
The Feast of Unleavened bread (15th of the 1st month Abib)
The Feast of Firstfruits (celebrated on the Sunday following the Passover)
The Feast of Harvest (also known as the Festival of Weeks / Pentecost – celebrated 50 days after Firstfruits)
The Feast of Trumpets (the 1st day of the 7th month)
The Feast of Atonement (the 10th day of the 7th month)
The Feast of Tabernacles (also known as the Feast of Ingathering – celebrated on 15th day of the 7th month)

These feasts had a practical / spiritual significance to Israel during their time in the wilderness and later when they entered the promised land; but as we will discover, these feasts were also supernaturally designed to be ‘a shadow of things to come’ (Col 2:17), prophetically looking forward to events that would take place many years in the future.

As compelling evidence of God’s Divine design throughout the Bible, these feasts were intended by God to be models that find their fulfilment in:

The crucifixion and death of Jesus – Passover
His burial and victory over sin and death – Feast of Unleavened Bread
His resurrection – Feast of Firstfruits
The birth and subsequent rapture of the Church – Pentecost
God’s judgement during the Tribulation – Feast of Trumpets
God’s purging of Israel during the tribulation – Feast of Atonement
and finally: Tabernacles. The regathering of the Jews back to the land of Israel (Feast of Ingathering) when Jesus returns to establish His millennial kingdom and ‘tabernacle’ among us.

Thus, they paint a picture that spans the whole of human history from the birth of the nation of Israel to the beginning of the millennial kingdom of Jesus.

All of these Feasts are really worth studying, but it is the first three that are of significance in this study.

The Feast of Passover

For 400 years the Children of Israel were ‘sojourners’ without a land of their own, a fact that had been prophetically revealed to Abraham in a dream (Genesis 15:13). The last 215 years of this time had been spent in Egypt; firstly in prosperity and blessing during the time of Joseph, but toward the end of this time ‘there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph’ (Exodus 1:8). This new Pharoah treated Israel harshly, eventually prompting them to cry to the LORD for deliverance. Just as God had promised Abraham, when the time was right, his descendants would return to the land of Canaan, leaving Egypt with great wealth. We know from Exodus chapters 3 through 12 that God called Moses and sent him before Pharaoh with the request that Abraham’s descents, the Children of Israel, be allowed to leave the land of Egypt. Pharaoh repeatedly refused despite being sent plagues that all but destroyed the land.

Finally God said to Moses: “Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether……Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts. And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more” (Exodus 11:1-6).

Thus, as a judgment for the way Egypt had treated God’s ‘firstborn’ (i.e. Israel), the firstborn of all the Egyptians would die (see Exodus 4:22-23). However, as God had done throughout all the other plagues, He made a way for the people of Israel to be protected.

“And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:” (Exodus 12:1-3).

“Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it” (Exodus 12:5-7).

“……it is the LORD’s passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:11b-13).

The Feast of Unleavened Bread

In Leviticus we read: “ the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD:” (Leviticus 23:6). This Feast of Unleavened Bread, although being part of the seven-day period where unleavened bread was to be eaten, was itself to be a distinct Feast and observed in its own right.

The Feast of Firstfruits

Leviticus 23:10-11 also details the Feast of Firstfruits. This was to occur on the day after the Sabbath. “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.” It is clear from the context that this Feast was to be on the day after the Sabbath that followed the Passover, in other words, always on a Sunday.

So we see from all of this that we have 4 specific markers:

The 10th day of the 1st month – when the lamb was to be taken
The 14th of the 1st month – when the lamb was to be slain
The 15th of the month – to mark the eating of unleavened bread (leaven is analogous to sin, so it speaks of the removal of sin)
The Sunday (the first day of the week), following the Passover was to be the Feast of Firstfruits. As this Feast was fixed to a specific day (i.e. Sunday), the actual date would change from year to year (much like Easter does for us). It could occur as early as the 16^th (if the Passover fell on a Friday), or as late as the 22^nd (if the Passover fell on a Saturday Sabbath), but always on a Sunday. In the year of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection the Feast of Firstfruits fell on the 17th of the 1st month.

Incredible Fulfilment!

With a little diligent study we can ascertain that it was on the 10th day of the Jewish month that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the day we now celebrate as Palm Sunday (in precise fulfilment of Daniel 9:24-25). This was the day the Lamb of God was ‘taken’ by the people as they waived palm branches and hailed Him their king.

It was then on the 14th (the Feast of Passover) that Jesus was crucified as a spotless Lamb, bearing the sins of the world, thus becoming our Passover Lamb, His blood being shed to purchase our freedom from the slavery of sin.

It is important to note that the Jewish day begins in the evening (Genesis 1:5), so as the evening began on the 14th, the next Jewish day – the Feast of Unleavened Bread – started. From the gospels we know that Jesus died at 3pm and His body remined on the cross for a short while before being requested by, and then laid in, Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb; yet because the new day was about to begin, there was not enough time to properly anoint Jesus’ body for burial – which is why the woman planned to return at the earliest opportunity (after the Sabbath’s had passed) to complete the anointing procedure. Just a week before this, Jesus Himself had prophetically said: “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24), and so on the 15th, as the Feast of Unleavened Bread began, Jesus’ body, which had borne our sin, was being laid in the ground as a grain of wheat (from which bread is made).

Paul declares: “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7)

The Feast of Unleavened Bread (15th) – which fell on the Friday – was a ‘high sabbath’ where no work was permitted under the Jewish Law. The next day (Saturday 16th) was the regular Jewish Sabbath, again, where no work was permitted. This meant that the earliest opportunity for the woman to return to the tomb and anoint Jesus’ body did not occur until Sunday 17th, the first day of the week. We know from Mark’s gospel that: “when the sabbath[s were] past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun” (Mark 16:1-2). This is of course the day of the resurrection! …and as the first Sunday following the Passover it would also be the Feast of Firstfruits. Thus, on the Feast of Firstfruits “is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

The Model in Joshua

With all the detail we have just seen, you might be wondering what the connection is with the Book of Joshua? Well, it is simple and yet profound!

We begin in Joshua 4:19 where we read: “And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho”.

Yes! The triumphant day the Children of Israel finally crossed over the Jordan and entered the Promised Land, receiving their future kingdom, was the anniversary in advance of the very same day Jesus entered Jerusalem and was received as Israel’s future King! Of course, for Israel the adulation quickly stopped and they crucified their King. But He will return to sit on the throne of David and rule over Israel and the whole earth (Luke 1:32-33).

Next, we move onto Joshua 5:10, and there we read: “And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho”. The fact that they kept the Passover may not come as much of a surprise – they were simply following the Torah, but look at the detail! They celebrated and ate their Passover lamb ‘in Gilgal… in the plains of Jericho’. Their Passover lamb was killed in a place (Gilgal) synonymous with sacrifice and literally right in full view of their enemy. On the future anniversary of the very same day Jesus was offered up as The sacrificial Lamb, also in a place synonymous with sacrifice (Calvary – see again Genesis 22:13-14), and in full view of ‘principalities and powers’, making a public spectacle of them, triumphing over Satan and forever declaring His victory as Christ declared ‘It is finished’! – Literally in the Greek: ‘Paid in full’! (see Colossians 2:15)

As the inhabitants of Jericho looked on, barricaded within their seemingly impenetrable walls, they must have been shaken and somewhat unnerved to see Israel having a celebration and a feast right in front of thier faces! Israel’s first Passover celebration in the Promised Land was itself looking forward to the ultimate Lamb whose blood would be shed to make atonement for sin once and for all!

But there is more!

Joshua 5:11 tells us: “And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day”. For 40 years the Children of Israel had eaten Manna, the food God had miraculously provided during the wilderness wanderings. Now, on the 15th day of the first month, the very day they were supposed to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, they were able – for the first time – to do just that, with unleavened bread! Unleavened bread speaks of a life without sin, that is only possible for us because Christ became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). But notice once again the detail here: it was the ‘old corn of the land‘. Through Christ’s death (on the 14th) and burial (on the 15th) ‘old things’ are to pass away, all things are to become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). As Paul asks us: “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2). “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin” (Romans 6:6-7).

Paul goes on to say: “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:11-14)

For the Children of Israel with Joshua, after the 14th and 15th came… the 16th! “And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land” (Joshua 5:12a). So, they ate the old corn on the 15th, and the last time Manna fell, the day it ceased, was the next day, the 16th. (If it didn’t fall on the 16th it would have been said to have ceased on the 15th). Why is this significant? Because it means that the 16th represented the old order of things; from ‘tomorrow’ everything would be different. The verse continues: “neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year” (Joshua 5:12b). This is incredible! From the 17th onwards – the exact date of the Feast of Firstfruits in the year of the Resurrection, and the very day of the Resurrection itself, Israel ate the fruit of the Land! This was a new beginning for Israel, they were finally back in the Land God had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and living off its bounty!

For us, the 17th, the Feast of Firstfruits, the day of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ marks an awesome new beginning! It was also the exact same day that Noah’s Ark finally came rest on the Earth again at the end of the flood – signifying a new beginning for mankind!

Because Christ rose from the dead, we can have certainty that our sins are forgiven (1 Corinthians 15:17), that He will one day come and receive us to Himself (John 14:1-3) and that we will also be resurrected, these mortal, corruptible bodies being changed into glorious incorruptible bodies fit for eternity (see 1 Corinthians 15:35-57).

Just as Israel were able to put behind them the struggle they had endured getting to this place, so we can put behind us the struggle we endured before we came to know the risen Christ. In Christ we are no longer dependant on the old ways; the things we once held dear (Philippians 3:7), the things that once susstained and satisfied us. Old things are gone, all things have become new! “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Romans 8:11).

The Resurrection of Jesus changes everything! That is why it is so powerfull; but remember again the verse from Philippians we began with: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection [the power to forgive our sins He sealed on the 14th as our Passover], and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death [that we too would be dead to sin, being ‘Unleavened‘, our old life being buried as Christ was on the 15th]; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead [just as Christ rose again on the 17th becoming the Firstfruits of those who will rise!]. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:10-12)

There is one final lesson for us from Joshua, and that is how we are to follow:

“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? And the captain of the Lord’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so” (Joshua 5:12-15) .

When Joshua meets the Captain of the host of the Lord (this is the 2nd Person of the Trinity whom you and I know as Jesus!), he begins by asking if He is on Joshua’s side. The LORD does not say, “Yes Joshua, I’m here to help you in your quest”. The answer probably took Joshua by surprise. In effect the answer given is, “No Joshua, I’ve come to see if you are on My side!”

The Resurrection is not so that we can have Jesus on our side, it’s so we can now be on His! The battle is His, not ours. His is the victory.

And what is it that Joshua does? He worships! That is the end-game. His death, burial and Resurrection are so that we might worship Him. Worship Him with our thoughts, our actions, our lives. Worship Him in all we say and all we do; in all we hope for and all we hold dear. He will then go before us and fight the battles! He alone is the Risen , Conquering, Son. Endless is the victory He over death has won!

May you be blessed and encouraged by this study to a deeper walk with our Risen Saviour.

The post The Power of His Resurrection first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Disciples Prayer – Part 2

Barry Forder — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 14:36:37 +0000

In Luke chapter 11 we have one of the most detailed teachings on prayer in the Bible. In the first part of this study, we looked at the first part of the ‘Disciple’s Prayer’. After watching Jesus pray, probably on a number of occasions, one of His disciples plucked up the courage to ask Him to teach them how to pray. Jesus’ prayer life was different to anything they had seen before; it was not merely a religious observance or ritual, it was a conversation, not with a distant God, but with One whom Jesus called ‘Father’!

Was it really possible to have that kind of intimate relationship with the Divine? Can a mere man approach a holy sovereign God and expect an audience?

These are valid questions, yet the answer is that not only can we approach God as a loving heavenly Father, but He actually encourages us to!

Paul Billheimer, in his book, ‘Destined For The Throne’ states: “ That [God] will do nothing in the realm of human redemption, since its inception, outside this scheme of prayer and intercession, is indicated by God’s many pressing invitations to prayer in His Word. He not only invites us, He entreats and importunes and He urges. He even begs us to exercise this privilege.

Ask, I ask you to ask;
Seek, I entreat you to seek;
Knock, I urge you to knock.

Evidently, He will do nothing without our prayers” – Paul Billheimer (Destined For The Throne p45)

Billheimer goes on to say: “The fundamental importance of this scheme of prayer in God’s economy is further emphasised by God’s binding Himself unequivocally to answer. God’s promises to answer prayer cover such a broad spectrum as to constitute a veritable carte blanche, bearing the authority of His own signature. It is as though God handed us His sceptre and begged us to use it within the constraints of His will”.

This is staggering to try to comprehend! God has entrusted the Church with the most powerful force in the universe – Prayer – and has effectively given us a blank cheque signed in His name “to use it within the constraints of His will”.

In our previous study we considered the first half of the ‘Disciple’s Prayer’, which is all about God – taking the focus (intentionally) off ourselves and our own (perceived) problems and needs and setting our minds on the ‘things above’ (Col 3:2). We are told to focus on:

–1) Our Father – that God is a loving and gracious Father

–2) Our home and future in Heaven,

–3) God’s reputation (Name) and faithfulness,

–4) The fact that He has promised to right every wrong and judge all injustice when His kingdom comes upon this Earth,

–5) That while we are awaiting that, everything He allows in our lives is for the purpose of setting us apart for Himself, that He might truly be our God and we as His adopted and much-loved sons…

Once we consider these things, so much of what we would ordinarily pray for now evaporates! As Oswald Chambers so rightly said: “Suppose God is the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him — what an impertinence worry is!”

As we move into the second part of this prayer, where the focus shifts to our needs, we should remember that:

God is not unjust to forget your work and labour of love… (Heb 6:10)
God already knows the things you have need of before you ask! (Matt 6:8)
He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think! (Eph 3:20)
He is able to supply all your need! (Phil 4:19)
God hears the cry’s of the righteous! (Ps 34:4,15)
He has undertaken to provide for us! (Matt 6:30)
He tells us not to be anxious (Phil 4:6)

So why even pray about these things? Because God want’s us to commune with Him. Through prayer we learn to trust Him more and more. We learn to rely on Him, depend on Him, enjoy Him!

Give us this day…

Bread speaks of both our physical and spiritual needs, but note the source of this bread: we are to ask that God give us…

This bread is a gift from God! It cannot be gotten from man. Just as the Manna God gave the Children of Israel in the wilderness, so ‘my God shall supply all your need’ (Phil 4:19).

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst”. (John 6:35). God already knows the physical and practical things we have need of (Matt 6:8), and tells us not the be anxious or worry about our clothing or food.

“Take no thought for your life.” “Be careful about one thing only,” says our Lord—“your relationship to Me.” Common sense shouts loud and says—“That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, I must consider what I am going to eat and drink.” Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing the thought that this statement is made by One Who does not understand our particular circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things so as to make them the one concern of our life. Whenever there is competition, be sure that you put your relationship to God first” – Oswald Chambers,

Our prayer should be “Give me this day Jesus – the Bread of Life – , for if I have Jesus, I’ll have everything I need!” He will never leave me nor forsake me! (Heb 13:5).

“I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25)

Forgive us our sins…

When we pray this prayer, we look to something already accomplished, for Christ is the propitiation (payment in full) for our sins and the sins of the whole world! (1 John 2:2). Yet we need to continually avail ourselves of God’s forgiveness when we sin. We cannot enter His presence with unconfessed sin in our hearts (Psalm 66:18). But we have the great assurance that “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. (1 John 1:8-9)

The Greek word used here is ‘aphiemi’, which carries the idea of looking forward, yet it is in past tense!

When we pray this, a transaction takes place: Our debt is placed on Christ’s account; His righteousness is imputed to ours.

As we forgive…

If you live by grace, you will be saved by grace.
If you live by the law (and judge others that way – exacting from others the debt they owe you), you will be judged by the law.

–See Matt 18:23-35

None of us can stand before God except by His grace. We have been forgiven an insurmountable debt. We are to forgive those who have wronged us the small debt they owe us.

Lead us not into temptation…

We need to pray this daily!
Never think you have conquered the flesh life.
“Make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Rom 13:14)
Don’t give a foothold to the Devil (Eph 4:27)
The deliverance was accomplished at the cross, but has to be claimed continually.
Only through the indwelling Holy Spirit can we have victory over the flesh life
“Walk in the Spirit and you will not gratify the lusts of the flesh” (Gal 5:16)

…but the prayer is: ‘don’t let me go into situations or circumstances whereby I might be tempted’
‘Don’t let me become discouraged’.
“But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6)

Deliver us from evil…

This prayer is asking God to bend our wills in line with His (not get us out of holes we dig!)
We are to set our minds on the things above!
We are to constantly be in fellowship with:
1) The Holy Spirit
2) Other believers
We are to hide the Word of God in our hearts
We are to meditate on:
- His Statues,
- His Testimonies,
- His Precepts,
- His Commandments,
- His Judgments

Ask, Seek, Knock…

Jesus concludes this teaching by stating two hugely important things. Firstly, we are to ask, seek and knock, expecting our prayers to be answered, and we are to ask for the Holy Spirit, whom God will not refuse to any who ask. This second point is posibily one of the greatest undiscovered secrets in the Christian life. Those who take Jesus at His Word and ask for the Holy Spirit will never be the same again, for they will discover His transforming power and strength and be equipped for the work of ministry.

Regarding the first point, Paul Bilheimer says: “That [God] will do nothing in the realm of human redemption, since its inception, outside this scheme of prayer and intercession, is indicated by God’s many pressing invitations to prayer in His Word. He not only invites us, He entreats and importunes and He urges. He even begs us to exercise this privilege.

Ask, I ask you to ask;
Seek, I entreat you to seek;
Knock, I urge you to knock.

Evidently, He will do nothing without our prayers”.

“The fundamental importance of this scheme of prayer in God’s economy is further emphasised by God’s binding Himself unequivocally to answer. God’s promises to answer prayer cover such a broad spectrum as to constitute a veritable carte blanche, bearing the authority of His own signature. It is as though God handed us His sceptre and begged us to use it within the constraints of His will”

Persistence in prayer is necessary because we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against a malevolent enemy who seeks to discourage and hinder the Church from actively engaging in her divinely appointed role… that of prayer; specifically, intercessory prayer.

May you be blessed and encouraged by this study.

The post The Disciples Prayer – Part 2 first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Disciples Prayer – Part 1

Barry Forder — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 18:49:21 +0000

The Disciples Prayer – Part 1

On a number of occasions the disciples observed Jesus in payer. What must have struck them was the manor in which Jesus prayed. It was not the typical religious observance, a formality conducted out of a sense of duty; it was an intimate conversation between a Father and Son. It was not an arduous labour but a delightful exchange; it was not merely His mouth that spoke but His heart.

Shortly after the 70 had returned from their mission (Luke 10:1-24), one of them had the courage to ask the Master what, no doubt, the others had been thinking: “How is it that You pray as You do? Can you please teach us?” The relationship that existed between Jesus and His Father was one of complete trust. It was evident to all who knew Jesus that the incredible peace that characterised His life was as a result of this unflinching devotional submission and obedience to His Father. The disciples craved this kind of relationship. We should crave this kind of relationship – and Jesus came to show us that we can have it!

When Jesus had been up in the Galilee He had given a similar teaching on prayer at the end of His ‘Sermon on the Mount’ (Matt 6:9-13); but many of the 70 may not have been with Him at that time. Now, as they were approaching Jerusalem for the final time the question is asked: “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples”.

The first thing to note is that those with an understanding of what prayer really is, also have a living relationship with the Holy Spirit. Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1), John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41-44), Elijah was filled with the Holy Spirit (2 Kings 2:9/James 5:17). As good as the multitude of books and teaching on prayer are, a relationship with the Holy Spirit is the only way to experience a real and meaningful prayer life.

The second thing to observe is that when Jesus went to pray, He resorted to a ‘certain place’ (Luke 11:1). It is good to find a place free from distractions. Jesus said: “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret” (Matt 6:6).

“And he said unto them, When ye pray, say”:

Our Father

The Jews ‘understood’ prayer, but had never called God Father; Jesus always called God ‘Father’ – except on the cross when He cried out ‘My God, My God…’ (Matt 27:46). Jesus introduces us to this new relationship that we can have with God because of the atonement. By beginning prayer this way there is the acknowledgment that God is a good Father; everything He does is good, and that sets the tone of everything else we pray.

There is also the acknowledgment that we are part of a family (‘Our Father’). We are not alone, we are brothers and sisters united in Christ. We have been adopted into God’s family and are now His beloved children. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father”. (Romans 8:15).

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons“. (Galatians 4:4-5)

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved”. (Ephesians 1:5-6)

[Note: As the NIV translates this verse, “He predestined us for adoption to sonship“, we have all (male or female) been given the position of the firstborn son, the one who had the right to inherit the double portion. We are all equal in Christ, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus”. (Galatians 3:28). “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God“ (1 John 3:1). Don’t be robbed by the ‘gender netural’ proponants that rob us of this great truth! You have not been made a ‘child of God’, but a ‘son of God’ – given the honour and blessing of the firstborn son, regardless of your gender!

With these opening two words we are brought face to face with the relationship that God wants to have with each one of us; not one of a master and slave, or of a king and their subject, but one of a loving, doting, besotted Father and a precious son! Yes, our Father is the Master of all and King of the universe, but we are to approach Him as ‘Daddy’!

Which are in Heaven

Why are we to remind ourselves, when we pray, that God is in Heaven? Because it takes our focus off time and this Earth and onto God who is outside of time. God sees the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9-10) and we need to look at (and pray for things) from God’s vantage point, not ours. So many of our troubles evaporate when we understand that we will never think of something that God has forgotten!

To think of Heaven is to be reminded that this earth is temporary. In the words of C.S. Lewis, this is just a ‘shadow land’. Paul said: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God”. (Romans 8:18-19)

It is also a reminder that our treasure is laid up in Heaven… awaiting us! (Matt 6:19-22) …not in the things of this world, which is passing. (1 John 2:15-17). We are no longer citizens of Earth, but Heaven (Philippians 3:20), so we should be setting our minds on the things above (Colossians 3:2).

If you went away on business, and stayed in a hotel that was in need of repair, you would not spend your time there trying to fix it up! You would focus on completing your assignment and look forward, even more, to returning home!

It’s funny how our perception changes when our perspective changes! “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us.” (Psalm 123:1-2).

Hallowed be Thy Name

Is this a prayer that God’s name would be honoured and respected by the world around us? Unlikely!

It is a prayer that God’s great Name would be hallowed and honoured in our lives; it is a prayer of submission! It an acknowledgment that He is God, and we are not! –“We can only see a part of the picture He is painting!” – Steven Curtis Chapman

Psalm 119:55 states: “I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept thy law”. To remember His name is to call to mind His reputation, to stop for a moment and think upon who He is and what He’s done. To be reminded that He is the God of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, David, Jeremiah, Daniel, Nehemiah, Paul, Peter, John…
He is also the God of Whitfield, Wesley, Spurgeon, Tozer, Husdon Taylor, Finney, Oswald Chambers, Billy Graham, Chuck Smith… He never changes.

He’s dependable, faithful, loving, the “I AM that I AM”, The voice of the burning bush, He is enduringly strong, He is entirely sincere, He is eternally steadfast, He is immortally graceful, He is imperially powerful, He is impartially merciful.

The Heavens declare His glory and the firmament shows His handiwork, He who is, who was and who will always be. He is available to the tempted and the tried; He blesses the young; He cleanses the lepers; He defends the feeble; He delivers the captives; He discharges the debtors; He forgives the sinners; He franchises the meek; He guards the besieged; He heals the sick; He provides strength to the weak; He regards the aged; He rewards the diligent; He serves the unfortunate; He sympathises and He saves!

His offices are manifold; His reign is righteous; His promises are sure; His goodness is limitless; His light is matchless; His grace is sufficient; His love never changes; His mercy is everlasting; His Word is enough; He’s indescribable; He’s incomprehensible; He’s irresistible; He’s invincible!

The Heaven of Heavens cannot contain Him; man cannot explain Him; He has always been and always will be; He had no predecessor and will have no successor; You can’t vote Him out and He isn’t going to resign! His is the Kingdom, the power and the glory… Hallowed be His Name!

There are seven names of God revealed in scripture, each tell us of His character and nature:

JEHOVAH-JIREH –”The Lord our Provider” (Genesis 22:14).

JEHOVAH-NISSI –”The Lord our Banner” (Exodus 17:15).

JEHOVAH-RAPHA –”The Lord our Healer” (Exodus 15:26)

JEHOVAH-SHALOM – The Lord our Peace (Judges 6:24)

JEHOVAH-RAAH –“The Lord our Shepherd” (Psalm 23 )

JEHOVAH-TSID-KENU –”The Lord is our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 33:16).

JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH –“The Lord is Ever-present” (Isaiah 60:19)

JEHOVAH-SHUA (JESHUA) –“The Lord is our Salvation” (Luke 1:31)

How can we ever doubt or fail to trust such a wonderful God, who demonstrated His enduring love for us in that, while we were yet sinners, He sent His Son to die for us. (Romans 5:8)

Now, think about your current problem, crisis or niggling doubt, and ask yourself, is there anything bigger than our God? Is there anything He cannot do? “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1).

This is the God who states His reputation – His name – on His promises: “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God” (Isaiah 43:2-3).

Our prayer so far…

We have been reminded as we pray, of:

Our relationship with our loving Father
Our real home and place of comfort, not this temporary dilapidated accommodation
How great our God really is by thinking about His faithfulness and reputation – that He never changes!

Most of what we intended to bring before Him has by now evaporated!

But before we get onto our requests / needs, God would have us reminded of something of immense importance… J U S T I C E !

We have all at times been unjustly treated, especially by this sin-sick world. That is why we are to pray:

Thy Kingdom come

In Psalm 119 the psalmist cries out to God, pleading that God will right the wrongs:

“How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law. All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me. They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts” (Psalm 119:84-87).

…and in Psalm 73, we see the impassioned prayer of a heart at breaking point as he looks at all the injustice around him: “Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.” (Psalm 73:12-20)

When we pray ‘Thy Kingdom come’ we are praying in confidence and hope that:

God is going to right every wrong! (Ps 119:137)
Every injustice will be brought to light and exposed (1 Cor 4:5)
God’s wrath will fall on the ‘workers of iniquity’
The wicked who have laid snares (Ps 119:110)
dug pits to trip us up (Ps 119:85)
and waited for us to destroy us (Ps 199:95)
will themselves be cast down (Ps 119:119).
Those who have been overlooked by man will be exalted by God (Luke 16)
We will then know and understand (1 Cor 13:12)

The ‘kingdom’ we are to ‘hasten’ (2 Peter 3:12) by our payers is the Millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ upon this Earth (Rev 20:1-6). Jesus will sit on the Throne of David (Luke 1:32) and rule the whole world from Jerusalem. Our prayer is literally: “to put an end to the works of the Devil that oppress and destroy so many lives here and now!”

Our prayer is for all of the pain and suffering to be over! It is such and intense prayer that we are joined in it by the Holy Spirit: “The Spirit and the Bride say come!” (Rev 22:17)

But until that time, until the kingdom comes, we are to wait… “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord”. (Psalm 27:13-14).

…and during this season of waiting, we are to pray…

Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

In a word (actually two words!) this is about Submission and Sanctification!

In this waiting time (before the kingom comes) we are to lay down the right to our own lives and seek for God’s will to be done on Earth – in our lives here and now – just as it is in Heaven by the myriad of angelic beings around the throne. Praying for God’s will to be done on Earth is praying that we will submit to His rulership in our lives and circumstances. Though we may not understand ‘the mind of the Lord’ we are to ‘walk by faith, not by sight’ (2 Cor 5:7). We have to humbly acknowledge that “as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are [God’s] ways higher than [our] ways,and [God’s] thoughts than [our] thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). We are to ‘trust in the Lord and lean not on our own understanding’ (Proverbs 3:5-6).

It is in this present age the Church is being trained for eternity; the events of our lives are not random or haphazard, they are ordained of God. He leads us by still waters, and through the valley of the shadow of death… But either way we are being taught to ‘fear no evil’. “Thy will be done” is our submission to His work in us.

What is God’s will? It is a question that we may often ask in any given situation or circumstance. It may come as a surprise that the Bible actually gives us the answer, for every situation, trial, problem, disappointment, injustice, hurt… for absolutely everything we have faced, are currently facing, and will face unto the day of His return. The answer is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:3:

“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification”.

That is it! It’s as simple as that! God allows all that happens in your life for one purpose; that you might be sanctified, set apart for Him. Separated from the things of this world (the weak and begerly elements of this world) and be embraced by the heart of a Father who loves you and wants to bless you with His presence, power and purpose.

Oswald Chambers comments: “It is arduous work to keep the master ambition in front. It means holding one’s self to the high ideal year in and year out, not being ambitious to win souls or to establish churches or to have revivals, but being ambitious only to be “accepted of Him.” It is not lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but lack of labouring to keep the ideal right. Once a week at least take stock before God, and see whether you are keeping your life up to the standard He wishes. Paul is like a musician who does not heed the approval of the audience if he can catch the look of approval from his Master. Any ambition which is in the tiniest degree away from this central one of being “approved unto God” may end in our being castaways. Learn to discern where the ambition leads, and you will see why it is so necessary to live facing the Lord Jesus Christ. I have to learn to relate everything to the master ambition, and to maintain it without any cessation. My worth to God in public is what I am in private. Is my master ambition to please Him and be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how noble?”

We are now half-way through this model prayer that Jesus gave us, and we have not yet prayed one word in regard to our own needs, our present problems and difficulties and that which consumes so much of our time and attention! But having spent even just a small amount of time considering 1) our Father, 2) our home and future in Heaven, 3) God’s reputation and faithfulness, 4) the fact that He has promised to right every wrong and judge all injustice when His kingdom comes upon this Earth, 5) that while we are awaiting that, everything He allows in our lives is for the purpose of setting us apart for Himself, that He might truely be our God and we as His adopted and much loved sons… once we consider that, so much of what we were going to prayer about now evaporates! As Oswald Chambers once said: “Suppose God is the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him — what an impertinence worry is!”

God already knows the things we have need of before we even ask Him, and He can do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think!

If we spend more time focussing upon Him, we’ll have far less concern about ourselves!

To be continued…

The post The Disciples Prayer – Part 1 first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

What must you do to inherit eternal life?

Barry Forder — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 15:35:37 +0000

In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10, as Jesus continues His journey toward Jerusalem, He meets an expert in the Jewish Law who tries to entrap him with a question. The question itself is a good one, and one that we should all ask: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” How sad that so many people go through life never giving a thought to their eternal destiny. This has to be one of the most important questions of all. Certainly, it is of more importance than ‘Who am I’ or ‘What am I doing here’ – for you can have oodles of self-confidence and a great career plan for your life, but as Jesus said, what’s the point in gaining the world but ultimately losing your soul? (Matt 16:26).

However, this lawyer’s question wasn’t out of a genuine concern for his own eternal destiny, it was an attempt to justify himself and expose some flaw in Jesus’ teaching.

As was typical with Jesus when asked a question, He turned the question around and asked the lawyer “What is written in the Law? How do you read it”. As an expert, this man surely should have known what the Law said, so Jesus puts him in the spotlight.

John Gill, friend and colleague of Charles Spurgeon, highlights how blessed we are to have access to the written Law in the first place: “It is a great mercy that we have the law written, that we have it thereby reduced to certainty, and that thereby it is capable of spreading the further, and lasting the longer. Having it written, it is our duty to read it, to read it with understanding, and to treasure up what we read, so that when there is occasion, we may be able to tell what is written in the law, and how we read. To this we must appeal; by this we must try doctrines and end disputes; this must be our oracle, our touchstone, our rule, our guide. What is written in the law? How do we read? if there be light in us, it will have regard to this light.”

The lawyer’s answer is spot on: “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself”, but there is a slight twist. His question had been “What single thing must I do…” He was looking to justify himself and his way of living, a ‘quick fix’ solution that would allow him to carry on right as he was. Jesus tears through the heart of his self assuredness, saying that if he can continually do this, continually without ever wavering, never for a moment ceasing to love God fully, or to always and consistently unfeignedly love his neighbour, then he would be saved!

John Gill, once again, gets to the heart of this:

“We must love God with all our hearts, must look upon him as the best of beings, in himself most amiable, and infinitely perfect and excellent; as one whom we lie under the greatest obligations to, both in gratitude and interest. We must prize him, and value ourselves by our elation to him; must please ourselves in him, and devote ourselves entirely to him. Our love to him must be sincere, hearty, and fervent; it must be a superlative love, a love that is as strong as death, but an intelligent love, and such as we can give a good account of the grounds and reasons of. It must be an entire love; he must have our whole souls, and must be served with all that is within us. We must love nothing besides him, but what we love for him and in subordination to him.

We must love our neighbours as ourselves, which we shall easily do, if we, as we ought to do, love God better than ourselves. We must wish well to all and ill to none; must do all the good we can in the world and no hurt, and must fix it as a rule to ourselves to do to others as we would they should do to us; and this is to love our neighbour as ourselves.”

Rather than expose a flaw in Jesus’ doctrine, this lawyer had exposed the problem that we all face in reged to God’s perfect Law… namely, we can’t keep it!

In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul explains the real purpose for the Law: “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God” (Romans 3:19). In other words, the Law was given to show us that we cannot meet or keep God’s righteous standard.

Paul continues in Galatians: “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” (Galatians 3:10). Even if you could keep 99% of the Law, and only make one mistake, you would be guilty before a holy God whose standard is (and has to be) absolute perfection! ‘Close’ is a gulf so fathomlessly great as to still separate man from God for all eternity.

This underlines the very purpose for the Law. “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith”. (Galatians 3:22-24)

In a nutshell, the Law was given to show us we cannot come close to God’s perfect holy standard, so we need a Saviour!

Maybe for the first time in this lawyer’s life he had come face to face with his own predicament, but rather than humbly seeking salvation from the One before Him, in Whose name alone salvation can be found, he sought to justify himself, and so asks “And who is my neighbour?”

Jesus then tells the famous story of ‘The Good Samaritan’. A number of commentators think this may well have been an actual event that had recently happened, and that Jesus’ hearers would have been aware of. Certainly, the road from Jerusalem to Jericho was a treacherous winding path down from the mountainous region around Jerusalem to the flat plain around Jericho.

The story is self-explanatory, our neighbours are anyone in need that it is in our power to help, regardless of colour or creed. But there is also within this account the whole of the Gospel message:

We were (before the fall) in a place of blessing and God’s presence (represented by Jerusalem in this account)

We ended up descending to a cursed place (represented by Jericho here)

We were robbed by an enemy and left for dead.
The Law and religion offered no help.
- The Priest represents all religion.
- There is the hope of help and restoration, but it cannot perform it
- The best religion can do is leave you in the same condition you were found!
- The Levite represents the Law. Note the statement “and looked on him”
- The Law knows our condition……yet “passes by on the other side”
- There is a gulf between the Law and Salvation
- As with religion, it cannot redeem fallen humanity.
Then One despised and rejected of men came our way.
He rescued us, bound our wounds took it upon Himself to pay for our restoration.
- Note that the robbed and injured man had nothing to pay for his sojourn, restoration…
- Nor had he anything with which to repay the Samaritan.
- This was entirely the work of Grace.
He entrusted us to the care and safekeeping of another whilst we remain in this temporary accommodation – all our needs are taken care of!
He promised to return, our gratitude will be great!

We are not told what the lawyer did. Maybe he humbled himself at the feet of Jesus, and now genuinely sought the salvation he had initially so casually inquired about? Maybe he hardened his heart and walked away, unwilling to acknowledge his own desperate need?

His response is not your concern, for it is your response that matters.

This is what you must do to inherit eternal life: Accept the mercy of the One who was despised and rejected of men, yet Who picked you up when you were without strength, bound your wounds, paid for your restoration in His own blood, has undertaken to provide all you need, and leaves you in the safekeeping of the Holy Spirit until He returns.

What say you?

The post What must you do to inherit eternal life? first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Reversing the effects of the Fall!

Barry Forder — Sun, 05 Mar 2023 15:42:05 +0000

As we continue our journey through Luke’s gospel, we now find Jesus, on His way down to Jerusalem, sending out 70 disciples (in pairs), giving them power over unclean spirits and the power to heal sickness as they proclaim the coming of the kingdom of God. In addition, they were to specifically search out places throughout Judea where Jesus would be able to come and stay as He travelled ever closer to Jerusalem for His final showdown with the powers of darkness.

The towns and homes He would stay at had to be ‘sympathetic to the cause’, houses and families where the ‘fruit of peace’ was evident.

A short while later the 70 return having completed their mission, but full of joy and excitement because they had seen miracles take place as they had prayed for people! People had been healed, demons cast out, those bound were set free and the kingdom of God proclaimed!

We then have a remarkable verse: “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.” (Luke 10:21)

This clearly had bought great joy to Jesus’ heart. But why?

Quite simply, because Jesus had declared, back in Luke 4:18-19, that “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord”.

Jesus was now seeing the first signs of the harvest! All that Satan had caused to be corrupted at The Fall was now to be undone. Satan bought sin, sickness and death into this world. Jesus had publicly stated that He had come to reverse the effects of the fall and undo the damage that had been done, to ultimately bring man back into a right relationship with his Creator-God (for all who would accept His offer of eternal life and salvation). Jesus had started to show that He had the power to forgive sin and heal the sick (Luke 5:24) – undoing this joint-effect of The Fall, and would very soon (Luke 9:22) demonstrate His power over even death itself!

He had sent out the 12 disciples “and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick” (Luke 9:1-2). He had now sent out the 70, and at the end of Mark’s gospel this message of ‘restoration’ is committed to the Church: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:15-18)

This is why Jesus was overjoyed! Satan’s hold over mankind, to inflict pain and suffering was coming to an end! God, who so loved the World was in the process of redeeming it! Can there be a greater cause for celebration?

Eventually, even this Earth will be wrested back from the hands of our defeated foe: “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” (Rev 11:15)

The post Reversing the effects of the Fall! first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Are you ready to plough?

Barry Forder — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 22:19:06 +0000

In the last part of Luke chapter 9 we see Jesus, Peter, James and John return from the Mt of Transfiguration to be with the rest of the disciples who had waited somewhere around the base of the mountain (Mt Nebo?) while a large crowed gathered, presumably expecting Jesus’ arrival.

From the crowd, a voice cried out in pain and caught Jesus’ attention. It was the voice of a man whose son had been tormented by demonic spirits since he was a child. Maybe the father had heard how Jesus had shown compassion on the multitudes, healing and delivering all who came to Him from sickness and the bondage of Satan. This might be his only chance to rescue his son.

The man had already spoken to Jesus’ disciples – the 9 who did not go up the mount with Jesus – and had pleaded with them to ‘do something’! But they had failed. They had certainly tried, but what had worked for them up until now just didn’t have any impact. Their failed attempt had clearly been a source of discouragement, and now doubt had set in.

These are two of Satan’s most prized weapons. What he cannot accomplish in other ways he can so often do through these trusted sinister bedfellows.

The father of the man explains this to Jesus, but Jesus’ response must have caught everyone off-guard! “And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.” (Luke 9:41).

Probably, at this point, Peter, James and John were secretly glad they had been with Jesus up the mountain, so they knew they couldn’t be blamed for this – Peter’s uncharacteristic lack of comment suggests as much!

Jesus then promptly casts out this demon and the man is instantly restored to his right mind.

Matthew’s account (Matt 17:14-21) tells us (indirectly) that persistence is sometimes the key. This is why the disciples failed. ‘Prayer and fasting’ require (and produce) constant fellowship and communion with God. It is from that intimacy that the Power of God’s Holy Spirit can have His way in us and through us. For God to use us, we need to be cleansed vessels. When Jesus had previously sent the disciples out (Luke 9:1-6) and given them “power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases” He had sent them out with nothing: “Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece”. They had nothing except Jesus’ word, and that’s the point. They were totally dependant on Jesus. There was next-to-no-element of self, they knew they were powerless without Jesus’ authority.

But here, at the foot of the mountain awaiting Jesus’ return, they simply became discouraged and gave up.

How many of us are persistent in our prayers? How many of us are serious enough to actually fast? How much time do we spend fellowshipping and communing with Jesus? How much do we realise we are in a spiritual war and Satan will not easily give up ground. He has built strongholds of fear, doubt, discouragement, the belief that sickness is from God and we should simply accept it! We have fallen for Satan’s lies that sickness is actually good for us, and that God uses it to teach us! This is a lie from the pit of hell! It crept into the church during the 3rd – 4th centuries under the mistaken notion that God was somehow pleased by our penance, self-flagellation and suffering.

Yet scripture constantly affirms that God is good and does good! (Psalm 119:68 / Matt 13:37 / Matt 19:17). Only good things come from God! (Matt 7:11 / Rom 10:15 / Heb 9:11). God is not the author of sickness, evil or confusion! In contrast, Satan is the father of lies and from him proceed sickness and all that is bad. Satan brought sickness upon Job; he brought the storms that wreaked havoc and destroyed Job’s possessions. Satan brought the storms on the sea of Galilee… yet somehow, we attribute destructive storms and the like to ‘acts of God’!

God gets the blame and bad press while Satan – the ‘god of this world’ (1 Cor 4:4) and ‘prince of the power of the air’ (Eph 2:2) sits in the background with a smirk on his face.

The chapter ends with a sobering call to set our hands to the plough, to dig some deep furrows where the seed of God’s Word can be sown… but only if we are willing to abandon all else. God is looking for those He can use in this world (2 Chron 16:9), through whom the Power of His Holy Spirit can be manifest to an unbelieving world that will not respond to reasoned arguments. The world today is much like it was at the time of Christ. People are hardened and indifferent to the Gospel.

That is why the disciples prayed: “And now, Lord… grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus”. (Acts 4:29)

What was the result? “And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one“. (Acts 5:14-16)

Are you ready to put your hand to the plough?

The post Are you ready to plough? first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Whom Shall I Send?

Barry Forder — Sun, 12 Feb 2023 15:25:40 +0000

In Luke chapter 9, as part of thier ‘on the job training’, after seeing Jesus demonstrate His power and authority over sickness and those possessed, the 12 disciples are then sent out to do the same!

“Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick”. (Luke 9:1-2)

On this occasion, this power and authority was given to just the 12, but later Jesus will tell the disciples that this remit is now given to all who follow on and believe in His name: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:15-18)

Paul will later tell us that the ‘healing of the sick’ and ‘working miracles’ are two of the gifts the Holy Spirit will give to the church (see 1 Cor 12:8-11).

Certainly, the early church specifically prayed for this power and authority over sickness and demonic spirits (Acts 4:29-31) and God answered this prayer: “And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.” (Acts 5:14-16).

The South African Bible scholar, author and teacher, Andrew Murray, said: “The Bible does not authorize us, either by the words of the Lord or His apostles, to believe that the gifts of healing were granted only to the early times of the Church; on the contrary, the promises which Jesus made to the apostles when He gave them instructions concerning their mission, shortly before His ascension, appear to us applicable to all times. Paul places the gift of healing among the operations of the Holy Spirit. James gives a precise command on this matter without any restriction of time. The entire Scriptures declare that these graces will be granted according to the measure of the Spirit and of faith.”.

“Oh, that we could learn to believe in the promises of God! God has not gone back from His promises; Jesus is still He who heals both soul and body; salvation offers us even now healing and holiness, and the Holy Spirit is always ready to give us some manifestations of His power. Even when we ask why this divine power is not more often seen, He answers us: ‘Because of your unbelief. The more we give ourselves to experience personally ‘sanctification by faith’, the more we shall also experience healing by faith. These two doctrines walk abreast. The more the Spirit of God lives and acts in the soul of believers, the more will the miracles multiply by which He works in the body. Thereby the world can recognize what redemption means.”.

…and that is the great secret that unlocks this divine power and authority to heal the sick: The Holy Spirit working in the lives of believers! It is not our power, it’s His!

Why do we not see more of this power at work in the Church today?

1) Partly because of unbelief – we have allowed our rational (western) 21st Century mind to tell us it doesn’t / can’t happen today (Satan’s old, regurgitated lie “hath God really said…?”).

2) Because so few Christians today give themselves totally to God to be used by Him as He chooses and not for our own endeavours and plans.

God is still the same. He still wants to see the lost saved. He has paid for our sin and our sickness on the cross (Isaiah 53:4-5). We receive our salvation by faith in His Word, believing it in our hearts and confessing it with our lips. We can receive His healing (that has already been paid for) if we simply ask in faith, believing, not doubting His promise and not doubting His completed work, and then confessing with our lips. (Romans 10:9-10). This is why James boldly states: “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him” (James 5:13-15).

It is why John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, declares: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth”. (3 John 1:2).

The LORD is looking today for sanctified vessels (like Stephen – see Acts 6:3-8), ‘full of the Holy Spirit’ that He can use to bring the gospel to the lost. The early church saw multitudes added to the church as the Lord confirmed the Word with signs following (Mark 16:20). We live in a sceptical world that sees no need for God in their busy (desperate) lives.

The power and authority that God gives to His church has not changed because God has not changed.

There is a call, just as in Isaiah’s day, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8).

Will you be one of the few that answer?

You will either have this word snatched away (Luke 8:12)… Or be one who initially receives this with joy, only for Satan to come and tempt you by saying ‘Has God really said?’ (Luke 8:123) … Or you will simply be too busy with the cares and concerns of this life (Luke 8:14). Or you may be one of those who receive the Word with faith, who produce a wonderful crop unto eternal life! (Luke 8:15).

To be continued…

The post Whom Shall I Send? first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Thief of Unbelief!

Barry Forder — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 17:21:17 +0000

There are three silent, but powerful, ‘enemies’ that hinder the work of God in our lives: Fear, doubt and unbelief. So often, fear leads to doubt and doubt to unbelief. James tells us: “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord”. (James 1:6-7 NIV). Jesus clearly stated that He was unable to work miracles in Nazareth that He did elsewhere ‘because of their unbelief’ (Matt 13:58). Over 300 times we are told to ‘not be afraid’ / ‘fear not’, clearly showing that we have a choice! The only fear we should have is the fear of the LORD which is the beginning of wisdom! Oswald Chambers said that if you fear God, you’ll fear nothing else!

Sadly, instead of fearing God we fear everything else, for what if God’s promises don’t ‘come true’? What then? That leads to us doubting God’s Word, which then gives way to unbelief.

Thinking back to the four soils at the beginning of Luke chapter 8, we see that the seeds that fell on the wayside were immediately met by unbelief: “the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe” (Luke 8:12). The seed that fell on the rocky soil started well, only for doubt to consume and destroy (v13). The seed that fell among the thorns was choked by ‘life’s worries’ (v14) – in a word, fear.

John Piper once said: “The tap root, out of which sprouts all the weeds of sin, is the tap root of unbelief in the promises of God. When you trust, or believe in a promise of God, you glorify God. In fact, trusting somebody’s promise is the most fundamental honour you can do that person. The reverse is also true: The greatest contempt that you can bring down upon a person, is to say to them, ‘I can’t trust you’. So, when we don’t trust a promise of God, we bring contempt upon Him, we give Him a vote of ‘no confidence’.

In Luke 8:22-25 we see the disciples in a boat on the sea of Galilee. Whilst Jesus was asleep, a storm arose. In a state of fear the disciples awoke Jesus who then calmed the storm and chided the disciples for their lack of faith (v25) – their unbelief. Jesus had already ‘given His word’ and told them they were going to the other side of the lake, but here, overwhelmed by the circumstances’ they fear (demonstrating a lack of trust), doubt Jesus’ word, and their unbelief is exposed.

In the remainder of Luke chapter 8 we see Jesus continuing to preach and actively demonstrate the ‘good news’. In quoting from Isaiah Jesus had said “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19).

Now Jesus demonstrates that He had come to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) – both sin and sickness – by delivering a man who had been possessed by a legion of demons, healing a woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years, and then raising from the dead Jairus’ daughter!

Significantly, Jesus tells the woman with the issue of blood “thy faith hath made thee whole” (v48).

To Jairus (upon his hearing that his daughter had died) Jesus said “Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.” (v50).

We cannot get away from the fact that two thirds of Jesus ministry were spent healing the sick and performing miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit – in direct fulfilment of Isaiah 61:1. This is an integral part of the gospel (good news!) He came to proclaim. The good news is that through Christ there can be reconciliation with God and forgiveness of sins, “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins“* He also heals the sick! Do you believe this?

*(Luke 5:24)

Are you prepared to take God at His Word? Or do we receive the Word with joy, only to have doubt creep in and tell us that this is not how it is, that God doesn’t heal today?

Andrew Murray stated: “Oh, that we could learn to believe in the promises of God! God has not gone back from His promises; Jesus is still He who heals both soul and body; salvation offers us even now healing and holiness, and the Holy Spirit is always ready to give us some manifestations of His power. Even when we ask why this divine power is not more often seen, He answers us: ‘Because of your unbelief. The more we give ourselves to experience personally ‘sanctification by faith’, the more we shall also experience healing by faith. These two doctrines walk abreast. The more the Spirit of God lives and acts in the soul of believers, the more will the miracles multiply by which He works in the body. Thereby the world can recognize what redemption means.”.

“The Bible does not authorize us, either by the words of the Lord or His apostles, to believe that the gifts of healing were granted only to the early times of the Church; on the contrary, the promises which Jesus made to the apostles when He gave them instructions concerning their mission, shortly before His ascension, appear to us applicable to all times. (cf Mark 16:15-18)”

“Paul places the gift of healing among the operations of the Holy Spirit. James gives a precise command on this matter without any restriction of time. The entire Scriptures declare that these graces will be granted according to the measure of the Spirit and of faith.”.

“In this chapter (Isaiah 53), the expression ‘to bear’ occurs twice, but in relation to two different things. It is said not only that the Lord the righteous Servant bore our sins (v12), but also that He bore our sicknesses (v4). Thus, His bearing our sicknesses as well as our sins forms an integral part of the Redeemer’s work. Although He was without sin, He has borne our sins, and has done the same with our sicknesses. “As soon as a sick believer understands the meaning of the words, ‘Jesus has borne my sins’, he is not afraid to say ‘I no longer need to bear my sins’. In the same way, as soon as he fully believes that Jesus has borne our sicknesses, he is not afraid to say ‘I no longer need to bear my sicknesses.’ “Jesus, in bearing sin, bore sickness also, which is its consequence. He has made payment for both, and He delivers us from both. In Jesus, we have both pardon and healing. They are two sides of His redemptive work.”

Consider the impact on your family, friends, colleagues, if they heard of, or came to church and actually saw miracles of healing… It would be just like it was in the Book of Acts where we read: “and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles… And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:43-47). “And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)… There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.” (Acts 5:14-16).

It will not and cannot happen except by the work and power of the Holy Spirit among a people who yield themselves to Him, to ‘Walk in the Spirit’ (Gal 5:16), and who are ‘Led by the Spirit’ (Gal 5:18). Not wavering, not doubting, willing to take God at His Word, letting the Seed of His Word sink down into the good soil of faith and belief, who not only hear, but also do!

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatian believers and asked: “He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Gal 3:5).

May this study challenge and encourage you to a deeper walk with the Holy Spirit.

To be continued…

The post The Thief of Unbelief! first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

A Believing Heart!

Barry Forder — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 17:40:07 +0000

In the last blog/post looking at Luke 8, verses 1-15, we saw that Luke recounts the parable Jesus taught about the four different types of soil – that speak of the condition of men’s hearts when they hear the word of God.

─The Way Side – This is those who reject the Word of God (the Devil snatches the seed before it can germinate)

─The Rocky Soil – This is those who hear the Word with joy, but then doubt takes a hold and we give into the age-old temptation ‘has God really said?’

─The Thorny Soil – This is those who are indifferent (the cares of this life take precedence) and the Word of God is choked out.

─The Good Soil – This is those who hear and believe the Word of God (it is received with faith & produces fruit)

This applies to response of unbelievers who hear the gospel, but it is also the way we (as Christians) respond the to promises of God. We will either simply 1) reject them (the devil will snatch them away) and they will have no effect on us; or 2) we might receive them with joy, such as the promise that God does not put sickness on people or desire them to be sick! But sadly, temptation comes and we hear the voice saying ‘has God really said?’. We doubt God’s Word, and so unbelief takes hold and the Seed doesn’t grow, and consequently don’t see any fruit. Maybe 3) we are so caught up with the cares of this life that we don’t really have the time to consider these things… or 4) we might be those who receive His Word by faith and produce a fruit a hundredfold!

“No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light”. (Luke 8:16)

We are to be light-bearers for Christ in this world. That light should shine to all around, but it will only have a impact if it is a flame kindled by the Holy Spirit. So many of us are trying to replicate that light by our own efforts and then wonder why we are not having an impact on this unbelieving world. That which we bring to God, that which is pleasing to Him, and that which is lasting is the light kindled by the flame of the Holy Spirit. In Numbers chapter 10 we read of Nadab and Abihu who wanted to bring an offering to God, but used their own fire, rather than the fire God had set ablaze. It was not acceptable to God.

This is like so many of us; we try and serve God by our own (best) efforts, but we don’t see results. In fact, like Nadab and Abihu, our best efforts before God are like ‘filthy rags’ (Isaiah 64:6 / Rom 7:18). But when we ‘discover’ the Fire of God’s Holy Spirit, and when that is lit, all around will see it!

In the book ‘They Found the Secret’ by V Raymon Edman, which looks at the lives of many who impacted their generations for Christ, he summarises a problem, common to all of us who have tried to shine brightly for Jesus by our own well-intentioned efforts, and points us to the solutiuon: “Every now and then we come across a life that is radiant, revealing a richness, a warmth, a triumph that intrigues and challenges us. The details of their experiences are usually quite different yet as we listen to their stories and watch their lives, we begin to see a pattern that reveals their secret. Out of discouragement and defeat they have come into victory. Out of weakness and weariness they have been made strong. Out of ineffectiveness and apparent uselessness they have become efficient and enthusiastic. The pattern seems to be self-centeredness, self-effort, increasing inner dissatisfaction and outer discouragement, a temptation to give it all up because there is no better way, and then finding the Spirit of God to be their strength, their guide, their confidence and companion – in a word, their life!”

That life is possible! That is why in Luke 8:18 Jesus says ‘Take heed therefore how you hear!‘ Don’t let God’s Word be taken away from your heart by unbelief or the cares of this world. Take it by faith, believing, and let it grow.

After the, when Jesus was speaking to the crowd and his family arrive, He cryptically says “My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it”. His family, those who have the most intimate relationship with Him are those who ‘hear the Word of God and do it‘. It is the kind of hearing that produces action that God is looking for. The Word of God sown into a believing heart!

Jesus’ rebuke to the disciples after he calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee (Luke 8:22-25) was “Where is your faith?”. The disciples had defaulted to the ‘second soil type’ – Jesus had said they were going to go to the other side of the lake (Sea of Galilee), but when the storm arose, temptation took hold and they doubted! ‘Has God really said…?’ (Gen 3:1).

God is looking for hearts of faith that take Him at His Word.

To be continued…

The post A Believing Heart! first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Be not afraid, only believe!

Barry Forder — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 18:36:10 +0000

Luke chapter 8 begins by reminding us that throughout Jesus’ ministry He proclaimed the good news, accompanied by signs and wonders, healing multitudes. When Jesus sent the disciples out He said: “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils” (Matthew 10:7-8). When He gave the ‘Great Commission’, He said that those who believe in Him should preach the gospel and make disciples (Matt 28:19), and that they should lay their hands on the sick and they would recover (Mark 16:18). In the book of Acts, Dr Luke records that the early church prayed “with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29).

Somehow, we have all heard and responded (to some degree or another) to the call to preach the gospel, but it seems only a handful in today’s church have taken Jesus at His Word and are prepared and willing to pray for healing for the sick.

This is largely the result of a lack of faith in God’s Word. We say we believe and trust His Word, but shy away from actually praying for the sick, just in case it doesn’t work! With such unbelief it’s no surprise we see few healed (see Matt 13:58) , and reaching the lost seems like an almost impossible task in a world where people see no need for an empty religion.

But what if… what if it’s true! What if God still heals people today?

Jesus came to destroy the works of the Devil (1 John 3:8)… and repeatedly Jesus attributes sickness to the work of the Devil. (see Luke 13:11-16 / Luke 8:2 / Luke 4:39).

The very ‘good news’ Jesus went throughout every city proclaiming was the mission He declared He’d been given:

─he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;

─he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted,

─to preach deliverance to the captives, and

─recovering of sight to the blind,

─to set at liberty them that are bruised, (Luke 4:18)

The ‘good news’ was that God was breaking the power of the Devil over people’s lives! It included forgiveness of sins (quickening of our souls – see Ephesians 2:1-6), and the quickening of our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11). Our bodies become the Temple of the Holy Spirit when we turn to the cross and put our faith and trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins (1 Cor 3:16). But does the Holy Spirit expect a dilapidated and impaired Temple to dwell in? Most Christians have no doubt that Jesus can quicken our souls; so why do we struggle to believe that the One to Whom all power is given, in Heaven and Earth (Matt 28:18) can and will quicken our mortal bodies if we just look to Him with the same faith for healing that we do for salvation?

In the book of Numbers we read the account of how the Children of Israel murmured against Moses and complained about the Manna God had provided for them. As a result we read that “the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died” (Num 21:6). When the people acknowledged their sin God told Moses to “make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live” (Num 21:8). Anyone that looked upon this serpent on a pole (in faith) was then forgiven for their sin and healed.

In John chapter 3 Jesus Himself explains that this real event for the Children of Israel was a model in advance that spoke of Himself becoming sin for us and being put upon the cross. All who look in faith to Jesus “should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14). Note that here we have the promise that we shall not perish (which applies to the physical life) and the promise of eternal life to come!

Do we really think that the serpent on a pole as a type was more effective than the fulfilment of Christ on the Cross? If the Children of Israel were healed and forgiven by looking at a serpent on a pole, are we who look to the actual Lamb of God, who became sin for us, ‘only’ to expect forgiveness, but somehow cannot expect healing? Is the arm of the Lord somehow shortened? (Isaiah 59:1).

“Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;
who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;
so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:2-5)

Do we think the blessings under the old covenant with Israel were greater than the New Covenant in the blood of Jesus?

In Luke 8:5-15 we have Luke’s account of the parable of the ‘four soils’, into which the seed is sown. The seed is a picture of the Word of God. Seeds are full of life and can multiply and reproduce once they are put into the right soil and watered. They have found 300o year-old seeds in Egypt that are so dry and brittle they would just shatter if squeezed hard. Yet when put in soil and watered they burst into life!

Such is the Word of God in a believing heart. Unbelief however, chokes out the Word and leaves us unfruitful.

“He saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe!“ (Mark 5:36)

“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” (Mark 9:23)

Will you be like those on the way side, that hear, but then the Devil comes and takes away the Word, replacing it with doubt? (Luke 8:12)

Will you be like those on the rock, that receive the Word with joy – ‘you really want to believe but…’ then succumb to temptation “has God really said?” (Luke 8:13)

Will you be like those among thorns, who have too many interests in this world and can’t really be bothered to find out if this is true? (Luke 8:14)

Or will you be one of the few with an “honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience”! (Luke 8:15)

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (2 Chron16:9).

May this study stir up your pure minds as you step out in faith with your eyes upon Jesus!

The post Be not afraid, only believe! first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Is this the Messiah?

Barry Forder — Sun, 15 Jan 2023 16:39:02 +0000

John the Baptist had sent his disciples to Jesus with a simple question: “Are you the Messiah?”

Rather than giving a direct response, “Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”” – simply put, Jesus confirms that the prophecy given in Isaiah 61:1-2 regarding the work and ministry of the Messiah was being fulfilled in Him. John the Baptist and his disciples (as well as the Jewish leaders) thought that Jesus – if He were the Messiah – was about to (attempt to) overthrow the oppression of Rome. Jesus’ answer is emphatic, the deliverance that will be wrought at His hand will be infinitely greater than merely the overthrow of the Roman Empire! Jesus has come to destroy the works of the Devil! (1 John 3:8), and the miracles of healing and deliverance were testimony to that.

As John’s disciples head back to give him this answer, Jesus takes the opportunity to question the crowd regarding John. ‘What were you expecting?’ Jesus askes them. ‘A flaky religious nut, blown around by every new idea?’ – that is how many even today view God’s servants! ‘Maybe John was an aloof religious idealist?’ Jesus continues. That is also how the world often sees believers. ‘It’s ok for you… everything is fine in your world… but why does your God allow _____ (fill in the blank). Jesus explains that John did not think himself above others, he hadn’t put himself on a pedestal so he could look down on and judge others.

‘Did you expect a prophet?’ Jesus finally askes? ‘For that is was John was… but he was more than just a prophet’. Jesus then makes an incredible statement: “For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

How can John be greater than Moses, Elijah, Daniel?

As one commentator put’s it: “Since John’s proclamation had been made, Jesus had come; eternity had invaded time; heaven had invaded earth; God had arrived in Jesus; life could never be the same again.” All the prophets before John looked forward to, and prophesied of, the Messiah (either His first coming, or spanning the years to His second Coming), but John, unlike any prophet before him, actually had the honour and privilege of announcing the Messiah! In that way he was greater that all who had gone before him, for the Messiah, prophesied from Genesis through to Malachi, was now here!

But why then is John less than the least in the kingdom of God?

John represents the closing of the Old Testament, the conclusion of the old covenant. John came ‘under the Law’; part of the Mosaic system the depended on the shedding of the blood of bulls and goats to atone for sin. But as the writer to the Hebrews states: “[Jesus] is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.“ (Heb 8:6-12)

The writer to the Hebrews goes on to say: “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance“. (Heb 9:11-15)

There are many benefits we begin to see under the new covenant, not least being that in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was given only for a specific work or task for an individual. For all those who believe in Jesus, under the New covenant, the Holy Spirit is given unconditionally and makes His home in the believer (John 14:16-17 / 1 Cor 3:16 / 1 Cor 6:19), not for a specific task and for a limited duration, but forever! No longer do we have to follow a pillar of fire by night and cloud by day, the Holy Spirit indwells each and every believer and leads us, and prompts us to walk with Him (see Gal 5:16-17).

This is why even the least in the kingdom of God is in a greater position than John the Baptist was! We are living in an age of Grace like no other! Thank you Jesus!

Luke chapter 7 then concludes with an account that truly emphasises the incredible love that God has for us in Jesus! We have been forgiven so great a debt of sin (that we could never have paid), and so our hearts should be overflowing with gratitude and worship! Like the woman in the account in Luke 7:37-50, we must be prepared to recognise our own spiritual poverty, and be willing to humble ourselves and fall at Jesus feet, but in so doing He will lift us up and declare “Thy faith has saved thee; go in peace”!

Simon and his colleagues look on amazed that a man can pronounce forgiveness of sins… for only God can forgive sins. But this man was God! This was the Messiah, come to dwell among men and He offers salvation to all who call upon His name!

The post Is this the Messiah? first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Do you believe in miracles?

Barry Forder — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 17:31:30 +0000

It becomes clear, as you study the Gospel of Luke, that the Holy Spirit was directing and orchestrating all that happened. Luke’s Gospel could easily be called ‘The Acts of the Holy Spirit as recorded by Luke!”

2:25 – The Holy Spirit was upon Simeon
2:26 – The Holy Spirit revealed that Simeon would see the Messiah
2:27 – Simeon was led into the Temple at the right time by the Holy Spirit
2:40 – Jesus grew in the power of the Holy Spirit
3:2 – John was led of the Holy Spirit to begin his ministry
3:16 – John declared that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit
3:22 – The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus at His baptism
4:1 – Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit
4:1 – Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit
4:14 – Jesus returned from the wilderness in the power of the Holy Spirit
4:18 – Jesus begins His public ministry by stating that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him (quoting from Isaiah 61:1)

In chapter 7 we see two astonishing miracles where Jesus heals a Centurion’s servant and then raises a widow’s son from the dead!

The purpose of these miracles was to testify and bear witness to Christ’s Deity.

Hearing of these things, John the Baptist, expecting the Messiah to come and deliver Israel (which He will do, but not until His Second Coming), sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus if He is the One… is He really the Messiah who will deliver Israel and establish once again the throne of David?

Back in Luke 4, at the Synagogue in Nazareth Jesus declared His mission: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18)

Jesus’ response to John’s disciples is intentionally an emphatic demonstration and fulfilment of this God-given mission: “Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached”. (Luke 7:22).

Throughout scripture, the preaching of the gospel goes hand-in-hand with signs and wonders. The miracles are the confirmation and evidence of the truthfulnes and trustworthiness of the gospel and of Jesus’ Divine nature.

In John’s gospel Jesus, speaking to His disciples stated: “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake“ (John 14:11).

Speaking to the Jewish leaders Jesus said: “But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.” (John 5:36).

It was the same in the early church. In the book of Acts, signs and wonders (very often healings) accompanied the preaching of the Word to validate the message and convince the hearers, leading to the growth of the church.

Signs > Preaching > Church Growth

Acts 2:1-13 > 2:1-36 > 2:37-41

Acts 2:43 > 2:42 > 2:47

Acts 3:1-11 > 3:12-4:3 > 4:4

Acts 8:6 > 8:6 > 8:12

Acts 8:26-29 > 8:35 > 8:38

Acts 10:3,10,44 > 10:34-43 > 10:47

Acts 14:3 > 14:1-3 > 14:4

Acts 19:11-15 > 19:10 > 19:18

The church today has, to a large degree, forgotten that Jesus said that signs and wonders would accompany the preaching of the gospel.

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover“ (Mark 16:15-18).

Jesus did not just expect us to convince the world with compelling arguments – although we do have compelling arguments! Jesus knew the world would need to be just as convinced today as it was during the 3 1/2 years that He ministered in and around Galilee. Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, in submission to His Father’s will, healed the sick and set the captives free. Jesus told His disciples that they would be given the same power for the same purpose… to show the Father’s love and convince the world that He is the Saviour of the world.

The early church believed in, and expected to see, miracles, and knew that sicknes was part of the ‘works of the devil’ Jesus had come to destory! ( 1 John 3:8).

The Apostle John stated: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 12).

The Apostle James stated: “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed“. (James 5:13-16).

Sickness and death only came into this world as a result of the Fall in Genesis 3. Sickness, like death, was never God’s intention for man. There will be no sickness in the New Heaven and New Earth. Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would not only carry our transgressions, but also pay for and carry our sickness. “…by His stripes we are healed”. (Isaiah 53:5).

One pastor put’s it clearly:

“If sickness were the will of God, then every doctor would be a ‘lawbreaker’ and every nurse defying the Almighty. Every hospital would be a House of rebellion, instead of a place of mercy. If sickness with the will of God, then instead of supporting hospitals we should be seeking to close them down! But I believe the scriptures are clear – God is on the side of health. I believe in doctors and nurses; I thank God for the medical profession; it is on the side of health, just as God is on the side of health. Yet some Christians are amazingly illogical. Declining prayer for healing, they say, ’it is the will of God that I am sick.’ Then the next day they go down to the doctor’s to get out of the will of God! If you really believed that it was God’s will that you were sick, you would never take any medicine or go to a doctor but, if we are honest, we don’t really believe that. God is a good God. The devil has propagated the idea that God puts sickness on people, because he knows that it will put the world off God, if they believe he is callous and uncaring. We have so swallowed this wrong concept of God”.

So why don’t we see miracles today like we read about in Luke’s gospel, or that took place in the early church? One of the reasons is that, like those in Nazareth, our unbelief becomes a barrier to the working of the Holy Spirit. (see Matt 13:58).

We need, like the Centurion in Luke 7 vs 2-10, to have an unshakable faith in the Word of God, that one word from Jesus will bring healing.

It is interesting to note that the roots of the Calvary Chapel movement come out of a miracle of God’s grace that occured two months before Pastor Chuck Smith was born.

As recorded in the book ‘A Memoir of Grace’:

“Just prior to my birth, when the Smith family consisted of my parents, Charles and Maude Elizabeth, and my older sister, Virginia, the subject of church was not a unifying topic. My parents were not able to come to an agreement about religion. Dad had been raised in an upper middle class presbyterian home and chose to stay true to those roots. But he had also become disillusioned by some financial decisions made by church leaders while he was an elder, and as a result, his church attendance was sporadic and passionless.

Mom went to church regularly, walking a few blocks each Sunday to a Baptist Church. But on occasions she ventured into the Pentecostal church that was nearer to their home. She enjoyed the lively music she heard ringing from its windows, and the Pentecostal preacher’s faith in God seemed stronger than that of her other pastor. Those Pentecostal folks still believed in miracles and divine healing.

And so, when my sister contracted spinal meningitis, and the cold washcloths and the rocking and singing couldn’t stave off her seizures and the inevitable stilling of her breath, Mom picked up Virginia’s limp body and ran next door to the Pentecostal Parsonage. The preacher took one look at Virginia in Mom’s arms and steered them both into the church building. Only God can save your daughter, he said. Then he told my mother to get her eyes off Virginia and put them on the Lord. He told her to pray and said that if she wanted to see God intervene, she had better fully devote her life to him. My mother went a step further. She vowed that if he would spare and fully heal Virginia, then Mom would dedicate her life to Christian service.

My father was unaware of the drama unfolding on the floor of the Pentecostal church. In fact, he was out earning extra money for the family by playing in a billiards tournament when Virginia had her seizure. But word reached him that his daughter had stopped breathing. He ran first to their apartment, where someone told him that Mom had carried Virginia’s body to the church next door.

Intending to scoop her up and take her straight to the hospital, Dad ran to the church. But when he entered the sanctuary and saw Virginia’s lifeless body lying on the floor, he fell on his knees next to mom and cried out to God. And while Mom was offering up her vow and Dad was pleading for a miracle, Virginia was healed.

The miracle of my sister’s recovery changed my father in what must have been one of the most dramatic conversions of the decade! Dad turned his life over to the Lord. But he did not merely become a church member. Rather, he became a true believer who conscientiously lived for Jesus every day for the rest of his life.

Mom never forgot her vow. She determined that no matter what else she did with her life she would fulfil her promise. In June of 1927, just two months after Virginia’s ordeal, I was born.

Though she fully intended to dedicate her own life to God – and did – she also felt and urging to present this fresh, new life to Him. At my birth she prayed, “Lord, I am going to fulfil my promise to you through my son”.

Chuck Smith went on to become the founding pastor of Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa, through which the Calvary Chapel story began.

“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.“ (Mark 9:23-24)

To be continued…

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Christ the Lamb & King

Barry Forder — Sun, 11 Dec 2022 16:31:02 +0000

For our Christmas studies this year, we have taken the subjects of ‘Christ the Lamb and ‘Christ the King’.

These two aspects of Christ’s mission and purpose are beautifully given to us in the Christmas naritive, with Luke’s Gospel focussing on the Lamb and Matthew focussing on the King.

Sadly, the message of Christmas has been obfuscated by tradition, robbing people of these wonderful truths.

Christ the Lamb

Our study begins in the book of Genesis where God institutes the first blood sacrifice as a covering (atonement) for sin. (Gen 3:21). Abel obediently continues this pattern as he offers to God a lamb as atonement for sin – Cain infamously offers the work of his own hands (this is the basis of all religion: man’s attempt to get right with God through his own efforts).

We then see a dramatic ‘dress rehearsal’ in Genesis 22 with Abraham and Isaac, where on top of Mt Moriah (later to be known as Calvary), God intervenes and promises that He will actualy “provide Himself” as the Lamb!

Jesus came as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world, and was specifically born in Bethlehem. Harold Smith coments:

When you said Bethlehem, you said “sacrificial lambs”. The hills around Bethlehem were home to the thousands of lambs used in ritual worship in the Temple”.
“Everyone in Israel recognised Bethlehem as being synonymous with sacrificial lambs”.
“Luke’s original audience would have immediately picked up on the religious significance of the Bethlehem shepherds watching their flocks by night”
“Aware of the Tanakh (Old Testament) and the Jewish Temple worship of the day, they would have known that when you said Bethlehem, you said “sacrificial lambs”. The hills around Bethlehem were home to the thousands of lambs used in ritual worship in the Temple”.

The fact that Bethlehem was the town is well known from Micah’s prophecy in Micah 5:2. But Micah also give us the exact location (Micah 4:8); not in a stable or cattle shed as tradition has erroneously taught, but in a ‘lambing tower’ on the outskirts of Bethlehem. There never was a ‘hotel Bethlehem’ or Inn keeper! The word translated ‘inn’ is properly ‘guest-chamber’ and it is more likely this was an annex built onto the family home. But why wouldn’t the family welcome Mary and Joseph in? Why was ‘no place found for them’?

Firstly, there genuinely might not have been enough room with the rest of the family there, most of whom would probably live closer than Nazareth. Secondly it may have been more to do with the laws of ceremonial purity Lev 12 / 15:19-30. If Mary had given birth in the house it would have defiled the house and everyone in it, and as it was almost certainly the Feast of Trumpets, which the Torah commanded should be kept; if those in the house had been defield they would not have been able to enjoy this celebration. Thirdly, the family would have wanted to avoid the scandal of welcoming Joseph and his pregnant girlfriend into their home!

So Joseph was forced to find alternative accomadation, and it just so happened that they had walked right past Migdal Edar on the way into Bethlehem, with its warm and clean birthing rooms for sacrificial lambs! Rabbi Short states:

“This Migdal Eder was not the watchtower for the ordinary flocks that pastured on the barren sheep ground beyond Bethlehem… but it lay close to the town on the road to Jerusalem”.

During lambing season the sheep were brought to the tower from the fields, as the lower level functioned as the birthing room for sacrificial lambs. Being themselves under special rabbinical care, these Levitical shepherds would strictly maintain a ceremonially clean birthing place.

Once birthed, the shepherds would routinely place the lambs in the hewn depression of a limestone rock known as “the manger”
They would “wrap the new-born lambs in swaddling clothes,” preventing them from thrashing about and harming themselves “until they had calmed down” so they could be inspected for the quality of being “without spot or blemish” –Jewish oral tradition & Alfred Edersheim, the Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.

Prominent Jewish writers concluded in the Midrash (an early Jewish commentary on the O.T.) that:

…of all the places in Israel, it would be the “Migdal Eder”, The tower of the flock in Bethlehem, where the arrival of the Messiah would be declared first!

In thier book ‘Why a Manger’ Bodie and Brock Thoene comment:

Migdal Eder, the Tower of the Flock, was the place where lambs destined for the Temple were born and raised. Every firstborn male lamb from the area around Bethlehem was considered holy, set aside for sacrifice in Jerusalem. Generations of hereditary shepherds tended the sacred flocks. –

The Levitical shepherds were chosen by God to be the first to see this new born baby precisely because it was their job to inspect the sacrificial lambs that would later be offered in Jerusalem.

Christ the King

But as we now come to consider ‘Christ the King’ we jump forward around two years to the time the wise men (Magi) from the east arrived.

As with the Lamb, the story of Israel’s King begins back in the book of Genesis and is unfolded throughout the Old Testament. In Genesis 14 we see a line of kings and priests, which included Melchizedek, that ruled and reigned in Jerusalem for a period of 1000 years – and incredible model in advance of the Millennial reign of Christ! God established the monarchy in Israel but through the prophet Hosea stated His ultimate goal that “I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?” (Hosea 13:10).

The last king to sit and reign on the Throne of David in Jerusalem was Zedekiah. He was subjugated and eventually defeated by Nebuchadnezzar in 587 B.C. The ‘crown’ was then effectively taken to Babylon , where it remained for 500 years until a group of Magi – a priestly Medo-Persian sect that the prophet Daniel had once been made ruler over – brought the crown back from Babylon intent on giving it to the rightful King of Israel!

Daniel had evidently instructed these Magi regarding the prophesied coming of the Jewish Messiah. The Magi were renowed for their wise counsel and thus they were consulted by Eastern rulers regarding affairs of state, in particular, the appointment of a new king!

There had been a long rivalry between the Roman Empire, who had granted Herod the title ‘king of the Jews’ and the Parthian Empire, that had been far more sympathetic toward Israel.

Into the midst of this highly charged political environment come – not three kings on camels (tradition is very wide of the mark here!) – but, a great number of Magi looking to anoint and bring their homage to the rightful King of the Jews! No wonder Herod was shaken – and all Jerusalem with him!

As Dr Chuck Missler comments: “The Magi, likely traveling in force with unimaginable oriental pomp and adequate cavalry escort to insure their safe penetration of Roman territory, certainly alarmed Herod and the entire populace of Jerusalem”

Jesus was of the Jewish royal line through both Joseph (via Solomon – Matthew Ch1) and Mary (via Nathan – Luke Ch3), now the Magi ratified that fact.

Before becoming King, Jesus had to first fulfil His role as ‘Lamb of God’ to take away the sins of the world. But when Jesus returns, He will establish His throne and rule over Israel and the whole world from Jerusalem.

“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end”. (Luke 1:32)

“The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne” (Psalm 132:10)

“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever”. (Daniel 2:44)

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)

“And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one… And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles”. (Zechariah 14:9, 16)

–So, when you think ‘Christmas, think…

‘Sacrificial Lamb’!

–This has been fulfilled!”

–Then think…

‘The King of the Jews!’

–This will be fulfilled – soon!

May God richly bless you this Christmastime!

The post Christ the Lamb & King first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Christian Mandate

Barry Forder — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 12:44:21 +0000

In Luke chapter 6 we have Luke’s account of the Sermon on the Mount, that Matthew records for us in Matthew ch5-7.

This is so familiar to most Christians it’s easy to miss the import of what is being said, and exactly what is expected and required of a disciple of Jesus.

In essence, it is a call to become Chist-like in our thinking and attitudes; it is a call to live a life of prayer, being rooted in God and His Word. However, as Oswald Chambers insightfully notes: “Fancy coming to men and women with defective lives and defiled hearts and wrong mainsprings, and telling them to be pure in heart! What is the use of giving us an ideal we cannot possibly attain? We are happier without it. If Jesus is a Teacher only, then all He can do is to tantalise us by erecting a standard we cannot come anywhere near. But if by being born again from above we know Him first as Saviour, we know that He did not come to teach us only: He came to make us what He teaches we should be. The Sermon on the Mount is a statement of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is having His way with us”. (Oswald Chambers, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount).

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Don’t toil, take it to Jesus!

Barry Forder — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 13:40:54 +0000

Have you toiled all night and caught nothing?

Have there been times in your life – maybe even now – where you have tried everything you know to solve a problem you face? It may be a financial problem, maybe a problem at work or school, maybe a problem in the family?

Situations like this can rob us of our joy and leave us feeling despondent and empty.

In Luke chapter 5, the Apostle Peter was in just such a situation. He ran a small fishing business with his two friends on the shores of Galilee in northern Israel. Although we are not specifically told, we get the impression that times were hard. Peter, James and John had been out on the Sea of Galilee in their two boats all night, desperately trying to catch fish so they could eat and pay their bills. But that had caught nothing but the cold night air.

Then, in the morning, Jesus comes to them, asks to use one of their boats as a makeshift pulpit to be able to teach the multitude of people who had gathered along the shoreline.

When the teaching was over and the crowds had begun to disperse, Jesus suggests to Peter that they go out onto the water to catch some fish. Peter was tired. Fishing was his profession. As ‘kind’ as Jesus’ suggestion was, Peter was pretty sure it would be a complete waste of his time. Nevertheless, he agrees.

A little way from shore and they cast in their nets – nets that Peter and his friends had just spent an hour or two cleaning, and here they were, about to get them dirty all over again!

Does that sound familiar? You think things are as bad as they can get, then they get worse!

But no sooner than the nets had been deployed, Peter felt that familiar tug – the tug of fish in the nets!

As Peter tries to haul the catch aboard the boat, he soon realises that there are just too many for him to manage on his own, so calls out to James and John in the other boat. Amazed, astounded, overwhelmed! It’s hard to articulate the emotion of that moment. The joy, the relief, the excitement… then it hits Peter! He falls down at Jesus’ knees and begs forgiveness. Forgiveness for the thoughts he had had when Jesus first suggested going back out on the water – to the natural mind a pointless and time-wasting exercise… but here they were, two boats overflowing with fish! Why had he doubted Jesus?

And there is the question for all of us…

Why do we doubt Jesus?

All that toil and hardship, only for it all to change in a moment because of Jesus.

Jesus said that we should “Take no thought for your life.” “Be careful about one thing only,” says our Lord—“your relationship to Me.”

But our common sense shouts loud and says—“That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, I must consider what I am going to eat and drink.”

Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing the thought that this statement is made by One Who does not understand our particular circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do.

This is a lesson on trust. It is trusting when the natural mind tells us it’s absurd, ‘a pointless waste of time’. Jesus met Peter’s need at the right time. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Next time you are faced with a problem that seems too great, rather than toiling all night, take it to Jesus, and then wait for Him and His timing.

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” (Isa 43:2-3)

“For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” (Rom 10:11)

“And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” (Ps 9:10)

There are few things worse than misplaced trust. But that is something a Christian will never experience in Christ. “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee…” (Heb 13:5).

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Something Worth Remembering!

Barry Forder — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 21:42:35 +0000

On a day where we are encouraged to remember those who have given their lives to secure our freedom – for which we are indeed grateful, pastor Barry calls us also to remember the One who gave His life while we were yet sinners to secure our freedom, to set the captives free and proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord!

In Luke’s gospel Jesus is seen living a life ‘let by the Spirit’. It would serve us well to remember that everything Jesus did was led by the Spirit, in the power of the Spirit. If our lives are to be effective as Christians, we too must be filled with the Spirit and be led by the Spirit.

As Jesus returns to Galilee from His baptism by John in the Jordan, he comes to Nazareth and on the Sabbath day is given the opportunity to preach in the Synagogue – the same synagogue He had no doubt attended many times as a boy growing up in that town.

He is passed the scroll of Isaiah and reads from Isaiah 61:1-2, declaring that is the fulfilment of Isaiah’s words – but omits the last part of the sentence! It was the acceptable year of the Lord, but was not yet the day of vengeance of God – there is an interval of almost two thousand years between the first part of Isaiah 61:2 and the second part. The sentence in Isaiah jumps straight from the time of Jesus’ first coming, to the time of His Second Coming – when it will be ‘the day of vengeance of God’!

There are actually 24 of these ‘dispensational gaps’ in scripture that seem – intentionally – to omit the Church Age.

In Luke 19, the ‘prophetic clock’ stopped ticking for the Jews on Palm Sunday as Jesus rode into Jerusalem and Jesus pronounces national blindness upon Israel (Luke 19:42) for missing the day it had been prophesied the Messiah would come. That blindness will last until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in (Romans 11:25). We are now in the ‘Church age’ when God is grafting gentiles into the olive tree (see Romans Ch 11).

Once ‘the fullness of the Gentiles has come in’, all Israel will be saved (Acts 15:14-16) and the clock will start ticking again.

In Luke chapter 4 we see Jesus – in the power of the Spirit – heal the sick, set captives free and fulfil in actions the words of Isaiah 61:1-2. This should have been enough to convince all that He was the Messiah.

The lesson here is that if we believe Jesus is the Messiah, we will bring our sick loved ones to Him, continually bringing them before His throne, believing in faith that He will heal and deliver them from the clutches of the enemy.

Jesus should be the very first one we turn to, not as is so often the case, our last resort!

Do we believe Jesus has the power to heal today? Do we believe He is the same, yesterday, today and forever? Do we believe He can set our loved ones free?

If we do we will pray in faith, “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him” (James 5:15).

This is something we ought to remember!

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The Defeat of Satan

Barry Forder — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 19:34:28 +0000

Most will be familiar with the scene:

Jesus is led into the wilderness for 40 days and is tempted by the Devil; yet for many the ‘why’ question is never pondered.

Consider the following verses from the book of James: “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:13-14)

Here we are clearly told that God is not the source of temptation, that much we probably all know. But surprisingly we are told that neither is Satan the source of temptation! Temptations actually come from within, from our own twisted human nature. The notion that ‘the Devil made me do it‘ is bad theology and simply not true!

There are only two individuals in human history that did not inherit sin from their parents, so did not have a ‘twisted human nature’ to begin with. The First Adam and the Second Adam (1 Cor 15:45 / Romans 5:14-19) – Adam, the son of God and Jesus, The Son of God.

Oswald Chambers notes:

“According to the Bible, there are only two Men: Adam and Jesus Christ, and God deals with them as the representatives of the human race, not as individuals. All the members of the human race are grouped round these two Men. The first Adam is called “the son of God”; the last Adam is the Son of God, and we are made sons of God by the last Adam. The Christian is neither Adam nor Jesus Christ, the Christian is a new man in Christ Jesus. The first Adam and the last Adam are the only two Men according to God’s norm, and they both came into this world direct from the hand of God”. (Oswald Chambers, The Psychology of Redemption)

It is to these two alone that Satan comes directly, bringing his temptations. But why? What was Satan hoping to achieve in tempting Jesus? As Dr Arnold Fruchtenbaum puts it:

“Satan’s aim in these temptations was to cause Messiah to sin. He simply tried to accomplish the impossible. Messiah is impeccable. He simply is not able to sin. However, that did not discourage the fallen one from attempting the impossible”. (Dr Arnold Fruchtenbaum, Yeshua: The Life of Messiah)

The real issue, I believe, goes back to the time of Creation and the fall of Lucifer, and his subsequent distain for mankind.

Firstly, let’s establish some scriptural facts:

We are not told when angels (including Lucifer) were created, but they must have been created by the time God laid the foundations of the Earth.
- “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?
  declare, if thou hast understanding.
  Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest?
  or who hath stretched the line upon it?
  Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened?
  or who laid the corner stone thereof;
  When the morning stars sang together,
  and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7)
- For all the sons of God (angels) to shout for joy as God laid the foundations, it is obvious they had been created and were witnesses to God’s work of Creation.
Genesis chapter 1 repeatedly tells us that God’s work of Creation was good, and Ezekiel chapter 28:13-15 tells us that Lucifer was in Eden, the Garden of God in his unfallen state and therefore must also have been amongst the ‘all’ of Job 38:4 that shouted for joy as God created the Earth.
- This places the fall of Lucifer at some time after the 7 days of Creation.
1 Timothy 3:6 tells us that it was pride that led to Lucifer’s fall. Isaiah 14 tells us that he wanted to be ‘like the most High’ (Isaiah 14:14)
- Lucifer was not foolish enough to think he could ‘become God’, rather he craved what Adam had been given, namely to be made in the ‘image and likeness of God’ (Gen 1:27), and to be given dominion over this incredible Earth that God had created.
It must have been a rude awakening to Lucifer’s ambition to discover that the Earth God had created was going to be given over to this ‘man’, and not to him!
- The book of Esther serves as a role play of this very scene.
  - In Esther ch 6 we find that king Ahasuerus could not sleep one evening, so decided to read. He read of a failed plot to assassinate him a short while before that had been uncovered by Mordecai. He called in Haman – the archenemy of the Jews – and asked: “What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour?” (Est 6:6). We are told that “Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?” (Est 6:6).
  - In the same way, as God created the Earth, Lucifer thought to himself, “To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?” Satan evidently thought that this World would be given to him! Instead, just as ‘Haman’s reward’ was given to Mordecai, so this world was given to the man God had created – Adam.
In rebelling against God, Lucifer (light bearer) became Satan (adversary) and took one third of the angels with him (Rev 12:3)
Satan then set about to deceive this man God had created and claim the title of the Earth for himself.
- We know from 2 Corinthians 4:4 that, for now, Satan is ‘the god of this world’ and, for now, “the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (John 5:19 NIV).
- Satan was ‘successful’ in taking control of this world.
However, according to God’s laws, the right of ownership can be reclaimed by a kinsman (family member) – a study of the book of Ruth puts this into context!
Rather than defeat Jesus at the cross, Satan actually forfeited his right to rule and, in effect, signed his own death warrant on account of the fact he had committed first degree murder and shed ‘innocent blood’ (Matt 27:4 / Gen 9:6).
Now it is just a matter of time until the full title of the Earth passes back to the Kinsman of Adam, Jesus Christ, as we read in Revelation 11:15 “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever”.

So, what does all this have to do with the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness?

Quite simply, it was another attempt by Satan to show that Adam, and any descendant thereof, was not worthy to be given the honour of ruling this Earth. Furthermore, if Satan had managed to get Jesus to succumb, it would demonstrate that God’s plan in creating man and giving him this honour was flawed! God would be shown to be wrong, and Satan vindicated in his original ‘objection’ to God’s plan and his assertion the he should have been given this honour!

Incredibly, this is the second time Satan had the audacity to challenge God’s plan, attempting to show that man was unworthy of this honour and that Satan himself was right!

The first time is recorded in the book of Job. There, Satan challenges God that ‘no man can worship God simply because He is God’. The allegation is that man only worships God because of the blessings God gives. Take away the blessings and man will cease to worship God.

As we know from the account in Job, Satan’s argument is destroyed! Job demonstrates that, even with all the blessings stripped away, man can worship God simply because God is God! “Though He slay me, yet will I tust Him” (Job 13:15).

So Satan’s attempt to vindicate himself (and justify his rebellion) is defeated on both counts!

Man can worship God for who He is apart from any blessings that may come from Him.
Man can life a life of selfless obedience to God. Although Adam failed in this regard, Jesus Christ, the Second Adam did not succumb to these temptations, and now, through Him, all who receive His nature in them (through being born again) can live a sinless, selfless life in obedience to God the Father (1 John 5:18).

God is justified in His creation and honouring of man and Satan shown to be wrong in his assertions and the basis of his pride completely undermined!

In closing…

…it is worth mentioning that the actual temptations Jesus faced are of the same nature we face, albeit the source is different.

1 John 2:16 tells us: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world”.

This summary of sin (and hence temptation) is shown in both Genesis 3 (Adam/Eve) and Luke 4 (Jesus):

In Genesis we see that:

Eve saw the fruit was good for food
- the lust of the flesh
Eve saw it was pleasant to the eyes
- the lust of the eyes
Eve desired to be wise like God
- the pride of life

In Jesus’ temptations we also see the same pattern:

“And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.” (Luke 4:4)
- The lust of the flesh
  - The appeal to the appetite
  - The temptation to satisfy a legitimate need in an illegitimate way

“And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine”. (Luke 4:5-7)
- The lust of the eyes
  - The appeal to the desire
  - The eyes are the window of the soul

“And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” (Luke 4:9-11)
- The pride of life
  - The appeal to the ego
  - The need for self-worth and acceptance

The writer to the Hebrews makes the point that ^“we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”. (Hebrews 4:15)

Our temptations come in the form of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life. Jesus was tempted in all these points, yet without sin!

For each of the temptations with which Satan tempted Jesus, Jesus’ response was always to quote scripture – to ‘fight back’ with The Sword of the Spirit (Heb 4:12). This is our most sure ally also. David prayed “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” (Psalm 119:133) and “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11).

Paul tells us that “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

God will always give us a way of escape. If we resist the Devil, he will flee from us (James 4:7).

Jesus endured these temptations to 1) defeat Satan’s claim over man, and 2) give us a pattern to follow when we ourselves are tempted. “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:17-18).

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him!” (James 1:12)

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A message for tomorrow…

Barry Forder — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 22:03:42 +0000

In Luke chapter 3, Dr Luke records the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry at Bethabara, just north of the Dead Sea in southern Israel, around 18 miles east of Jerusalem.

As John started to preach the news spread and very soon a multitude came out from that towns of Judea to listen to this man. Whatever they expected they were no doubt surprised! John was not your ordinary son of a priest! He had chosen a simple lifestyle but thundered with a powerful message that shook his listeners to the core. Luke records that, not only the common people, but also the notorious tax collectors and unscrupulous soldiers, both renowned for corruption and their harsh treatment of the people, had been broken and convicted by John’s teaching.

John’s message was clear and simple. God is coming to judge the earth! It was time to choose whose side you were on! Israel had a history of ignoring the voices of the prophets God sent to warn of impending judgment, but here, albeit for a brief moment, there was genuine contrition as this Spirit filled man spoke of the coming kingdom.

Luke records that Isaiah had actually prophesied of John’s ministry some 700 years earlier, and that he would be a forerunner to the coming Messiah. Some of the people actually wondered if John himself were the Messiah, but John was quick to explain that he merely baptised the repentant with water; the Messiah would baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire!

John himself evidently expected the Messiah to establish His kingdom there and then. So much so that when Jesus seemed to be delaying His right to claim the title of the Earth and sit on the Throne of David, John sent disciples to ask if Jesus really was the Messiah. John, as did the Jewish leaders, and Jesus’ disciples, all failed to understand that the Messiah had to come first to suffer and pay for the sins of the world, and only then would He later return to establish His throne and rule all nations ‘with a rod of iron’ (Psalm 2) from Jerusalem.

Luke records that Jesus also went down to Bethabara – the place Joshua had led the Children of Israel across the Jordan into the Promised Land (see Joshua ch4) – and there was baptised by John. It wasn’t that Jesus needed to repent, but rather Jesus intentionally identified Himself with sinful humanity in an open declaration and acceptance of submission to His Father’s will. This led to one of two occasions where God the Father audibly declared His love for His Son and that Jesus’ sacrificial act was indeed pleasing to the Father.

Luke then gives us one of two detailed genealogies in the New Testament – the other being in Matthew chapter 1. To most gentiles, these are just boring lists of names, some of which we may recognise if we’ve read the Old Testament, but overall, something we don’t generally give much attention to. However, if you are a Jew, these lists of names, these historical genealogies, are of profound significance!

In A.D. 70 the genealogical records, that would allow any Jew to trace their family ancestry, were lost when the Temple was destroyed in Jerusalem by the Roman 5^th legion under the command of Titus. The real problem this posed for the Jews – then as well as now – is that they have no way to verify their coming Messiah, no way to check the authenticity of anyone claiming so be their long-awaited Hope. So much of a problem this will be that the Jews – according to Jesus Himself – will one day accept ‘Antichrist’ as their Messiah, albeit only briefly, but the tragedy that will result will be catastrophic.

Of course, no Torah-loving, God-fearing Jew would ever consider looking in the pages of the Christian New Testament for corroboration or confirmation! But one day the Christians will be gone; supernaturally removed from this earth and taken back to Heaven! The remaining gentiles to be saved will be martyred during the time of Great Tribulation coming upon the earth, and then, according to the Apostle Paul, the blindness that has been over Israel’s eyes for almost two thousand years will be removed (Romans 11:25).

Then, these genealogies that have been preserved by Luke and Matthew will become the most valuable documents on earth, for they will prove that Yeshua Ben David (Jesus the son of David) was and is the rightful heir to David’s throne, and more importantly, their Messiah! They will show He was of the line of Judah, of the family of David, born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth, a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, the Son of God!

These genealogies are for tomorrow, they are reserved for a time yet to come, Gentiles might read them now, but the Jews will come to treasure them!

God’s Word speaks to tomorrow as much as it does today. It anticipates and provides comfort for troubles that you have not yet encountered, but it will be there when you do. You might go through one of life’s storms some time from now, and when you do you will pick up God’s Word and words that were written thousands of years ago will speak to you in that very moment. They had been waiting for you all that time!

Can there be a better reason to pick up God’s Word daily than the knowledge that God already has something to say to you tomorrow? It’s been recorded ahead of time by the One who knows the end form the beginning.

Join us online via Teams, or in person, every Sunday as we study God’s Word together.

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Two Births, two feasts and some shepherds!

Barry Forder — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 15:27:57 +0000

In our study through the Gospel of Luke we find both the birth of John and the birth of Jesus recorded. Luke tells how Gabriel had visited Mary to announce that she was to carry and give birth to the long awaited Messiah of Israel, the promised ‘Seed of the woman’ prophesied in genesis 3:15. In humility and faith – and no doubt a little overwhelmed – Mary accepts this awesome responsibility, and then proceeds to go ‘with haste’ to visit her cousin Elizabeth, whom Gabriel had said was now six months pregnant. Upon her arrival, the unborn 26 week old child in Elizabeth’s womb jumps with joy – showing that an unborn child in the womb can experience emotion! In England, Scotland and Wales, you can legally have an abortion up to 23 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy, in line with the Abortion Act 1967.

After staying to celebrate the birth, Mary returns home from the hills around Jerusalem (where Zacharias and Elizabeth lived) to her home in Nazareth. However, before she left she would have heard Zacharias, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, declare that the baby Mary was carrying would be the One to redeem His people Israel, in accordance with the prophecies and promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; to Samuel, David and Solomon; to Isaiah, Jeremiah and Daniel. God’s covenant with Israel was clearly not forgotten, and though they had been disobedient as a nation and followed after other gods, their God was gracious and merciful and through their Messiah would make a way for, not only Gentiles, but also for the ‘lost sheep of the house of Israel’ to return to Him and serve Him as their God.

As we noted in our study, John was most likely born on 19th-20th April 2 B.C., (there are a number of markers that help us pinpoint this date) which would have been the Feast of Passover that year! How fitting that the one who would later announce Jesus as ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world’ would be born – and celebrate his birthday each year – when the Passover lambs were being offered as an atonement for sin. It makes John’s announcement of Jesus even more poignant.

If this is so, Jesus’ birth would have occurred, not on the 25th December as tradition would have us believe, but on the 29th September 2 B.C. – which ‘just so happened’ to be the Feast of Trumpets! In the Bible we note that:

–Trumpets were blown to announce war or proclaim joy! – the birth of Christ was both of these, war on the Devil and works of darkness, but joy to the world and those who would put their faith and trust in Him for Salvation!

–The feast of Trumpets required an offering made by fire to the LORD – Jesus was this!

–Zacharias specifically links the trumpet (ram’s horn) – to the birth of Christ Lk 1:69

–The trumpet was linked to the giving of the Word of God at Mt Sinai Ex 19:19 – now the Word made flesh was given to the world

–The trumpet was used to proclaim liberty Lev 25:9 – the greatest liberty, the greatest freedom of all, is found in Jesus Christ!

This demonstrates once again that God is in complete control of history and nothing happens that is not part of His plan or design.

As we move into chapter 2, the critics of the Bible, and Luke’s Gospel in particular, get ever so excited! You see, they tell us Luke is in error in his opening statement of chapter 2. That apparently means his entire Gospel is untrustworthy, or so they would have us believe. The truth of the matter is that it’s the critics themselves who are in error – once again! It is the Gospel of Luke and his account of these things that is correct.

The contention is this. Luke states that Cyrenius was the govenor of Syria when Caesar Augustus ordered the census that resulted in Mary and Joseph traveling to their ancestral home of Bethlehem. The Jewish historian Josephus, who wrote in around 97 A.D. (some 100 years later), stated that it was an individual by the name of Sabinus who was the then governor of Syria, and that Quirinius (Cyrenius) was in fact the governor during the next census that occurred, but that wasn’t until 6 A.D. Luke we are assured got it all wrong!

As Dr Bill Cooper comments:

This is indeed a serious problem until we realise the plain and simple fact that Sabinus and Quirinius were one and the same person! Josephus himself tells us as much, albeit obliquely, though it is Suetonius and Tacitus who give us the real clue by telling us Quirinius’ birthplace…
“Quirinius’ birthplace, which the critics have always remained silent about, was the Italian town of Lanuvium. It lies about 20 miles or so along the Appian Way to the southeast of Rome, and was inhabited by a Sabine population, the Sabines being an Italian tribe. Hence, Quirinius was himself of Sabine descent.”
“..it is the inability of Josephus and the critics to distinguish between his sources and not any chicanery on Luke’s part which has caused all the confusion over the two recorded censuses of Judea. The problems vanish, however, once the identity of Sabinius and Quirinius is realised. Luke was right after all. The only strange thing about it all is that the critics so often forget to mention these things.” –Dr Bill Cooper: Authenticity of the New Testament: Part 1 (available from www.calvarystore.uk)

Tradition has robbed us of some incredible truths surrounding the ‘Christmas’ narrative. Why Bethlehem? Why shepherds? What has a prophecy in Micah got to do with the birthplace of Jesus? Why did the shepherds go away rejoicing? What was the significance of the swaddling bands and ‘manger’?

Join us as we study through the Gospel of Luke, verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter.

All the audio recordings and PowerPoint slides used in these studies are available for free download. Click here: Studies in Luke

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Rock Solid – The Gospel of Luke

Barry Forder — Sun, 09 Oct 2022 15:48:04 +0000

We have just started a new verse-by-verse study in the Gospel of Luke.

Historian, Sir William Ramsey, who started out as a sceptic and critic of the Bible, eventually came to faith in Jesus Christ because of the overwhelming historical evidence he discovered to corroborate the details in the Biblical record and Luke’s gospel in particular. He went on to say:

“Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy, this author should be placed along with the very greatest of historians”
“Luke’s history is unsurpassed in respect of its trustworthiness”

Josh McDowell, another sceptic who set out to disprove the Bible, also became a follower of Jesus Christ because of the evidence he found to demonstrate that Christians have not followed ‘cunningly devised fables’ but that the Christian faith is firmly rooted in historical events that we can accept “unreservedly as the testimony of truthful men to facts they were able to substantiate”.

Mcdowell stated:

“Luke’s reliability as an historian is unquestionable”

Almost all commentaries will tell us that Luke was a Gentile Doctor. He certainly was a physician, using more medical terms in his gospel than even Hippocrates (c. 460 – c. 370 BC – considered the ‘father of medicine’), and whose name lends itself to the Hippocratic Oath that even today is taken by medical graduates about to enter medical practice. However, as to Luke being a Gentile, Dr Floyd Nolan Jones makes the following comment:

“Country to nearly all modern scholarship, Luke was not a Gentile. The Romans 3: 1-2 citation is in itself absolutely conclusive and serves to correct any and all who instruct otherwise. Luke penned more text than any other New Testament writer, more than either Paul or John. Were Luke indeed non-Jewish, the Lord not only failed to honour his testimony in Romans 3, he also entrusted more of the New Testament revelation into the hands of a Gentile than those of his “chosen people”.”

Luke begins his account by underscoring that the events he is to record had already been written down by many others and believed ‘most surely’. Those who had recorded them were eyewitnesses and students of Jesus. Furthermore, Luke states that he himself had ‘perfect understanding’ of all these things, right from the beginning! – this was no ‘word of mouth’ hearsay!

Luke’s Gospel is addressed to ‘most excedllent Theophilus‘ – someone we are led to believe has been forgotton in the sands of time and any hope of discovering his real identity have long since faded. This higlights the danger of simply following the sway of general opinion! Dr Bill Cooper sheds some much needed light on our ‘mystery man’ – and facinating it is!

“As for the early writing of Luke’s gospel, there is a great deal of evidence which indicates that it belongs firmly to the Eyewitness Period. Better still, it could be narrowed down to having been written within a window of time that does not exceed four years in breath. The man to whom Luke addresses his gospel tells us as much, and is someone whom Luke calls ”… most excellent Theophilus” (1:3). Clearly this man was alive when Luke wrote his gospel, otherwise there’d be no point in addressing it to him. The questions we need to answer therefore are these: who was he? And when did he live? The man was Theophilus Ben Ananus, an erstwhile Sadducee and priest of the temple. He was the son of Annas and brother-in-law of the High Priest Caiaphas at whose instigation our Lord was tried and crucified. Theophilus was himself to serve as High Priest from the years 37-41 and it is during this time as High Priest that Luke wrote his gospel and addressed it to him. We know this by the honorific title by which he addresses Theophilus: Most Excellent (Gr kratistos). the Greek word means ‘noble’, and it is used on just one other occasion in the New Testament, namely in Acts 23: 26, when it is applied to the Governor Felix. Tellingly, Luke also addresses his Book of Acts to Theophilus, but when he does so it is simply ‘to Theophilus…’. The honorific title is no longer used, because when Luke wrote his Book of Acts in AD 64, Theophilus’ service as High Priest was long since passed”. – Dr Bill Cooper, Authenticity of the New Testament

So, Theophilus is none other than the Jewish High Priset that followed on from Caiaphas! He would have been around at the time of, and probably witnessed, the Crucifixion, and even been there when the Roman guards returned from the empty tomb that Resurrection morning. Theophilus would have known first hand that these guards had been bought-off to keep them quiet! Along with Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, he was clearly one of the Jews that beleived (John 11:45 / John 12:11), and of whom Luke himself records: “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith“ (Acts 6:7).

Join us in person or online for our Sunday morning studies through the Gospel of Luke – alternativly, catch up on the sessions via our web site: The Gospel of Luke – Studies

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Return to face-to-face meetings!

Barry Forder — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 19:45:08 +0000

I’m excited to confirm that Calvary Portsmouth will be returning to face-to-face meetings as Barncroft Primary School, Havant, PO9 3HN, from Sunday 4th July!

We have taken a number of precautions to keep everyone as safe as possible; there will be a one-way system for entering and leaving the school, and hand sanitizer available upon arrival.

Until all restrictions are relaxed, we encourage the wearing of face coverings, particularly on arrival, during times of singing, and after the service.

Refreshments will be served after the service – using disposable cups, individual sachets for sugar/sweetener and individually wrapped biscuits.

If you have a persistent cough or other Covid symptoms, please get a test and do not come until clear.

Our Sunday morning service will continue to be streamed live on Teams and the teaching will also be streamed live on Facebook, so if you are unable to join us in person, we can still be together on-line!

For now, all other meetings will continue on-line.

The post Return to face-to-face meetings! first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Re-Emergence of Babylon?

Barry Forder — Sun, 16 May 2021 10:30:47 +0000

This post is a supplement to our verse-by-verse studies on the book of Daniel: https://www.calvaryportsmouth.co.uk/sermon-book/daniel/

Daniel 4:15

“Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth”

In Daniel chapter four we read that God brought Nebuchadnezzar to his knees (literally!) “until [he knew] that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will”. Daniel, in his interpretation, makes it clear that the great tree that Nebuchadnezzar saw represented Nebuchadnezzar himself and the kingdom of Babylon. As Daniel continues, he explains to the king that God will ‘bring him down’ for a season, but the root will remain and at the appointed time it will flourish again. All of this we noted in our study (audio/PDF PowerPoint slides and study notes available from Verse-by-verse study of Daniel Ch 4). However, in the Bible we find a number of verses where there is a ‘double reference’. This is where the verse or verses in question are dealing with a specific local situation, yet, at the same time, allusion is made to something else – often something that will be fulfilled at some time in the future. We see a clear example of this in Daniel chapter 8, where the ‘little horn’ is a reference to Antiochus Epiphanes, who desecrated the Jews Temple in Jerusalem in 167 B.C., yet this is clearly an allusion, a model in advance, of the future World Leader (whom we often refer to as ‘Antichrist’) who will also desecrate the Jews Temple. Bible scholar Arnold Fruchtenbaum explains this ‘law of double reference’ as follows: “This law observes the fact that often a passage or a block of Scripture is speaking of two different persons or two different events that are separated by a long period of time”.

It has been proposed that another example of this ‘double reference’ can be found in Daniel 4:15. On the one hand this is clearly referring to the fact that, despite being driven from men, Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom would be returned to him. The casual reader might settle for this perfectly adequate explanation / interpretation of this verse. However, one of the most important discoveries we can make is that there are no meaningless details in the Bible. Every number, every name, every word, every letter, every detail are all there by deliberate supernatural design. So, with that in mind, when we re-read the verse, we notice something very interesting; the stump – which is Babylon – is to be bound with iron and brass! God could have chosen any material to bind the stump with; indeed, only one type of material would have been necessary. Yet God specifically chooses not one, but two materials which happen to be iron and brass. It is interesting that Daniel doesn’t mention this in his interpretation, yet this detail in the dream must have been there for a reason. Could this then mean that it has an application other than what was immediately in view of which Daniel was primarily concerned?

In Daniel chapter two Nebuchadnezzar had another dream. This time it was of a poly-metallic image representing the world empires up until the time when the ‘Rock cut without hands’ – Jesus Christ – will come and smash the image on the feet and establish His kingdom on earth (Christians are told to pray ‘Thy kingdom come’ – this is why!). From the interpretation that Daniel gave Nebuchadnezzar, we saw that the belly and thighs of brass represented the Greek Empire and that the legs of iron represented the mighty Roman Empire.

The more we study scripture the more we become sensitive to the consistent use of certain words, phrases and ideas. For example, throughout scripture the idea of a rock/stone is repeatedly linked to Jesus Christ – see Ex 17:6 / 1 Cor 10:4 / Deut 32:4 / 2 Sam 22:47 / Dan 2:45 / 1 Peter 2:8). Another Example is the ‘fowls of the air’. In the parables in Matthew 13 Jesus tells us they represent ‘workers of iniquity, evil ones’. If you take a concordance and look at ‘fowls’ or ‘birds’ you will see that they almost always have a negative connotation.

Daniel 4:15 tells us that Babylon (represented by Nebuchadnezzar) would be cut down to just a stump, it would then be bound with brass and iron. Being consistent with the idioms already given, this would suggest Babylon being ‘bound’ with the Greek and Roman Empires, finally to re-emerge – and if Nebuchadnezzar’s life is a model of this, which it would appear to be, when it re-emerges it will only be for a short time before it finally dies.

The History

If this is what is implied by the binding of the stump with the brass and iron, what does it mean? How was Babylon ‘bound’ by Greece and Rome? In order to answer this question, it would be beneficial to review a little history.

Historically speaking our western culture has behind it, as its political and social roots, and also its scientific endeavours, Greece and Rome. The logic of the Greek thinkers, their philosophy, their mathematics and geometry, combined with the organisational structure of Rome has become the backbone of our society. Our educational establishments had their origin in Greece, where the first ‘universities’ were established with men like Plato and Aristotle driving the quest for knowledge and understanding. Rationalism and reason were the driving forces that pushed the barriers of science and discovery. Along with this there was the Judeo-Christian moral and ethical modals that permeated this culture – and has done so for two thousand years. The Apostle Paul based his arguments on reason and appealed to his hearers to think critically about what he was saying, and they would see the logic of his position and arguments (See Acts 17:2 / Acts 18:4 / Acts 18:19 / Acts 24:25 / Acts 26:25).

Thus, one legacy of the Greek and Roman Empires was to bring about a rational and reasonable society that in many ways is vastly superior to all that has preceded it – and there can be little doubt that God used this as a platform to communicate the gospel to mankind.

Babylon, in contrast, was also known for its ‘science’, yet it was a science mixed with mysticism and occultism. Their astronomy was laced with astrology; their ability to interpret dreams was based in psychology yet was heavily influenced by mystical ideas. They had a basis to their understanding that was indeed scientific and rational, yet they would use this to jump to conclusions that were not. They had great medical knowledge and understanding of anatomy, yet they would use this when dissecting an animal and laying the pieces out to determine the future (the same as palm or tea-leaf reading). Thus, there was often a complete hiatus between the observation and the conclusion.

In addition to this, their mythology believed that ‘the gods’ had created them to be slaves of the gods – and in particular, slaves of the ‘mother god’.

The Re-emergence of Babylon?

What makes all of this significant to us today, and fits remarkably well to this proposed interpretation of Daniel 4:15, is that we are undeniably seeing a re-emergence of the ‘Babylonian mindset’. Using science as a basis, we are now jumping to conclusions that have no empirical basis; and as each day passes we are becoming more and more slaves to ‘Mother Earth’. The rationalism and reason that typified the Greek and Roman ‘west’ is now giving way to ‘Babylonianism’. It would appear that the bands of brass and iron that once held the stump are falling off and the ‘tree’ is growing once again.

Consider the following:

Alternative Medicine

Consider Homeopathy: In the nineteenth century it was proposed that you may be able to heal people of certain sicknesses if you could find a poison that produced the same symptoms. By diluting the poison and giving it to the patient, as a sort of antidote, the patient would get better. As with the Babylonians, the basis of observing the effects that a particular poison has on the human system was in the realm of legitimate scientific observation. However, by the time the poison was diluted enough to give to the patient, not a single molecule of the poison remained in the antidote! Even to this day there are people that believe that Homeopathy will cure you, yet one thing that is not allowed is proper scientific evaluation. Like the Babylonians, a conclusion is drawn that has no basis in empirical evidence. The same is true with the other alternative medicines, they each claim something mystical in the healing and preclude scientific enquiry.

Organic Farming

Organic farming is something so intrinsically woven into the fabric of our society that we seldom give it a thought, although it is curious to note that our principles and support of organic foods are often trumped by the price tag when shopping in our local supermarket! We are happy to promote sustainability so long as it doesn’t cost us too much! However, it is worth pointing out that groups such as the Soil Association, often interviewed when related topics are in the news, owes its origins to a man called Rudolph Steiner.

Rudolph Steiner (1861-1925) was an Austrian occult philosopher who developed a system of agriculture, known as bio-dynamics, which rejects chemical fertilisers. On the surface we may perceive this to be a good thing, however, based on Steiner’s teaching, organic farming relies on planting your seed when the moon is full, or some other astrological event occurs, and as such is a regurgitation of ancient Babylonian myths. Organic farming is presented as being good for nature and very sustainable; yet a plant biologist, C. K. Prakash, stated: “Organic farming is sustainable. It sustains poverty and malnutrition”. What is the basis for such a remark? Well, from studies that have been conducted regarding pesticides on fruit and vegetables and their supposed link to cancer, it has been shown statistically that only one case in a million could actually be attributed to the pesticides. The alternative would be to not use pesticides but this would increase the cost of fresh fruit and vegetables by at least 30-40%. This in turn would mean that the poorest parts of the world’s population would no longer be able to afford much in the way of fresh fruit and vegetables so consequently would not buy them. But in so doing, because fruit and vegetables are one of the best agents against cancer, this poorer part of the population would be at much greater risk of cancer to the extent that out of a million cases, 30-40,000 cases could be attributed to a diet devoid of fruit and veg.

This is not to say that all organic farming has ‘Babylonian roots’, but without doubt, we are not presented with all the facts before being told how we should think and act!

Environmentalism

There is no clearer demonstration of the fact that we are returning to a Babylonian mindset, than in the abundant daily reference in the media of our need to serve and protect ‘Mother Earth’. Rather than being the pinnacle of God’s creation (fallen and sinful as we are), we are now subservient to nature and seen as one of the major enemies of planet earth. Nature is seen as more important than human beings as livelihoods are destroyed in order to protect the planet.

We are regularly hearing that our pursuit of science for the purpose of producing things for our pleasure is actually stripping the planet of non-renewable resources; and the end of this will bring ecological disaster to the planet unless we act now. We are told that we are running out of oil, filling the atmosphere with gasses that are causing global warming and generally poisoning the planet. As the world’s population spirals out of control, there are predicted food and water shortages that will be compounded by depleting energy reserves.

The ‘experts’ that we see in the media are being held in increasingly high regard by governments around the world – and how can they not listen to such important warnings when it affects all of us? Or so we are to believe. Certainly, the masses have fallen for this propaganda and it is assumed to be proven fact; any who dare to question the ‘ecological prophets’ and go against the status quo are almost universally frowned upon.

In the book of Deuteronomy God gives us very clear instructions as to how to test to see if what someone is predicting is true. “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, thou shalt not be afraid of him” (Deut 18:22).

In simple terms, if people are prophesying (or predicting) things that God has not spoken, they are speaking presumptuously and we need not be afraid of them or their predictions. Now, these so-called ecological experts have indeed made predictions, and many speak with a self-appointed divine authority, but are they true? Will they come to pass?

Climate Change

Let’s take one of the big issues: Global warming (or Climate Change as it has conveniently been relabelled). Whilst the temperature on earth does indeed fluctuate, we now are seeing abundant warnings in the press and on TV telling us that the ice caps are melting, and the world is warming up. Accompanying this is an increase in freak weather events around the world (at this point they usually site a recent hurricane, tornado or bush fire that has occurred somewhere in the world). However, when we look at the available data, we actually see a slight improvement over the last 100 years in regard to severe weather events. Thus, the data would demonstrate that there has been no increase whatsoever in severe weather trends, despite what was predicted. Even according to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change there has been no increase in the severe weather that is supposed to accompany global warming. They stated: “Examination of meteorological data fails to support the perception of increased frequency of extreme climate events in the context of a long term climate change. Overall there is no evidence that extreme weather events or climate variability has increased in a global sense in the twentieth century” This acceptance that it is not happening is coming from one of the main organisations that are promoting the idea of long term climate change!

Instead we find numerous computer models predicting change in weather patterns consistent with long term global warming – these are frequently demonstrated on TV – but once again, as with the Babylonians, there is no empirical evidence to support the conclusion.

Another point to bear in mind is that meteorologists using the best available technology are unable to accurately predict global weather any more than ten days in advance. Years ago they abandoned long range weather forecasts because they were found to be useless. Why is it then that people set such store in predictions for the next 100 years based on similar climate modelling?

One answer is because of the ‘precautionary principle’ which states that, whilst there is no solid evidence of global warming at present, unless we act now, by the time the evidence is available it will be too late! With such reasoning you can achieve anything! It is like the man who nails a fried egg to his gatepost each morning. A neighbour asked him why this was. His reply was that it was to keep pink elephants away. His neighbour protested that “there are no pink elephants!”, to which the man replied “well it’s working very well isn’t it!” – how can you argue with logic like that!

We could look at the area of global temperatures – exactly how can these be measured accurately? Again, there is no reliable evidence in existence from which such vast conclusions can be drawn.

Or what about CO² levels? We are told that they are on the increase and this is playing havoc with the ozone layer. Now it does seem that the level of CO² in the atmosphere is increasing. In the last 100 years we have gone from about 300 parts per million to approaching 375 parts per million, but these are very small numbers compared with the whole. CO² still only accounts for 0.3% of the gas in our atmosphere. However, with the increase in CO²comes an increase in the bio-mass on Earth (plant life and trees etc.). A recent report by the BBC highlighted the increase on forestation over recent years. What is skilfully avoided by the media and professionals in these fields is the incredible design and balance we see in life on Earth. Mother Earth is heralded but Father God is forgotten!

There is however another ‘greenhouse’ gas that is more abundant than any other and it has far greater effects on the temperature than anything else: Water vapour.

Not only is this never mentioned with its colossal effects on the environment, but there is no computer model that can simulate or predict what it is going to do in terms of affecting the temperature on earth. Therefore, if we are unable to deal with this fundamental problem, it renders all of the atmospheric computer models virtually useless in regard to predicting global temperature.

Furthermore, if we look back throughout history, we see a variety of weather conditions at either extreme which suggests that if empirical evidence could be found that the earth is warming up, it would demonstrate little more than the fact that temperature on earth varies over time; it certainly would not prove that we are heading for disaster.

In the medieval period there was a time when it was so warm that the Danes colonised Greenland; in contrast to this there were the ‘little ice ages’, where even the river Thames froze over. Again, it is recorded that the Romans grew vines at Hadrian’s Wall, requiring it to be significantly warmer than it is now.

There is another factor about which little is said and which can significantly affect the temperature on earth – the Sun! The Sun is not at a uniform temperature but fluctuates albeit only slightly. Yet it is obvious that even a slight difference in the heat the Sun is producing, will have an impact on the temperature on this planet – and no amount of signed agreements and declarations about greenhouse gasses etc. are going to have any effect or be able to control what the Sun is doing!

There is enough information in the public domain to at least cause an honest enquirer to question the propaganda we are constantly fed as ‘proven fact’. Scientists and ‘experts’ often rely on government grants and funding and so it is not in their interest to upset the apple cart. We see this with the teaching of the easily-disproved and yet so-enthusiastically-taught Theory of Evolution, for which there is not a single shred of real evidence. Countless scientists know the obvious flaws with evolution yet they don’t speak out for fear of becoming marginalized or jeopardising their careers.

Conclusion

Pollution worldwide has come down significantly in the last 50 years (remember hearing of the smog in London?), and we have all become more acutely aware of the need to recycle, use renewable energy and protect the environment. If we look back, we would see that the atmosphere is cleaner now than it has been for centuries – and the controls are much tighter.

Less people are starving today around the world than there were 70 years ago, due to agricultural advances that have increased productivity; and that is despite the fact that the world’s population has almost doubled in that period.

We are not running out of non-renewable resources; much of the propaganda has more to do with governments wanting to tax and exert control on people than any empirical evidence.

We are frequently told of the plight of the rain forests, and whilst there is certainly mismanagement of these resources, rain forests are not disappearing at an alarming rate, but rather, forest areas worldwide have actually been increasing over the last 50 years!

One of the factors that causes them to grow as noted above, is increased carbon dioxide, which although only up by a fraction, has no doubt been a contributing factor. One estimate, based on current growth, suggests that, if we were to survive on earth for another 100 years, the bio-mass (amount of plant life & vegetation etc) would increase by 40%! We are actually seeing signs of this now, and of course, more plant life means more Oxygen produced!

In conclusion, we can see how the Babylonian pride and deep rooted love for ‘Mother Earth’ is re-emerging as logic and rational thinking are brushed aside. There is no doubt that the world’s governments and the United Nations are using these things to continue to exert control over the populace, and, as revealed in the Bible, to eventually bring about a One World Government (the ‘ten toes’ of Daniel 2). Along with this, Covid-19 has brough us closer to cash being done-away with and the embryonic stages of everyone receiving a ‘mark for buying and selling’. Who would have thought that now the populace is actually wanting a Tack & Trace system & Covid Vaccination Passport? This is just a prelude of what is to come. The New Zealand evangelist, the late Barry Smith taught extensively about these issues – his books are still available and worth reading (Warning / Second Warning / Final Notice / Postscript / Better Than Nostradamus).

Vast conclusions are being drawn from half-vast evidence. Mark Twain famously said: “There is something fascinating about science. One gets such wholesale returns of conjecture out of such a trifling investment of fact”.

For Christians the message is simple: do not get caught up worrying about these things, or for that matter embarking on crusades to fix the environment that our Creator God skilfully balanced in the first place. The world is remarkably resilient; yes it is finite, and the Bible reveals that it will all be dissolved one day – literally the atoms will be loosed (2 Peter 3:12), but before this happens the Rock cut without hands will come and crush to pieces the kingdoms of this world and will establish an everlasting kingdom that will start with a period of 1000 years when Jesus will personally rule with a rod of iron and sit on David’s throne in Jerusalem. Yes, the good ol’ Earth has got at least another 1000 years left in her!

For not-yet-Christians the message is also simple: do not get caught up in all the propaganda and worry about these things and how we are going to save the planet; because there is a far greater issue at stake. The planet will get burnt up one day, but you are eternal (whether you like it or not). You have a choice as to where you will spend eternity: with the King of Kings, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth who loved you so much that He personally came to die in your place to pay the price for your sin; OR you can choose to reject Him and opt to stand before God on judgment day and be your own defence attorney. There you will have to answer for every thought, word and deed (and for how you have treated His planet!).

“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, & day and night shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:21)

20,000 scientists, of whom about 2,700 of them are physicists, geophysicists, climatologists, meteorologists, oceanographers or environmental scientists, who are in a position to understand the global warming issues, have signed the following statement:

“There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gasses is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth’s atmosphere and disruption of the Earth’s climate. Moreover, there is substantial scientific evidence, that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, produce many beneficial effects upon the natural plant and animal environments of the Earth”.¹

Christians especially need to be cautious when it comes to the issue of global warming and other environmental issues. One of the reasons is that these issues have been hijacked by individuals who desire to change our way of life, and in particular, the Christian worldview that has guided the Western Hemisphere. [Columnist] Veith [noted in an article]: “A big part of the problem is that the current environmental movement has been hijacked by the far left.”²

Beisner, E.C., P.K. Driessen, R. McKitrick, and R.W. Spencer, 2006. “A call to truth, prudence, and protection of the poor: An evangelical response to global warming,” p. 10.
Veith, G.E., 2006. To protect and conserve. World 21(20):30.

The post The Re-Emergence of Babylon? first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Palm Sunday – one of the most important days in history!

Barry Forder — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 15:38:04 +0000

PALM SUNDAY.

It was, of course, the day we remember Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey – famously fulfilling the prophecy from Zechariah 9:9 given sone 500 years earlier. We know from scripture that a ‘multitude’ of Jesus disciples spread their coats on the ground, waved palm branches and sang praises to God (actually singing from Psalm 118) as Jesus rode by. That much tradition has passed down to us. (Palm Sunday is one of the few things tradition actually gets right!). We know too that this really angered the Pharisees! – but why?

But why was this day really so important? Why does Psalm 119 speak of this specific day saying “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalms 118:24).

Did you also know that not only Zechariah but Daniel also recorded details of this specific day 500 years before it happened?

David spoke of this day one thousand years before it came to pass! That is mind-boggling! Try to think of an event on a specific day that will take place 1000 years in the future!

But we discover that even Moses recorded details about this day almost one thousand five hundred years before!

In fact, we can go back two thousand years before this day, to the time of Abraham, and find it alluded to in Genesis 22!

So what is really so special about this day? Why does this day stand out from the crowd and demand our attention?

The answer lies in one of the greatest conundrums in the Bible!

Jesus came to reveal Himself to Israel and the world, right? So why, for almost His entire ministry, did He play-down who He really was? He constantly told people He healed to not make him known! “See you tell no man” was Jesus’ reply to those who wanted to shout abroad His greatness. He even silenced evil spirits from revealing His identity: “And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known“. (Mark 3:11-112). Incredibly, after feeding the 5000 the multitude wanted to crown Him and make Him their king there and then! But “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone” (John 6:15).

Whilst all this ‘downplaying’ his identity was going on, another strange phenomenon was taking place. On a number of occasions, Jesus’ enemies came to take Him by force to silence Him. Yet each time Jesus simply walked through their midst as if protected by a spiritual force-field! They just could not touch him!

But then, on Palm Sunday everything changed! Jesus not only allowed the crowds to worship Him as the Messiah (“Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD” ( Psalms 118:26 )), He actually arranged the whole event, telling the disciples to go and get the donkey, and riding into Jerusalem as a king (just as Solomon had ridden into Jerusalem as a king in 1 Kings 1:38). When the Pharisees tried to silence the disciples Jesus retorted that even the stones would sing out His praise, such was the significance of this day!

So why this day? Why reveal Himself now?

Because this was the one and only day, prophesied by the angel Gabriel (and recorded by Daniel) when the Messiah would reveal Himself to Israel!

The prophecy is found in Daniel chapter 9, and foretells the exact day that Israel’s Messiah would come – and He did! But although a group of His disciples acknowledged it, the nation slept on in their ignorance and unbelief. They missed the ‘time of their visitation‘ (Luke 19:44). As a result, Jesus pronounced national blindness upon them – which Paul tells us in Romans 11:25 will last until ‘the fulness of the Gentiles be come in‘.

The significance of this day to Jews and Gentiles alike cannot be overstated!

It stands as a testimony to a God who is outside of time and can tell the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9-10) foretelling events thousands of years before they happen. It stands as a warning to not neglect the prophetic scriptures and the signs of the times, and it stands as a reminder that the Gentiles have been ‘grafted in’ to the family of Abraham by faith.

¹⁹ Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. ²⁰ Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: ²¹ For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. ²² Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Romans 11:19-22

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The Mystery of Godliness

Barry Forder — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 20:46:25 +0000

The Mystery of Godliness – 1 Timothy 3:16

On Sunday mornings we have been studying through the Book of 1st Timothy. At the end of the 3rd chapter, after emphasising the importance of sound doctrine and order in the church, Paul states to Timothy:

Paul used the word mystery 21 times in his epistles: the mystery of God (Colossians 2:2), the mystery of faith (1 Timothy 3:9), the mystery of iniquity (2 Thessalonians 2:7), etc. In each case, the “mystery” involved a declaration of spiritual truth, revealed by God to Paul through divine inspiration

The Greek word musterion (“mystery”), when used in the New Testament, refers to the things of God that were once hidden but were later revealed through Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). A mystery is that which can only be known through the revelation of God (Romans 16:25–26; Colossians 1:26–27). It is something that in times past had been hidden but is now revealed to God’s people.

Summary of the Mysteries revealed to Paul

Mystery of the Kingdom of God
- Luke 8:10; Mark 4:11;
Mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven
- Matt 13:11
Mystery of Manifestation in the Flesh
- 1 Tim 3:16
Mystery of Salvation by Faith
- Eph 3:19; Rom 16:25,26; 1 Tim 3:9
Mystery of the Will of God
- Eph 1:9
Mystery of Gentiles in same Body
- Rom 16:25; Eph 3:3
Mystery of the Bride of Christ
- Eph 5:10; Eph 2:6; 1 Cor 6:17
- Col 1:26,27; 2:2; 4:3
The Mystery of the Harpazo
- 1 Cor 15:51; 1 Thes 4:12-18
- OT: Isa 26:19-21; Ps 27:5; Zep 2:3
The Mystery of Iniquity
- 2 Thes 2:6-12
Mystery of the Seven Churches
- Rev 1:20
Mystery of Israel’s Blindness
- Luke 19:42-44; Rom 11:25
Mystery Babylon (Counterfeit Kingdom)
- Re 17, 18 (Cf Gen 10:10, 1^st mention)

And without controversy…

The expression “without controversy” translates the Greek term homologoumenos, which literally denotes ‘that which one confesses’, hence, it might be rendered “confessedly,” “undeniably,” “most certainly.” It is a declaration of absolute confidence.

great is the mystery of godliness…

The word “godliness” in Greek is the noun eusebia. This term, along with its various cognate forms, suggests piety, devotion, religion, or a disposition of God-towardness.

It could be considered ‘God-like-ness’, and the explanation that Paul himself gives in the rest of this verse speaks of the completed work of Christ – who, though a man, was more God-like than any other man. Christ’s ‘Godliness’ is not simply because He was God in the Flesh, but also because he was completely in the will of His Father. The mystery of Godliness has much to do with obedience.

One commentator phrased it, “Undeniably, great is the strategy of the divine plan of salvation” and indeed the whole of God’s incredible plan is encapsulated in this verse!

Paul now lists six magnificent statements that take us from before the foundation of the world to God’s conclusion of all things.

“God was manifest in the flesh”

This is a clear statement of Christ’s Deity. It speaks of that which the whole of the Old Testament alludes to, from the Seed of the Woman in Genesis 3:15 to the Ark in Genesis 6-7; from a father offering up his only son in Genesis 22 to a suffering servant in Isaiah 53.

Although we have a number of ‘pre-incarnate’ appearances of Jesus in the Old Testament (a physical manifestation of God), the concept that God – the Creator & Sustainer of all things would willingly take on human form to reach out to His own creation is truly staggering thought!

John wrote: “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). This affirmation was in direct conflict with certain gnostic ideas of antiquity which asserted that Christ could not have possessed a body of flesh, since flesh was intrinsically evil—a concept which John labels as the spirit of the anti-christ (1 John 4:2, 3).

The New Testament reveals that Jesus was manifest in the flesh for the following reasons:

(1) He became flesh so that men might see, in visible form, a commentary on Deity. John affirmed that Christ came to “declare” (exegesato—to give an exegesis of) the Father (1:18). Thus, to view the Lord was to comprehend something of the nature of his heavenly Father (John 14:9).

(2) He became flesh to identify with us (Hebrews 5:1-10). Having lived in human form, and thus been subjected to temptation (Hebrews 4:15), he is able to effectively function as our high priest, hence, come to our aid when we are tempted (Hebrews 2:17, 18).

(3) He was manifested as man to provide us with a model for living (1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6).

(4) Since it is impossible for Deity, as a spirit being, to die (cf. 1 Timothy 6:16), Christ became flesh so that he might be subjected to death (Hebrews 2:9, 14), hence ‘legally’ qualified to become a direct and exact substitute for man in order to put away sins (1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 John 3:5).

(5) Finally, the Lord was manifested that “he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8), which, of course, will be realised ultimately at the time of his second coming when He will wrest the control of this world from Satan and reclaim as the Second Adam what the first Adam lost – the title to this world – again as a man bearing the legal right to reclaim the earth as a kinsman of Adam.

“Justified in the spirit”

First, we must note that the word “justified” does not suggest that Christ at one time was sinful, hence, at some point, was pardoned or justified from sin. That cannot be the meaning (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22).

The term denotes a vindication. Though Jesus was manifested in the flesh, and “put to death in the flesh” by his enemies (1 Peter 3:18), God Almighty vindicated the Lord Jesus, raising him from the dead. Thus God the Father by raising Christ from the dead set His seal of approval and acceptance on His completed work. Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4).

But what does the phrase “in the spirit” signify? There are several possibilities, both grammatically and contextually.

Most translations capitalize the term “Spirit,” suggesting that there is an allusion to the Holy Spirit. If that is the meaning, the phrase could be a reference to the Spirit’s operation at the time of the Lord’s bodily resurrection.

In Romans 8:11 Paul wrote: “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwells in you.” One commentator observed that “the word ‘also’ suggests the Holy Spirit not only will raise our bodies, but ‘also’ was the agent of the Father in raising Christ”.

Others think that “Spirit” in 1 Timothy 3:16 is a general reference to the Spirit’s operation in the life of Christ. The Lord’s miracles, message, etc., climaxing with his resurrection, demonstrated his deity, hence, in spite of his death at the hands of cruel men, the Saviour was vindicated.

In 1 Peter 3:18 the apostle states that Jesus “was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.” It has been suggested that Jesus was raised by the re-energising of his body through his spirit, though some also see “spirit” as a reference to the Holy Spirit in this passage.

All that Christ did He did in and through the power of the Holy Spirit – He did everything ‘right’, there was no fault found in Him. He was justified in his actions and decision to come to this world as a baby, to live and die for mankind, and to rise from the dead to become LORD of all for all eternity.

“Seen of angels”

Angels were intimately involved with the work of our Lord. Note the following:

(1) Angels were associates of the preincarnate Word (cf. John 1:1, 14). When Abraham was visited by “three men” at the oaks of Mamre, two of them are identified as angels (Genesis 19:1) while the other is a divine person who subsequently rains “upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of heaven” (19:24; cf. 18:1, 21).

(2) Angels heralded the impending birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:26) and praised God when Mary brought forth her child (Luke 2:13).

(3) After Christ concluded his temptation ordeal in the wilderness, “angels came and ministered unto him” (Matthew 4:11).

(4) When the Lord experienced great agony of soul just prior to his death, “there appeared unto him an angel from heaven, strengthening him” (Luke 22:43), and had he so chosen, he might have summoned thousands of angels to deliver him from the curse of Calvary (cf. Matthew 26:53).

(5) Angels were present at the time of Christ’s resurrection from the grave (Matthew 28:2ff; Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4; John 20:12) and at his ascension into heaven (Acts 1:10).

(6) Finally, the angels of heaven are subject to him (1 Peter 3:22), and praise him saying, “Worthy is the Lamb that hath been slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honor, and glory, and blessing” (Revelation 5:11, 12).

All of this said, a strong possibility is that this has reference to ‘messengers’ – i.e. those who were the witnesses (Apostles etc.) of His life and ministry, and who then bore testimony in the Gospels and Epistles and through the early church.

“Preached among the Gentiles”

This, of course, suggests the universal scope of the Saviour’s redemptive system—a fact that was predicted in the Old Testament (Isaiah 2:2; 11:10), previewed in the earthly ministry of Christ (Matthew 4:15ff; 8:11), announced in the “great commission” (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47), and implemented by the apostles, prophets, and others, as revealed in the book of Acts.

We must note in passing that when the New Testament speaks of preaching “Christ,” such expression not only denotes the historical facts regarding the person of Jesus, but also the truths concerning his kingdom and how to gain entrance into the same (cf. Acts 8:5, 12, 35ff).

“Believed on in the world”

Though a majority in the first-century world did not believe on Christ (cf. Isaiah 53:1; John 12:37; 1:11), nevertheless, many did (Acts 2:44; 4:4; 5:14; 9:42).

It must be understood, however, that the expression “believed on” does not denote a mere “faith-only” concept as implied in some of the creeds of protestantism). Rather, “faith,” or “believing” in Bible terminology, that avails in God’s sight is that which is active in obeying the Lord, as the following evidence indicates:

(1) John declares that “whosoever believes” should not perish, but have eternal life (3:16), while the writer of Hebrews affirms that eternal salvation is given to those who “obey” the Son (5:8, 9). Obviously, therefore, believing in Christ must include obedience as a requisite to salvation.

(2) John 3:36 affirms: “He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him” (ASV).

Note how the terms “believeth” and “obeyeth not,” as correctly reflected in the American Standard Version, stand in bold contrast. To believe is to obey!

(3) The Scriptures speak of being “obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).

(4) When the jailor at Philippi heard Paul’s proclamation of the gospel, acknowledged its validity, evidenced penitence, and submitted to immersion (Acts 16:31-33), Luke sums up the entire process by saying that he, along with his family, had “believed in God” (16:34).

(5) Romans 5:1 announces: “Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” In the same inspired document, however, the apostle argues that one is “made free from sin” after he has “become obedient from the heart” to the pattern of divine instruction (6:17, 18).

Since “peace with God” and being “made free from sin” are equivalent, it necessarily follows that the “faith” of 5:1 includes the “obedience” of 6:17. Indeed, one of the major emphases of the book of Romans is the “obedience of faith” (cf. 1:5; 16:26).

(6) The author of the book of Hebrews stresses that those Israelites who perished in the wilderness were condemned because they were “disobedient,” which, in fact, was an expression of their “unbelief ’(cf. Hebrews 3:18, 19; 4:3, 6 – ASV). The terms are employed interchangeably.

(7) The discussion of James, that faith apart from works is “dead,” “barren,” etc., is too well-known to need elaboration at this point (cf. James 2:14ff).

“Received up in glory”

This refers, of course, to the Lord’s reception into heaven some forty days following his resurrection from the dead. Jesus had prophesied that he must suffer and then enter into his glory (Luke 24:26); and so, following his bodily resurrection, he was “received up into heaven” (Mark 16:19; cf. Acts 1:2).

In these latter passages, the same verb (analambano) is used as that employed by Paul in his letter to Timothy. When Jesus entered into this glorious realm, all authority was made subject to him (Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:20ff).

Thus, Paul’s great “mystery of godliness,” when unfolded, is rich indeed. It is the gospel in seed form. It is intellectually satisfying, emotionally rewarding, and practically motivating.

May the church of the living God recognize her mission to proclaim these pearls of truth in a world that languishes in darkness and has no hope apart from the mission and message of Christ.

May you be blessed and encouraged as you walk in the way!

Pastor Barry.

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The First Gentile Convert

Barry Forder — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 21:35:26 +0000

This study was given as part of our verse-by-verse study of the Gospel of Mark on 9th December 2018. The full audio teaching and powerpoint slides are available for free download: https://www.calvaryportsmouth.co.uk/sermons/the-gospel-of-mark-15-27-47/

The First Gentile Convert

9 Events that made a Christ-follower out of a Roman Centurion

1. One of the first events is the fact that Pilate declares Jesus Christ to be innocent.
In Luke’s gospel, in an unprecedented move, Pilate says to the mob, . . . “I have found in Him no guilt . . .” (Luke 23:22)
As Pilate hands Jesus over to the centurion, instead of hearing the crimes committed against the state that justify the death sentence, he and his soldiers watch, according to Matthew’s account, Pilate wash his hands in a ceremonial manner and say, . . . “I am innocent of this Man’s blood . . .” (Matt 27:24)
Without a doubt, this got the centurion’s attention. He was a soldier who had given his life to protect and uphold the law of the land, and his leader just announced that this criminal had never broken the law.

2. The second event is an unusual exchange between Christ and a group of women.
As they made their way through the streets of Jerusalem toward Calvary, the centurion and his soldiers would hear Christ make an unusual statement to the daughters of Jerusalem. Luke, in chapter 23, records that women from the city were following Jesus and weeping because of His imminent death.
They were weeping not as much because of their faith in Him as because of their remorse over a Jewish man being executed in this manner by the Romans.
Instead of feeding off their kindness and their sympathy, the centurion hears Christ say to them, . . . “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me . . . weep for yourselves and for your own children.” (Luke 23:28) In other words, “Don’t be concerned about Me, be concerned about your own families.” Even in this hour, the compassion of our Lord causes Him to stop and tell these women that they and their nation are in grave danger.
Jesus, beaten beyond recognition, is on His way to die, and yet He shows compassion for other people who are also going to die.
This would certainly have seemed odd to soldiers well worn by the crying of the condemned for mercy. Had they ever seen a condemned man care about anyone else on his way to an excruciating death? These soldiers would be struck by the fact that Christ did not care about Himself at all!
3. The third event that would have mystified the soldiers is Christ’s refusal to drink the wine mixed with myrrh.
History records the custom of the Daughters of Jerusalem to, out of compassion for the condemned, provide wine mixed with myrrh – a narcotic drink intended to ease the pain of the crucified victim.
Mark informs us that when Christ reached Calvary, He was offered this drink but . . . He did not take it. (Mark 15:23)
Why did He not take this drink? Christ had work to do on the cross; He had things to say and would not be in a stupor. He would face death without an anaesthetic so that every word could be trusted; so that every final act could be recorded and freighted with divine meaning.

4. The fourth event is that Christ offers the soldiers forgiveness as they nail Him to the cross.
Luke writes further in chapter 23, When they came to Calvary there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.
But Jesus said [kept saying], “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. (Luke 23:33b-34)
The context clearly points to the often overlooked fact that Christ was not offering this prayer for the religious leaders who had come to mock Him. Jesus was praying for the soldiers. The Sanhedrin knew what they were doing, but these soldiers did not – they were simply on duty this fateful day.
- Can you imagine this scene? The Savior’s body was twisting in pain with each blow of the hammerand being jolted as it was raised upon the saddle, followed by further hammering through His feet, yet
  all the while He kept praying aloud, “Father, forgive them . . . forgive them . . . forgive them . . . they do
  
  not know what they are doing.” I cannot imagine any criminal these men had ever
  
  executed looking at them and offering prayers of forgiveness. Do not miss the fact that Jesus keeps praying to
  
  the “Father”. Even the Romans would have known enough to know that no Jew ever called God his
  
  “Father”. The centurion had listened as Pilate declared this Man innocent. He had heard Christ warn a group of
  
  women that He was not in danger with God, but they were. He had watched Christ refuse to drink the
  
  narcotic. He then heard this Man offer forgiveness to his soldiers for what they were doing.
  
  By now, I believe, the centurion is deeply wondering, “Just who is this Man?”

5. The fifth event is the pleading of one of the criminals to be given entrance into Christ’s kingdom.
Luke’s gospel account records the dramatic conversion of one of the criminals hanging next to Jesus. His eyes had been opened by the grace of God to the truth of Christ. He says, . . . “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” (Luke 23:42)
There is no doubt the centurion had already mulled over the meaning of the words on the placard behind Jesus’ head that declared Christ’s only crime, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” (Matthew 27:37)
Now, this soldier hears one of the condemned cry out to Jesus in faith, asking that Jesus allow him to enter His kingdom.

Surely this man on the centre cross will tell the criminal he has been misled and that this is all a myth. Surely He will say something like, “Do I look like a King?! Do I look like there’s a kingdom waiting for me?!”
Instead, the centurion and his soldiers are more than likely shocked to hear Jesus reply. . . “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
In other words, “I am the King of the Jews. I am the Messiah. There is a kingdom belonging to Me. I will give you entrance!”
After these words, nature, in the grip of Creator God, lends its voice to this scene on Calvary.

6. The sixth event is total darkness that sweeps in and covers the land.
Luke tells us that darkness blankets the earth at the sixth hour and that it lasts until the ninth hour (Luke 23:44).
The sixth hour happens to be noon! When the sun is at its zenith, it suddenly gets turned off like a light bulb.
Matthew tells us,. . . darkness fell upon all the land … (Matthew 27:45)
The word that is translated “land” is the Greek word “ge” (), which can refer to a region or to the entire world.
Sources outside the Bible indicate that the darkness was actually global.

One of these sources is a letter from Pilate to the Roman Emperor Tiberius in which he referred to the darkness he knew Tiberius had also experienced, even though Tiberius was not in the land of Israel at the time.
Pilate even mentioned that the darkness lasted from twelve to three o’clock in the afternoon
There is no doubt that the soldiers quickly started a fire in order to keep watch and that torches were lit as this supernatural darkness blotted out the sky for three hours.
From this point forward, I believe, the tone of everything changes.
The rabbis had taught for centuries that the darkening of the sun was a judgment from God

There is no more mocking or jeering. Everyone senses that God’s hand is somehow involved. Undoubtedly the religious leaders slip away.
In fact, Luke’s gospel tells us that after Jesus dies, the crowd that is still at this scene will return to Jerusalem weeping and in deep contrition (Luke 23:48).

–Commentators suggest that this crowd were among those who respond to Peter’s message on the day of Pentecost and become members of the newly created church.

During these three hours of darkness, Jesus makes more statements.

7. The seventh event occurs when the centurion hears the cry of agony and abandonment of Christ.
Suddenly, out of the darkness, Jesus cries, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mathew 27:46)
The centurion would have noticed that Jesus is not referring to God as His Father. For the first time in scripture, Jesus does not address God as His Father.
There is no intimate communion at this point,

–as Jesus takes upon Himself our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5);

–as Jesus who knew no sin becomes sin on our behalf (II Corinthians 5:21)

–as Jesus becomes a curse for us (Galatians 3:13);

–as Jesus is delivered up because of our transgressions (Romans 4:25) and as Jesus bears our sins in His body on the cross (I Pet 2:24).

Jesus Christ is expressing the agony of separation from His Father, but He is expressing it in a way that connects the specifics of death by crucifixion with the words of scripture.
This is one more piece of evidence that announced His deity.

8. The eighth event occurs when the centurion hears Christ deliver a shout of completion.
When the darkness is about to lift, John’s gospel records that Jesus cries out, . . . “It is finished!” . . . (John 19:30)
This statement is one word in the Greek language, “tetelestai,” which literally means, “paid in full”.The gospel was being delivered in a word. Jesus did not cry out, “I am finished,” but “It is finished!”
The perfect tense of this verb that He shouted means
“It is finished and it always will be finished.”
What a strange word this is for a dying man to cry. However, this is not strange for the Christian; this is the cry of the believer’s deliverance, the shout of their forgiveness, the declaration of their eternal justification.

This is not the end of story; it is merely picking up speed!
Luke then includes this final word as Jesus says,
“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” . . . (Luke 23:46)
The centurion hears Jesus reverting back to calling God “Father”.
Why did Jesus do this? Because it was finished!
In the darkness, on the cross Christ had paid the eternal sacrifice for our sins and now, no longer abandoned, Christ offers up His spirit to the care of His Father.

9. One of the final events that the centurion will literally feel is an earthquake.
As Christ bows His head in death, Mathew records that the earth began to shudder and shake so violently that rocks split apart (Matthew 27:51).
Throughout the course of Jewish history, an earthquake was a sign of the presence of God. This was true even to a Gentile Roman soldier – he had seen enough.
It is no wonder that the centurion stood at the
cross and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matt 27:54)

It all makes sense – the compassion, the dignity, the promise of a kingdom, the communication with God His Father, the darkness, the earthquake . . .
A Roman soldier is the first Gentile convert after the death of Christ – a conversion at Calvary.
From Luke’s account, this centurion was not quiet about his conversion either. The text says, he began praising God . . . (Luke 23:47)
The “Hallelujahs of the Cross” came first from the lips of a redeemed centurion. Imagine that! He came to faith beneath the dead Savior’s cross. He believed that this dead Man was indeed the King with a coming kingdom – the Son of God.

We place our faith in Him because He rose again – and surely He had to in order to validate His claim.
We place our faith in Him because He is alive.

–The centurion placed his faith in Him even though He had just died.

This soldier was the first to begin singing praises to God for the sacrifice and sufficiency of Christ. And rightly so! The “Hallelujahs” can begin at Calvary…because at Calvary:
the deal was done
forgiveness was finalized;
the sacrifice was offered;
Christ’s own lips declared, “It is and always will be finished.”

With grateful acknowledgement to Pastor Stephen Davey

http://www.wisdomonline.org/about/stephen_davey.html

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Wars, Famines & Earthquakes – this is just the beginning

Barry Forder — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 19:27:06 +0000

In our verse-by-verse journey through the Gospel of Mark we are reviewing the Olivet Discourse – the private briefing that Jesus gave to Peter, James, Andrew, and John on the Mt of Olives on the Tuesday before His crucifixion.

As Dr Arnold Fruchtenbaum states in his classic book on the return of Jesus: ‘The Footsteps of the Messiah’: “The famous Olivet Discourse of the Messiah occurred between two significant events. Immediately preceding the Olivet Discourse, the Messiah spoke the final words of His public ministry, found in Matthew 23:1-39, which contains the denunciation of the leadership of Israel, especially for their guilt in leading the nation to reject the Messiahship of Jesus. With these words, the public ministry of the Messiah as a prophet came to an end, and for the remainder of His last few days on earth, He would deal exclusively with His disciples. In verses 37-39, Jesus also laid down the precondition to the Second Coming, in the He will not return until the Jewish leaders ask Him to return. Just as the Jewish leaders once led the nation to reject His Messiahship, a day must come when they will lead the Jewish people to accept His Messiahship”.

In this session, we look at Jesus warnings and comments that:

False Christs will come and deceive many
There will be wars and rumors of wars

Both of these we have seen through the last 2000 years, and Jesus said they were to be expected and should not surprise us! But then, quoting from 2 Chronicles 15:1-7, Jesus revealed that a time was coming; like in the days of king Asa of Judah, when the nations around Israel would be constantly warring with each other and threatening Israel’s existence, but that this would be a catalyst to draw Israel back to Himself: “But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them” 2 Chron 15:4.

Since 1948, when Israel became a nation in the eyes of the world again, there has been constant warring amongst Israel’s neighbors, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Lybia, and most recently the on-gong conflict in Syria. In each of these conflicts, Israel has had to remain on a heightened state of alert, prepared for iminant attack from its warring neighbors who have one thing in common – their distain for Israel.

Jesus also quoted from the prophet Isaiah (Is 19:1-4) who, some 700 years before Christ spoke of the turmoil in Egypt, seemingly alluding to the Islamic oppression and division in that nation that we have seen in the past decade, and also highlighting the Islamic infighting between Sunni’s and Shi’a on a larger scale with Islamic kingdom against Islamic kingdom.

Jesus highlighted that along with these things will be an increase in earthquakes, famines and disease.

Since the year 2000 there has been a significant increase in earthquakes worldwide, but that is not even the ‘birth pangs’! Jesus was referring to the time of God’s coming Judgment (phase 1) which He labels as ‘The Beginning of Sorrows’ recorded in Revelation chapter 6, depicted by the four horsemen:

–White Horse

Antichrist conquers through false peace

–Red Horse

Peace taken from the earth – ¼ of the earth die

–Black Horse

Famine following time of war

–Pale Horse

Violence / Famine / Pestilence

“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17)

Whilst this is a truly terrifying prospect, Jesus promised a way of escaping these things for those who trust in Him!

If you want to find out more, please join us on a Sunday morning if you live in the Portsmouth / Havant area.

If not, why not try and connect with a Calvary Chapel church near you? – Go to… http://calvarychapel.uk/churches/

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post Wars, Famines & Earthquakes – this is just the beginning first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Lots of Questions!

Barry Forder — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 22:22:02 +0000

On the Tuesday before the Crucifixion (that would take place on the Thursday of Passion Week) Jesus went back into Jerusalem from Bethany (where He had been staying) to do battle with the Jewish leadership.

We see Jesus rile the Pharisees by exposing that they were seeking to kill him – which they were, but they didn’t want the crowd to get wind of it for fear that public sympathy for Jesus would scupper their plans.

Jesus tells the parable of a ‘certain man’ (God the Father) who planted a ‘vineyard’ (the Nation of Israel), and set a ‘hedge’ around it (The Law), and digged a ‘place for the winefat’ (Jerusalem), and built a ‘tower’ (the Throne of David), but then went away for a while (see Hosea 3:4) and left His vineyard in the care of the ‘husbandmen’ (the Jewish Leadership).

Jesus tells of how, at the appointed time, God sent His servants (the Prophets) to the Nations of Israel, but they had been rejected, shamefully treated, stoned and even murdered. Jesus then tells of how the Son (Jesus) of the ‘Certian Man’ (God the Father) was also sent and killed.

Bear in mind, this was only two days before this (the crucifixion) would happen, and the Jewish leadership actually wanted to avoid arresting Jesus over the time of the Feast – something that was now becoming a much harder prospect! They were losing ground and had to act fast. The plan to arrest Jesus needed to be stepped up!

After a short while (probably less than an hour later), the Pharisees come back, but this time with their own enemies, the Herodians! The Herodians were loyal to Rome, the Pharisees despised Roman rule – but they now perceived they had a common threat (at least that is how the Pharisees must have spun it to the Herodians!). Together they try to outwit and trick Jesus regarding the hot subject of paying Taxes to Rome. They thought that Jesus would have no way out of this one! Either he would show Himself a traitor to Rome, or a traitor to His own people and country of Israel. Yet Jesus is the one who made the heavens and all the laws that govern the solar system! He was not about to fall for their cunning!

Jesus’ answer stunned them!

“Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s… Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s”

In a moment of time, Jesus cuts between the physical world and the spiritual. The coin had Caesar’s image, so belonged to him. We have been made in God’s image to belong to Him!

Seeing the Pharisees taking a battering, the Sadducees now step up with a question about resurrection. Jesus slices through their shallow theology with the Word of God and shows that resurrection is part of God’s plan! (Paul comprehensively addresses this question in 1 Corinthians 15).

Finally, as his detractors are running out of steam (and ideas!), a scribe steps forward and finally asks a good question. Jesus emphasises the importance of the heart in serving God and our fellow men.

To conclude the chapter, another object lesson on serving God is recorded by Mark as he recounts the woman who gave her last two mites.

It is not about how much you give, but about the heart. We are called to give Him all, not out of a sense of obligation, but out of gratitude. And not just money. Too many Christians give what doesn’t cost them. Many are happy to give money, as if that somehow relieves them of their obligation to serve in any other way.

“It’s no use being half a disciple, for half is not at all. God above doesn’t work in fractions, you’ve got to give Him all”

Words from a song by a friend

May you be blessed and encouraged by these comments from our verse-by-verse study of Mark 12.

Please join us each Sunday (10:30 -12:30) if you can.

Pastor Barry.

The post Lots of Questions! first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Righteous Anger, Faith, Prayer & Grace

Barry Forder — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 15:58:55 +0000

In the first part of Mark 11 we saw Jesus arrive at Bethany on the Saturday evening, and then ride into Jerusalem on ‘Palm Sunday’, fulfilling the prophecy given by Gabriel, recorded in Daniel chapter 9 to the very day!

Now Mark records that when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem he went to the Temple looked around and then went back out to Bethany for the evening. He makes no mention (as do Matthew and Luke) of the tables in the Temple being turned over that day. However the next day (Monday) as Jesus comes back into Jerusalem (passing and cursing the fig tree) Mark records that Jesus “began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves”. (Mark 11:15-17). It’s hard to imagine the commotion as Jesus sent table and coins flying, doves escaping and the crowd looking on in wonder!

Mark’s reveals that this was the second time in two days that Jesus turned over the tables in the Temple. Matthew and Luke both record that the same thing had happened the day before (on Palm Sunday) when Jesus had first arrived at Jerusalem. On that occasion Jesus cast out ‘them that sold & bought in the temple, overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves’ quoting from Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11. He also healed the blind and lame and answered the chief priests and scribes who saw what was happening and were incensed that the crowd were hailing Him the Messiah.

In contrast, Mark records that the next day the money changers etc. were back again, so Jesus again drives them out, quoting again from Isaiah and Jeremiah, but this time adding Isaiah’s words that the Temple would be called of all nations the house of prayer – a shocking thought for the Jews, that Gentiles would have a claim on their beloved Temple. In addition Mark also records that on this occasion Jesus taught the people – who were ‘astonished at His doctrine’; but this time the scribes and chief priests were not present but heard about these things. This was getting too much for them who, Mark tells us, now started to plot how they might destroy Him. Compare Matthew 21:12-17 (on the Sunday) with Mark 11:15-19 (on the Monday)

We so often have the Sunday School impression of Jesus ‘Gentle Jesus meek & mild…”, – and He is gentle: “a bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench” Matt 12:20. But He is also stern and will not hesitate to turn over the tables in our lives is we forget the significance of the ‘Temple’ (our lives are to be a Temple – set apart and holy). If we let tradition and religion crowd out the relationship that God so desires expect things to go flying! If and when He does, remember that He will always following it by teaching us some valuable lesson.

The next day Peter notices the fig tree all withered up. “There were many trees with only leaves, and these were not cursed. There were many trees with neither leaves nor fruit, and these were not cursed. This tree was cursed because it professed to have fruit, but did not”. (David Guzik). As we commented:

Israel is likened to a fig tree in Scripture (Joel 1:7)
The first time we see Figs they are associated with protection (Gen 3:7 / 1 Kings 4:25 / Micah 4:4)
Israel’s primary calling was to be protection (a covering) for the lineage of the Seed of the Woman
- Ref Revelation 12
But Israel (like a Fig) were also to provide sweetness to the world (Judges 9:11 / Hosea 9:10)
Instead, Israel failed to produce the fruit that it should have done (Joel 1:12)

Let us learn and ensure that our lives are producing the fruit they should! – one such fruit is Faith (Gal 5:22). Using the example of the cursed Fig tree Jesus then challenged the disciples as to their faith, but that faith must be in God!

God delights in answering us, but there are some things that can hinder our prayers! (See Psalm 66:18 / 1 Peter 3:7). Refusing to forgive others will prevent God’s blessing in our lives. We either chose to live under Grace (and show grace to others), or demand our rights under the law (and then find that we would be judged under the Law – which none of us could survive!).

May you be blessed and encouraged as you continue to study His word!

Go to our teaching library for all the verse-by-verse studies from the Gospel of Mark

https://www.calvaryportsmouth.co.uk/sermon-book/mark/

The post Righteous Anger, Faith, Prayer & Grace first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Precision of Prophecy

Barry Forder — Sun, 16 Sep 2018 20:51:54 +0000

On Sunday’s we have been studying verse-by-verse through the Gospel of Mark, and have just reached chapter 11.

Up to this point Mark has provided overwhelming evidence, from eyewitness accounts that Jesus really is the Messiah, but if that hasn’t been enough for some, Chapter 11 seals it!

As Jesus arrived on the outskirts of Jerusalem, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples on ahead to get a young donkey and bring it to Him; the owners willingly let it go. This wasn’t a ‘spur of the moment’ thing, Jesus was intentionally fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9; “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”. (see also John 12:14-15)

Mark records: “And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples, And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest” (Mark 11:1-10)

For three and a half years Jesus had all but refused to receive praise and recognition, particularly from the crowd; now He not only receives it, He has actually planned the whole event!

What makes this even more incredible is that the crowd are singing Psalm 118 – the very Psalm that would be sung when the Messiah arrived! “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.” (Psalm 118:22-26)

Just in case we miss the intensity of the situation, the Pharisees come to the rescue and underline exactly what is going on. Luke records: “And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples”. (Luke 19:39)

To the Pharisees this was blasphemy; the crowd were declaring that Jesus was the Messiah, the King of Israel; but instead of silencing the crowd as He had done in the past, “Jesus answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” (Luke 19:40)

When Jesus finally arrived at Jerusalem “He beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. (Luke 19:41-44)

Whilst this crowd and His disciples had recognised who He was, Jerusalem at large lay blissfully unaware of what was happening outside, and exactly what day this was.

Later that day, In John 12 we read: “Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit. He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.” (John 12:23-27)

This day was no ordinary day, nor were these events random – Jesus had planned every detail in advance, to happen on this very day. All of His ministry He had urged people not to make Him known; He had walked away when the people had wanted to make Him King. He had repeatedly said that His time had not yet come. Now it had.

So why this particular day? What was so special about it? And why was it such a disaster that the Jews did not recognise what was happening before their eyes?

Our answer is found in a prophecy recorded by the prophet Daniel over 500 years before, at a time when the city of Jerusalem lay in ruins and the people had just come to the end of their Babylonian captivity.

Daniel was just a teenager when he was taken away captive from his home in Israel to Babylon; however, by the time we get to chapter 9 of his book, the first period of 70 years, known as the ‘servitude of the nation’, as prophesied by Jeremiah had now ended. Therefore, having seen that God’s promise regarding the people had been fulfilled literally, (God says what He means and means what He says!) Daniel set his heart to pray for the city of Jerusalem which still lay in ruins (and would do so for a further 19 years – until the 2^nd period of 70 years, ‘the desolations of Jerusalem’ was complete).

In answer to Daniel’s twofold prayer for the future of his people the city of Jerusalem, God sent the angel Gabriel to give Daniel possibly the most amazing prophecy in the entire Bible:

“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. 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. 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. (Dan 9:24-27)

The whole prophecy is of vital importance in understanding not only the future of Israel, but also in understanding the order and timing of events that will take place at the end of this current age leading up to Christ’s Second Coming. Jesus Himself confirmed this in Matthew 24 when His disciples asked Him to explain when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (Matt 24:3). Jesus pointed them to this prophecy in Daniel as being the key to understanding these things. It is, however, the first half of the prophecy that is of incredible significance to our study.

The prophecy starts with the scope of the whole prophecy and to whom it refers: “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city” Although ‘seventy weeks’ is a strange term to us, it was not to the Jews. There are several Hebrew words that are all translated as ‘week’ in the English. There is a week of days (i.e. 7 days), a week of weeks (i.e. 7 weeks), a week of months (i.e. 7 months), and a week of years (i.e. 7 years). The word here is ‘shawbooah’ which is a week of years. The same word is used in Genesis 29:27 when Jacob worked for 7 years to marry Rachel, only to find that he had married Leah by ‘mistake’! Jacob protested because he had already served 7 years for Rachel, so Laban told him to fulfil Leah’s ‘week’. This was a ‘double meaning’ for Jacob was to complete the wedding ceremony that was to last for seven days, but also work for another 7 years to pay for Leah, and he could have Rachel too. So in effect Daniel was told that seventy 7-year periods (= 490 years) were determined on his people, the Jews, and on his holy city which was of course, Jerusalem. Gabriel then told Daniel what would be accomplished during the time of this prophecy:

……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”. By the end of the seventy 7-year periods (490 years / 70 ‘weeks’), all of these things will be done. The final 7-years (70th ‘week’) of this prophecy are yet future and still to be completed; the first 483 years (69 ‘weeks’) however, are now a matter of history, that portion of the prophecy having already been fulfilled.

Daniel is told that starting with a command to restore and to build Jerusalem, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks which give us a total of sixty-nine weeks, after which the Messiah will come. During that period the city of Jerusalem would be rebuilt, albeit in difficult circumstances. We know that from history this command was given on the 1^st Nisan 445 BC by the Persian king Artaxerxes Longimanus to Nehemiah; this is recorded in Nehemiah 2:1-6. In our calendar this was the 14^th March 445 BC¹⁹. From that point, Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem, and amidst much opposition, rebuilt the city.

If we now do the maths, from the time the command was given there were to be sixty-nine weeks unto Messiah the King

As we have mentioned, the Hebrew word translated ‘weeks’ means a week of years, i.e. 7 years. Therefore we have 69 x 7 = 483 years. We also need to be aware that in the Bible, when we are dealing with prophecy, a year is always reckoned to be 360 days in length. (See Rev 11:2-3)

As an aside there is good evidence to suggest that the earth used to be on a 360 day orbit up until 701 BC, at which point all the ancient calendars were for some reason changed. Almost all of the ancient cultures used to work on a 360 day year, and, as noted by Sir Isaac Newton, this is from where we get 360 ⁰ in a circle etc.

If we now take our 483 years and multiply them by 360 days per year we find that the exact length of the prophecy was to be a period of 173,880 days from the giving of the command until the Messiah would make Himself know to Israel.

Taking our start date of 14^th March 445 BC and counting forward an interval of 173,880 days we come to the 6^th April 32 AD, or in the Jewish calendar Sunday 10^th Nisan 32 AD – the very day that Jesus presented Himself to Israel as Messiah the King, riding into Jerusalem on a donkey!

This prophecy was written down over 500 years before the event and is undeniable proof that Jesus is the Messiah. This is why Jesus wept over Jerusalem and held them accountable for knowing what day it was. It was written down in their beloved ‘T’Nach’ – the Hebrew Old Testament, they had no excuse for not knowing. As a result of this, national blindness was pronounced upon Israel:

“He beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes…. because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. (Luke 19:42)

According to the apostle Paul in the book of Romans, this spiritual blindness will last ‘until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in’ (Romans 11:25), at which point (during the tribulation) Israel will finally realise that Jesus is the promised Messiah and repent, calling out to Him to deliver them in their darkest hour. (See Hosea 5:15 – 6:3 / Joel 2:12-15 / Zechariah 12:10).

We have spoken much about models and anticipatory types in the Old Testament; now we begin to see the whole picture and start to marvel at God’s design.

As we read earlier in Exodus 12:3-6, God said to Moses: “Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb…..Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year……….And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it [between] the evening[s].”

On the 10^th of Nisan Jesus was taken, He was a lamb without blemish in whom was no sin. Then on the 14^th Nisan, between the evenings, the ‘whole congregation’ of Israel shouted ‘Crucify’ and watched their Messiah die.

This was God’s plan all along. “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matt 20:28)

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things….But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,” (1

Peter 1:18-20)

“………..the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Rev 13:8)

The post The Precision of Prophecy first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Every Detail Matters!

Barry Forder — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 12:02:37 +0000

In the last post, I highlighted how Satan had engineered a genetic problem with the potential to wipe out humanity (as recorded in Genesis ch6). Satan’s intention was to stop the Seed of the Woman (the Messiah) from being born, thus condemning mankind to an eternity separated from God. It was this that led to the Flood as God cleansed the world from this evil menace. However after the flood, Satan tried again (Gen 6:4), this time focussing on the land of Canaan – the very land that God had promised to Abraham as his permanent possession. It was because of this that God had called Abraham and his descendants to remain completely separate from the people inhabiting Canaan.

However, in Genesis 38 we see Judah, as a young 20 yr old, falling for that same old lie… “has God really said?”. “Does it really matter?” “Is it really that important?”. Judah then goes and takes a Canaanite wife and has three sons with her.

How many people – even Christians – fall for the same lie continually?

YES IT DOES MATTER! The details ARE important. You cannot pick and chose which parts of God’s WORD you take! You are fallible, God is not. God’s ways and thoughts are higher than yours! You do not know enough about the eternal consequences of your actions to simply ignore even the smallest detail in God’s Word!

But because God is a God of grace, He steps into the situation and Judah’s ‘corrupted’ offspring are taken out of the way.

Judah (inadvertently) then ends up having a child with his daughter-in-law, also a descendant of Shem (of the same uncorrupted family line that came down to Abraham).

Their son, Pharez, although born out of wedlock, becomes the subject of a remarkable prophecy found in the book of Ruth, which points to David as God’s choice as king of Israel, and as we know, it will later be one of David’s descendants who will not only sit on his throne, but will be the Messiah and Saviour of the World!

…and to think, all of this hinges on the events of Genesis 38!

Just as Isaiah records: “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him”. (Isaiah 59:19)

More from our study in Genesis next week…

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

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The Old Testament’s God of Love!

Barry Forder — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 08:24:30 +0000

Critics of the Old Testament will often point to the ‘genocide’ (as they see it) that God apparently condones. Chapter 36 of Genesis serves as a reminder that God’s blessings come, not from embracing and intermarrying with the world and its systems, but by remaining separate from them! Unlike his brother Jacob, Esau didn’t see the need to remain ‘set-apart’, he didn’t see the danger – at least at first! He happily takes two Canaanite wives (which were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebecca – Gen 26:35), and a third wife, the daughter of Ishmael.

But chapter 36 focuses on Esau’s children, and the families he (and his sons) had married in to.

The inhabitants of Mt Seir (aka Edom) were not your average neighbours! They were the descendants of the Nephilim that we read about in Genesis 6:

“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown”. (Gen 6:1-4).

What the critics (and sadly many Christians) simply don’t get is that there was a genetic problem with the potential to wipe out humanity, and at the very least, stop the Seed of the Woman from being born (that, of course, was Satan’s real intention in all of this!). This is the reason our God, who is a God of Love, sent the flood; and this is the reason Israel destroyed these giant tribes in Canaan, and after what must have been a brief honeymoon period, Esau set about destroying the very people he had unwittingly married into, by now, surely beginning to realise the danger they posed!

Deuteronomy chapter 2 states: “The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites call them Emims. The Horims also dwelt in Seir beforetime; but the children of Esau succeeded them, when they had destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which the LORD gave unto them”. (Deut 2:10-12).

Genesis chapter 36 is not just a list of names we have trouble pronouncing, it is a reminder of the covenant God has made with mankind, to send a Saviour to deliver us from this present darkness!

Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

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From Ruin to Restoration

Barry Forder — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 07:50:39 +0000

One of the compelling reasons we know the Bible to be true is that it never just seeks to flatter its heroes. No attempt is made to simply gloss over their imperfections and mistakes; in fact, the opposite is true! The Bibles gives it to us ‘warts and all’! We see this in the life of Jacob, on one hand, the great patriarch of the nation, on the other, a scheming, conniving man who struggled to keep his house in order.

In Genesis 34 we are given the sad account of Jacob’s daughter Dinah’s flirtation with the world. It started off as simple curiosity, maybe with so many brothers in the house, Dinah wanted some female company for a change! But when we are not content with our circumstances, when we think the lot we have been given isn’t enough, or that it won’t satisfy, we leave ourselves open to temptation.

We see this with the tribe of Dan in the book of Judges. They were not content with the land – the boundaries – God had set for them on the west of Israel. Instead, they took a piece of land right at the top of Israel; but because of this they fell into idolatry through the influence of the surrounding nations. Whenever we are not content with the boundaries God sets for us, it will inevitably lead to compromise and idolatry.

Just as we see in Psalm 1, Dinah started off by just ‘walking’ past, then find’s herself ‘standing’ and observing. Soon she is found ‘sitting in the seat of the scornful’. That is not to say for a moment she deserved what happened, Shechem’s treatment of her was despicable! But if she had just realised – as so many young people need to know today – that the bright lights of the city do not bring the love and acceptance people crave. There will be a city, one day, whose Bright light we will be drawn to – when Christ is The Light in the New Jerusalem – but until then we need to understand that ‘all our fresh springs are in Christ’. All that we are looking for and longing for is found only in Christ. Never in this world.

Dinah ends up staying in Shechem, as so many do, mistaking lust for love.

Jacob could have acted, he didn’t. There are important parenting lessons to be gleaned here!

But that is not the end of the story! We read:

“Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.” (Gen 35:2-4)

We may have failed, we may have not done what we should, we might have been a little too attracted to the world, but the LORD is gracious, and if we are willing to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God (1 Peter 5:6), if we are willing to confess our sin (1 John1:8-9) – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:16) – we can pack up, bury our false gods at the foot of Calvary’s Tree, and make the short journey to Bethel – the House of God.

(The audio teaching for Genesis 34-45 is now available online – https://www.calvaryportsmouth.co.uk/sermons/genesis-chapter-34-35/)

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post From Ruin to Restoration first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

This Sunday – Genesis 10 & 11

Barry Forder — Thu, 11 May 2017 21:12:01 +0000

This Sunday (14th May) we continue our verse-by-verse study of the Book of Genesis – looking at Genesis 10 & 11.

These are two chapters that the critics love to dismiss as fiction or just simply Hebrew poetry. In fact, even one prominent Christian evangelist told me this was just ‘Hebrew poetry penned in Babylon’! He’d no doubt be surprised to learn that the ‘Table of Nations’, recorded in Genesis 10, has been historically verified – it’s true! All of it!

Dr Bill Cooper, in his book ‘After The Flood’ traces the kings and queens of England all the way back to Noah! Now that’s something they don’t teach you in school!

Please join us if you can, or visit this web site again after the 15th May 17 to download the audio teaching and powerpoint slides of the study.

Blessings!

Pastor Barry.

The post This Sunday – Genesis 10 & 11 first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

He has not left Himself without a witness!

Barry Forder — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 08:25:39 +0000

Acts 14:17 tells us that God has not leftHimself without a witness. It should, therefore, come as no surprise that when we come to a passage like Genesis 5, one that has been heavily attacked and ridiculed by critics of the Bible, we find it vindicated by both the witness of archaeology, and by incredible deliberate design built into text, all of which attest to its authenticity as the very Word of God.

Genesis 5 gives us the genealogy from Adam to Noah, both of whom Jesus spoke of as real historical characters (Matt 10:4 / Luke 17:26). Yet the critics have been quick to tell us that the long lifetimes recorded in this chapter are nothing but fiction. However, in the 19th century, a number of cunieform tablets were discovered that not only seemed to corroborate the long lifetimes recorded before the Flood, but now, thanks to the excellent scholarship of Dr Bill Cooper, have yielded another remarkable discovery.

The cunieform tablets in questions are collectively known as the Sumerian King List, one of the principle finds being WB 444, also known as the Weld-Blundell Prisim which currently resides at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford (UK).

The list gives us 8kings who ruled over 5 cities before “the Flood swept thereover”. This on its own is very interesting, as here we have an independent witness that speaks of the world that then was being destroyed by a flood, just as detailed in Genesis 6-9. However, the list also records a dramatic decrease in the life-spans of those listed after the Flood when compared to the kings before the Flood.

Now, all of this was actually known over 2000 years ago, although the critics chose to ignore it! In around 280 B.C. the Babylonian priest, Berosus, was asked by Antiochus I to translate a list of these Sumerian Kings into Greek. Up until the recent discoveries, this list of Berosus was considered spurious and not taken seriously. Probably because it gave too much credence to the Biblical account! Critics (ever struggling to hold their ground) point out that the ages of the kings in the list are impossible as there are even more ‘far fetched’ than the Biblical account. The oldest king in the list is said to have reigned for 43,200 years. However, neither Berosus in his Greek translation nor the other cuneiform documents mention years – something the critics know but choose to ignore! The unit of measurement is actually ‘saros’ (and more specifically ‘sari’. The Sumerians used a ‘sexagesimal’ system of mathematics (based on the number 60). Dr Bill Cooper comments:“Berosus wasn’t giving us a period of time measured in years, but one that is measured in Lunar months, and the 7-day units of those months”….“Well, 60 months equal 5 years, and if we divide 432,000 by 5 we are left with the product of 86,400, which happens also to be the number of weeks in the 1,656 years Genesis gives us”! This is remarkable!! Here we have a secular list dating back over 4000 years that gives exactly the same time period from Creation to the Flood as recorded in detail in the Bible – in Genesis chapter 5.

“So once again, and in distinct contradiction to all that the modernists say, Genesis shows itself to be the older and by far the purer account. Moreover, the longevity of its patriarchs – a point of much scoffing in the modernist camp – is seen to be corroborated to a surprising degree by two independent and very ancient sources” – The Authenticity of Genesis, by Dr Bill Cooper, available from:www.genesisexpo.org.uk

If that is impressive, the next thing we will look at here is truly outstanding and gives undeniable proof that the Bible is from outside our time domain and is the work of a God who “knows the end from the beginning” (Isiah 46:9-10).

Our list in Genesis 5 begins with Adam, whose name in Hebrew simply means ‘man’. It is interesting to note that whilst Adam was made in God’s image, his son, Seth, we are told was made in the image and likeness of Adam. Only Adam and Christ (His physical body) were directly created by God. For this reason, Paul, in Romans 5, calls Jesus the 2nd Adam. Both Adam and Jesus were sinless. Adam failed and brought death into the world. Jesus overcame sin & the devil and brought everlasting life to all who will receive Him.

The next in our genealogy is Seth. We are told in Genesis 4:25 that Seth means “Appointed” – “and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew”.

At the end of chapter 4 we noted that it was in the days of Seth’s son Enos that “men began to [profane] the name of the Lord”. Why would this be? With Adam still alive and memories of the Garden of Eden still vivid, how could man turn so quickly away from God to the extent that they would blaspheme His holy name? The clue is given throughout this chapter, at the end of every sentence, for there we read “…and he died” (with the exception of Enoch whom we’ll get to in a moment!). For the first time, fledgling humanity is brought face to face with the reality of death. Yes, Abel had died at the hand of his brother, but at some point in these verses, we would have had the first person to die of natural causes. That must have been terrifying. It is curious how death so often has one of two reactions: either it draws us closer to God, or it causes deep resentment, feeling that death is in some way unfair. Seemingly here, a number of people felt bitterness at the loss of loved ones. Now, it is not necessarily a nice name to give your child, but how applicable then that Seth names his son ‘Enos’, meaning “mortal,” “frail,” or “miserable.” (It is from the root anash, to be incurable; used of a wound, grief, woe, sickness, or wickedness).

It doesn’t get much better with Enos either, as he names his son Kenan, meaning “sorrow,” “dirge,” or “elegy.”

Thankfully, even in the midst of darkness and despair, the Lord is always there, and Kenan, maybe clinging to the hope of Genesis 3:15 and the promise of a Seed to deliver man from this body of death, names his son Mahalalel, which means “blessed” or “praise”; combined with the ending El, the name for God. His name means: “The Blessed God.”

Next, we have Jared, whose name comes from the verb yaradh, meaning “shall come down.” Dr Chuck Missler, among other scholars, suggest that it was during the days of Jared that the Angels ‘who left their first estate’ (Jude 6), and came to take the women of the earth, producing ungodly offspring, first ‘came down’ (we will discuss this in more detail in the coming weeks).

The one exception to this list of death is Jared’s son Enoch. Enoch’s name means ‘teaching’ and significantly, 1 Corinthians 10 tells us that the things that were written aforetime were written for our learning – especially in these last days. Throughout the Old Testament, we see countless models that pre-figure an event that was to take place at some point in the future. It is no coincidence that Enoch was raptured (taken alive from earth to heaven without dying) at one of the darkest periods in the pre-Flood world. Elijah, another who was raptured, was taken to heaven at arguably the darkest time in Israel’s history during the reign of king Ahab and queen Jezebel. There can be no question we are now living at one of the darkest times spiritually the world has ever known, and the Rapture of the Church is imminent!

It is also fascinating that Enoch’s prophecy [the first one uttered by a prophet in the Bible] is recorded in Jude, and it concerns the return of Jesus at the Second Coming were He is seen coming with His saints to execute judgment on the earth.

Before his rapture, however, Enoch had a son to whom he gave one of the most bizarre names ever! It is a compound name comprising two Hebrew roots. The first is muth, meaning “death”, the second is shalach, which means “to bring,” or “to send forth.”. Literally, Methuselah means “His death shall bring.” We can only wonder at what Enoch’s close relationship and walk with God had revealed to him? But what we do know (with the benefit of hindsight) is that Methuselah’s name and life were a prophecy that spoke of God’s longsuffering in the days leading up to the Flood (see 1 Peter 3:20), for we discover that the very year Methusaleh died was the exact year the Flood came – quite literally, when he died, it came! Methuselah lived longer than any other human being, a stagering 969 years! One again, critics may scoff at so great an age, but we do know the earth was once very different, with greater oxygen content than we have now (which would have a significant effect on the human body); there would have been hardly any disease or sickness, and the water canopy surrounding the earth would have provided protection from solar radiation.

We are not told if Methusalah knew the significance of his name, but he names his son ‘Lamech’ – from whcih we derive the word ‘Lament’. In Hebrew it simply meant ‘despairing’.

But out of all this sadness comes hope. In Genesis chapter 6 we read: “And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD“ (Gen 6:6-8)

Lamech named his son ‘Noah’ meaning ‘comfort or ‘rest’.“saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed”.(Gen 5:29)

Now, that is an incredible list of names, each one so applicable to their own lives, yet the truely asounding thing is seen when we put all the names together, for when we do we see this:

Man [is] Appointed Mortal sorrow, [but] The blessed God Shall come down Teaching [that] His death shall bring [the] Dispairing Comfort!

That is the Christian gospel concelaed in a geneology in Genesis 5! There is no way Jewish scribes consipred to put the Christian gospel into their beloved TORAH, nor could they have manipulated over 1500 years of history that occured before the nation of Israel had even been born to do this!

The only explanation for this is that God has intentionally conceld this in the names recorded in the text as a proof and demonstration of the supernatural origin of His Word. That means we can trust not only this chapter in its entirity, but also the whole councel of God given to us in the pages of the Bible.

I hope this stirs your hearts and minds to undertake the greatest jourtney of all – to read from Genesis to Revelation though God’s word! If you have never done this, you might find our “Though the Bible in a Year” teaching series beneficial. There are 48 studies that go from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22 complete with Powerpoint slides – all avaialbe for free download on this web site. Just click on the ‘Teaching and Audio link at the top of the home page (or click this link:https://www.calvaryportsmouth.co.uk/sermon-series/through-the-bible/)

Next time… ‘The Flood of Noah’

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post He has not left Himself without a witness! first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Three Words That Changed Everything!

Barry Forder — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 17:49:10 +0000

They are the most damaging, malicious and vengeful three words ever uttered in time and space.

“Has God said?”

Satan’s objective was clear; cause Eve to doubt God’s Word, in so doing, get her to focus on this forbidden fruit. If Eve fell for Satan’s ruse, he would be able to lay claim to this World that he so greatly desired, and Adam & Eve would forfeit all that had been given to them and be subject to God’s wrath.

History is now the lamentable record of Satan’s victory in the Garden of Eden and God’s incredible plan of Redemption to right the wrong. He is, in this current order of things, the ‘god of this world’ (2 Cor 4:4). The kingdoms of this would have been given over to him, for now (Luke 4:5-6).

Satan has successfully employed the same method ever since. The moment he can cause even the slightest doubt in God’s Word, he has a foothold. We have had attempts to undermine, re-define and allegorise Scripture, each time with the same question: ‘has God said’?

We have had the documentary hypothesis, textual criticism, liberalism and forgeries that claim to be older and more reliable manuscripts of the Bible – yet which omit entire verses and call into question scores of others, all of which are nothing more than the regurgitation of these most pernicious three words.

In this study of Genesis chapter 3, we look at the Fall of man and the introduction of God’s plan of redemption. I pray that you will be blessed and encouraged by these comments. If you want to listen to the audio teaching on Genesis chapter 3 (complete with PowerPoint slides), go to the following link: https://www.calvaryportsmouth.co.uk/sermon-series/sunday-morning-studies/

Genesis 3:1

1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

The first question to answer is, what is this ‘serpent’, and why was it made more subtle than any living thing?

There is a clue in the word for ‘subtle’ עָרוּם (aruwm) which has a negative connotation and in Hebrew it implies cunning (usually in a bad sense) – which begs then the question, why would God make a creature that was deliberately deceitful in a Creation He declared ‘very good’? In 2 Corinthians 11:3 we are told that the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, i.e. the serpent acted with intent. In Revelation 12 we are given a specific link between the serpent and Satan.

There seems to be an implied comparison in this verse, where on one hand we have ‘every living creature that the LORD God made’ and on the other hand we have this creature. Somehow, Satan used this creature to manifest himself and turned it from whatever God had created it to be, into an instrument of deception.

The next question is why would Eve stop and listen to a talking snake?

The fact that Eve doesn’t immediately run away is a good indication that she was not surprised by this! The fact that she happily engages in conversation with this serpent suggests a familiarity.

This itself should come as no surprise for in the book of Ezekiel (ch 28) we are told that Satan (then known as Lucifer) was in the Garden of Eden. Initially, he was a perfect and beautiful Angelic being, so there is no reason Adam and Eve would not have already known Satan in his un-fallen state. Interestingly, the Hebrew word for serpent is ‘Nachash’ meaning ‘shining one’

So when this beautiful creature engages Eve in conversation it was probably nothing new to her, hence she was willing to listen to this beautiful and captivating being.

“Has God said?”

It’s either God’s Word or man’s. Either we believe that God has said what He means and means what He says, or it’s a free-for-all!

Peter tells us that ‘prophecy is of no private interpretation (2 Peter 2:20), but this applies to all Scripture – to everything that God has said! It is not up to us to decide or vote upon what God meant!

Eve’s simple failing here was to entertain the question! (but let’s not be too harsh on Eve, not only is she our great, great, great…..grandmother, we would have all (and actually have all) done the same!

A.W. Tozer said: “Let a man question the inspiration of the Scriptures and a curious, even monstrous, inversion takes place: thereafter he judges the Word instead of letting the Word judge him; he determines what the Word should teach instead of permitting it to determine what he should believe; he edits, amends, strikes out, adds at his pleasure; but always he sits above the Word and makes it amenable to him instead of kneeling before God and becoming amenable to the Word”. (A W Tozer, “Man the Dwelling Place of God,” chapter 26,)

Significantly, despite the claims and allegations to the contrary, the Bible has stood the test of time. God’s Word has never failed; He has preserved His Word and it will stand forever (see Psalm 12:7 / Isaiah 40:8). Yet Satan has continued to say ‘Has God said…’ and many sincere people have given him their ear and doubted God’s Word, questioned what He has said, and ultimately fallen from the simplicity of a child-like faith in Him and been plunged into a life of doubt.

Notice Satan’s question: It is itself a distortion of the truth: “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”

This shows the ‘wiles of the Devil’, His question immediately provokes a response – which is exactly what he wanted as this sets the conversation up for him to reap the seed of doubt he had sown!

What it the lesson here? The Devil is an alluring and formidable opponent. He was one jump ahead of Eve and orchestrated this whole event with precision. The moment Eve unwittingly succumbed to this interaction there was only one possible outcome.

“And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:26-27).

Genesis 3:2-3

And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

Eve answers the question, adding her own interpretation of what she thought God had said!

[Remember that Adam was given the instruction about this Tree not Eve; it was his responsibility to instruct his wife! Do the details matter? I think this example should answer that question for every husband, father, wife, mother and child – God says what He means and means what He says! We should pay attention!]

Nowhere is it recorded that God said to Adam and Eve they would die from merely touching this tree. Does that make a difference? Absolutely! For, as we will see in a moment, Eve will stretch out her hand and touch the fruit of this tree, and guess what? She doesn’t die by touching it! Thus Satan will be ‘proved right’ and it will seem that God is the one who has concealed the truth from them both. If touching the tree caused no harm, why not eat and see if it makes you wise?

It cannot be overemphasised how important the lessons we glean from these verses are!

Genesis 3:4

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

John 8:44 tells us that the Devil was a liar from the beginning. Remember his objective: usurp man and claim the title to the earth. Did he care one iota about man? No! Did he care about how man would view him after this? No! Though Satan appears as an angel of light, he will only bring darkness to our souls! He leads men into darkness but makes them think he is leading them into light.

Who on earth could ever be so twisted and cold as to take a young child and tell them to put their hand into a fire and pick up a burning hot coal, knowing it will burn and sear their tender young flesh? That isn’t even half the wickedness of Satan. He did this knowing he would be condemning humanity to hell! What is hell? It is separation from a perfect and loving God. Yes, it is a real place; yes it is a place of suffering, but the greatest pain will not be physical, it will be the unimaginable anguish that will be experienced by every soul condemned to this eternal place of torment on account of Satan’s lie in Genesis chapter 3 verse 4.

Genesis 3:5

For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

The hallmark of a good liar is that they don’t know when to stop! Satan’s arrogance here leads him to make the assumption that all created beings covert being ‘as gods’. Yet that job is already taken! Satan did not take into account the capacity to find total fulfilment in serving and obedience to the One true God. That is our greatest joy!

Nevertheless, Eve is already on the hook, so another tug won’t do any harm! Sadly, so many through history have fallen for this lie also. Kings and despots alike have sought absolute power; but as has been said, absolute power corrupts absolutely! Man was not created to be ‘god’. Nor for that matter was any angelic being!

There is a beautiful innocence in young children before they become ‘worldly wise’. Yet notice how wisdom does not bring happiness but sadness. We can never go back and undo what has been done. We can never reclaim innocence lost.

“I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow” (Eccl 1:17-18).

Genesis 3:6

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Notice the progression; she saw that it would satisfy her hunger, that it looked really good and that it would make her wise!

John tells us that this same progression is found when we love the creation more than the Creator!

“ ¹⁵Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.¹⁶For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. ¹⁷And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever”. (1 John 2:15-17)

When did Eve sin? When she ate of the fruit? When she plucked it from the Tree? When she first touched it? When she merely looked at it?

No. Eve sinned – rebelled against God – when in her heart she decided to take the fruit.

“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Mark 7:20-23).

In Paul’s letter to Timothy he makes an important comment:

“Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression” (1 Tim 2:11-14).

This is very interesting because Paul also said in the book of Romans that Adam was a “figure of him that was to come” (Romans 5:14).

Adam, realising what had happened to his bride, knowing that she would now die on account of her sin, willingly entered into the same predicament as Eve, knowing that this would be the only way to save her! It would ultimately be through their union and through Eve’s offspring that not only Eve, but all her children could be redeemed.

In just the same way, Jesus, the Second Adam, willingly gave up His position to come and rescue His bride (comprised of all who accept Jesus and are part of His Church).

Genesis 3:7

And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

The had been naked in the moments leading up to the Fall, but there was no shame. Suddenly, in a moment, everything had changed. They had crossed a line and there was no going back. Suddenly they were not only physically naked, but they were ‘uncovered’. Seemingly up to this point they had been covered, not by a fabric or physical covering, but by the Shekinah glory of God. Now, on account of their sin that glorious covering had departed. Sin distorts nakedness.

The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life all swamp our minds and we cannot regain that wonderful innocence Adam and Eve had known.

Here we see religion introduced for the first time. Religion is man’s attempt to cover sin and get right with God by his own efforts. The Latin word for religion means to re-link. That is what Adam and Eve were trying to do through these leaves. They were trying to make themselves acceptable to God again, trying to remove their shame.

It has been said that Religion is man searching for God. Christianity is God revealing Himself to man!

Genesis 3:8

And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

How can you hear a voice walking? What is the voice of God? It is the Word of God? This is a ‘Christophany’ – a pre-incarnate appearance of God the Son.

Genesis 3:9

And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

God was not asking this question because He needed help finding Adam! God never asks questions because He is looking for information! God asks questions to make us think! He the question to Adam was to make Adam think about his predicament. Where are you? What has become of you? The same question is asked of each of us: “What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death” (Rom 6:21).
As you read this, where are you? Are you walking with God in the open or are you trying to hide from God? Are there things in your life you would rather God didn’t see? Where are you at right now? What is going on? God is awaiting the response.

As noted previously, God holds Adam responsible, even though Eve is accountable for her own actions. Significantly in this verse, we see that it is God who seeks Adam, and not Adam seeking God.

This is always the way we see it in scripture. Paul says in Romans: “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God” (Rom 3:11). God Always Does the Seeking: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

God sought Abraham, whilst living among idol worshipping gentiles. God sought Jacob at Bethel as he was fleeing from Esau and God sought Moses whilst a fugitive in Midian. God sought David, a man after His own heart. God sought Isaiah, Jeremiah and the prophets of old. God still seeks today. ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock’ (Rev 3:20). The Shepherd always seeks the sheep (see Matthew 18:12-14).

Genesis 3:10

And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

How sin brings guilt and fear! We don’t want people to see us as we really are, especial the One before whose eyes “all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13).

Psalm 139 reminds us that it is foolish to hide from God, for even in Hades, God’s presence can be felt. Jonah tried to prove this the hard way! Seriously, how can you run away from an omniscient and omnipotent God?!

Genesis 3:11

And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

This is what the knowledge of Good and Evil does! It doesn’t make us wise unto Salvation, it makes us wise unto death!

Genesis 3:12

And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Always someone else’s fault! Never our own. Blame it on my evil twin! In fact, blame it on everyone and anyone, just not me!

Genesis 3:13

And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

The man blames the woman, the woman blames the snake. It doesn’t change the last four words of this verse:

‘and I did eat’!

The rest is simply the details; the fact remains that Adam and Eve had transgressed (crossed a line) and they had sinned (missed the mark).

Genesis 3:14

And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

What was this creature? Somehow it is physically altered so that after the fall it would like much like every snake does today. A documentary some time ago was suggesting that Snakes once had legs. Of course they put this down as ‘proof’ for Evolution. As we know, Evolution is utterly ridiculous, but it does beg the question, did the snake once have the ability to walk? Certainly, this verse would lead us to that conclusion.

Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

This is the foundation of the Gospel, and the start of the incredible story of redemption. From this moment God reveals that man is not without hope, for through his offspring God will make, not only a way of salvation but also for the ultimate defeat our adversary.

There is a dramatic ‘role play’ of this in the account of David and Goliath. David, as a type of Christ takes on the embodiment of evil in Goliath. David slays the great giant with a Stone that strikes his head. But more than that, the head of Goliath is then taken by David to Jerusalem. This has to be one of the most bizarre events in Scripture! For at the time David did this Jerusalem was not in Israel’s hands. It belonged to the Jebusites. This means that, in order to bury Goliath’s head, David had to break through into enemy territory (see 1 Samuel 17:54).

But the astounding thing is that place that David buries the head thereafter bore the name of the giant as a memorial of David’s great conquest. Around 1000 years later, Jesus is taken out to this very spot and crucified. John (19:17) specifically tells us it was ‘the place of a skull’ – whose skull? Goliath’s; hence the name ‘Gol[iath of [Gath]a’ – Golgotha!

Of course, now that God had announced that the Seed of the woman would be the one to redeem man and also [fatally wound] Satan’s head, Satan know what he had to do – destroy the seed. The Old Testament is the account of this battle. When Adam & Eve had their first children, they must have been wondering which one would be the seed? It soon became apparent that Abel was a man of faith and obedient to God. Could this be the Seed? Satan took no chances and used Cain to kill Abel.

However, as the population increased, the problem multiplied!

This led to the Angelic invasion that led to God cleansing the world with the Flood (see Genesis 6).

Then came the Tower of Babel – maybe Satan could manipulate the world through a One World Government which he would control?

Once again God confounded Satan’s plans.

However, God then chose to establish a ‘protective clothing’ for the Seed (see Rev 11:1-2). That clothing was the Nation of Israel. God chose Abraham and said that the Seed would come through His family. There were strict rules for the descendants of Abraham such that they should not intermarry with the people around them. They must be kept separate to ensure the safe delivery of the Seed at God’s appointed time. (This is all summarised in Revelation 12!)

The Battle of the Seeds

The murder of Abel by Cain (Gen 4);
The fallen angels corrupt mankind (Gen 6).
The Tower of Babel – One World Government (Gen 10-11)
Abraham’s famine
Isaac and Abhimelech
Jacob & Esau and then later, Laban
The Famine in Canaan (Gen 50)
Destruction of male line (Ex 1)
Pharaoh’s pursuit (Ex 14)
The battles and populating of Canaan (Gen 12:6)
Saul’s attempts on David’s life
Against David’s line (2 Sam 7)

Attacks on David’s Line

Jehoram kills his brothers (2 Chr 21)
Arabians slew all (but Ahazariah)
Athaliah kills all (but Joash) (2 Chr 22)
Hezekiah assaulted, etc. (Isa 36, 38)
Haman’s attempts (Est 3)

New Testament attempts:

The babies of Bethlehem
The attempts on Jesus through his ministry
The Cross

Genesis 3:16

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

The curse – the Woman

Genesis 3:17

And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

The curse – man

Genesis 3:18

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

This is why we have a day job!!! – and why we are continually mowing grass and weeding during the spring & summer!

Genesis 3:19

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

This was the ‘prize’ for disobedience.
“The keyword in the sentence of the man is the “soil.” The curse of the soil is the desire of the fruit trees with which the garden was planted, and of that spontaneous growth which would have rendered the toil of man unnecessary. The rank growth of thorns and thistles was also a part of the curse which it occasioned to man when fallen. His sorrow was to arise from the labor and sweat with which he was to draw from the ground the means of subsistence. Instead of the spontaneous fruits of the garden, the herb of the field, which required diligent cultivation, was henceforth to constitute a principal part of his support. And he had the dreary prospect before him of returning at length to the ground whence he was taken”. (Albert Barnes)

However, Paul tells us in Galatians that Jesus became a curse for us to deliver us from the curse of the Fall.

Bearing the Curse – Jesus became a curse

Ground cursed – Jesus made a curse for us Gal 3:13
Man: eat sorrow –Jesus became the Man of Sorrows Isa 53:3
Thorns & Thistles –Jesus wore a crown of thorns Jn 18:8
Sweat of brow –Sweat as blood Lk 22:44
Dust to return –Dust of death Ps 22:15
Sword barred –Awake O Sword Zech 13:7
Man to die –“Why has thou forsaken me?” Ps 22:1; Mt 27:26

Genesis 3:20-21

And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

Here we have the first sacrifice – made by God – notice plural skins. Were they clothed by the shed blood of a slain lamb?

The basis of blood sacrifice is instituted here. Any attempt to cover ourselves is just empty religion, but God’s remedy is acceptable to a holy God.

Genesis 3:22

And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

We have become like God inasmuch as we now know about good and evil.

We will not get to see this tree of life again until the New Jerusalem

Genesis 3:23

Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

Banished on account of sin.

Now man had to work for a living! From the beauty and perfection of Eden, this is now the way it is. We simply have to look at the world to see that something is wrong. Death should not have been. Sickness was never part of the original plan. But praise God that this is not the end of the story! For there is coming a day of restitution! (Acts 3:21).

Genesis 3:24

So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Why does this require a SuperAngel? Ordinary angels would seem to be sufficient. We see here Gods grace yet again, for now God guarded the way to the Tree of Life so that man would not eat from it and then forever remain in his falled condition. God here institutes death as the means for salvation. For if the sentance for our sin is death, and if another could be found to die in our place, God’s perfect justice and mercy could both be satisfied!

Cherubim principle: They were guardians of God’s glory and majesty (Ex 9, 10:1-22; Isa 6; Rev 4:6-8; Ps 18:10; 81:1; 99:1; et al.). Satan was the “anointed Cherub”… Ezek 28:14…

More next week…

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post Three Words That Changed Everything! first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Sanctified Sabbath

Barry Forder — Sun, 12 Feb 2017 22:00:37 +0000

In Chapter 2 of Genesis, we see God sanctify the Sabbath, i.e. set it apart. Why was God so insistent on Israel keeping the Sabbath? In Numbers 15:32-36 we have the account of an individual who was put to death for simply gathering sticks on the Sabbath! Now, there is not a person on this planet who would say they think that is a reasonable response, yet we know that God is good and does good (Psalm 119:68). In other words, God cannot do anything that is not good. So how do we make sense of this?

Later in Israel’s history, we find that God actually has Israel removed from their land for 70 years because they had failed to keep the Sabbaths for the land (every 7th year) – see 2 Chron 36:21

There is far more to the Sabbath than most are aware! As we study scripture we find there is a principle laid down here that has enormous implications. The Sabbath is about rest as opposed to work, and herein is the whole Gospel message!

If you want to listen to the audio teaching associated with this post, you can find both the Audio and Powerpoint slides in the Sunday Morning Teaching section or click this link: https://www.calvaryportsmouth.co.uk/sermons/genesis-2/

Chapter 2

Genesis 2:1

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

Finished, complete, nothing new needed to be added. This means there will be no new information. That which has been designed to reproduce will do so, but no more matter or energy will created.

When we finish a project there is a sense of satisfaction, but for God, as wonderful as this new creation was, He knew that His special creation would soon ‘fall’. Satan would soon rebel taking a third of the angelic host with him and the Earth that God has created for man would soon be in Satan’s hands. It would take the sacrificial death of His own Son, the One who is Light, to redeem the Earth and Adam’s offspring – but even then, many of Adam’s descendants would reject the Light in favour of the Darkness. Yet there was hope…

Genesis 2:2

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

This is far more than a pattern for our week – which of course it is. In establishing the Sabbath God was prophetically outlining the future-history of man. For the next 6000 years of human history there would be toil and suffering, the six days of work. But then there would be a glorious age – the millennial kingdom – when the Earth would be reclaimed by the Second Adam, the curse would be removed and it would be a day of rest. The Sabbath speaks of Christ’s reign on the Earth He had made. It also speaks of His completed work. The writer to the Hebrews states:

“Let [those who are Christ’s] therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto [Israel]: but the word preached did not profit [Israel], not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, [i.e. we have ceased from the days of toil] as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall [not] enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world [i.e. God’s plan and the opportunity to enter rest existed from the foundation of the World]. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. [Even from the beginning of the World, before sin had entered, God’s plan of redemption was established and God had foreordained a place of rest (in Christ) and a time of rest (Christ’s everlasting kingdom)]. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.[The key is ‘if’ – the gospel is for the ‘whosever will’].

Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. [Let me paraphrase this: God foreordained that some would enter into the Sabbath rest through Christ, the offer went first of all to Israel, but they would not believe by faith. God therefore chose a time, for this offer of Salvation and rest for our souls, to go out to the world through the Seed of David].

For if [Joshua – who had led them into Canaan] had given [Israel] rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. [If God’s plan had been fulfilled through Israel’s obedience to the Law of Moses, there would be no need for the cross].

[However] There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. [The Law could not bring us to a place of rest, it could only condemn us, But Christ has paid for our sin, so anyone who simply believes on Him by faith is assured that there is a place of rest from our striving against sin, and that place is in Christ!]

For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. [Those who believe by faith know that it is not because of what we have done, but because of who He is!]. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. [This ends in an oxymoron! In essence what is said is let’s labour to not labour! Simply trust in the completed work of Christ and we can be assured of the Sabbath rest God intended for all who would believe!] (Hebrews 4:1-11)

Thinking again of the man caught gathering sticks (as mentioned in the intro to this post), it speaks of religion – man’s attempt to get right with God by his own efforts. God had said ‘rest’! He would provide. This man was all about ‘works’, ‘doing things’. In esence, it is either your own works, your own efforts, or it is the completed work of Christ on the cross. This is not an issue about sticks, it is about salvation! Are you going to trust in what you can do (which will only lead to death)? Or trust in Christ’s payment in full (which will lead to life!)?

God was not harsh in the judgment meted out to this man, nor in regard to the 70 years captivity for Israel. Both of these examples draw our focus to the most important decision anyone can make. Are you going to go your own way and gather sticks – your labour, your efforts to provide for your needs? Or are you resting in the Lord knowing He has done it all?!

Genesis 2:3

And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Now that we have seen in type what the Sabbath is really all about, we start to understand why God was so protective of the model. The Sabbath is set apart because it represents the hope of mankind and the restoration of God’s walk with man.

Genesis 2:4

These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

The phrase ‘These are the generations’ we find nine times in Genesis: 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10,27; 25:12,19; 36:1; 37:2. Each time it marks a division of the book and the commencement of a new section. Some scholars think that, whilst Moses was the compiler of this book, each of these sections were originally recorded by different individuals starting with God Himself recoding 1:1 to 2:3, then Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and finally Moses himself.

Genesis 2:5-6

And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

Here we are told that originally there was no rain. This, coupled with the statement in Hebrews 11:7 and with what seems to be implied in chapter 1 verse 7 leads to the conclusion that the earth had a very different hydo-system before the flood.

The statement that ‘there was not a man’ indicated that this, along with the next verse, is a recap of what we have seen in chapter 1.

Genesis 2:7

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

This verse is very instructive! Firstly we are told that man was formed from the dust of the ground. It is very unlikely that Adam/Moses knew when they were recording this that the human body is made up almost entirely of 13 elements, all of which are found in the ground! The next insight we glean here is that we are made up of three component parts; body, soul and spirit.

Body

Our physical body is the container in which we reside, but it is not who we are. God here forms man out of the dust, but man is not alive until God breathes life into him. We (the real ‘us’) reside in our body (the Bible likens it to a ‘tabernacle’ or tent, implying a temporary residence (see 2 Cor 5:1,4 / 2 Peter 1:3). When we die the body goes back to dust (Gen 3:19).

Spirit

Then there is the spirit, given to us by God, and which will return to God when we die (see Ecclesiastes 12:7). The spirit is in effect our conscience; it is the part of us that is conscious of God. At the time of the fall man died spiritually, hence now we find that ‘the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, nor can his know them, because they are spiritually discerned’ (see 1 Cor 2:14). However, when we are born again we are not merely given a new spirit, we are given God’s Holy Spirit!

Soul

Finally, we have the real ‘you’ – the soul. This is who we are, and as we noted previously, the soul comprises the heart and mind. The soul is not alive until the breath of life comes. The Bible makes it clear, life is not physical but spiritual. Those who live to satisfy the body exist, but are not truly alive.

Genesis 2:8

And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

It may seem like stating the obvious, but Adam is created on day 6, and then God places him in this wonderful garden sometime after day 7; but notice this is before Eve is taken out of Adam.

Genesis 2:9

And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Now, it is surprising how many people seem to struggle with the following verses. Often we here allegations of contradictions between Genesis 1 and Geneses 2. Even well-meaning Christians attempt to point out two different creation accounts, and then deliberate as to which is the correct or best one?

However, as so frequently is the case, if we simply read the verses in context there is no confusion and we see a coherent single account.

What we need to note is the fact that God creates a garden and then puts man in the garden. God has already created all plant life, all marine life, all land animals etc, on day 5 & 6. Now we are told that he causes to grow, out of the ground, another of every plant and tree etc.

Why does God do this? To show Adam that He alone is the Creator! Adam did not see days 1 – 5 as God was creating. History has shown how easily man is led away from trusting in our Creator; very soon the great Tempter would come onto the scene, and how easy it would have been for Satan to convince man that he was the one who had created everything! But now, Adam is an eyewitness of Creation and sees, first-hand, God at work.

Genesis 2:10-14

And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.

The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;

And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.

And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.

And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.

All of Earth’s geography was rearranged at the time of the Flood. Clearly, some of these place names were re-used and given to other places / rivers after the Flood. But why do we have this record in scripture? Why did God choose to give us this information?

The honest answer is ‘I don’t know!’ – but that doesn’t trouble me. When you come to appreciate what the Bible is, when you realise that every name, every number, every letter and every place name are in the Bible by deliberate supernatural design, you begin to recognise what the Rabbi’s called a ‘Remez’ – a hint of something deeper. Just because we have not discovered it yet simply means we carry on looking. We might make and amazing discover that becomes a blessing and encouragment to the body of Christ, or we may not know this side of eternity.

“The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law”. (Deut 29:29)

Genesis 2:15-17

And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

So Adam has the opportunity to eat from the tree of life, but for some inexplicable reason, he doesn’t take it!

Instead, he ends up eating from the only tree that is forbidden!

Notice too that this instruction is given to him before Eve is created.

It was Adam’s responsibility to instruct his wife.

Notice that God holds Adam responsible, yet at the same time Eve is held accountable for her own actions.

Genesis 2:18

And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Man was created for fellowship – ultimately with God, but we are not supposed to be on our own.

Is there one woman for every man?

Does God intend for some people to remain single?

Can more be accomplished as a couple?

What is certain is that we must maintain fellowship with other believers!

Fellowship and friendship costs. It cost Adam a rib! David would not offer to God that which cost him nothing (2 Sam 24:24). Don’t expect a free ride! Adam will appreciate Eve for more after this object lesson that God is about to teach him.

Genesis 2:19

And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

As already noted, God forms another of each creature out of the ground in the Garden of Eden in front of Adam to show again that He is the Creator.

The other purpose of this is to bring Adam to the place of realising his need!

God does this with us today. He allows circumstances and even disappointment into our lives to help us to understand.

Experience is still one of the best teachers. Some things we need to learn the hard way.

Adam must have had an incredible intellect, but remember, he was created perfect!

Had God not have exposed Adam’s need for companionship, his attitude toward might have been different. What seems clear is that by the time God creates Eve, Adam is overjoyed!

Genesis 2:20

And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

If more proof were needed, there is a chasm of difference between man and animals.

We are created eternal – they are not.

Genesis 2:21

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

God’s intention in making woman was not to give man a helper, nor a servant, but an ‘opposite’, the other part of the equation.

Man was asleep when Eve was created!

Here God literally takes the woman part out of Adam!

Man does not have one less rib!!

Note that woman was taken out of Adam’s side; this is a picture in type of the Church being taken from Christ’s side.

Genesis 2:22-24

And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

The ‘woman’ part is taken out of man, but through marriage (which by the way, God invented so only He can define it – and He does, as the union between one man and one woman!!) man and woman are joined togehter and become one again – do you see from this why God hates divorce so much? It is like ripping part of your own self away, and you can never be the same after that.

That doesn’t mean God won’t forgive and bring a degree of healing, but God’s standard is clearly given – and for our benefit too!

Although they were naked they had a spiritual covering. They lose this at the time of the Fall (we will look at this in more details next week).

More next week…

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post The Sanctified Sabbath first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Beginning of Life – Day 5 & 6

Barry Forder — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 12:44:09 +0000

We continue our verse-by-verse study in Genesis, picking up at chapter 1 verse 20:

If you want to listen to the audio teaching associated with these verses, you can find the Audio and Powerpoint slides in the Sunday Morning Teaching section: CLICK HERE

Genesis 1:20

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

We now find the beginning of self-replicating conscious life. This is the first time the word ‘life’ (Hebrew: ‘khah’-ee) appears in the Bible, and we find God makes a clear distinction between non-conscious plants and vegetation, and that which has a distinct self-awareness (specifically here marine life and birds). This distinction shows itself again in that which God originally gives for food (see Gen 1:29-30), and the fundamental difference is blood. Prior to the flood, only plants and vegetation were to be eaten – these do not have blood. Leviticus 17:11 states that “The life of the flesh is in the blood”, thus life and blood are inextricably linked; that which does not rely on blood for its survival is not truly alive – and here there is a profound deeper truth. By inference, we can deduce that blood was created on day five, and there is a profound significance here also; the number five is consistently used in the Bible to speak of grace – and God’s grace is dependent on the blood of Christ.

It is interesting to note that the first real life we see is from the water – symbolic in the Bible of the Holy Spirit. In fact, both water and that which soars above is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit descended as a dove at Jesus’ baptism. It may be a tenuous link, but Jesus said that “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). It could be argued that the first semblance of life on earth is seen in the water and the air, and real life comes likewise through natural (water) birth and by being born again of the Spirit – made possible by the blood of Jesus.

This is the last mention of the firmament in these verses, and as we noted, the implication from the Hebrew is that the birds fly ‘in the face of’ or ‘in front of’ the heavens.

Genesis 1:21

And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Notice that in the previous verse, and again here, God commanded the waters to bring forth abundantly, and only a cursory look at the life in the oceans will confirm that they are teeming with life. From the great whales and sharks to elaborately coloured tropical fish, to the huge variety of shellfish, the Octopus, Jellyfish, turtles and the list could go on. It has been estimated that there are 228,450 known species in the ocean, and one recent article stated that scientists had identified almost 1,500 new creatures in the world’s oceans in 2014, including the Australian humpback dolphin, 139 sponges, a South African “star-gazing shrimp” and a giant, venomous, tentacle-free box jellyfish about 50 cm (20 inches) long. They estimate there are still as many as 2 million more yet to be discovered! The huge variety of life in the oceans is breathtaking; yet what is even more incredible is the design we see with these sea creatures. Evolution cannot explain this diversity, nor can it offer any mechanism to account for the sheer complexity of marine life. Take, for example, the dolphin; it uses a sophisticated sonar system, located in its forehead, to find food. This has to have been there from the start or it would be no use. There is no way this could have evolved, it has to be the hand of a Master Designer!

It is the same when we look at birds; they have hollow bones so as to reduce weight and enable flight; they lay eggs so their young develop outside of the body. Their reproductive organs atrophy outside of breeding season, again to keep their weight down. They have a very fast metabolism and lungs that open at each end – completely different to any other vertebrates. They have an amazing 450 breaths per minute and have a larger heart to cope with higher altitudes.

Feathers, which most of us think of as fairly simple, are actually complex. Coming off the main hollow shaft (rachis), they have side branches (barbs) that have even finer sub-branches. Theses sub-branches are joined together with barbules and their corresponding hooklets (hamuli). The combined effect is a lightweight yet strong feather that provides lift when in flight and a first defence against physical objects, sunlight and rain. Each feather is contoured with a leading edge to go into the wind and a trailing edge designed for the optimum aerodynamic efficiency.

Is anyone going to tell me that this came about by random chance? Is our government’s ‘high-quality science education’ wanting us to believe that mutations over millions of years produced identical yet symmetrical mutations in both the male and female of the species at the same time and in the same place, and that these mutations actually got passed on to the next generation? It is astounding that evolutionists have never been publicly called out on this ‘mutation’ mantra. A mutation is a loss or scrambling of genetic information. It cannot create anything new. What also is never mentioned in the text books, or when David Attenborough is presenting his heavily evolutionary biased nature documentaries, is that for every ‘beneficial’ mutation there would be 10,000 that are, at best neutral, but many of which would be lethal! How do you get successive mutations that all complement each other if each mutation is just a random unguided event?

Dr J.C. Stanford, in his book “Genetic Entropy & The Mystery of the Genome” concludes:

“We have reviewed compelling evidence that, even when ignoring deleterious mutations, mutation/selection cannot create a single gene within the human evolutionary timescale. When deleterious mutations are factored back in, we see that mutations / selection cannot create a single gene, ever. This is overwhelming evidence against the Primary Axiom [theory of evolution]. In my opinion this constitutes what is essentially a formal proof that the Primary Axiom is false.”

The following article by Ray Comfort in his ‘Evidence Bible’ also hits the nail on the head:

If every creature “evolved” with no Creator, there would be numerous problems. Take for instance the first bird.
Was it male or female? Let’s say it was male. How did it produce offspring without a mate? If a female also evolved, why did it evolve with differing reproductive organs?
Did it evolve by chance, or did it evolve because it knew that it was needed by the male of the species?
How did it know what needed to be evolved if its brain hadn’t yet evolved? Did the bird breathe? Did it breathe before it evolved lungs? How did it do this? Why did it evolve lungs if it was happily surviving without them?
Did the bird have a mouth? How did it eat before it evolved a mouth? Where did the mouth send the food before the stomach evolved?
How did the bird have energy if it didn’t eat (because it didn’t yet have a mouth)? How did the bird see what there was to eat before its eyes evolved?
Evolution is intellectual suicide. It is an embarrassment.

Far from the science fiction that masquerades as fact is the reality that a wonderful God created all that we see, including the Woodpecker, which is an evolutionist’s nightmare! It has a super-strong beak to cope with all its hammering on wood, which in turn is seated in special cartilage to prevent it forcing its beak into its brain! Its eyes also shut at precisely the moment the beak strikes the tree to stop its eyes popping out! Its toes are not arranged like most birds with three claws at the front and a single claw at the back; the woodpecker has 2+2 to enable much greater grip when hanging onto a tree hammering away to find food.

Then there is the tongue! It is incredible. It goes down the throat, out the back of the neck, around the back of the skull beneath the skin, over the top of the eyes and terminates just below the eye socket.

We could talk about migration or the flight patterns of migrating birds that enable them to complete an eighty-eight-hour journey, in the case of the Golden Plover, by flying in formation. They could not complete the journey if they flew alone. This knowledge could not have evolved, it just shouts out there is an awesome Designer!

Gtting back to the text, notice also how God wants you to know that things only reproduce ‘after their own kind’! This is repeated 10x in chapter 1. Things NEVER reproduce something other than themselves, despite Charles Darwin’s wishful thinking!

Genesis 1:22-23

22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

So this brings us to the end of the fifth day. Once again we have ‘erev’ and ‘boker’ as we move from less order to more order as God’s work of creation is almost complete.

Genesis 1:24-25

24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

We could now list the countless numbers of land animals that exhibit such staggering complexity and design. If we take just one, let’s consider the Giraffe. They can grow up to 21ft tall and have a large & powerful heart to pump the blood up their long neck. The miracle is that when they bend down to drink they don’t pass out with all the blood that would rush to their heads, or worse still their brains explode! Yet God has built in ‘safety’ valves that close when the Giraffe bends down to prevent the otherwise inevitable. The next problem our Giraffe would face, however, is if it now needs to lift its head up and leave in a hurry – due to a nearby predator etc. – it would now faint as there would not be enough blood and therefore oxygen feeding its brain. Once again we see the brilliance of God’s design, for instead of the last valve in its neck it has a sponge in its brain that soaks up blood, this again prevents problems when it bends down, but also provides a sufficient reserve of oxygen if a fast getaway is needed! This all has to work or no more Giraffe!

So, all made after their kind, all made good, and all made originally to be herbivores (there was no meat eaten until after the flood).

Genesis 1:26

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

As we now move to God’s final work of creation, just like at the wedding in Cana, He saves the best until last!

Notice that we have the Trinity in this verse as God says “Let US….” The work of creation is attributed to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit throughout scripture.

The important thing in this verse is that Adam was made in God’s image and in His likeness. No other created being can claim this.

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

We make an interesting discovery if we look at the Hebrew words in this verse. If we were to transliterate it into English it would actually read: “Created out of nothing, God, [the Alpha & Omega] Man in His resemblance. In His resemblance, God created out of nothing him, male – female, created out of nothing him“. In other words, God created Adam as perfect male and female in one. This helps to answer something some have struggled with regarding the creation of Eve. Eve was not created on day six, she was not created until the Garden of Eden, which occurred after the first 7 days. All God does in the Garden of Eden is to take the woman part he had already created out of man!

This is why we will see in chapter 2 that Adam states: “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man“. It also defines marriage (contrary to modern society’s re-writing the rules), because when a man and wife are joined in marriage, they come back to as it was: Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh“(Gen 2:23-24).

Genesis 1:28-29

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

Man is given dominion over all God’s creation, and having already noted the complexity and design, there is clearly implied the mandate to look after the world that God has given us!

Genesis 1:30

And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

As we have noted, the animals and man were all vegetarians prior to the flood. Up until the Fall there was no death, so no killing creatures for food. This again makes a distinction between that which is alive in the Biblical sense and that which is merely living. Plants have life, but they are not truly alive as they don’t have blood. Only that which has blood is alive. Only that which has the blood of Christ is eternally alive! (see John 6:54-55).

Genesis 1:31

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

This brings us to the end of the sixth day, and notice that it wasn’t just ok, it was the best it could possibly be! God doesn’t do His best, He does it the best!

This is the last time we see ‘evening and morning’ (in the Hebrew ‘Erev’ and ‘Boker’). God’s work of creation is complete and no new information will be added. God has taken the world from disorder to order.

(Above chart by Dr Chuck Missler – www.khouse.org)

More next week…

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post The Beginning of Life – Day 5 & 6 first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Day Two, Three & Four

Barry Forder — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 00:13:17 +0000

We live in a world where ‘science’ has proven that God does not exist and the Bible is nothing more than ancient folklore – right?

Well, actually no. True science and the Bible will never be in disagreement because they both have the same author!

It is, therefore, fascinating when we come to the opening chapters of the Bible to find that many of sciences ‘discoveries’ have been preempted by God’s Word, hundreds and even thousands of years before science has stumbled upon them. In fact, the more we discover about the world around us, the more comfortable we become with the opening chapters of Genesis!

This week, as we continue our study in Genesis chapter 1, we look at ‘the firmament’ and consider why life on Earth seemed once to be so much different than it is today. What accounts for the super-size plants and animals in the fossil record? If the climate around the world is now very different to what it used to be, what caused the change?

I hope the notes below encourage you to undertake your own study of God’s unchanging Word!

The audio teaching accompanying this post can be listened to on this web site by clicking on the following link:

Genesis 1 6-19

Genesis 1:6 – Day 2

6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

As we move on to the second day of Creation we find God putting something called a ‘firmament’ in between the waters above (whatever they are) and the waters below (which we are told in verse 10 are the seas). The word ‘firmament’ comes from the Latin firmamentum, and implies solidity. In Hebrew the word is ‘Raqia’, and literally means ‘to stretch, spread out, beat or tread out, or a solid expanse’.

Firmament actually occurs 9 times in this chapter and seems to be used to refer to two distinct ‘expanses’. In verses 14-17 we will find that God places the sun, moon and stars in the ‘firmament of heaven’; thus, in these three instances, the firmament of heaven would seem to refer to ‘outer space’. So immediately this poses the question, how can space be described as a solid expanse? We’ll come back to that in a moment.

For now, let us consider this firmament that divides the waters above from the waters below. There are a number of suggestions that have been proposed, but the one that fits the Biblical description best is the idea that there was once a water canopy that God placed around the Earth. The ‘solid expanse’ spoken of in this verse was simply what held it in place. Of course, the question must be asked, is that something supported by science? The answer is surprising yes!

What would be the effect of such a canopy? Firstly, it would regulate the temperature on Earth, causing a greenhouse-like environment and uniform temperature around the world. There is strong evidence to support this, from coal seams at the south pole, to Mammoths with undigested tropical food in their stomachs – yet now frozen in places like Siberia. This, in turn, would also increase the atmospheric pressure (more Oxygen & CO2) which would have a significant impact on anything living. Studies have shown that, at one time, the oxygen content of the atmosphere was once up to 50% greater than it is now. This would cause things to grow bigger and could elongate lifespans. In an article in Time Magazine (9/11/87 p.82) it was stated that “…earth’s atmosphere contained about 50% more oxygen than it does today”. An article on the University of London’s website documents the fact that they have found oxygen trapped in amber (fossilised tree sap) that is double the level currently in our atmosphere.

There is abundant evidence to show that things did once grow to significantly greater size than today. We have:

Fossilised Moss 3ft deep
Fossils of Asparagus 40ft high
50ft Horsetail Reeds found fossilised
Ferns over 50ft tall
Fossil cattails 60ft long found in sedimentary rock
Dragonflys with 3ft wingspans
Buffalo horns with 12ft spans
(See the Powerpoint slides from the study for more!)

Before we move on, it’s interesting that reptiles keep growing until they die. If you take many of the lizards that we have today, give them a perfect environment, and let them live for hundreds of years, what would they end up looking like? Probably what you and I would call a dinosaur! Not all dinosaurs were huge, most were comparatively small.

Another significant effect of a water canopy would be the protection is would give the Earth from Solar radiation – much like the Ozone layer does today (only better!).

All of this combined could account for the long life spans as recorded in the Bible.

Further Biblical support can be found in Genesis chapter 6, where, at the time of the flood, the ‘windows of the heaven were opened’ and this water canopy seemingly came crashing down providing much of the water for the flood.

This is certainly a view that cannot just be dismissed because one doesn’t like it and a number of credentialed Bible-believing scientists have postulated and demonstrated the credibility of this view.

9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

Here we see God separate the land from the sea for the first time. The interesting thing to note is the clear implication that there was originally one land mass. There are many theories of ‘Pangea’ or one single super continent in the past, but an interesting study done by Peter Wilders, in a pamphlet produced by Creation Science Movement – Pamphlet 246, proposed that the original land mass may have been shaped as a flower, and significantly with Jerusalem at the centre. (for more information write to PO Box 888, Portsmouth, PO6 2YD, ref: Pamphlet 246 or go to www.CreationScienceMovement.com).

As an aside, Acts 3:21 speaks of the ‘times of restitution of all things’. This implies that one day God will put things back to the way they were in the beginning. This is further supported by the statement in Revelation 16:20 that during the Tribulation (as a result of a catastrophic worldwide earthquake) ‘every island will flee away’. Through simple deduction, if there are no more islands, there would have to be just one land mass. Food for thought!

11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit-tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Three times in these verses we are told that things bring forth ‘after their kind’. This is a scientific statement that anyone can very easily verify. Apple trees produce apples, Orange trees produce oranges. A strawberry plant will produce strawberries, always. This is the clearest and simplest rebuttal to the non-science that fills our school text books, university lecture halls and TV screens. I am of course referring to the theory of Evolution as proposed by Charles Darwin. Mr Darwin proposed that things can bring forth things other than themselves, yet this has not only never been observed anywhere in nature, it is scientifically impossible.

The packet seed industry basis its reputation on the scientific accuracy of Genesis chapter 1 verse 11. Whenever you buy a packet of seeds there will be a picture on the front of the packet presumptuously stating what it will become if you plant it and water it! How can they be so sure? If there was an ounce of credibility in Darwin’s fairy story they would not dare be so arrogant as to boldly state what it will become! They have certainly never felt the need to put a warning on the front of the packet saying: Warning! May produce a frog! If you stop and think about it, thousands of experiments are being conducted every day around the world in this manner; whenever someone plants a seed, whenever a creature gives birth, whenever

If you stop and think about it, thousands of experiments are being conducted every day around the world in this manner; whenever someone plants a seed, whenever a creature gives birth, whenever an egg hatches, all of these experiments prove conclusively that evolution simply does not happen!

Clearly, the Bible is right and Darwin (and sadly much of the scientific community who favour man’s ‘wisdom’ over God’s word) is wrong!

By the way, what an incredible piece of design to place the ability to reproduce itself in the seed, that can sometimes lay dormant for hundreds of years, until the right conditions exist for the seed to germinate and reproduce itself!

13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

You may have noticed that on day two God did not declare it good. However, when we come to the third day, we find that twice God has it recorded that what He saw was good (v10 & v12). It is because of this that the third day became to be known as the ‘day of double blessing’ among the Jews. Therefore, if you were to get married, for example, which day would you choose? The day of double blessing! There is an allusion to this in the beginning of John’s gospel: “And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there” (John 2:1). Normally you would just read on and not pay too much attention to the mention of the ‘third day’, but hopefully, by now, you are realising that every single detail in the Bible is there by deliberate supernatural design! When John mentions the ‘third day; he doesn’t give any reference point; the third day from what? However when we understand that by ‘the third day’ he is referring to Tuesday – the ‘day of double blessing’, it all starts to make sense.

The ‘third day’ is also yet to be a day of blessing for Israel – see Hosea 6:1-2.

And we should need no reminding that the third day is indeed a day of blessing for us all; for it was on the ‘third day’ that our Saviour rose and conquered death!

14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

The first thing God does on day four is to make ‘light bearers’. Light already existed, the sun and moon are simply vessels that carry the light. This is how each of us should be. Christ is the light of the world, we are to be His light bearers – without this light the world is in darkness (cf Matt 5:14).

As an aside, the word for ‘seasons’ in Hebrew is ‘Ha Moyadim’ meaning ‘appointed times’. In the original Hebrew text it appears just once in the book of Genesis as an equidistant letter sequence, which so happens to occur at an interval of 70. In other words, if you start with the first letter, count forward 70 letters, you have the next letter, and so on until you spell the word. What makes this provocative is that, of all the places this could ‘randomly’ occur in the book of Genesis, it ‘happens’ to be centred on this very verse, where the word actually appears in the surface text. Even more incredible is the fact that we are told that the sun and moon were to be for signs and seasons, and it is from these signs that Israel’s calendar is derived, (each month begins with the new moon etc.). When we add up all of Israel’s ‘appointed times’, their feast days etc. we discover there are 70! As the Rabbis say: ‘coincidence is not a kosher word!’

God places these light bearers in the ‘firmament’. As we have already noted, this word in these verses refers to ‘outer space’. As mentioned in verse 7, the word ‘firmament’ comes from the Latin firmamentum, and implies solidity. Again, in Hebrew the word is ‘Raqia’, which means ‘to stretch, spread out, beat or tread out; literally or figuratively, an expanse’. God could have chosen any word to describe space, but specifically chooses this one. This is extremely provocative for, contrary to our general assumptions, space is not just an empty void, but rather is indeed a ‘solid expanse’. Building on the efforts of many before him, James Clerk Maxwell (1839-1879) pioneered work to show how light waves could pass through space. The significance of this is that for a wave to travel, there must be a medium for it to travel through, but that medium must also have elasticity (a spring-like property). Science still does not fully understand what material it is made up of, but the vacuum of space is clearly not an empty nothingness.

To Bible-believing Christians this should not really come as a surprise, for we are repeatedly told through scripture that God stretched out the heavens, and that the heavens will be rolled up as a scroll (Isaiah 34:4). Isaiah 13:13 tells us that God will ‘shake the heavens’; and the writer to the Hebrews tells us that one day God will fold up the heavens like you can fold up a garment (Hebrews 1:10-12). With what we now know, rather than being simply metaphors, these Biblical comments show scientific insight not known until relatively recently. For space to be ‘rolled up’, there must be a dimension in which it is thin. For space to be ‘bent’, there must be a direction it can be bent toward. All of this hints at its solidity and implies additional spatial dimensions (other than width, length, height and time). The reality of additional dimensions was something noted by Biblical sages in the 13^th century, and now confirmed by quantum physicists. It is now believed there are actually ten dimensions, of which only ‘our’ four are directly measurable. This may give us a hint at what the world and universe were like before Adam fell. We are now ‘trapped’ in width, length, height and time, yet the Bible speaks of other (spiritual) dimensions we cannot currently perceive. Was Adam originally able to experience these? Is this how Jesus could pass through solid walls in His resurrected body? (John 20:26).

Ultimately, the sun, moon and stars are un-complex and simple, from a chemical perspective, when compared to even a single cell in a living organism; and this may be why we have such a brief mention of them here. The phrase ‘He made the stars also’ almost implies an afterthought, something of little regard from God’s perspective. Yet these celestial bodies have captivated mankind’s thoughts and imaginations throughout history, and have even become objects of worship (e.g. the days of the week are named after the planets).

Isaiah tells us (Is 42:8) that God will not share His glory with another, and in the book of Deuteronomy, God will say: “If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant, And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and inquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel: Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.” (Deut 17:2-5)

“And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven” (Deut 4:19)

So whilst we are clearly warned against worshipping these things, we cannot help be amazed at the scale and beauty of the universe. Job comments on the ‘height of heaven’ and the ‘height of the stars’, being in awe at the scale of these things (Job 22:12). In Psalm 8 we read: “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:3-4). Although man is infinitely more complex, the sheer scale of the universe is breathtaking.

The Stars

The universe is estimated to be 30 Billion light years wide; there are enough stars for each person to own 3 Trillion each! The Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy is the closest galaxy outside our own Milky Way; if you could travel at 186,282 miles per second, it would take you ten thousand years (at that speed) to go from one side of it to the other! The Orion Nebula is around 10 quadrillion miles away from earth!

If you tried to count just the stars visible to the naked eye at the rate of 1 per second, you would be counting for thousands of years! – and yet our God “telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names” (Psalm 147:4).

Interestingly, secular scientists still do not know how stars are formed, as the following quotes show: “According to current theories of star formation, cores of molecular clouds (regions of especially high density) become gravitationally unstable, fragment and begin to collapse (sometimes, shockwaves from supernovae will trigger star formation in nearby gas clouds).

[i.e you need a star (supernovae) to trigger the formation of a star – so where did the supernovae come from???] The youngest and brightest stars we now see in the Orion Nebula are thought to be less than 300,000 years old, and the brightest may be only 10,000 years in age. Source”: Wikipedia

“The earliest modern theory of the formation of our galaxy describes a single (relatively) rapid monolithic collapse…..Another view published in 1978 describes a more gradual process……An even more recent idea is that significant portions of the stellar halo could be stellar debris from destroyed dwarf galaxies and globular clusters……Giant elliptical galaxies are probably formed by……etc.,etc.

While we have learned a great deal about ours and other galaxies, the most fundamental questions about formation and evolution remain only tentatively answered.” Source: Wikipedia

So we have ‘theories’, ‘views’, ‘ideas’, ‘probably’s’, and ‘tentative answers’, but no facts or evidence! Yet secular scientists are quick to point to Creationists as ‘unscientific’ because we believe primarily on the basis of faith. Surely it takes more faith to believe that the whole universe came into being, with all the chemicals and atoms that make up the stars, from nothing, that from nowhere found the energy to explode into everything?! Such a belief defies reason and the 1^st and 2^nd laws of thermodynamics. The real problem here for atheists and evolutionists is, that if you base your belief on purely natural mechanisms, denying the possibility of outside (supernatural) intelligence, you have to abide by the laws of the physical universe; and those laws will tell you it cannot, and will not happen, regardless of how much time you give it!

In contrast, the Bible boldly declares: “Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee” (Neh 9:6)

Psalm 19 states: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” (Psalm 19:1-3). God’s creation is awesome and testifies to all people in all languages that there is a Creator!

The Sun

Our sun is losing mass at the rate of 4 billion kg a second. This is not something that should worry us as there is plenty of it! But what is does underline is that it will not go on forever. There will come a point – however far away it may be – when our sun will burn out. This confirms one of the greatest discoveries of the 21^st century, namely that our universe is finite: it had a beginning and is destined for an ending. And what does the opening verse of the Bible state? In the beginning… The Bible is not a science textbook… it is far more accurate and never needs to be updated!

Not only does the Bible tell us that the Earth is a sphere (Isaiah 40:22) that hangs in space (Job 26:7), it also tells us that the sun is not stationary but on a circuit around the heavens: “[the sun] is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.” (Psalm 19:5-6). Cosmologists now know that the sun is indeed on its own massive orbit within our solar system.

The Moon

Before we move on, we should also briefly mention the moon. All planets have a certain amount of reflectivity, known as the albedo. This is simply the ratio of the intensity of light reflected compared to the light received from the sun. Our moon had an albedo of just 12%; this is enough to provide light at night, but not too much to keep us all awake! If someone intended to design a ‘lesser light’ to rule the night, it is hard to think how it could have been done any better!

Various theories have been put forward to explain the origin of the moon; three principle theories are the sister theory, wife theory and the daughter theory.

Sister theory – this holds that the moon was formed at the same time as the earth, although as we have noted, the nebular hypothesis does not offer a satisfactory explanation to this, so we are still left not knowing how the moon was formed.

Wife theory – the moon was just passing close to the earth and earth’s gravity just ‘grabbed’ it. Numerous problems exist with this option, and it still does not account for the moon’s origin.

Daughter theory – This view suggests that a passing meteor crashed into the earth and broke a bit off. Although the moon is small compared to the earth, it is still huge, and it is hard to believe that such an impact and cataclysmic event would leave no obvious sign. Furthermore, this theory does not account for the chemical composition of the moon differing from rock indigenous to earth.

None of these theories stand under scientific scrutiny. It has been said that it is easier to explain why the moon should not be there, than to try to explain why it is! And yet, it has such a profound effect on life on earth, controlling the tides and being a reference point from which calendars can be set “and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years”. Cosmologists cannot explain the origin of the moon – it’s as if was put there on purpose!

Interestingly, the moon is moving away from the earth at the rate of 4cm per year. Whilst this is of no concern to us, it is compelling grounds to reject an age of millions of years for the moon, for if its current rate of movement has been consistent, it would have been so close in the past as to make life on earth impossible.

Needless to say, when God looked at all the billions of stars and galaxies, and at the sun and moon, all fulfilling their specific purpose, it is no wonder “God saw that it was good”. And that brings us to the end of the fourth day. Notice once again we have ‘Erev’ and ‘Boker’; things on earth are becoming more discernable, and a formless universe gives way to incredible design.

We’ll continue our study next week as we move into day 5.

Every blessing,

Pastor Bary.

The post Day Two, Three & Four first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Battle for the Earth!

Barry Forder — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 22:28:41 +0000

Ever since God created the Earth there has been an intense battle for it. Satan presumed God was creating it for him: “To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?” (Esther 6:6); but then God gave it to man! (Genesis 1:28-30)

Using deception and cunning Satan then usurped man and claimed the title deed for the Earth. He is, for now, the ‘God of this world’ (2 Corinthians 4:4) the kingdoms of this world having been delivered over to him (Luke 4:6). However, there is coming a day when “The kingdoms of this world [will] become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).

But the battle for the Earth has also been waged in a far more subtle way, for once people believed that God had created it. Of course, throughout history, there have been many wacky theories and ideas about the Earth – that it sits on the back of a giant turtle is one of the best! But in the 18th century, there was a radical shift. People went from believing the Biblical account of the Earth’s history to a theory born largely out of seances with men from Jupiter and Saturn! (Yes you did read that right!). In 1755, Immanuel Kant published his book, “Universal Natural History and Theory of the Heavens”, in it he proposed the ‘Nebular Hypothesis’ – the idea that all the planets in our solar system were the result of a large filament of material which shot off from the Sun 4 Billion years ago, cooled and then became the planets, including Earth. However, he wasn’t the first to propose this. Some years earlier Emanuel Swedenborg had claim confirmation for this hypothesis from seances with men on Jupiter, Saturn and places more distant! Pierre Simon Leplace (mathmatician) subsequently gave his endorsment despite there being serious mathmatical flaws in the theory, and although proven false, amazingly, this is still taught today.

This paved the way for geologist James Hutton, followed by Charles Lyell and then Charles Darwin to leave their mark on history, by rejecting the Biblical account in favour of man’s wisdom. This little bit of history sets the scene for our continued verse-by-verse study in Genesis.

Today, the battle for the Earth has been all but won in the minds of the masses by the ‘prince of the power of the air’ (Ephesians 2:2) “the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

(Listen to the audio teaching on this web site: https://www.calvaryportsmouth.co.uk/sermons/genesis-1-2-5/

We pick up our verse by verse study in Genesis chapter 1, verse 2:

Genesis 1:2

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

In an ideal world we could simply make a few comments and move onto the next verse; however, it is necessary to make mention at this point of what is known as the ‘Gap Theory’. This theory, proposed by Thomas Chalmers in 1814, suggests that there is a gap of time between verse 1 and verse 2; i.e. that God created the heavens and the earth, there was then an undisclosed period of time when, according to proponents of this view, Satan ruled on the earth over a pre-Adamite civilisation. Then, supposedly, due to the wickedness of this original world, God sent a flood – called ‘Lucifer’s flood’ – which destroyed everything from the face of the earth. It is then suggested that what we see in verse two is the result of this judgment as God plans to recreate as per the remainder of the Genesis chapter 1 account.

Those who hold to this view will try to draw attention to specific Hebrew words to make the claim that the verse should be translated as follows: “But the earth became confused and waste…”. However, respected Hebrew scholars Keil & Delitzsch, in their commentary on the Old Testament say the following: “And the earth was (not became) waste and void.” The alliterative nouns tohu vabohu, the etymology of which is lost, signify waste and empty (barren), but not laying waste and desolating. [emphasis added] (from Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament: New Updated Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.) Thus, you will be able to find Hebrew scholars on both sides of this debate; some who lend support to the gap theory, and other who reject it out of hand.

Now, before we go on to look at the Biblical position regarding this theory, what should be addressed, is the circumstances that led to this theory in the first place. As we have already mentioned, the gap theory first surfaced in 1814. Only a few years before this, a lawyer & medical doctor turned geologist by the name of James Hutton had captured the imagination of the scientific community by claiming that the earth was not young, as the Bible indicates, but rather the earth was extremely old. He challenged the accepted idea of Catastrophism (that what we see in the world today is the result of major cataclysmic events – such as Noah’s flood), and instead proposed the idea now known as Uniformitarianism that states that things have gradually altered over eons of time.

It is against this background of popular scientific thought, all of which seeks to discredit the biblical account, that along comes Mr Chalmers, who, although no doubt sincere, proposes a theory that attempted to reconcile the Bible to ‘science’.

The mistake that was made then, and is still made today by those who choose to hold to the gap theory, is that they substitute God’s revealed truth for mans wisdom; of which God says: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” (1 Cor 1:19), “

As we have already noted, there will never be a conflict with science and scripture, for they both have the same Author, but we will repeatedly find conflicts arise between fallible men who seek to interpret science and history apart from God’s infallible word. Today, men like Hutton and Charles Lyell (who followed in Hutton’s footsteps) are seen as pioneers who advanced scientific thought. In reality, quite the reverse is true. By rejecting God and His word they have become fools who have erected stumbling blocks both in the path of science and faith.

The irony of this particular situation, is that inserting long periods of time in between Gen 1:1 and Gen 1:2 doesn’t actually solve the problem that it was intended to; that of reconciling secular theories with the biblical account. Hutton and Lyell et al proposed that what we see in the world around us is the result of eons of years of gradual change (this paved the way for Darwin who built on their foundation). However, for those who believe the gap theory, there is still the problem of Noah’s flood – which would have cataclysmically changed the face of the earth – and is the rational explanation for what we see in the world today. Any evidence of a ‘pre-Adamic world’ or ‘Lucifer’s flood’ would have been literaly swept away by Noah’s flood. Yes, the gap theory agrees with the millions-of-years-theorists view of ‘lots of time’, but any supposed evidence of that ‘time’ was destroyed by Noah’s flood.

So if there can be no evidence drawn from geology to support the gap theory, is there any biblical basis for it?

The answer is simply ‘none whatsoever’! Firstly, we are clearly told in Exodus 20:11 that God created the heavens, the earth, the sea and all that is in them in 6 literal days. This is the basis for our 7-day week and the reason that the Jews were told to commemorate the Sabbath on the seventh day of the week. It is important to note that God wrote this with His own finger (Ex 31:18), and it impossible for God to lie (Heb 6:18.).

Secondly, a pre-Adamite world that is destroyed for it’s wickedness would place sin and death before Adam; and yet we are clearly told: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom 5:12). Sin and death only entered the world as a result of Adam’s transgression.

Finally, after God had finished His work of creation He declared it ‘very good’ (Gen 1:31), not “very good except for Satan running around’ but simply ‘very good’. Satan could not have fallen at this point. Furthermore, Ezekiel tells us that before he fell, Satan was actually in Eden, the garden of God, in an un-fallen state (Ezekiel 28:13). Paul tells us that it was pride that caused Satan to fall (1 Tim 3:6). And Isaiah tells us that Satan wanted to be ‘like God’. Now, bear in mind that no angel was made in the image of God – but Adam was! Clearly, Satan was jealous of Adam’s position, being made in the image and likeness of God, and so Satan also wanted to be ‘like God’, and that was pride, and that led to his fall, and that led to his hatred of humanity, and that led to Genesis chapter 3 – which we will deal with when we get there!

Suffice to say, there is not a single verse in the Bible that so much as hints at the fact that Satan rebelled in the dateless past, before the days of creation. Or that he was ever given dominion over the earth (he did, of course, steal it from Adam, and holds the title to the earth for now cf. Luke 4:6 / 2 Cor 4:4). In fact, we are told in the book of Job (Job 38:7) that when God created the earth, ALL the angels sang for joy. If all means all, then it has to include Satan – who at that time had not yet rebelled.

Thus, the theory that Satan once ruled over a pre-Adamite world is pure fiction and not Biblical. The only reason to invent such a story is to explain what was going on in a pre-Adam world. The only reason to believe there was a pre-Adam world is to allow for the earth being billions of years old. The only reason to want the earth to be billions of years old is to fit in with the secular, God-rejecting ‘scientists’ simply because you are not prepared to take God at His word.

It has taken a number of words to rebut this false theory, a theory that need never have existed in the first place if God’s word had been taken seriously, or even just read! Once again, God says what He means and means what He says! Never fear the wisdom of man if it contradicts the Word of God. God’s Word will endure FOREVER!!

Genesis 1:3

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

The stage has been set, and as we come to verse three the lights go on and God’s play begins. The darkness and brooding of verse two now give way to the light; this is something so profound that it requires us to stop and consider what is going on here.

If I were to ask the question: ‘What is darkness?’ how would you answer? Let’s put it another way: ‘How do you measure darkness?’ If you think long and hard you will come to the realisation that darkness does not actually exist in and of itself; darkness is simply the absence of light. We can measure light, but we can only ‘measure’ darkness by the amount (or lack) of light present. In Job 38 God gives Job a science quiz and, among other things, asks him “Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof” (Job 38:19). Light moves, darkness is fixed.

Now, the common understanding of this verse is that God says: ‘Let there be light’, at which point light appears; and that is certainly what happens. However, if we look at the Hebrew (which reads from right to left), we find that what God actually says is: “Be light, be light” or we could say: “Let light be light”. Another way we could render this would be: “Let the Light illuminate”, and now we begin to see something incredible! Who is The Light? Jesus Christ!

In 1^st John we are told that “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all”( 1 John 1:5). This is also explained in the opening of John’s gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him [i.e. the Light] might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:1-9)

Thus, from these verses we see that God, in the person of Jesus, is the Light, and the creator of all things. He Himself said: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”. (John 8:12). Was this just a metaphor? Apparently not, for in Revelation 21:23 we read: “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” (Rev 21:23).

Another verse that sheds some light on this subject (pun intended!) is 2 Corinthians 4:6: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”. Here Paul is referring to the verse we are studying (Genesis 1:3), but notice what we are told: God commanded the light to shine. For God to command the light to shine, the light had to be in existence prior to this point; in other words, it was not created but was pre-existent!

This would seem to be confirmed in Isaiah 45:“I form the light, and create darkness”(Isaiah 45:7). The Hebrew word for ‘form’ is Yatsar meaning to ‘fashion, form, frame, make through the squeezing into shape’. In other words, it is working with something that already exists. However, in contrast to this, create (darkness), is the Hebrew word bara, meaning to ‘create out of nothing’. God does indeed create darkness (out of nothing) simply because He is Light. The fact that He is light makes it possible for darkness to exist. The same idea is carried on in the second part of the verse where we read: “I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things”. Many people have struggled with this verse because they think it makes God the author of evil; until, of course, you realise that, just as darkness is the absence of light, so evil is the absence of God. Evil exists because of the absence of God in the hearts of those who reject God. God does not ‘form’ (yatser) evil from something that already existed, He ‘causes’ it to exist (bara) out of nothing – i.e. it hasn’t always been there. It only became a possibility with the existence of beings (angels and humans) who have the power of choice – choice that allows them to reject God.

One final though before we move on: If God commanded Jesus, who is Light, to ‘illuminate’ the world (as I believe this verse is saying), and we know from Colossians 1:16-17 that Jesus created all things that exist, then, we could legitimately say that ‘Light created all things’. Why am I making this point? Well, simply because of the following:

Particle physicists know that each particle (the smallest physical object – smaller than an atom) has an anti-particle. If a particle and anti-particle combine they will annihilate each other and emit a photon (the smallest unit of light). What’s provocative is that it’s believed that this reaction could be reversible. This would mean that, from a photon (a single unit of light), it would be possible to ‘create’ a particle and its corresponding anti-particle. In other words, some particle physicists now believe that all you would need to create matter is light! – and what has the Bible said for thousands of years? ‘In the beginning God – the one who is Light – created all things!!

Genesis 1:4

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

We are told that the light ‘was good’, immediately I am reminded of Mark 10:17-18 “And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God”.

We will see in the next verse that this division between the light and darkness is what becomes daytime and night-time, but notice that this is before the Sun is made. Thus God is showing something more profound by this action; something that is amplified in the New Testament:

“Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” (1 Thess 5:5). In God making this division we see His foreknowledge of what was to come: that the pinnacle of His creation – mankind – would reject Him and choose darkness. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil”(John 3:19). Thus, by the separating of light and darkness, we see God setting a daily reminder of the choice each of us has, to be children of the day or children of the night. It is significant to note that ultimately, in the new heaven and new earth, there will be no night – the choice will already have been made. (cf. Rev 21:25 / 22:5).

Genesis 1:5

And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

Building on what we have just said, God allows there to be a period of time when darkness rules. It is interesting to note what Paul said to the Thessalonians: “For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” (1 Thess 5:7-8). Once again, there is a choice to be made.

Have you ever wondered why ‘sin’ comes alive at night time? From unsavoury TV, to night clubs, to drunkenness, to prostitution, to brawling; all these flourish under the cover of darkness, when the light is withdrawn for a time.

This verse closes with a phrase that will repeat on each successive day of creation: ‘And the evening and the morning…’ Traditionally, this is why the Jewish day begins in the evening. However, it may be that ‘evenings’ and ‘mornings’ are not what is in view here at all. One hint of this is the fact that on day-7 there is no evening and morning recorded in the text. Now, we obviously know that there was an evening and morning on day-7, so why is it not mentioned?

A look at the Hebrew here reveals an interesting possibility.

The Hebrew word for ‘evening’ is Erev, but originally it appears to have meant ‘Obscurity, a mixture, disorder etc.’. In contrast, the Hebrew word for ‘morning’ is Boker which originally seemed to indicate ‘becoming discernable, distinguishable, relief of obscurity, etc.’

We know that as the evening approaches, things become less clear, they loose definition. But when the morning comes everything becomes discernable. Hence it is easy to see why these two words have come to be used to refer to evening and morning. If however, we take their original meanings, we find that at the end of the first day we have disorder leading to order. This pattern repeats each successive day as God’s creation ‘takes shape’ and each successive day brings a greater degree of order, right up until the end of the 6^th day, then on the 7th day God rests from His labour and hence, no further increase in order, no erev and boker, all was then complete.

Science talks of ‘entropy’, the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, the universally acknowledged idea that things are running down, going from order to disorder; Things loose information if left to their own devices, they do not gain information. Things go from tidy to untidy, not the other way around! This flies right in the face of evolution, which has to completely ignore this scientific law to make its preposterous claim that things have added information by chance mutation (mutations themselves being a loss or scrambling of existing information!). Things have not, nor cannot be improved, increase in information or get better simply by natural mechanisms.

In regard to the creation week, it would seem that the ‘evenings’ and ‘mornings’ (erev & boker) are actually decreasing steps of entropy, as the world goes from being ‘without form and void’ to the perfection of God’s completed work, which He declares to be ‘very good’.

(Credit to Dr Chuck Missler for this insight: www.khouse.org)

Sadly, in Genesis 3 we get to the ‘Fall of man’ when, not only man, but all creation is cursed, and from that moment the universe the world and everything in it starts to wind down.

“Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed” (Psalm 102:25-26)

The post The Battle for the Earth! first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

In the beginning…

Barry Forder — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 18:27:23 +0000

As we continue our verse-by-verse study in the book of Genesis, we now move into verse 1 and make some surprising discoveries!

These blogs over the coming weeks accompany the teaching sessions (which can be found in the ‘Teaching & Audio > Sunday Morning Studies’ section of this web-site.

I hope and pray that (if you are a Christian) you are encouraged, edified and strengthened in your faith; and if not, that you would come to see that the Bible really is God’s Word – provably so – and that the greatest privilege of all is to know Him!

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1)

What an opening! As we have already noted, our universe, our reality, consists of time, space and matter. Our universe also had a beginning – one of the greatest discoveries of the twentieth century. Thus there has to have been a time when no-thing existed. Therefore, for all that we now see to have come into existence, there had to have been a power at work outside of our physical universe; that power could not have been a ‘thing’ – for it would then be subject to the same laws as the rest of nature – It had to be Someone who is outside of time, not bound by physical constraints.

Here, in just 7 Hebrew words, we are told there was a beginning, and that Someone caused time, space (heaven) and matter (earth) to come into existence. That Someone is God – as Isaiah records: ‘One who inhabits eternity’ (Isaiah 57:15).

It is also interesting to see a trinity of trinities here:

Time = past, present & future; Space = length, width & height; Matter = solid, liquid & gas.

And behind all of this we have THE Triune God, Father, Son & Spirit as alluded to in the Hebrew word Eloheim (translated ‘God’ but literally meaning ‘Gods’). Hebrew words with an ‘im’ ending are plural (i.e. more than one) e.g. Seraphim, Cherubim. Once again, the little details are of the utmost importance.

While we are considering the Hebrew, it is worth pointing out that the word for ‘created’ is the Hebrew word ‘Bara’ meaning ‘to create out of nothing’. There are other Hebrew words (‘Asa’ meaning to make, fasion, fabricate; and ‘Yatsa’ meaning to form or mould), but we are specifically told that here God created out of nothing.

As was just mentioned, this opening verse contains 7 words, but those 7 words comprise 28 letters (4 x 7). Books have been written about these letters and their corresponding numerical values. As we will go through the Bible we will discover that numbers are often used to represent concepts and ideas. The number 7 (and multiples thereof) is always associated with ‘complete’ and is another evidence of deliberate supernatural design throughout the Bible. We find a 7 day week, 7 colours in the rainbow, 7 branches on the Menorah (Jewish lampstand), the 7 years of plenty and the 7 years of famine in Egypt, the 7 priests and 7 trumpets marching around Jericho, Solomon’s building the Temple for 7 years, Naaman’s washing in the river 7 times, the 7 kingdom parables in Matthew 13, the 7 letters to 7 churches in Revelation, 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 thunders, 7 bowel judgments and the list could go on and on. However those are just the ones we observe on the surface of the text. Russian born Dr Ivan Panin spent over 50 years of his life painstakingly exploring the numerical structure of the Scriptures, generating over 43,000 detailed, hand-penned pages of analysis. His findings showed that not only the surface text is filled with numerical patterns, but the very words and letters themselves are specifically chosen to fit mathematical models. Jesus was really not joking when He said that not even a jot or tittle will pass from the law until all be fulfilled!

One final incredible feature found in this verse is two un-translated letters in the middle of the Hebrew text.

The letters are the Aleph (first in their alphabet) and Tau (last in their alphabet). The equivalent in Greek would be the Alpha and Omega. Thus we could translate this verse as follows:

In the beginning God, the Alpha & Omega, created the heavens and the earth!

As Jesus said: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39)

Check back later to see the study notes for verses 2-5! – or if you follow us on Twitter you will automatically be notified when new posts are added.

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post In the beginning… first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

An Immovable Foundation!

Barry Forder — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 16:38:41 +0000

Well, today we have begun a new verse-by-verse study in the book of Genesis – the beginning and foundation of the Bible.

In these blogs over the coming weeks, I will include the study notes that accompany the teaching sessions (which can be found in the ‘Teaching & Audio > Sunday Morning Studies’ section of this web-site.

Introduction to the book of Genesis

Surveying the Landscape

As we start a verse-by-verse study of this book I am filled with a profound sense of unworthiness to undertake this task. Whilst to many the book of Genesis is irrelevant, or simply a combination of myth and legend; to those who have discovered what the Bible actually is, the task before us is like standing on top of the world’s tallest mountain and trying to summarise in words the breathtaking beauty of all you can see. Genesis is just such a mountain, and also serves as the foundation of the entire Bible; from here we can see all the incredible landscape of scripture. The name ‘Genesis’ is derived from the Greek version of the Hebrew word ‘toledah’ that first occurs in Genesis 2:4, and occurs a total of 14 times in the book. Genesis / toledah means ‘beginnings’ and this book is certainly the book of beginnings; it is the key that unlocks the rest of the Bible, and without which, much of the rest of scripture would be without context, for all the major issues and doctrines that are developed in the rest of scripture are begun here. The Hebrew name for the book is ‘Beresheet’ from the first word in the book, literally ‘in the beginning’.

Beginnings

Genesis explains the origin of space, time, matter, energy, the universe, stars and planets, earth, the seas, life, man, animals, vegetation etc., and the beginning of nations, languages, government, culture, cities, music and various occupations etc. Of particular importance, Genesis brings us face to face with the beginning of sin, death, murder, rebellion and defiance against God, and sees the birth of false religion – mans attempt to cover his sin and get right with God by his own efforts. It introduces us to the first world-dictator and world-government – something that is destined to be repeated in our time. However, it also reveals God as a knowable God, a God of love and mercy, and yet a God of justice. It reveals the necessary step that had to be taken in order for God to have a people who would walk with Him for eternity, He being their God and they His people (Rev 21:3). It demonstrates the sovereignty of God and the free will of man. It sees the first blood sacrifice as an atonement for sin, and the promise of a Saviour who will redeem mankind. It ultimately answers the fundamental questions of life: Who am I? Where did I come from? What am I doing here? What happens when I die?

Foundation

The rest of the Bible is built on this foundation. David said: ‘If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?’ (Psalm 11:3). It is therefore hardly surprising that Genesis – its credibility and reliability – is frequently attacked by those who are simply blinded by the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4); for ‘the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned’ (1 Cor 2:14).

When we look at a painting, we appreciate the skill of the artist and notice the depth and use of colours to create the appearance of an extra dimension.

Certain animals cannot understand two-dimensional images, thus when they look at a painting they cannot appreciate it; and so it is when a ‘natural man’ looks at the pages of scripture; he has no capacity to see the incredible depth that tells of dimensions beyond the natural.

Science

Genesis is actually the third longest book in the Bible (excluding Psalms) and yet it is the opening chapters that are often the major focus of attention. Most people are aware of the controversy and debate between ‘science and religion’. It is not uncommon to hear news reports of ‘fundamentalist Christians’ who have dared to challenge the status quo, and the danger these so called ‘extremists’ pose to the education of young people – Richard Dawkins aligns the teaching of Biblical Creation with child abuse! Repeatedly the populace are told via the news media that the ‘Big Bang’ and theory of Evolution are scientific facts that we don’t need to challenge but simply accept. So why is the book of Genesis so vehemently attacked by its detractors? For the simple reason that it offers the only viable alternative regarding our origins. The problem is that this ‘alternative’ requires belief in a supernatural God – something that many scientists struggle to accept (apparently they prefer to believe that ‘in the beginning nothing…’ then, that this nothing exploded and became everything! Apparently that is a more ‘scientific’ explanation!??).

Sadly, many Christians have been duped into believing the lies and deceit propagated in the name of science that broadly fall under the banner of ‘the theory of evolution’. We will deal with this in subsequent weeks as we go through our study.

A Major Problem

One of the reasons so many sincere believers have abandoned a belief in the early chapters of Genesis in favour of an ‘evolution-guided-by-God’ view*, is that they no longer have confidence in the Bible itself.

*The inconsistencies of this position we will explore more fully in future weeks.

It is no wonder this situation has occurred when countless ministers and church leaders, (themselves the product of liberal Bible Seminaries) have undermined the inspiration and authority of the Word of God

Vicious Circle

This is just a vicious circle; people reject the authority, accuracy and integrity of scripture because they have been convinced by the media, so-called scientists and ‘ministers of religion’ that it is not trustworthy. They don’t trust it because they have been taught to doubt its authority.

As we begin a study in Genesis, this issue is of the utmost importance; either the Bible is the inspired Word of God – all of it – or it isn’t. There is no middle ground. For if Genesis contains errors and factual inaccuracies about our origins and the history of man, it cannot be the word of a supernatural and all-knowing God. If the Bible merely contains the words of God, then it becomes subjective, and who is to say what are God’s infallible words and what are the words of fallible man?

This is, in many respects, the crux of the matter; but once we understand just what the Bible is, these, and almost all other problems, disappear.

Extra Terrestrial Message

It is no secret that vast sums of money are spent on the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence. To date they have found nothing, despite hundreds of thousands of man-hours being spent searching. In September 1971, 84 of the world’s top scientists gathered at the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, Yerevan, Armenia, for a conference on Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligence (CETI), jointly sponsored U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the SSSR (it’s Russian counterpart). A formula was devised to work out the possible number of existing civilisations in the Milky Way Galaxy at or beyond our level of technological advancement.

Various factors were taken into account, such as the rate of star formation, averaged over the supposed lifetime of the galaxy (R*); the fraction of stars which have planetary systems (fp); the number of planets that would be able to support organic life (ⁿe); the number of such planets on which life may actually occur (Fl); the fraction of these planets that after the spontaneous origin of life, intelligence in some form arises (fi); then the fraction of these planets where life could originate that could then go on to develop the ability to communicate (fc); and finally the mean lifetime of such technical civilisations (L). Thus the formula was:

…impressive, isn’t it!

Given all of these factors, it was concluded that the number of planets in the Milky Way Galaxy that are able to support life, where life could be found, where that life had developed the ability to communicate, was just one – Earth!

(Dr Chuck Missler, from his book: Cosmic Codes, ISBN 1-57821-255-3)

The impossibility of the odds that life exists elsewhere in the universe has still not deterred them from looking – however they may just be looking in the wrong place!

The question needs to be asked, what are they looking for, and how will they know when they find it? It goes without saying that such a discovery would be one of the greatest discoveries ever made by mankind; a discovery that would change forever the outlook of those who had made it. Ultimately, for a message to be accepted as genuine, it would have to be provably extra-terrestrial in origin.

“It seems a strange irony that an extraterrestrial message has been received from beyond our space-time, and it appears in the most ubiquitous of all the books in the entire world – the Bible. It has from the beginning, maintained that its origin was from outside the space-time of Planet Earth.”

(Dr Chuck Missler, from his book: Cosmic Codes, ISBN 1-57821-255-3)

66 Books From Outside Our Space-Time

I am deeply indebted to the teaching and scholarship of Dr Chuck Missler, who brings to our attention the fact that the Bible is not just a collection of ancient writings, but is 66 books written by around 40 authors, over a period of approximately 2000 years that we can demonstrate is one integrated message system that has its origin from outside our time domain. In other words, because the Bible is so integrated and does what no other book in the world can do – tell the future before it happens – it cannot be merely the work of men, no matter how brilliant, but has to be the work of someone who is not confined by time itself, but is outside of time and is able to ‘tell the end from the beginning’ (Isaiah 46:10). This is one of the greatest discoveries that an individual can ever make. Indeed, over 300 times the Bible claims to be the word of God to His creation; and Paul reminded Timothy that ‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God’ (2 Tim 3:16). Isaiah records that ‘The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever’(Isaiah 40:8). David said ‘For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven’ (Psalm 119:89).

Thus, that which we hold in our hands is no mere book, but a supernatural message that cuts through time and space to reveal our past, present and future, and most importantly, our own connection with eternity.

When we understand that, we have no problem putting complete trust in the Bible.

God said it; I believe it; that settles it!

It is really not hard to take the book of Genesis, indeed all scripture, seriously. If it comes down to the word of Charley Darwin – who wasn’t there and couldn’t observe or record the events taking place at the creation of the world – or the Word of an infinite God, who was there and has given us a written account, signed with His own finger (see Exodus 31:17-18), there really in no debate.

As to the question of science versus religion, the simple fact of the matter is that God has given us a reasonably detailed account of what happened, and when it took place. True science will therefore never be in conflict with the Bible. And let us not forget that science itself has limits, it deals with the present and not the past, it requires investigation and observation using one of more of our five senses (taste, touch, sight, smell & sound).

All we know about the past is from inference based on what exists in the present. Fossils, for example, exist in the present, not the past. Our assessment of how a fossil was formed will be based on our belief about the past, not science. Even if today we saw reptiles evolve into birds*, that doesn’t prove it happened in the past, only that it happens in the present. We may conclude that it is likely that it happened in the past because we see it happening in the present, but that becomes a statement of belief, not fact.

NB: as an aside, it is completely impossible for a reptile to evolve into a bird – that is not just a belief, but a statement based on observable scientific fact. For more on this see One Small Speck – the evolution myth, by Dr Vij Sodera.

No Contradiction

Again, there is no contention between the Creator and His creation, the Bible and science. The contention comes when an ‘unproved and unprovable’ manmade theory tries to account for all of creation without acknowledging the Creator.

Despite the propaganda we so frequently hear, it is evolution, rather than Biblical creation, that is in conflict with science.

Introduction to Genesis

Genesis can be divided into two sections: Chapters 1-11 and 12-50.

Chapters 1-11 deal with the creation and beginning of everything. The first man (Ch 1), the first marriage (Ch 2), the first sin and the first blood sacrifice (Ch3), the first murder (Ch4), the first Rapture (Ch5), the first worldwide apostasy (Ch6), the first global judgment (Ch 7-9), the first world dictator (Ch10) and the dividing of the nations and languages (Ch11).

The second section of the book (Chapters 12-50) focuses on one man and his family, namely Abraham. We will see God call this man and explain to him that the Seed of the Woman, as promised to Eve, will come through his family, and as a result, all the families of the earth will be blessed. The rest of the book will chart the intrigues and struggles, as this family becomes a nation whom God will watch over and protect for eternity.

Author: Moses – how do we know? Because Moses, Joshua, David, Ezra, Daniel and Jesus all said so. “If you don’t believe what Jesus said you’ve got much bigger problems than the authorship of Genesis!” – Chuck Missler

When was it written?: Around 1600 B.C. – either when Moses was tending sheep for Jethro his father-in-law, and/or at Sinai as an introduction to the Law (Israel were camped there for two years). Originally, the first five books of the Bible (known as the Pentateuch) were one writing in five sections. The separation into five books did not occur until around 300 B.C.

Theme: “the creation, the fall, and redemption of the human race through Jesus Christ. Around this centres all divine revelation and scripture truth. The book is the seed-plot of the entire Bible and is essential to the correct understanding of every part of it. Genesis is the foundation on which all divine revelation rests and on which it is built up. Not only that, but it enters into, and forms a very integral part of that revelation. Every great doctrine of Scripture finds its roots in germ, type, or simple revelation.” Finis Jennings Dake

Statistics:

1^st book of the Bible;

50 chapters,

1533 verses;

38,267 words;

1385 verses of history;

148 questions;

56 prophecies;

123 verses of fulfilled prophecy to date;

23 verses of unfulfilled prophecy to date;

106 commands;

71 promises;

326 predictions;

95 distinct messages from God.

(Source:, Finis Jennings Dake Annotated Reference Bible)

Scope: The largest time span of any book in the Bible: 4000? B.C. to 1600 B.C.

Main characters: Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, Seth, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph.

Things to look for: Models, patterns and types; all of which point to Jesus.

Adam is a type of Christ – giving himself for his bride (1 Tim 2:14).

The Ark (chapters 6-9) is a type of Christ – all who enter in are safe from God’s judgment. tadalafil online

Melchizedek (chapter 14) is a type of Christ being a priest who has no beginning or end.

Isaac is a type of Christ, being willingly offered by his father, and eventually being united with his gentile bride.

Joseph (chapter 39-50) is a type of Christ in that no sin is recorded or him; he was rejected by his brethren; cast into a pit but then ‘raised up’ to deliver all who came to him. In fact, we will explore over 100 different ways that Joseph is a type of Christ.

Check back later this week to see the study notes for verse 1! – or if you follow us on Twitter you will automatically be notified when new posts are added.

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post An Immovable Foundation! first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Happy New Year…

Barry Forder — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 23:21:31 +0000

Well wasn’t 2016 a rollercoaster year! Who would have predicted Brexit, Cameron resigning, Trump elected, over 14,000 earthquakes (greater than magnitude 6.0), over 1800 Terrorist attacks worldwide with over 17,000 related deaths, not to mention all the high-profile celebrities who have died in the last 12 months? It was a good reminder that we are all mortal and the one thing we can be certain of in this life is uncertainty!

For those without an anchor, the world is a really stormy sea to be sailing on right now!

The Bible, however, speaks of there being an anchor for our souls (Heb 6:19), that can keep us both sure and steadfast.

Jesus is that Anchor. He can give you reason, purpose and hope in this crazy world. We would love to share with you more about our Solid Rock.

We are going to start 2017 looking at a vital topic, particularly given the current situation in the Middle East and around the world, The Rapture of the Church. What is it? When will it happen? Why does Paul call it a Christian’s ‘blessed hope’?

We are then going to go back to the beginning and start a verse-by-verse journey through the Book of Genesis!

We’d love you to come and join with us on a Sunday morning if you are in the Portsmouth area, if not, you will be able to listen to all the sessions by going to the Teaching & Audio section of this web site.

May I wish you a very happy and blessed 2017, as you ‘walk in His way’! (Psalm 119:1-3)

Pastor Barry

The post Happy New Year… first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

It is done!

Barry Forder — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 06:41:14 +0000

Introduction

In verse 6 of the previous chapter (Revelation 21) we saw the One sat upon the throne declare “it is done!” God’s plan from before the foundation of the world is completed. This is summerised in Ephesians 1:9-10, where Paul states: “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him” (Eph 1:9-10).

My paraphrase of this verse is that the mystery once hidden, has now been revealed, and it is this: that when everything is said and done, God will gather together into one all the believing Jews and believing Gentiles, whether rich, poor, masters & servants, male and female; all gathered together without distinction in Christ. As He hold the universe together by the world of His power, so He will unite all of redeemed humanity, forever to be His people and He to be their God!

In Ephesians 2 Paul reminds us of our past, that we were dead in trespasses and sins, that we had fallen short of God’s perfect standard, that we were destined for God’s righteous judgment and wrath, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:4-7).

It is these ‘ages to come’ that we are given a glimpse of in the closing chapters of Revelation. In the last chapter we began to look at this incredible city, prepared and beautified like a bride on her wedding day. This city is to be the eternal home of the redeemed. We continue our study in chapter 22…

CHAPTER 22

Rev 22:1

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Back in Rev 2:6 John was told “It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely”. So, what is this ‘water of life?’ Is it natural water (H₂0)? How is it that it brings life?

We can glean some insight by looking at an encounter Jesus had with a Samaritan woman. In John chapter 4:

“There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.” (John 4:7-15)

When the northern kingdom of Israel was taken away from their land by the king of Assyria in 722 B.C. he sent other people (who had also been displaced from their own lands) to live in northern Israel. In 2 Kings 17 we read: “And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them. Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land”.

In the British Museum there are very detailed reliefs from Assyria that depict the problem of this Lion infestation.

As a result the king of Assyria sent a Hebrew priest back to the land to teach the new inhabitants the customs of the God of Israel.

Thus began a hybrid religion which was a mix of the paganism they had been brought up with and this new monotheistic faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. These new inhabitants became known as Samaritans. The Jews upon returning from their own Babylonian captivity wanted nothing at all to do with these people and their watered-down religion. This helps to put the parable of the Good Samaritan that Jesus told in Luke 10 into perspective, but it also explains why the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 was so surprised that a Jew would talk to her! In truth, we should all be amazed that Jesus would want to speak to us!

Jesus offers this woman the same living water that we see flowing down the streets of the New Jerusalem. At first the women is sceptical of Jesus offer to give her this living water as He has nothing to draw the water out of the well. But of course Jesus was not talking about H₂O which can only temporarily satisfy a natural thirst, but about something He could give which could satisfy a much deeper and profound thirst, a thirst that is found within each of us.

So many of us spend years thinking that Jesus has nothing to offer us, that we are best to just carry on satisfying our own thirsts.

Eventually the woman asks Jesus if she can have some of this living water so that she would no longer have to go through the daily routine of traipsing out to the well.

Many of us have also come to that place where we have got tired of the daily grind. We may even enjoy our day job’s or routines to a point, but there comes a time when we realise the futility of it all Solomon wrote a whole book lamenting this struggle! – see Ecclesiastes. Solomon said: “Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.” (Eccl 2:17-18)

It is that thirst which the world can never satisfy that is met by this living water.

There is another account worth mentioning at this point. In John 7 the Jews were celebrating the feast of Tabernacles, to commemorate the time they spent living in tents in the wilderness after their flight from Egypt. For seven days the priests would go down to the pool of Siloam and draw water, then carry it up to the Temple and pour is out on the alter, letting it run down the street into the city. This was to remember the water that had miraculously come from the Rock in Horeb that Moses struck in Exodus 18. However on the eighth day they would not draw the water to symbolise their thirst had not yet been satisfied because (as far as they believed) the Messiah had not yet come. On this day the High Priest would read from the scroll of Isaiah:

^“Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee”. (Isaiah 12:3-6).

Typically the multitudes gathered would be silent as the High Priest read. But then, the cutting through the silence… Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:37-39).

You can almost feel the tension as you read the text. All eyes suddenly turned from watching the High Priest to the Holy One of Israel in the midst of them!

Clearly the water flowing down those streets at that time could never satisfy, but Jesus was offering something that will meet every need, appease every longing, heal every hurt and satisfy every thirst.

God made us, He knows us better than we know ourselves, and He wants for us to be satisfied; but that can never happen outside of a relationship with Himself. All the time we try to accomplish this on our own we will be like the woman travelling daily out to the well, or like the High Priest who, year after year, would go back to the pool of Siloam, never being able to break the cycle.

For those who put their trust and hope in Jesus now, they don’t have to wait until the New Jerusalem to experience the water of life the Jesus spoke of and that will flow endlessly through the eternal city.

God can sustain our natural bodies (as He did with Moses and Jesus when they fasted), our real need is not in the physical domain, but in the spiritual, and only Jesus can satisfy.

As this point, if you have not already done so, come now and drink! Come now to Jesus. Come now and drink undeservedly, but also unreservedly! Ask Him to meet you where you are.

The following insightful commentary on these two verses (available on-line from the Blue Letter Bible www.blueletterbible.org) is by Calvary Chapel founding pastor, Chuck Smith:

“IN THE LAST DAY, THAT GREAT DAY OF THE FEAST.”

This was the Feast of Tabernacles, Succoth.
Made their booths beside their houses.
At the celebration in Jerusalem, the priests would pour water from their jugs on the pavement of the Temple Mount.
This was a memorial of the water out of the rock in the wilderness.
On last day they did not go through this ritual as a reminder that they now possessed the land promised by God.
“JESUS STOOD AND CRIED.”
The standing was significant.
When the Rabbi’s taught they sat.
When they were heralding a truth they stood.
Why did Jesus get so emotional over this?
Paul tells us, “Jesus was that Rock.”
That is, men are perishing in the wilderness of sin. Without Christ they will surely die.

III. “IF ANY MAN THIRST.”

Jesus was not referring to physical thirst.
There are body thirsts or drives necessary for our survival.
Meslov has defined them and catalogued them in order of intensity.
The strongest being our air drive.
Next is the thirst drive.
The thirst drive can be overwhelming.
He was not referring to our emotional drives.
We need love from early infancy.
A baby in the first six months denied this love and fondling will suffer permanent mental retardation.
We need security; to be needed.
Deep inside man the spirit is crying out for God.
The psychologist who denies the spiritual nature of man will never truly understand human behavior.
The psychologists admit that neurotic behavior often begins with frustration.
They trace the neurosis to the guilt, to the escape, to the inferiority, to the frustration.
What is frustration but thirst?
David said, “My soul thirsts after the living God.”
“LET HIM COME UNTO ME AND DRINK.”
Here is the gospel in the simplest terms.
The answer to man’s thirst for God can be fully satisfied by Jesus Christ.
He calls to your poor, thirsty soul, “Come…”
He said to woman at the well, “Drink of this water and you will thirst again.”
“HE THAT BELIEVES IN ME.”
Here He tells us how to drink from Him.
My spirit is thirsting for God – where can I satisfy this thirst?
Jesus said, “Come unto Me, believe in Me.”
Does it work?
Listen to the testimony of thousands of witnesses.
“Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.”
Out of his belly shall gush torrents.
That area of man that so consistently is seeking to be fed will become the source.
God is not satisfied to just fill your life, He wants your life to overflow.
“THIS SPAKE HE OF THE SPIRIT.”
This is John’s added commentary from the perspective of hindsight.
What is He saying about the Holy Spirit?
It should be as a torrent gushing forth from your life.

Rev 22:2

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

In the previous chapter (v21) we were told that this street of the city was made of pure gold, so pure that it is transparent. The river seemingly runs from the throne and on through the city, so it might be that the street crosses over the river at 90^o. That being the case, the river and the street would form a cross in the midst of the city.

We are now also told that in the middle of the street was the Tree of Life.

The Tree of Life appears elsewhere in scripture:

Prov 3:18 – [Wisdom] is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Prov 11:30 – The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Prov 13:12 – Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Prov 15:4 – A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

Of course, out first encounter with the Tree of Life was back in the Garden of Eden, where this was one of two specific trees that God planted in the Garden. Sadly, as we know all too well, Eve (and subsequently Adam) chose to eat the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil. Why they didn’t want to reach out and grab the fruit of the Tree of Life is a mystery. However, once they had fallen, God guarded the way to the Tree of Life lest they would then eat of it and so remain forever in their fallen state. Rather, God, in His mercy, built in an incredible escape plan: Death!

By making death the punishment for Adam’s sin, God made a way for man to be redeemed. If someone could be found who would die in man’s place, one who would be a ‘substitute’, God’s judgment (that sin was to be punished by death) would be satisfied and a way out would be made available for anyone willing to accept the offer. Of course, it would take the death of God’s Son to pay for the sins of the world.

Clearly then, the properties of the fruit from the Tree of Life have some amazing qualities.

The verses above from Proverbs indicate that this fruit makes one wise, is intrinsically linked to righteousness, it does not disappoint but completely satisfies! Furthermore its leaves have therapeutic properties that are able to keep people in perfect health! (that is what is meant by ‘the healing of the nations’. There will not be any sickness, so we won’t require healing in that sense, but the leaves are able to keep us in that state of perfect health).

My mum always encouraged me to eat fruit as a child, as my wife does now! But this might be the perfect time to start eating fruit!! – this stuff sounds really good!

There are a couple of interesting observations we make from this verse: Firstly, there will be some measure of time, for we have twelve fruits being produced, each month, making one year. Some have erroneously deduced from Revelation 10:6 that time itself will stop. However as we noted in our study of chapter 10, that verse is simply saying that time is up! – judgment is now coming in full force and Jesus is poised to reclaim the earth.

Is the fruit for food as well? Although we won’t depend on food in our eternal bodies, Jesus ate food after His resurrection, although He didn’t need it to survive.

Will this tree have roots? If there is no sea, there will be no hydo-systyem as we currently know it, so presumably no rain. The roots of trees now go down into the soil to draw up water. We are told that this tree is the Tree of Life, so will it be sustained in the way a ‘normal’ Tree is today? Given these thoughts, it’s even more remarkable that Adam and Even bypassed this tree in the Garden of Eden and headed for the ‘other’ one! In Psalm 119 David said “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word”. (Psalm 119:67). This is in essence the summary of the ‘why’ of God’s plan of redemption. Why did God have to go through with this elaborate plan, sending His Son to die for the sins of the world, raising Him to life, building the church, etc.? Simply because in Eden Adam and Eve obeyed for a short time, not out of love a deep love for God, but out of familiarity, out of never being faced with an alternative. However, the moment the option to choose became a reality, they casually abandoned their First Love and fell into sin.

This is what happens to many young people today, particularly in Christian families. Their parents do their utmost to keep them from spiritual dangers, trying to guard their hearts and minds. But in reality all they are doing is cutting of all the other options, removing the opportunity for anything else. In effect many Christian children are ‘obedient’ and ‘keep the faith’ because they don’t have a choice. However, the moment they leave home to go to university, or step out into the work place, they are presented with multiple choices! Sadly so many, without their own strong roots that go down deep into the soil of God’s Word, end up ‘experimenting’ just as Eve did. Curiosity may kill the cat, but it is just as deadly to mankind!

So many end up as prodigals, that hopefully one day will come home to the Lord, but first they must endure the affliction that comes from a life given over to the flesh.

However, after enduring this self-imposed affliction, as many can testify, after experiencing the pain that comes from ‘the way that seems right to a man’, those who then come to Christ do so, not because they have no other choice, but because they now know that there is no better choice!

In the New Jerusalem there will be no one who is tempted by sin. Sin will have been exposed for the perverted lie it is. Now we will gladly walk right on by the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil without giving it a second look, and make a bee-line for the Tree of Life!

All to Jesus I surrender

All to Him I freely give

I will ever love and trust him,

In His presence daily live

All to Jesus I surrender,

Humbly at His feet I bow,

Worldly pleasures all forsaken;

Take me, Jesus, take me now.

I surrender all, I surrender all

All to thee, my blessed Saviour, I surrender all.

John tells us: “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:12)

The tree is life. Jesus is life. Thus here we see the attributes of God being clearly seen in the things He has made, and freely given (unconditionally given). In this is the Father’s glory, that we reflect Him.

Rev 22:3

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

No more curse, nothing to hinder or come between us and God! There will be no curse because there will be no sin. As we have just noted, we will all know the truth and the Truth will have set us free!

We truly will be like Him. As we have previously mentioned, David longed for that time when he would awake in the likeness of his Redeemer (Psalm 17:15).

We are told that the very throne of God and of.. (notice the title used) …the Lamb, will be in the city.

Jesus uses this title more than any other in Revelation.

His servants will serve Him. Who are these? The next verse tells us……

Rev 22:4

And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

This is us! The Redeemed from all the ages.

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (Rev 3:12)

Rev 22:5

And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

As we discovered in the previous chapter, (verse 25) there will be no night there and God’s light will forever illuminate His creation. He is light and in Him no darkness dwells. (1 John 1:5)

In this verse we have yet another confirmation that Jesus is God. Compare with verse 16, for there we are told that the Lamb is the light of the city, and here it will be God (in the person of Jesus) who will give light.

Rev 22:6

And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

‘These things are dependable and without fiction.’ We can build and base our lives on these promises, the world may think us mad, let them laugh for a while. We will have eternity living in the reality of these promises.

“…shortly be done..” When they start they will happen quickly. We only have to look at the pace with which things are now moving in the world. Everyone from a climatologist to the news-reader knows that the world is out of control, and it is all gaining momentum.

As Dr Chuck Missler often says, we are living at a time of which the Bible says more than it does about any other period of history, including the time when Jesus walked the shores of Galilee and climbed the mountains of Judea. There has never been a better time to be a student of the Bible!

Rev 22:7

Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

This verse actually marks the end of this Revelation. The challenge is for us to keep faithfully the things that we have learned.

Will we treasure, will we guard, will we compare these things to the world’s temptations and realise that what God has is so much better, even if for now we see through a glass darkly?

This is the first of 3 ‘warnings’ that Jesus will come suddenly.

We are now drawn to the importance of this book, which is mentioned seven times from now to the end of the chapter.

Rev 22:8-9

And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

John now give us an epilogue, and reminds us that this is not just a fanciful dream but a true account of the last days of this world and the beginning of the next. As we pause to ponder all that we have seen through John’s eyes during our study of this book, from the opening vision of the glorious risen Christ, the sobering and yet deeply encouraging letters to the Churches; the throne room of heaven and the award ceremony for the believers; the Lamb taking the title deed to the earth and loosening the 7 seals; the war, famine, pestilence, death and earthquakes that produces such fear in the people on the earth; the 144,000; the great multitude who come out of the Great Tribulation; the horror of the trumpet judgments; the two witnesses; Satan being cast out of Heaven; Antichrist and the False Prophet deceiving the world; the last of the Tribulation martyrs followed by the full force of God’s wrath in the pouring out of the 7 vials; the destruction of the One World Church, the false religious system that has deceived the nations and shed the blood of the saints throughout history; the ten kings who will reign with Antichrist; the excitement of the marriage supper – everyone loves a party! – the battle of Armageddon and the intervention of Jesus at the Second Coming to save the Jews; the millennial kingdom of Christ on earth; the last great battle and the destruction of Satan; the Great White Throne and all the dead judged; the earth literally blowing apart to nothing; then a wonderful new heavens and new earth; and finally the New Jerusalem, home of the Lamb and His bride for eternity; after all of this it is no wonder John falls down to worship at the feet of this messenger!

Rev 22:9

Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

This messenger then immediately stops John from worshipping him because, he explains, he is also one of his brethren and a prophet.

Is this an angel? Maybe. But personally, because he says that he is one of John’s brethren, I believe that this is a redeemed man – and probably Daniel! (See previous notes for more on that theory!) .

Rev 22:10

And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

Time is short. Daniel was told to seal up his prophecy until the time of the end, John is told not to seal this. This is what we find in the first chapter where we are told that a blessing will fall upon all who open up this book.

Rev 22:11

He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

With Pharaoh in Egypt, God hardened his heart. That is, He confirmed Pharaoh’s heart, or if you will, granted that Pharaoh’s heart could be fixed upon his own course. That is what this verse is saying. Those who have chosen their own path will be granted that they may walk in it and ‘enjoy’ the fruits of it! To most ungodly people the thought of Heaven doesn’t appeal to them much! They need not worry; God will not force anyone to accept something they don’t want; until that is we reach the day of judgment! For now, each individual has a choice; but time is running out for any who may want to rethink their position before hearts are set forever on the course they have chosen.

As Joshua said to the Children of Israel, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve!” (Joshua 24:15)

Rev 22:12

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Once again, He is coming quickly (suddenly).

This verse is actually true on three levels:

Firstly, Jesus is bringing His reward. What is Jesus’ reward? His bride whom He purchased with His blood! His Bride alongside Him will then judge the nations according their works (Rev 2:26-27 / Rev 20:4).

For the Church however, Jesus is coming soon, and when He comes at the time of the Rapture He will bring with Him the rewards (crown’s specifically) that He has promised us, and we will be rewarded according to our works of righteousness (see again 1 Corinthians 3:11-17).

Thirdly, Jesus is coming like a thief in the night upon the unrighteous, and He will give to each according to their works.

In short, all will be rewarded and get what they deserve – except of course all those who are saved who won’t get what we deserve because we deserve wrath but are actually given everlasting life!

Rev 22:13

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

In connection with the last verse, this is a statement of trust. Because Jesus was there at the beginning, and will be there at the end. His judgment and rewards will be just, and because His is the beginning and the end, no one will be able to challenge Him say they have been treated unfairly. Jesus knows and has seen all things, even the things done in secret.

The writer to the Hebrews reminds us: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Heb 4:12-13).

“For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.” (Luke 8:17)

“God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things”. (1 John 3:20)

Rev 22:14

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Some version say: “Blessed are those who wash their robes”, whereas the King James says: “Blessed are they that do his commandments” – however, all debate aside, they are synonyms, one and the same. He who washes his robes is the same as he who keeps His commandments.

Rev 22:15

For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

This is not just those who commit such things, but also those who approve of such things. Chuck Missler points out that Sodom and Gommorah were not destroyed for indulging in homosexual activity, but because they openly condoned it- much like the world we are now living in.

Anyone who is living with these things cannot look up and say ‘Come Lord Jesus’.

As this is the last and most serious exhortation in the Bible, let’s look at each of these categories:

Dogs: – Used in scripture to mean the Gentiles because they were considered unclean – both physically and spiritually. Here it implies any form of spiritual unleanliness.

Sorcerers: – The Greek word is ‘Pharmacia’ and means the using and /or dependence on drugs because they open the door to demonic activity and altered states of consciousness.

Whoremongers: – All who are sexually immoral – and those who approve of those who practice sexual immorality. ‘Fornicators’ (pre marital) / ‘Adulterers’ (post marital)

Murderers: – According to Matt 5:22 this even includes those with hatred in their hearts, because evil begins in the heart. (Matt 15:19 / Jer 17:9)

Idolaters: – Those who have made a god in their own image – this will include all those who say ‘I don’t think that God would send me to hell because He’s a loving God’ or ‘There are many ways to God, Christians are just too narrow minded’ – this is making a god to suit yourself, a god based upon how you think it should be – it is idolatry.

Lying: – According to a leading American psychiatrist, the ‘average’ person lies 200 times a day. Of course, assuming the psychiatrist is an average person, we have no reason to believe that what he said is true, it could be just one of his 200 lies??! The first sin recorded in scripture was lying – bearing false witness, ‘did God really say….’ and the last warned against here in this list is lying. Anything that is not the truth is a lie.

Rev 22:16

I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Jesus identifies Himself clearly. There are many ‘Jesus’’ doing the rounds even in the church today as we have already mentioned. The true Jesus identifies Himself as both the root and offspring of David. He is both God and a Jewish descendant of a Jewish king. He will rule on a Jewish throne during the Millennium.

The next time someone tries to tell you that God has finished with Israel, gently encourage them to read Romans 9,10 & 11; or Jeremiah 30 & 31, or Isaiah 11, or 2 Samuel 7, or the Bible!

Rev 22:17

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Here is evangelism. It is not just the Church who is calling, but the Holy Spirit too.

Let people who hear and thirst know that the offer has been made; all they have to do is to simply come, and they will never thirst again.

Rev 22:18-19

18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Which book? The Bible or just Revelation? (Are you prepared to take a chance?)

The answer would appear to be both!

We have the ‘prophecy of this book’ and the ‘book of this prophecy’. If the ‘prophecy of this book’ refers to Revelation, then the ‘book of this prophecy’ must refer to the Bible, as the prophecy of Revelation is a part of the book we call the Bible!

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” (Prov 30:5-6)

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Tim 3:16-17)

“Thy word is true from the beginning:” (Psalm 119:160)

Rev 22:20

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

The first words of man recorded in the Bible are words of fear. “And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” (Gen 3:10)

In this verse we have the final words of man in the Bible “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”, however this time the words are in confident assurance in the redemptive work of Jesus.

Rev 22:21

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Grace. – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense

This brings us to the end of our verse by verse study through the book of Revelation. If you have been following along, I hope you have been blessed.

If you would like a two part overview of this incredible book, we summerised Revelation in our Through The Bible in a Year studies available from the Teaching & Audio section of this web site (Go to: https://www.calvaryportsmouth.co.uk/sermons/session-47-revelation-1-11/)

Also, you might want to listen to the topical study on the Lamb’s Book of Life, which showed the incredible detail and design that God has woven into the pages of Scripture. The question is then asked, could the Bible itself be the Lamb’s book of life? Does it contain your name hidden beneath the surface text? (Go to: https://www.calvaryportsmouth.co.uk/sermons/the-lambs-book-of-life/)

May God bless you as you continue to study His word and grow in knowledge and grace!

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post It is done! first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The New Jerusalem

Barry Forder — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 18:16:28 +0000

Most of us can identify with the feeling of security and comfort that comes from arriving home after some time away, or at the end of a long journey. It’s nice to be in our own home where we can just relax and put our feet up.

In this chapter we will be introduced to our eternal home – our real home; this world is not our home, we are just pilgrims here. The place that will be described in this chapter is what we have been created for. 1 Cor 2:9-10 tells us: “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

Although only a glimpse is given, God reveals just enough to wet our appetites and convince us that this is reality and not a dream, albeit a reality beyond our wildest dreams.

It should also help us to get things into perspective, as we look at this life and the problems that we may be facing, we should remember that all of this – here and now – is only temporary. All the pain and suffering is not the way that God wants it to be; and when we get to our eternal home all of this present age will be forgotten as God wipes every tear away.

It should also make us remember that we should be putting our treasure in heaven and not on the earth.

In John 14:3 Jesus told us that He was going to prepare a place for us – now we get to find out what it is like! And believe me, no expense has been spared!

CHAPTER 21

Rev 21:1

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

We dealt with the fact of the new heavens and earth in the last chapter (see notes on 20:11).

One of the observations that we immediately make is there will be no more sea. This means that the whole system will be different because 70% of this earth is covered with water and it is essential for life. The present hydro-system that deposits 1.5 trillion tones of rain daily on the earth and acts as a purifying / filtering system will be gone.

How will this affect the trees that currently draw up water through their roots? We do know that there will still be rivers but will they be able to provide all the water necessary or will it be a completely new system? Will they still be the same colour, or multicoloured? Will they need roots or has God got a brand new design?

We already know that our new bodies will be Spirit-drive and not blood-drive. (After the resurrection Jesus’ body was flesh and bone – not flesh and blood see Luke 24:39 – this new body could come and go as He pleased, through solid walls!).

The horses are also operating on a new system, evidenced by the fact that they fly!

Rev 21:2

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

What we are about to see is so overwhelming that John feels the need to remind us that it is still him seeing all of this ‘And I John’. We are told that John sees a ‘Holy City’ – we would struggle to imagine a holy street on this earth let alone a whole city that is holy, set apart for God. This city is coming down out of heaven. Does it settle on the new earth or hover above it? Scholars are divided. Either way it has been prepared in heaven by God Himself.

You know what it is like when you have made something for someone – maybe a Christmas present – and you just can’t wait for them to open it so you can see their reaction. Well this is the ultimate present that is so beautiful that John describes it as being like a bride adorned for her husband. There is probably not another day in a woman’s life that she prepares for as much as her wedding day- everything is just right. And so it is here; and notice, this city is as a bride adorned. This isn’t just ready and finished, but ‘beautified’ and well pleasing to the eye. One thing that separates us from the animal kingdom is our ability to appreciate beauty, and God has gone the whole way with this city.

Rev 21:3

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

This is the last ‘great voice’ in Revelation so we should take note. 1) Behold / take note, the dwelling place of God is WITH men, 2) He shall dwell WITH them. 3) God shall be WITH them and be their God. Just imagine this, God Himself will be with us – mind blowing!

Jesus gave up the majesty of Heaven to become a man and die for us. However when He rose He remained a man, and even today there is a Man sitting at God’s right hand. A Man will judge the world in righteousness; and for eternity Jesus will be a Man, yet God; and He will live with us in this holy city.

1 John 3:2 says: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” We are going to be made like Him.

Will we be un-ageing? Phil 3:21 tells us that He will “change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Jesus was around 33 ½ when He rose in His resurrected body and about 30 when He started His public ministry. When God originally made Adam he was fully formed – I suspect around 30 years old. Joseph was about 30 when he came to power. The priests and Levites had to be 30 before they were able to serve. David was 30 years old when he took the throne. Are we to be 30 for eternity? God makes the rules and can do what He wants, but it will be wonderful whatever!

Rev 21:4

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

The first thing that God does is to personally wipe the tears from His children’s eyes. You may be suffering now, but God knows and there is an end in sight.

In the book of Romans Paul stated: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body”. (Rom 8:18-23).

Rev 21:5

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Now God actually speaks to John directly and tells him to write. All of this has been and awesome privilege and responsibility for John, but when God Himself asks you to take down a dictation the pressure is really on!

“true and faithful” The Greek implies that these words are ‘genuine and dependable’. So many things in this world are not dependable, but God wants us to know that we can trust these words. There is a day coming when God will make all things new.

Rev 21:6

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

It is done. What is done? God’s plan – to have a people who would love and serve Him for eternity, whom He could dwell with and be their God – is complete (see Eph 1:9-10).

Jesus is the Beginning and the End and promises to satisfy our thirst for eternity, in contrast to those in Hell.

The Greek could be rendered ‘let him come and drink undeservedly’. None of us will be there by our efforts or because we have done something deserving of this. Only by His grace and for His glory.

The rich man in hell in Luke 16 wanted his thirst satisfied, yet he had no physical body!

Sin promises that which it cannot deliver, it will always leave you unfulfilled, it will always leave you unsatisfied, it can never appease a longing, it will leave you eternally thirsty. However, those who put their trust in Christ will have every thirst satisfied and know inexpressible joy!

Rev 21:7

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

The way to overcome is by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony – by faith in what He has done. 1 John 5:4-5 says: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Again the promise of adoption is given, where are promised the place of the first-born son, i.e we become heirs of the greatest inheritance.

Rev 21:8

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

This is God’s list and includes everyone that tries to make it on their own terms and refuses to accept God’s way through Jesus.

Fearful – cowardly
Unbelieving – ‘I’m a good person, I don’t need Jesus…’
Abominable – ‘to stink’ anything abhorrent
Murderers – ‘even hatred in the heart’
Whoremongers – ‘sexually immoral’
Sorcerers – ‘pharmakia’ – drugs
Idolaters – making a god to suite yourself
Liars – size & colour not specified!

Is Hell an allegory/symbolism? Some teach it is not a real place and that we simply cease to exist when we die (annihilation). Yet Jesus taught more of Hell than any other single doctrine. He taught it was a real, eternal Hell – where the worm never dies and the fire is never quenched! (Mk 9:44)

John Bunyan, wrote:

“In Hell thou shalt have none but a company of damned souls with an innumerable company of devils to keep company with thee. While thou art in this world the very thought of the devils appearing to thee makes thy flesh to tremble and thy hair stand upright on thy head. But O what wilt thou do when not only the supposition of the devils appearing but the real society of all the devils of Hell will be with thee; howling, roaring and screeching in such a hideous manner that thou will be even at thy wits end and ready to run stark mad again for anguish and torment. If after 10,000 years an end should come, there would be comfort. But here is thy misery; here thou must be forever. When thou seest what an innumerable company of howling devils thou art amongst, thou shalt think this again; this is my portion forever. When thou hast been in Hell so many thousand of years as there are stars in the firmament or drops in the sea or sands on the seashore, yet thou has to lie there forever. Oh this one word ‘ever’ how will it torment thy soul. And many are in the net moving toward that furnace of fire.”

God will not ‘send’ anyone to hell, people have a choice. The question is ‘why would they choose hell? “They shall have their part….”

“Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that.” – C H Spurgeon

“He knows not the Grace of God who has no desire that others should know it, also. You will assuredly long for the souls of others if God has saved your soul” – C H Spurgeon

The New Jerusalem

As we now see the city, it is so fantastic that some have tried to say that this is just symbolism, pointing to something else. But we know that the Tabernacle in the wilderness was full of symbolism, pointing to Jesus, yet the Tabernacle itself was literal – just ask the priests who carried it! The Temple in Jerusalem was also full of symbolism yet it too was literal and was destroyed by king Nebuchadnezzar. So here, we do have symbolism that will also no doubt point to Jesus, but that doesn’t mean that the city itself is not a reality.

Rev 21:9

And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

John is now starting to recognise these angels, and for the last time he is told to ‘come here’ because there is something he needs to see. As with the wine at Cana, Jesus saves the best until last. All that we have known up to this point has been corruptible, but this city will last forever. This is the last thing in God’s word, the Bible closes with this picture that He chose to reveal to us, surely to give us hope and an expectancy, to reveal how wonderful will be the eternity He has ready for His own.

People are drawn to the ‘bright lights of the city’, which are just poor imitations that don’t satisfy. The bright lights of this city are the real thing beyond our comprehension.

Herodotus tells us that the walls of ancient Babylon were 120 furlongs on each of the four sides, and we know from history that a river ran through Babylon. That was the best the world had to offer. However this city is 10 times the size and has a far superior river running through it.

Rev 21:10

And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Just as in Revelation 17 & 18 the woman was identified as the city, so here. The bride is not the city only, but rather the city is the residence of the bride; without the bride the city is not complete for it was made for her.

Rev 21:11

Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

A city with God’s glory in it. When God’s glory fell upon Solomon’s temple the priests had to stop ministering and leave it was so powerful (see 2 Chronicles 7:1-3) yet here it will be perpetual.

The light that comes from this city is like a perfect diamond shining brightly. We will find that this city (indwelt by the glory of God) is the only light bearer in the new heavens and earth. There will be no sum or moon.

In verse 16 we will discover that this city is approximately 1500 miles cube, so what John is seeing, evidently from a distance is a 1500 mile high by 1500 mile wide by 1500 mile deep brilliant diamond like structure.

Rev 21:12

And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

As John moves closer (or as the city comes closer) he notices the walls, and then twelve angels standing on twelve gates that have the names of the twelve tribes of Israel on them.

Rev 21:13-14

13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb

John is being given a flying tour of the outside of the city, and then he sees what is written in the foundations. No doubt he notices his own name, but rather than a sense of pride, I am sure he is overcome with a deep sense of humility. After all, none of us deserve to be there at all, let alone have our name written in the foundations.

Rev 21:15-17

15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

The dimensions as we have mentioned are approximately 1500 x 1500 x 1500 miles square. (some commentators suggest between 1300 & 1500 but its large all the same!)

There are also some commentators that suggest that this could be a Pyramid which would also fit the dimensions that are given; however both the holy of holies in the Tabernacle and in the Temple were both cubic; and Pyramids have long had occultic overtones.

When we consider that the gates on each of the four sides have three of the tribes of Israel inscribed on them, we start to see that this is the ultimate of which the Tabernacle was the model with the tribes of Israel encamped around the holy of holies, with three on the north, three on the south, three on the east and three on the west. The Levites were to encamp around the holy of holies in the centre. Here the will be no temple because God will be resident in the city with the bride. Just like the Levites in the wilderness, all who have been made kings and priests to our God will encamp around the throne in the city!

To give some idea of the scale: the base will be approximately 2,250,000 square miles. It would cover most of Europe, including the UK!

Dr Henry Morris in his commentary on Revelation put forward a suggestion of what the population could be.

Assuming that the entire population of the earth from Adam to Noah, and then from Noah to the end of the millennium would be no more than 80 billion people; then adding another 20 billion to be generous; Dr Morris estimated that we would have a grand total of 100 billion people who have ever lived.

Knowing that Jesus said that “narrow is the way that leads to life and few there are who find it” (Matt 7:14), Dr Morris made the assumption that only 1/5^th of our 100 billion are saved, meaning that the New Jerusalem would need to house 20 billion people.

On that basis, if everyone inside the city has a mansion, (“In my house are many mansions” – John 14:2) fitted out just how you would like, with the floor space of 75 acres, ceiling area being 75 acres, each wall area being 75 acres… if we all had that much room there would still be ¾ of the City left for parks, water fountains etc!

This is only a proposition but serves to illustrate just how big this city will be!

From verse 17 It looks like the wall is 200ft thick diamond!

NB: all that we are looking at is the peripherals, the building materials. When you visit someone’s house you are more interested in the internals than the walls and foundations! But God only gives us this much for now.

Rev 21:18

And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

Tutenkhamen’s gold is estimated to be of more value than all of the rest of the world’s gold reserves put together because it is so pure that you can see light through it. That is nothing compared to this!

Rev 21:19

And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones.

The first foundation was jasper; – pure diamond clear

the second, sapphire; – Blue

the third, a chalcedony; – Sky blue & yellow streaks

the fourth, an emerald; – Green

Rev 21:20

The fifth, sardonyx; – White with red veins

the sixth, sardius; – Blood red ruby

the seventh, chrysolite; – Blue green & gold

the eighth, beryl; – Yellow Green to Turquoise

the ninth, a topaz; – Golden

the tenth, a chrysoprasus; Blue, Green & Yellow

the eleventh, a jacinth; – Violet & Blue

the twelfth, an amethyst. – Purple

These foundations stones may be in layers, one on top of another; or maybe in twelve sections going around the walls with three colours/stones on each side – if the latter is the case each stone would cover an area approximately 500 miles wide!

Rev 21:21

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl [some Oyster!]: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

Maybe the gates are made from a pearl to remind us through eternity of Matt 13:45-46 where Jesus tells of the man who sold all that he had to purchase a pearl of great price.

Jesus is the man, the Church is the pearl. Pearls are not kosher to the Jews, they are a Gentile item. Pearls are formed by irritation and are taken from their place in the sea to become an item of adornment. The Church has grown through trial and tribulations; God has used these things to test us and refine us. We too have been taken from the sea (an idiom in scripture for the Gentile world), and have become an item of adornment for the King of Kings who gave up everything He had to purchase us with His precious blood.

Please Note: Peter is not standing on any of the gates contrary to popular myth!

Even the streets in this city are made of such pure gold that it is transparent; and this is just the stuff you walk on!

Rev 21:22-23

22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

In the wilderness they had the tabernacle that at times was filled with God’s presence. The same was true of the Solomon’s temple. Here however God’s presence will abide for eternity.

J Vernon McGee comments:

God lights the new creation directly by His presence. After the entrance of sin into the old creation, God withdrew His presence, and “darkness covered the face of the deep” (see Gen 1:2). Then God made use of the physical lights in His universe. He put them up like we put up street lights or lights in our homes. However, in the new creation sin is removed, and He again becomes the source of light. Today the Lord Jesus Christ is the Light of the World in a spiritual sense: “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

In the new creation He is the direct physical as well as the spiritual light. In the tabernacle there was the golden lampstand, which is one of the finest pictures of Christ. In the New Jerusalem He is the golden lampstand. The nations of the world will enter the Holy City as the priests entered the Holy Place in the tabernacle for the purpose of worship. The nations of the earth, as well as Israel, will come to the New Jerusalem as the high priest of old entered the Holy of Holies. Instead of the blood being brought, the Lamb is there in person. What a picture we have here! – J Vernon McGee

In Matthew 13:43 we read: “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” What will this look like to have 20 billion of us shining inside the city and the light of God and the Lamb; with walls of effectively pure diamond and streets of transparent gold! No wonder we won’t need the light of the sun.

…the Lamb is the light thereof.

It is interesting to muse over the fact that there will be no sun, because Jesus will be the light of this city.

If we were to ask the question: ‘What is darkness?’ how would you answer? Let’s put it another way: ‘How do you measure darkness?’ If you think long and hard you will come to the realisation that darkness does not actually exist in and of itself; darkness is simply the absence of light. We can measure light, but we can only ‘measure’ darkness by the amount (or lack) of light present. In Job 38 God gives Job a science quiz and, among other things, asks him “Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof” (Job 38:19). Light moves, darkness is fixed.

The first time we encounter light in the Bible is in Genesis chapter 1 verse 3. The common understanding of this verse is that God says: ‘Let there be light’, at which point light appears; and that is certainly what happens. However, if we look at the Hebrew (which reads from right to left), we find that what God actually says is: “Be light, be light” or we could say: “Let light be light”. Another way we could render this would be: “Let the Light illuminate”, and now we begin to see something incredible! Who is The Light? Answer: Jesus Christ!

Thus, from these verses we see that God, in the person of Jesus, is the Light, and the creator of all things. He Himself said: I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12). Was this just a metaphor? Apparently not.

Another verse that sheds some light on this subject (pun intended!) is 2 Corinthians 4:6: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”. Here Paul is referring to Genesis 1:3, but notice what we are told: God commanded the light to shine. For God to command the light to shine, the light had to be in existence prior to this point; in other words it was not created but was pre-existent!

This would seem to be confirmed in Isaiah 45:“I form the light, and create darkness” (Isaiah 45:7). The Hebrew word for ‘form’ is Yatsar and it means to ‘fashion, form, frame, make through the squeezing into shape’. In other words, it is working with something that already exists. However, in contrast to this, ‘create’ (darkness), is the Hebrew word bara, meaning to ‘create out of nothing’. God does indeed create darkness (out of nothing) simply because He is Light. The fact that He is light makes it possible for darkness to exist. The same idea is carried on in the second part of the verse where we read: “I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things”. Many people have struggled with this verse because they think it makes God the author of evil; until, of course, you realise that, just as darkness is the absence of light, so evil is the absence of God. Evil exists because of the absence of God in the hearts of those who reject God. God does not ‘form’ (yatser) evil from something that already existed, He ‘causes’ it to exist (bara) out of nothing – i.e. it hasn’t always been there. It only became a possibility with the existence of beings (angels and humans) who have the power of choice – choice that allows them to reject God.

One final though before we move on: If God commanded Jesus, who is Light, to ‘illuminate’ the world that now is and to be the Light in the new heavens and earth, and we know from Colossians 1:16-17 that Jesus created all things that exist, then, we could legitimately say that ‘Light created all things’.

Why is that significant? Well, simply because of the following.

Particle physicists know that each particle (the smallest physical object – smaller than an atom) has an anti-particle. If a particle and anti-particle combine they will annihilate each other and emit a photon (the smallest unit of light). What’s provocative is that it’s believed that this reaction could be reversible. This would mean that, from a photon (a single unit of light), it would be possible to ‘create’ a particle and its corresponding anti-particle. In other words, some particle physicists now believe that all you would need to create matter, is light! – and what has the Bible said for thousands of years? ‘In the beginning God – the One who is Light – created all things!!

Rev 21:24

And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

Who are the people that comprise these nations?

Well, from our study we know of at least three groups: 1) Israel who will have been restored and will have lived under Jesus rule during the millennium; now they will come up to the New Jerusalem to worship. 2) The tribulation saints – we have already seen that they are not part of the bride, so therefore will not live inside the city. 3) Any that are born during the millennium that don’t follow Satan in his last stand. Ultimately, these nations will comprise of all who were found written in the Lamb’s book of life but were not part of the bride.

Rev 21:25-26

25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

Evidently, although the city will be the home of the bride, there will be an abundance of traffic coming in and out continually; hence the gates will never be shut.

Joe Focht raises an interesting question here: If the gates are never to be shut, why is an angel posted on each of the twelve gates? (See verse 12).

One possible explanation is that they will be information angels! With a city that big you might need help finding your way home! Also you may want to visit Oswald Chambers or Whitfield or Moses or Abraham. These angels may be able to direct you to the ‘blue quadrant’ to the mansion of Charles Spurgeon so you can have some ‘morning & evening’ devotions!

Maybe we will get to visit friends and family or those we have brought to Christ; and together we will be able to praise God for His Faithfulness, Grace and Mercy.

Rev 21:27

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

How often we have to be on our guard as Christians. Paul tells us in Romans: “Make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Rom 13:14) Jesus said: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men………”. (Matt 10:16-17). Peter said: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8)

How wonderful it will be to have God’s promise that nothing that defiles, neither anything that causes abominations or deceit will be able to enter into our eternal home.

For those of you who have been camping in tents you’ll know that when it rains really hard, no matter what you do to try and prevent it, water still finds its way into the tent – and usually makes your pillow wet! What a contrast when you are back home and safe within your house and double glazed windows. It can rain as hard as it wants now, but nothing is getting through and you can relax knowing that you’ll have a warm bed and pillow tonight!

It’s a poor example, I know, but what peace, relief and comfort we will experience when we are safe within the walls of the New Jerusalem knowing that no sin, no temptation, no iniquity or deceitful thing can touch us any longer.

To be continued…

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry

The post The New Jerusalem first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Millennium

Barry Forder — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 20:00:25 +0000

The prophet Daniel interpreted the dream of king Nebuchadnezzar in around 600 B.C. to reveal there would be 5 world empires from that time, (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and Revived Rome ruled by 10 kings), after which “in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever”. (Daniel 2:44). All of the preceding kingdoms were literal earthly kingdoms with real kings ruling them, thus it would reasonable to conclude that kingdom God is to set will also be a real physical kingdom on earth. Furthermore, Jesus promised his disciples that they would be given a reward for giving up all to follow Him; that reward would be to one day sit on thrones ruling over the 12 Tribes of Israel. In the prayer Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 6, He told us to pray for His kingdom to come & will to be done, on earth!
In chapter 20 of Revelation we are introduced to what is often referred to as the Millennial Reign of Christ. The word ‘millennium’ comes from the Latin words ‘mille’ meaning a ‘thousand’ and ‘annum’ meaning ‘years’. Verse 6 says: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years”. Thus, on the surface at least, this would seem to indicate that when Christ returns it will be to sit on the Throne of David (Luke 1:32 / 1 Cor 15:25 / 2 Sam 7:16 / Daniel 2:44 / Dan 7:27 / Ezek 37:21-22), and He will then reign on Earth for a period of 1000 years.

To someone reading the Bible for the first time, it is unlikely they would interpret the six clear references in this chapter to 1000 years as meaning anything other than a literal period of 1000 years. However, since the 3^rd – 4^th century there has been a school of thought that has suggested this should be, and was intended to be, interpreted symbolically. The same scholars will also make the same claim for much of the book of Revelation, arguing that what we have presented is allegorical ‘picture language’, things that are to be understood ‘spiritually’ rather than taken as actual events that are being foretold.

This immediate problem is that this view ignores the opening words of the book, where it is stated: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John” (Rev 1:1)

There is no implication found anywhere in the book that these things are merely given to illustrate spiritual truths, depicting a struggle between good and evil; nor is this position consistent with the rest of the Bible. In Matthew 24 when Jesus was asked about the events preceding His return, He answered plainly and simply, and as we have seen, He then summerised the key events that are later expanded upon in the book of Revelation. It should also be stated that the Old Testament prophecies, which in many respects became the hope of the nation of Israel, can’t just be put to one side because either.

That being the case, one might well ask why the allegorical approach gained any momentum at all, let alone be the principle view taught in most seminaries today. We will explore the roots of this in a while, but at the end of the day we ultimately come back to the same question: Is this chapter (and indeed this book) meant to be understood as unfolding literal events that will take place, or should it be seen as symbolic? [and if so, symbolic of what?].

In essence, either God through His Word has revealed there will be a period of 1000 years when Christ will reign following His Second Coming, or this is just picture language, symbols designed to illustrate some other point. If the latter is true, the question has to be asked, what point is being made?, and who is it that decides how to interpret what we read?, (if what we read does in fact not actually mean what the surface text says?!)

It is worth mentioning that the basic ‘rules’ of Biblical interpretation, agreed on by most scholars state:

When the plain sense of scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning, unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise (Arnold Fructenbaum).

It should be added that: Any passage of scripture that on the surface may seem to be difficult to understand will be explained elsewhere in scripture, thus eliminating guesswork and human opinion as to its meaning (Arnold Fructenbaum).

Some years ago I read a book called ‘How to read the Bible for all its worth’. Overall it was a good and instructive book that laid out the above principles for how to read and understand the Bible – right up until the chapter the dealt with Revelation! At that point the joint authors went against almost everything they had said to that point and ignored the plain-text-meaning and attempted to allegorise everything!

Another commentary on Revelation that I still have on my bookshelf (mainly to remind myself how distorted things can get if we ignore the Holy Spirit – more on that in a moment!!) goes as far as saying that in Revelation ‘angels are not angels, nothing should be taken literally!’

What did Jesus say regarding the Holy Spirit?

“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you” (John 16:12-15).

Based on this, any attempt to allegorise Scripture is a denial of the work of the Holy Spirit. If you allegorise, who decides? Who confirms and checks? What do you check against? Why is one opinion any better than another? In essence, Jesus says the Holy Spirit is the only One who can and will explain Scripture to us, and in this way we can all independently study and come to a knowledge of the truth, not a knowledge of various truths!

To illustrate this, consider Calvary Chapel; now I don’t mean to say that Calvary Chapel has got everything right, or that Calvary Chapel is better than any other church, but if you were to put a bunch of Calvary Chapel pastors in a room and throw in some doctrinal issues and theological topics, I can guarantee you there would be almost 99% agreement. Any differences would be minor. Why? Is it because we have all studied together and agreed what we should say? Not at all! It is because independently we have read and studied God’s Word and have been willing to take it seriously, allowing the text to speak for itself. The Holy Spirit has been our guide to lead us into all truth – and the same is true for countless numbers of believers around the world.

Now, go and take a selection of Anglican ministers, or Baptist ministers, or Methodist ministers, put them in a room and just see what happens when you ask them about the Rapture? Or ask them about Baptism, Creation, the Flood of Noah, or the Giants of Genesis 6, or even about the Second Coming and millennium!

Now, I am not saying they have all got it wrong, but I can guarantee you there will be a multitude of opinions. Once I was on a committee organising an outreach event in our town. I suggested, as we were representing a number of different denominations, that it might be helpful to have a joint ‘statement of faith’, just to show we were united on the foundational elements of our faith, even though we may differ on other things. Incredibly we couldn’t even agree on what we agreed on! The only way to have real unity and be as Paul urged in 1 Cor 1:10, speaking with the same mind and same judgment, is to base everything on the Bible, taking it seriously, believing that God means what He says and says what He means; allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.

Returning to our topic, J Vernon McGee shared the following:

“A friend of mine disagreed with my interpretation of the Book of Revelation. He said, “It doesn’t mean that.” I said, “Then you tell me what it means.” “It is a symbol.” “All right, now you tell me what it is a symbol of.” “Oh, it’s just a symbol.”

Don’t you know that a symbol has to be a symbol of something? And it has to make sense. You can’t just pull an explanation out of a hat and say, ‘This is what it means.’ How do you know what it means? It is a symbol of something, and by careful study and comparison with parallel passages, you are to determine what it is. No prophecy is of ‘private interpretation’ (2 Peter 1:20); it must be tested by the whole Word of God.”

When we do compare what we read in Revelation 20 with what we find in the rest of scripture, we find that God has promised there will be a time of ‘restitution of all things’ (Acts 3:21) when creation (that is currently also in bondage as a result of the fall) will be set free (Romans 8:21). As a result the “the wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD”. (Isaiah 65:25). We are also told that Jesus will rule from the throne of David (Luke 1:32), which is an earthly throne in Jerusalem. In that day, nations “shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Micah 4:3).

Jesus also promised His disciples they would sit on 12 thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt 19:28) – it is extremely unlikely they believed that this was meant symbolically. Just stop and think for a moment, who wants a symbolic reward? Would you be happy with a symbolic birthday present? Try buying your husband or wife a symbolic present, rather than an actual present, and let me know how you get on!

Unless the 12 tribes of Israel are gathered back to their land, and unless there is a kingdom where Christ is ruling and reigning, this promise made by Jesus to His disciples is meaningless!

In Daniel 2 we have the dream of Nebuchadnezzar where he saw a statue. Daniel interpreted this as the succeeding world empires concluding with the 10 kings that would rule under Antichrist. Following this, the God of Heaven would set up His kingdom on this earth.

There really was a literal historical kingdom of Babylon. This was followed by the literal physical Medo-Persian Empire. Alexander the Great was not an allegorical character who led a mystical Greek army to conquer the middle-east in lightning fast time. These were real events prophesied by Daniel that actually took place. Rome was a literal Empire crushing all before it.

So why, given that the historical content of Daniel’s prophecies were fulfilled literally, do some reach the conclusion that the future prophecies must somehow now be understood allegorically? May we ask why the future content of these prophecies should be taken in anything other than the same literal way as that which has already been? [Remember, all of Daniel’s prophecies were future to him at the time he recorded them! He made no distinction between some that were real and others that were supposedly symbolic!!)]

It should also be noted that every time in scripture where we see a prophecy fulfilled it is always literal and not symbolic. The Jew’s Babylonian captivity lasted for 70 literal years as prophesied by Jeremiah in 25:12. The Temple was literally destroyed by the Romans in AD70 as foretold by Jesus in Matthew 25, and so on.

We often hear it said: “There are good scholars on both sides of this debate”, thus creating the impression that no one can be sure about these things, or that we shouldn’t be dogmatic. However a good mechanic would diagnose the fault correctly. You would not recommend a mechanic to your friends if they had incorrectly diagnosed a problem with your car. Therefore to call scholars ‘good’ if they have diagnosed scripture incorrectly may be an example of ‘Christian charity’ but is ultimately unhelpful and only serves to perpetuate these errors.

Before we move on, it might be helpful to have a look at the common interpretations that come from the various allegorical viewpoints.

Amillennialism

The word Amillennial comes from the Greek ‘mille’ meaning ‘thousand’ and ‘annum’ from where we get year’; but when a word is prefixed by ‘a’, it means ‘not’ (as in ‘a-muse’ i.e. not to muse, lit. not to think!). Thus a-millennialists believe that there will not be a literal period of 1000 years where Christ will reign on earth. Some go even further and state that the Second Coming itself will not be a physical event with Christ returning bodily.

Thus, to amillennialists, the millennium as mentioned in Revelation chapter 20, and alluded to in numerous other passages throughout the Bible, is seen as a period when Jesus will come (or indeed has already come) again ‘spiritually’ to ‘reign on the earth’ through the Church. The explanation of Satan being bound throughout this time (see v2 & v7) is therefore explained as his inability to stop the preaching of the gospel. So where did all this begin?

During the first and second century A.D. the Christian Church suffered much persecution, which led some to conclude they were in the ‘Great Tribulation’ as spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24 and as detailed in the book of Revelation. Giving impetus to this belief was the fact that Roman Emperor Constantine subsequently ended this persecution of Christians around 315 A.D. ushering in a period of peace and prosperity for the church. In an attempt to join the dots together, men such as Origen (who was ‘credited’ with allegorizing much of scripture), put forward the teaching that now the persecution was over, the church had entered the millennium! No longer was Christianity outlawed, it was now the official religion of the Roman Empire.

As pagan religions were side-lined, Christians even started moving from homes and using the ornate pagan buildings as places of worship. These buildings typically had a raised altar area at the front to separate the clergy from the laity as was common practice among other religions. Many pagan practices also became adopted by the church in an attempt to create unity and ‘work together’, such as Christmas (originally a pagan/Babylonian celebration), and Easter (which was a fusion of the pagan feast of Ishtar and Jewish celebration of Passover). The worship of ‘mother & child’, already integral to pagan worship, having been passed down from ancient Babylon, was easily incorporated into ‘Christianity’ by simply changing the names of the mother to Mary, and the child to Jesus. All of this new found freedom led many to jump on the bandwagon and conclude that the church must have entered the ‘millennium’ era of peace. The fact that Jesus had not returned meant that the only way to ‘explain’ the scriptures was to re-interpret then as figurative, illustrating general truths rather than literal events, saying that books such as Revelation were to be taken symbolically, depicting a struggle between good and evil, rather than detailing actual events that are yet to take place in God’s appointed time. This teaching eventually found wide acceptance through Augustine’s book ‘The City of God’.

It should also be noted that the orthodox position held by the early church (namely, that Christ would return and usurp the wicked and corrupt governments of this world), was not obviously a ‘politically correct’ notion. Indeed, it was felt by some that the last thing the church needed was to be seen to be ‘preaching’ against the Roman Empire – an Empire who had already made persecution of Christians a national sport.

This ‘new’ interpretation therefore held that Christ’s kingdom and reign on earth were to be fulfilled symbolically through the Church. As noted above, some even went as far as to suggest that Christ would not actually return bodily, but that the Church would conquer the world and Christ would reign in the hearts of His subjects. This teaching is prevalent even today under such titles as ‘dominion theology’ or ‘kingdom now theology’. The Word-Faith movement that rose to prominence in the 1980’s and beyond is typically a proponent of this thinking, as is the Roman Catholic church. The roots of this help to piece together much of the history of the ‘church’.

As you can imagine, back in the 4^th century, this idea had great appeal to Roman Emperors and subsequent Popes as it elevated them and afforded them great power, as they assumed ‘divine’ responsibility for ushering in Christ’s kingdom on earth.

Furthermore, the promises and prophecies regarding national Israel now also had to find a ‘spiritual’ fulfilment in the church, as there is no room or need in Amillennialism for a national Israel [contrary to God’s unconditional covenant with Abraham and Paul’s clear statements in Romans 9-11].

This of course paved the way for the dominance of the Roman Catholic Church, who saw their mandate as conquering the world in the name of Christ and establishing Christ’s government on earth, often at the expense of the Jews, who were labelled ‘Christ killers’ and held forever accountable for the crucifixion of Jesus. This became the catalyst that led to the infamous crusades to capture Jerusalem.

Because of the Roman Catholic church’s widespread influence, Amillennialism became the prevalent view throughout the established church. Although the reformation did much to lead a return to Biblical Christianity, in particular that salvation is by grace alone in Christ alone, and not a product of our works, many other doctrinal issues were not addressed, resulting in much of the teaching of the Catholic church, including Amillennialism, being adopted by the protestant churches that grew out of the reformation.

Post Millennialism

Another common view is ‘post millennialism’ which teaches that Jesus will return physically, but only after the millennium [and there are various views as to what the millennium will be, how long it will last, when it started, and when it will therefore end].

However, one of the key tenants of Post Millennialism is the belief that the church will ‘Christianise’ the earth and then Jesus will come back after a ‘golden age’ of church rule.

Jonathan Edwards (‘father of America post millennialism’) witnessed an incredible revival when Whitfield preached in America. Jonathan Edwards assumed this to be the start of the millennium and believed that it would spread around the world.

Surprising as it may seem, Adolph Hitler – a Roman Catholic to the day of his death – apparently believed that he was ushering in a millennium and his destruction of the Jews was part of the cleansing process.

However, this view leaves no room for all of the warnings given by Jesus about the events that would precede His Second Coming. It also once again removes Israel from the plan.

Regarding the above two views, Calvary Chapel pastor David Guzik comments:

The early church until Augustine almost universally believed in an earthly, historical reign of Jesus, initiated by His return. Tyconius (in the late 300’s) was the first to influentially champion a spiritualized interpretation, saying that this Millennium is now (Amillennialism) His view was adopted by Augustine, the Roman Catholic Church and most Reformation theologians. Postmillenialism is an outgrowth of Amillennialism, saying the millennium will happen in this age, before Jesus’ return; however, the church will bring it to pass.

However: The earthly reign of Christ and His people on this earth is plainly taught in the Old and New Testaments. Old Testament: Psalm 72; Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:4-9; Jeremiah 23:5-6 (and much, much more) New Testament: Luke 1:32-33; Matthew 5:18; Luke 19:12-27.

During this period, Israel is renewed in Christ, and assumes a leadership role in the world under Jesus; for the other nations, it is a time of joy, peace and blessing – all in strict obedience to Christ. The created order is also blessed and transformed (as reflected in the passages speaking of wolf lying down with the lamb, and so forth)

Is it a literal 1,000 years? We should take a number literally unless there is clear reason or evidence to do otherwise.

Some of the problems with a symbolic interpretation of the book of Revelation and chapter 20 in particular are as follows:

Six times in this chapter we are told of a period of 1000 years (v2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). There is no reason to believe that this is to be taken other than at face value.
A symbolic interpretation allows no room for the restoration of Israel and the everlasting covenant that God made with Abraham and confirmed with David. Gen 17:7 / 2 Sam 7:12-13, 16, 24, 26, 29 / Psalm 89 / Jer 30:8-11 / Jer 33:14-26 etc.
If we are in the kingdom age now, only the great white throne awaits us; which is a Judgment based on works (actually it is a sentencing – the judgment having already having been passed) – and that’s bad news for all of us!
Contrary to what Paul believed, the Church cannot be the Bide of Christ because the marriage of the Lamb occurs before the ‘millennium’ (Rev 19:7). If we are now living in the ‘millennium’, Christ must already have His bride.
It negates the clear teaching of Jesus regarding the time before He returns, the deceptions that He said would abound, and His coming in power and glory that He said will be like lightning across the sky – not something you could easily miss!
It negates the countless prophecies in the Old Testament about the Day of the Lord, and the time of trouble for Israel (Jer 30:7 / Isaiah 13:9-11), which must all occur before the millennium begins – and nothing in history compares with the Bible’s description of this time.
It completely misses the whole purpose for the Second Coming and millennium as revealed in the Bible.

In contrast to the above, the view held by the early church (as indicated below) was clearly to take the Bible seriously without the need to allegorise or explain away things that might on the surface seem hard for us to take in. This Biblically based view is referred to as Pre-Millennialism – i.e. that Jesus will return before the Millennium and establish His kingdom for 1000 years.

Irenaus, who lived around 130 A.D. to c.200 A.D. said: “Christ is the stone cut without hands (Ref Dan 2) who shall destroy the temporal kingdoms and introduce an eternal one when Antichrist shall have devastated all things in this world he shall reign for three years and a half and sit in the temple in Jerusalem…….then the Lord will come form heaven in the clouds and in the glory of His Father, sending this man into the lake of fire but bringing in for the righteous the times of the kingdom, the rest, the hallowed seventh day, restoring to Abraham the promised inheritance.”

This shows that he believed that Antichrist would reign in Jerusalem for three and a half years followed by a return of Jesus to reign on the earth for 1000 years.

Justin Maryter 100-150AD (from his dialogue with Typho) answered that he believed that Jerusalem would be rebuilt and the millennium would be a literal period of 1000 years of Christ’s reign on this earth. He went as far as saying that those who did not believe this truth, and who were teaching otherwise were teaching heresies. He believed in a resurrection of the just followed by a reign of Church on the earth, as prophesied by the prophets, Isaiah, Ezekiel and John – the apostle.

Tertulian – 150-225AD believed that “A kingdom is promised to us on the earth although before heaven, but after the resurrection for 1000 years.”

Cyprian – also wrote of the reign of Christ on earth.

Calvary Chapel pastor Joe Focht cites a Dr Eliot who states that – “all expositors except Oregon and a few who reject Revelation were pre-millennialists”. Joe Focht also comments that the ancient Rabbis and early church fathers believed in a 7 day / day=1000 years plan where we would have (from Creation) a 6000 years of ‘work’ followed by 1000 years of rest during the millennium.

Joe also makes reference to the non-Canonical book ‘The epistle of Barnabas’. Whist not part of the Bible, it is interesting to note that the writer believed in a rebuilt temple followed by a 1000 year rule of Christ on earth. (www.ccphilly.org).

Prominent Christian writer Norman Geisler states – ‘Pre-millennial belief is so distinctly and prominently mentioned that we do not hesitate in accepting it as the belief of the early church”

Meed, in the 17^th Century stated that pre millennialism was the ‘Orthodox belief of the early church’

Grant Jeffery in his book ‘Triumphant Return’ devotes a whole chapter to the evidence that the early Christians in the first few centuries believed in the literal pre millennial return and subsequent reign of Jesus on earth. (ISBN 0-921714-64-5)

Why have I laboured the point here? Because many of the denominational churches in the UK hold to the unbiblical Amillennial view, so we need to be ready to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints”. (Jude 3).

CHAPTER 20

Rev 20:1-2

1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

The scene as we begin this chapter is that Jesus has just returned to earth at His Second Coming and destroyed the armies of Antichrist. Antichrist and the False Prophet have been thrown into the Lake of Fire, but what about the third part and orchestrator of this satanic trinity? What is to happen to Satan?

These opening verses answer our question, but we should note – and it should be something that should give us great comfort when we are going through tough times because it really puts things into perspective – that God doesn’t send the Archangel Michael and 12 legions of angels, nor does he assemble a mighty praying army to bind our great foe, He simply sends ‘an angel’ – nothing special, just a ‘no name guy’, that is all it will take to bind Satan once God has given the command.

Sadly, we all suffer at times from the false notion that Satan is God’s opposite number, that somehow he is as powerful as God, and that God is locked into this cosmic battle and we’re all just hoping that God will come through in the end. No! All it takes to bind him is one single –we are not even told his name – angel. Satan is a created being and cannot compare to the infinite Creator. God has left Satan in charge of the world for now (2 Cor 4:4 / Luke 4:5-6) simply to fulfill God’s purposes – not least being as part of His training programme for the Church. (To discover more about our training programme see: ‘Destined For The Throne’ by Paul E Billheimer – ISBN 0-7642-0035-6).

Satan is bound with a chain – this is unlikely to be a physical chain because Satan is a spirit being, but something doesn’t have to be physical to be literal. We only function in 4 dimensions (length, width, height and time) for now, but quantum physicists have suggested there may be up to 10 dimensions we currently have no real capacity to understand. Interestingly, Jewish Rabbis came to the same conclusion centuries ago simply from studying the Torah!

Verse two gives us our first mention of the one thousand years and given the context, it can only be meant as a literal period of time – again, God gave this Revelation to show unto His servants the things that would shortly come to pass – He wanted us to understand, that’s why He makes it easy and tells us exactly how long this period will last – one thousand years!

Rev 20:3

And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

We have already made mention in previous studies, but the only place you could have a bottomless pit would be in the centre of the earth, because every direction from there would be up! In 2 Peter we find that the angels who sinned before the flood (by ‘co-habiting’ with the women of the earth) were cast into ‘Tartarus’. This was believed by the Greeks to be a place in the centre of the earth beneath Hell. It may well be this place that Satan will be confined to during this time.

This verse also exposes Satan as the deceiver of the nations (in case you were in any doubt).

As a rebuttal to the Post-Millennial view, that suggests that we are in the millennium now, as Pastor Chuck Smith comments, ‘If we are in the Millennium now, then Satan’s chain is too long!’

As to why Satan is released at the end of the thousand years we will discuss later in this chapter.

Rev 20:4

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them [the Bride – 1 Cor 6:1-3]: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands [Tribulation saints]; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Two groups are identified here; firstly the bride of Christ – thus fulfilling 2 Tim 2:12 / Rev 2:26-27 / Rev 5:10 / Matt 19:28 / Matt 25:14-31 / Luke 12:42-44 / Luke 19:12-27 etc.

The second group identified are the Tribulation saints. Why are they singled out? David Guzik says the following:

“They are specifically mentioned so as to encourage them, while not implying others will be left out. This is special vindication for Tribulation saints; they suffered under Antichrist who had said “I will rule the earth;” now they are in authority and Antichrist is destroyed. So, these martyrs are literal, but also representative of all who give their lives in faithfulness to Jesus”

Once again we are clearly told how long this period will last – God could not have made it clearer! Furthermore, by looking in the Old Testament we can see that this period of time will be very distinct and different from anything we have known. According to Acts 3:21, which speaks of ‘the times of restitution of all things’, the earth will return to the way it was prior to the Fall in Genesis 3. (See also Romans 8:18).

This should prompt us to ask what the world was like back then?

Firstly we know from the account in Genesis that the world was protected by a water canopy. Three practical effects that such a canopy would have produced in the pre-flood world, are a greenhouse type environment on earth, with a near tropical climate everywhere; secondly, such a protective shield would block harmful UV rays from the sun; and thirdly, this would produce an increase in the air pressure, causing both CO² and Oxygen levels to be significantly higher than we have today.

Once again, science is our ally, for there is abundant evidence that the world was once vastly different than it is today. Coal seams and frozen leaves have been found at the South Pole, yet there are no trees growing there today. Mammoths, contrary to popular belief, were not inhabitants of cold and snowy places; their diet seems to have consisted of tropical vegetation (we know this because Mammoths have been found with undigested food found in their stomachs). Given the locations Mammoths are found in, it suggests a stable global climate. Increased CO² levels would be great for the bio-mass (plant life), and consistent with this we find fossilised moss 3ft deep, fossilised asparagus 40ft tall, 50ft horsetail reeds, 50ft ferns and 60ft fossilised cattails, all of which have all been found in sedimentary rock (i,e rock laid down by water – probably at the time of the Flood).

Experiments today have shown that under increased pressure, plants and vegetation will grow much larger – this, it would seem, is what the pre-flood world was like.

Cherry tomatoes grown under 2 x atmospheric pressure by Dr Mori.

In an article in Time Magazine (9/11/87 p.82) it was stated that “…earth’s atmosphere contained about 50% more oxygen than it does today”. An article on the university of London’s website documents the fact that they have found oxygen trapped in amber (fossilised tree sap) that is double the level currently in our atmosphere. This confirms what has long been suspected, and answers a few problems along the way. For example; the huge Apatosaurus (land dwelling Dinosaur) only had nostrils equivalent in size to a horse’s. If it were to try to breath in today’s world, it would have to breath in so hard just to get the oxygen it needed, the friction would burn its nostrils! – In reality, it would probably suffocate; and maybe this is what happened to many of the dinosaurs after the Flood, as they left the ark to find a completely different climate.

If oxygen was 50% greater in the past, it would have the same effect on animals that increased CO² has on plants. This would explain why we have fossilised Rhino’s 18ft tall, dragon flies with 3ft wingspans, cockroaches over 18 inches long, a fossilised centipede 8.5ft long, fossilised grasshoppers 2ft long, a donkey 9ft tall, Buffalo horns with a 12ft span, fossils of beavers over 8ft long, and the list goes on.

Of course, one .of the most significant effects of the pre-flood world would have been on the lifespan of man. Many people mock the Bible because of the incredible ages that people lived to before the flood; however, if there was a God-made UV filter, hardly any genetic disorders (being so close to the original ‘blueprint’), double the oxygen to breath – which we know has incredible effects on the human body – and add an environment with no pollution, is it any surprise that men were able to live so long?

What is also provocative is that in Revelation 16:20, as a result of the bowl of wrath poured out by the seventh angel, we read: “Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found”. If there are no more islands, it would again imply that the earth will once again become one ‘super continent’.

Although no specific details are given in Revelation 20, Isaiah gives us great insight into this period of time:

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD”. (Isaiah 65:17-66:1).

The word ‘create’ in the opening verse is the Hebrew word ‘Bara’ which means ‘out of nothing’. God is going to do something as wonderful as when He originally created the earth. Some think these verses are referring to the new heavens and earth that God will create in Revelation 21-22, however, the simple fact that we have people getting old, dying and the mention of sinners clearly indicate that this is speaking of the millennial world. Note too that animals will return to being herbivores.

As seen from the above, the world will be very different for everyone, but particularly for the Jews: “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves” (Isaiah 61:3-6).

Zechariah tells us:

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you”. (Zech 8:20-23)

“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain”. (Zech 14:16-21)

Rev 20:5

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

By the phrase ‘the rest of the dead’ is meant all those who are in Hell, i.e. non-believers.

In John 5 Jesus describes two resurrections: “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth — those who have done good to the resurrection of life, [i.e the First Resurrection] and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. [this will be ‘the rest of the dead’]” (John 5:28-29)

What we should also make clear is that the First Resurrection is a category, not a single event:

“It must be especially emphasized that our phrase in the Apocalypse covering this resurrection is a retrospect that looks back over all three phases (of resurrection)” (Barnhouse)

“‘The ‘first resurrection’ is not an event but an order of resurrection including all the righteous who are raised from the dead before the millennial kingdom begins.” (Walvoord)

The three phases that Barnhouse refers to are 1) Christ – the Firstfruits 2) Those who are His at the Rapture 3) The Tribulation saints. “But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.” (1 Cor 15:23)

Rev 20:6

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Blessed indeed! – especially when we consider the alternative (see Spurgeon’s comments below). All men will die physically, that is the first death. The second death is a spiritual death where once and for all you will be cut off from God – that is what Jesus died to prevent for all who will accept. Born once, die twice, born twice, die once.

The following from Charles Spurgeon’s ‘Morning & Evening’ is a poignant reminder that if God did not spare His own Son, but poured His full wrath upon Him ‘who knew no sin’, what will it be like for one who has rejected Christ’s death in their own place? If Christ took the full force of God’s wrath, so also will an unrepentant sinner if they ‘neglect so great a salvation’.

If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?’-Luke 23:31

“Among other interpretations of this suggestive question, the following is full of teaching: ‘If the innocent substitute for sinners, suffer thus, what will be done when the sinner himself-the dry tree-shall fall into the hands of an angry God?’ When God saw Jesus in the sinner’s place, He did not spare Him; and when He finds the unregenerate without Christ, He will not spare them. O sinner, Jesus was led away by His enemies: so shall you be dragged away by fiends to the place appointed for you. Jesus was deserted of God; and if He, who was only imputedly a sinner, was deserted, how much more shall you be? ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ what an awful shriek! But what shall be your cry when you shall say, ‘O God! O God! why hast Thou forsaken me?’ and the answer shall come back, ‘Because ye have set at nought all My counsel, and would none of My reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh.’ If God spared not His own Son, how much less will He spare you! What whips of burning wire will be yours when conscience shall smite you with all its terrors. Ye richest, ye merriest, ye most self-righteous sinners-who would stand in your place when God shall say, ‘Awake, O sword, against the man that rejected Me; smite him, and let him feel the smart for ever’? Jesus was spit upon: sinner, what shame will be yours! We cannot sum up in one word all the mass of sorrows which met upon the head of Jesus who died for us, therefore it is impossible for us to tell you what streams, what oceans of grief must roll over your spirit if you die as you now are. You may die so, you may die now. By the agonies of Christ, by His wounds and by His blood, do not bring upon yourselves the wrath to come! Trust in the Son of God, and you shall never die.”

The post The Millennium first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Second Coming (Pt2)

Barry Forder — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 21:32:58 +0000

Introduction

In Charles Spurgeon’s study on the Second Coming, he makes reference to the opening chapter of Revelation where John, trying to expresses the magnitude of what he had seen, sums up much of the book by the statement: Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Rev 1:7).

In response to this, Spurgeon states: “I gather from this expression that it will be a literal appearing and an actual sight. If the Second Advent was to be a spiritual manifestation, to be perceived by the minds of men, the phraseology would be, “Every mind shall perceive Him.” But it is not so: we read, “Every eye shall see Him.” Now, the mind can behold the spiritual, but the eye can only see that which is distinctly material and visible”

Throughout Scripture we find references to the physical bodily return of Jesus to this earth.

Psalm 2;45; 46; 47; 50:1-6; 68;
Isaiah 11, 24:19-23, 25, 26:20, 21; 63:1-6; 65:5-16;
Daniel 2:44-45; 7:9-14;
Joel 3;
Hab 3;
Zech 14.

Furthermore, when Jesus was under oath before the Sanhedrin he asserted: Ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. (Matthew 26:64).

Thus scripture makes it clear, Jesus is coming back and every eye will see Him!

In typical fashion, Spurgeon then goes on to labour over these words, so as not to miss some priceless spiritual gem:

This announcement is thought worthy of a note of admiration. Behold indicated that there is something that we are to hold and behold. We now hear the voice crying, “Come and see.” The Holy Spirit never uses superfluous words or redundant notes of exclamation: when He cries, “Behold!” is it because there is reason for deep and lasting attention. Will you turn away when He bids you pause and ponder, linger and look? You who have been beholding vanity, come and behold the fact that Jesus comes. You who have been beholding this and beholding that and thinking of nothing worthy of your thoughts, forget these passing sights and spectacles and for once behold a scene that has no parallel. It is not a monarch in her festivity but the King of kings in His glory. That same Jesus who went up from Olivet into Heaven is coming again to earth in like manner as His disciples saw Him go up into Heaven. Come and behold this great sight. If ever there was a thing in the world worth looking at, it is this. Behold and see if there was ever glory like unto His glory!

Do not carelessly turn aside, for the Lord God demands your attention: He commands you to “Behold!” Will you be blind when God bids you behold? Will you shut your eyes when your Saviour cries, “Behold”? When the finger of inspiration points the way, will your eye fail to follow where it directs you?

This coming is to be zealously proclaimed, for John does not merely calmly say, “He cometh,” but he vigorously cries, “Behold, He cometh.” Just as the herald of a king prefaces his message by a trumpet blast that calls attention, so John cries, “Behold!” It is no ordinary message that he brings, and he would not have us treat his world as a commonplace saying. He throws his heart into the announcement. He proclaims it loudly, he proclaims it solemnly, and he proclaims it with authority: “Behold He cometh.”

No truth should be more frequently proclaimed next to the first coming of the Lord, than His second coming; and you cannot thoroughly set forth all the implications of the first advent if you forget the second. At the Lord’s supper, there is no discerning the Lord’s body unless you discern His first coming; but there is no drinking into His cup to its fullness unless you hear Him say, “Until I come.”

As we stated in our previous study, there are three distinct reasons given for the second coming:

To deliver Israel in the midst of her darkest hour
To judge the ungodly nations of this world that have survived the Great Tribulation
To re-establish the throne the throne of David

Although we have looked briefly at verses 11-14 in the previous study, to get the flow we will review them again here and add some addition comments:

Rev 19:11

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

In chapter 6 we saw another white horse, and another rider. These two riders stand as the antithesis of each other. One is faithful (1 Thes 5:24), the other is made famous for breaking his covenant (Daniel 9:27). One is true (John 1:9), the other is full of deceit (Psalm 10:7). One come in righteousness (Psalm 11:7), the other is the enemy of all that is righteous (2 Thes 2:4). One is just in the war He wages, the other wages war out of vengeful Satanic hatred. One is Christ, the other Anti-Christ.

As we read these words they should have a very special meaning for us, for it is because He is faithful, because He has kept His promises that all the things recorded here are happening. God made a promise to David that one of his descendants would sit on the throne of Israel. Here He now fulfills that promise. But there is more that touches each of us in His title ‘Faithful and true’. For in His darkest hour in Gethsemane, when faced with the overwhelming black and sickening burden of our sin, it was then of all times that Christ showed Himself to be faithful. In John 10 Jesus had said that a good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. It is one thing to say it, but quite another, when actually faced with cruelest of opponents to give your own life to rescue, not the lovely and sweet, not the holy and righteous, for we are told that it is while we were yet sinners that Christ died for us! (Rom 5:8). No, it was while we were afar off (Eph 2:17) that our great Shepherd shed drops of blood as sweat and proved Himself faithful even unto the death of the cross (Phil 2:8), enduring the shame for the glory that was set before Him! (see Hebrews: 12:2). Never has a title been so deserved as ‘Faithful and True’ for our Saviour!

But let us just pause for a moment before we continue, for are not we to be conformed to the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29)? Does not scripture say that ‘as He is, so are we in this world’? (1 John 4:17). If He is faithful and true, should we not expect the same qualities to be evident in those whom would call themselves His followers? Should not also the very fact He is coming soon, stir us to be faithful and true? We should first and foremost be faithful to Him, to ‘walk worthy of the Lord’ (Col 1:10). But we should also strive to be faithful in all things. Faithful in our marriages, faithful in our relationships, faithful in our work and faithful in our witness; and in all things we should be true. The Greek word here is alēthinos, meaning that which has not only the name and resemblance, but the real nature, in every respect real, true genuine; opposite to what is fictitious, counterfeit, imaginary, simulated or pretended. As He is, so should we be!

We are also told that in this verse, that when Jesus comes He is coming to make war on His enemies. In Luke 4:10-21 we read of the account when Jesus was at the synagogue in Nazareth on the Sabbath. As was the custom, the men of the Synagogue would take turns to read from the T’nach (the Hebrew Old Testament). On this particular Sabbath Jesus stood to read, and He was passed the scroll of Isaiah.

“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him” (Luke 4:16-20).

Jesus then declared: “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears”. But why were all eyes on Him? Quite simply because Jesus ‘shut the scroll’ half way through the sentence, He did not complete the reading! The passage in Isaiah comes from Isaiah 61:1-2, and where Jesus put a full stop, Isaiah has a comer, followed by the words ‘and the day of vengeance of our God’!

Jesus had come to heal the brokenhearted, preach deliverance to the captives, the recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that were bruised, and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord, but at that time He had not come to proclaim the day of vengeance of God. That comer has lasted almost 2000 years, but we are now ready for the sentence to be completed, and for the day of vengeance of God to come!

Rev 19:12-15

12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

There are many scriptures that we could turn to for greater insight (Cf 2 Thes 2:8 / Matt 24:30 / Dan 2:34-35, 44 et al), but one that is particularly instructive is found in Zechariah 14:1-9:

“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.”

Adding this to what we already know, we see that the nations of the earth will be gathered together under the leadership of Antichrist in the Jezreal valley in Northern Israel, also known as the valley of Megiddo – from whence comes the name ‘Armageddon’.

From here Satan will launch an assault on Jerusalem, capturing the city and then setting about perusing the Jews in hiding in Edom – modern day Jordan

We have already seen how Isaiah in chapter 63 (vs 1-4) speaks of Jesus’ coming in wrath as if someone were treading out grapes, with the blood splattering upon His garments. We noted the same idiom used back in chapter 16 where we were also given a strange piece of information:

“And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs”. (Rev 14:18-20)

Clearly the Lord is coming in His wrath, but note the distance that is recorded over which His enemies are slain: ‘1600 Furlongs”.

A Furlong is approximately 600ft. It may be nothing, just a coincidence(?), but it just so happens to be 1600 furlongs from Megiddo to Petra!

It will be right in the heat of battle that Jesus will return to destroy Antichrist and his armies and deliver Israel. Jesus will then travel back victoriously to liberate Jerusalem, this time coming to the Mount of Olives which will then be split in two by a powerful earthquake.

At this time, and probably as a result of the earthquake, we read of an incredible geographical event: A river appears in Jerusalem, and flows out of the city, and on down to the Dead Sea. Ezekiel records:

“Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.

Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ancles. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.

Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river. Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh”. (Ezek 47:1-9)

Thus it would seem that Jerusalem, one of the few major cities without a river, will have a river as a permanent reminder (particularly to Israel) of God’s provision of water from the Rock at Horeb (Exodus 17), which in itself is a model (as Paul tells us in 1 Cor 10) of Christ the Rock who provides the water of life (see John 7:37-39).

Just as the water from the Rock in Horeb brought life, as symbolised by the water flowing from the altar in John 7, so this water that will flow out of Jerusalem will flow on down into the Dead Sea – which because of the very high mineral content currently allows no life – and the Dead Sea will be healed and become teeming with life!

As an aside, it is no secret the Jerusalem is on a faulty line, part of the Great Rift Valley, that runs down from Lebanon, through Israel and then off into Africa, finally ending in Mozambique.

Rev 19:16

And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Of the 95 Greek manuscripts that Revelation was translated from into the English, all had KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS in capitals, just to underline the point!

What is significant about the name being written on Jesus’ thigh? Well, as Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown’s commentary highlights, “The thigh was touched in taking an oath, as the seat of strength: it symbolizes Christ’s humanity, as, sprung from the loins of David, according to His covenant, and now the glorified “Son of man.” See Genesis 24:2-9; 47:29 / Ezekiel 21:12).

Note also that Antichrist has assumed a role of being the king over 10 kings, now Jesus will wrest even this title from Antichrist, for there can only be one true King of kings!

Note also that this is not a title that Jesus has to earn through conflict, He does not attain to this position, it has always been His! Paul said to Timothy: “I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Tim 6:13-15).

In Romans we read: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God”. (Rom 13:1).

“For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods”. (Psalm 95:3)

Rev 19:17

And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

This shows how bright this angels shines with the glory of God. The angel can be seen, even though it stands before the sun. “The angel is standing in the light of the sun with the angel himself possibly shining with even greater brilliance.” (Walvoord).

In Revelation 19 there are two suppers. One joyful beyond compare, the other utterly terrifying. The first is the marriage supper of the Lamb, and the Groom’s Father has spared no expense! The other supper is recorded in a number of passages, and is highlighted here. It will be when the slain armies of Antichrist become food for the fowls of the air as they lay defeated and dead on the ground.

In Matthew 24 Jesus said: “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.” (Matt 24:27-28)

Some have taken this verse to be referring to the Rapture, suggesting that Jesus is the carcass and the Church are the eagles (loosely basing the idea on Isaiah 40:31 where God promises that those who wait on Him will rise up on wings like eagles). However the verse in Isaiah is not talking about the Rapture or any specific event, but about living lives before God each day). Rather, this verse in Matthew is a summary of the events that will occur immediately following Christ’s destruction of His enemies.

In Matthew 24 Jesus was actually quoting from Job 39:27-30 which says: “Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.”

Ezekiel also records this event:

“And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood. Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan. And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD. (Ezek 39:17-20)

Rev 19:18

That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

None of Antichrist’s party will escape. Everyone who dares to march against Jesus will be destroyed. There is no distinction made for rank. At the end of this life your position, qualifications, bank balance, social standing, number of friends you have amassed on Facebook(!) – none of that will matter. The only thing that will matter is your relationship with Jesus Christ. Are you for Him or against Him?

Rev 19:19

And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

John says nothing about a battle. This is an entirely one-sided affair, more of a simple act of judgment than an actual war. “The battle of Armageddon is the laughter of God against the climax of man’s arrogance.” (Barnhouse)

How stupid and arrogant can man be, that he would dare to march defiantly against his Creator? – the One who holds all things together, the One who sustains all things, was before all things. (Col 1:16-17).

Psalm 2 speaks prophetically of this time:

“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.” (Psalm 2:1-5)

Rev 19:20-21

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Finally their pride and arrogance will be brought to an end and they will be cast alive into what we typically refer to as Hell. This is no imaginary place; the lake of fire is real and will be the eternal home of all who reject Christ. It will not be a place of eternal partying but of eternal spiritual anguish and pain. The real horror of Hell is separation from God’s presence, forever. We cannot begin to imagine what that is like. There is not one single human soul who has yet experienced the pain Jesus did on the cross. Even those who have died without accepting Christ have not yet been totally separated from God; for even in Hades (the temporary ‘waiting room’ where the unsaved will await the final judgment) the presence of God can be felt (see Psalm 139:78). Yet Jesus was totally cut off from God on account of our sin, that is why He cried out “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46).

God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9); and we know that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God is fair and He is just. He has done everything possible to stop people from going to Hell for eternity, the cost was Jesus’ death on the cross, a price far higher than we have any capacity to imagine. The choice is now up to each individual.

Rev 19:21

And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

This unpleasant death for Antichrist’s followers will soon be forgotten as the real horror of an eternity separated from God’s presence hits home. Physical death is simply the gateway to eternity. The big question is where you will spend that eternity; but the decision is made during this life only. Once you die the window of opportunity to accept Jesus’ death and separation from God in your place closes.

To be continued…

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post The Second Coming (Pt2) first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Second Coming (Pt1)

Barry Forder — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 22:31:10 +0000

In our journey through the Book of Revelation we have come as far as chapter 19.

May the study notes below encourage you to undertake your own study of this book, and this event that is arguably the most anticipated in all history!

For every prophecy in the Bible concerning Jesus’ first coming, there are eight that speak of His second coming! In fact, the very first prophecy in the Bible uttered by a prophet is a prophecy about Jesus’ second coming. It was by Enoch, and is recorded in the book of Jude: “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him” (Jude 14-15). This gives a good summary of one of the key aspects of the Second Coming, namely the judgment on this unbelieving world.

Throughout scripture there are actually three distinct reasons given for the second coming:

To deliver Israel in the midst of her darkest hour
To judge the ungodly nations of this world that have survived the Great Tribulation
To re-establish the throne the throne of David

Let us look briefly at what the Bible says of these three things:

Jeremiah refers to the time of the Tribulation and says: “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him. 31-33

We have already seen in Revelation chapter 12 that Israel will be forced to flee into the wilderness of Edom (modern day Jordan) because of the combined armies of Antichrist that will be amassed against them (something we will explore further in this chapter). At the height of this anti-Semitic persecution the situation prophesied in Hosea will come to pass, where God states: “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early”. (Hosea 5:15). Because of their rejection of the Messiah, Jesus blinded Israel’s eyes (as recorded in Luke 19:37-44), and then ‘returned to His place’ at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Jesus has remained at His Father’s side for the past 1900+ years, but when in the midst of their affliction Israel cry out, Jesus will mount His white horse and ride out of Heaven with all the majesty of a conquering king and come to Israel’s aid to defeat her enemies. We read: “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save [this description can only refer to Jesus!]. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? [in other words, why has Jesus got blood splattered on his garments, just like the splashes and stains that you would get if you were treading on grapes in a winepress? – the answer is then given…] I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come”. (Isaiah 63:1-4). Those trampled here are Antichrist’s forces and those joined with them. The redeemed is a reference to Israel who will be delivered.

Satan of course knows that Israel crying out to God for deliverance is a pre-requisite for the second coming; so if he could destroy Israel first, would that prevent the second coming?? It would seem that Satan thinks so, for throughout history he has continually tried to wipe out Israel, destroy her completely. Yet still to this day, despite his great attempts through the Holocaust and the Islamic nation’s hatred of Israel, Israel still exists as an identifiable ethnic group living in their own land.

The second reason for the second coming is for Jesus to judge the living nations that have survived the Great Tribulation. In Matthew 25 we read: “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matt 25:31-46).

In this passage we are told that all the nations of the world will be gathered before Jesus and He will separate them as a shepherd separates sheep and goats. These nations will be judged depending on how they have treated His brethren – Israel. Those nations who have supported and defended Israel throughout the centuries will be spared and blessed.

The nations who have oppressed or persecuted Israel will be thrown into Hell, there to wait until the Great White Throne Judgment (in Rev 20).

The third reason for the second coming of Jesus is to re-establish the Throne of David, as originally promised in 2 Samuel 7 and as confirmed to Mary by the angel Gabriel in Luke 1.

It should be remembered that Jesus was actually heir to the throne of Israel, being of the royal line of David through Joseph. But as God foretold through Hosea (3:4) Israel have not had a king since the time of the Babylonian captivity in 587 B.C.

In 2 Samuel 7, God promised David “when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels [i.e. Solomon], and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever”. (2 Sam 7:12-16)

This promise of an everlasting Davidic dynasty is to be fulfilled through the Messiah, the Son of David.

When the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary he declared to her: “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:31-33

Jesus did not sit on the Throne of David and rule over Israel during His first coming, and in actual fact, it was precisely because the Jewish leaders thought Jesus was about to lead an insurrection against Rome and set himself up as king that they had Him crucified (see John 11:47-50). The disciples also thought Jesus was going to deliver the nation from the bondage of Rome and become king over Israel, hence Peter’s attempt to wage warfare when he chopped off the ear of the high priest (Matthew 26:51 / John 18:10). Even after the resurrection the disciples asked Jesus: “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”

The issue therefore was never a question of whether or not Jesus was destined to sit on the throne of Israel. He was and always has been. The only issue to be settled was when?

After the resurrection Jesus left this earth to go and prepare a place for His bride (see John 14:1-3 / Eph 5:25-27), and also to wait Israel cry for help as already mentioned.

The Throne of David has now been vacant for over 2500 years, but we are now poised on the brink of the return of the rightful Heir. He will not only reign over the whole house of Israel (see Ezekiel 37:21-22), but over the whole earth from Jerusalem (see Daniel 2:44 & Daniel 7:13-14)

CHAPTER 19

The first 5 verses of this chapter now record Heaven’s response to the destruction of Babylon that we have seen in chapter 18.

Rev 19:1

And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

Once again we have the Greek phrase ‘Meta tauta’ – ‘after these things’, that is, after the events of chapter 17 & 18. John hears a ‘great multitude’ in heaven praising God for His judgment on the false religious systems of this world (that have all come under the umbrella of ‘Babylon’) that have deceived so many and led multitudes to hell.

As we noted, the events of chapter 17 & 18 actually take place during the first three and a half years. Obviously it would make no sense to record Heaven’s response to Babylon’s destruction until after we have seen the event. Thus if we were to try to be strict with the chronology, this response (verse 1-5) would most likely occur at or around the three and a half year point.

Heaven’s declaration is ‘Alleluia’. It is a world that is only found four times in the New Testament – all in this chapter. The word is the un-translated Greek form of the Hebrew ‘Hallelujah’ and literally means ‘Praise Yahweh’.

Rev 19:2

For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

Again we have a declaration that God has been just in bringing the judgments that we have witnessed in chapter 17 & 18 of the false religious system that brought ‘great spiritual confusion’. She is identified as having killed the servants of the Lord. Much of the worldwide church has been suffering persecution for centuries. But it has been said that if persecution is to come upon the Church in the west, it is as likely to come from the ‘established church’ as from the governments. The more the ‘visible church’ compromises and embraces the world (and moves toward a one-world-church), the more those who take the Bible seriously will be ostracised and labeled as fundamentalists etc.

Paul said: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables”. (2 Tim 4:3-4)

Regarding those who would water down, allegorise or distort the truth of scripture Paul said: “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” (1 Tim 6:3-5)

Rev 19:3

And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

It really will be cause for praising God when we finally see the destruction of false religion, and note; the effects of this punishment will last forever as a testimony.

Rev 19:4

And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

This is the last mention of the twenty-four elders, at least by this title, for from now on they will be seen as the bride of Christ. Most of us would fall down in awe before the four beasts! How awesome will it be to see these incredible creatures fall before a holy God?

Rev 19:5

And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

This is applicable at all times and should be a constant response of those that know Him and therefore fear Him and have become beneficiaries of His grace, mercy and love.

Following Heaven’s response to the destruction of Babylon, verses 6-9 now focus on one of the most anticipated events in history… the moment the Heavenly Bridegroom receives His bride! Right from the Garden of Eden, marriage was intended to depict this Heavenly union – as Paul emphasises in Ephesians 5: 22-33.

In John 14 1-3 Jesus told His disciples that, just as a typical Jewish bridegroom would do, He was returning to His Father’s house to prepare a place for His bride, and, again as a Jewish bridegroom would do, He will come again with the blowing of the shofar (ram’s horn) and then take His bride back to His Father house.

Rev 19:6

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

Notice that this voice is as a ‘great multitude’. This would seem to link this company with the Tribulation martyrs seen in Rev 7:9. It is fitting that they cry out that God is all-powerful because we are about to witness the Lamb being united with His bride. Since Eden, God has been working behind the scenes in the affairs of man to bring all things to this conclusion. In Ephesians 3:10-11 Paul explains that God’s wisdom is demonstrated by the existence of the Church – Christ’s bride. We read: “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord”

God is omnipotent and that which He purposes He will perform.

Rev 19:7

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Notice that it is the great multitude that makes this declaration; this shows that the great multitude are not the bride, but rather they are those who announce that She has made herself ready and that the marriage has come. “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:22-32)

We could spend hours unraveling all that is in this incredible passage; however it is clear that Christ views the Church as His bride; He gave Himself for her and He has made provision for her to be ready for her wedding day by providing His word wherein she may wash. Jesus is coming back to receive unto Himself a bride without spot or blemish. (There is an incredible parallel between this wedding and a traditional Jewish wedding, (see Appendix A)).

If you are a Christian you are part of the bride of Christ. How are your wedding preparations going? Any bride would prepare for her wedding day, paying attention to even the smallest details so that she can be pleasing to her husband-to-be. If an earthly bride would do this for an earthly husband, how much more should Christ’s bride be getting ready for the big day?!

Of the crowns that are promised to believers it is no coincidence that the crown of righteousness is promised to those who are looking for, and love the fact that He is coming back for them. (see 2 Tim 4:8)

Again, just stop for a moment and let it sink in; that Jesus, the Creator, who holds all things together by the word of His power, wants to be united with you for eternity. It is for this reason that Paul emphasises that we should live lives worthy of our calling. (Eph 4:1 / Col 1:10 / 1 Thes 2:12 / Rom 6:2 / 1 Peter 1:13-16). Even here and now we are told that He has “raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places” (Eph 2:6).

Children are told fairy stories of frogs that are kissed and are exulted far beyond their position, but the magnitude and scale of what we have been given far eclipses even the most imaginative story. Considering this brings into focus statements such as the following:

“How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Rom 6:2) “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. (2 Tim 2:4)“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb 12:1)

Some Bible commentators have suggested that this event – the marriage supper – will not take place until we are back on earth, and that the invited guests will be the repentant Jews and the gentiles that survive the Tribulation. The text however would seem to clearly place the supper (vs9) immediately after the marriage (vs7) and before the Second Coming (vs11).

In reference to the wedding guests, see the comments on verse 9 in a moment; but one other indicator that would place this event as occurring in heaven is found in Mark 14:25:

“Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Jews have four cups they drink at Passover – 1) the cup of bringing out, 2) the cup of delivery, 3) the cup of blessing (or redeeming) and 4) the cup of taking out. It was the 3^rd cup that Jesus drank from when He said the above, thus leaving one cup still to drink – which will not be drunk from until we are taken out of this world and united with Christ in His Father’s kingdom!!

…..and give honour to him

At any wedding the groom is honoured, how much more so when not only the bride, but all the guests are there only because He has come an unfathomable distance to rescue them and thereby making their attendance at this great occasion possible.

Notice also the timing of this event: it is after the destruction of Babylon the great and thus, as we have deduced, is toward the end of the seven-year Tribulation period. A Jewish wedding ceremony traditionally lasts for seven days; as almost every other part of Christ’s marriage to His Bride has been modeled on a traditional Jewish wedding, could it be that this one will also last for seven days, just prior to the Second Coming? (again, see Appendix A).

Another point worth mentioning is that this event is happening in Heaven. You’ll agree that weddings go much better if the bride is in attendance! So yet again we know that the Church – the bride of Christ – cannot be on earth during the Tribulation. Amazingly there are still those who wonder if the Church will have to endure the Tribulation, and therefore these people often place the Rapture at the same time as the Second Coming. In doing this they cause the bride to miss her wedding day!

The question is really quite simple: Was Jesus death on the cross sufficient to pay the price for our sin or not? If, as we know, it was, then we will not have to endure God’s wrath during the Tribulation, and furthermore it would make God unjust if He left the Church on earth during this time – see Gen 18:25.

Rev 19:8

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

“The fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” The wedding gown of the church is the righteous acts of the saints. This is a difficult concept to accept, because it is impossible for us to stand before Christ in our own righteousness. Paul wrote of this: “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Phil. 3:9). You see, by faith we can trust Christ—not only for the forgiveness of sins but for the impartation to us of His own righteousness. Then why does John say that the wedding garment is the righteous acts of the saints? Well, the wedding gown will be used only once, but we will be clothed in the righteousness of Christ throughout eternity. We as believers will appear before the judgment seat of Christ, not to be judged for our sins in reference to salvation, but for rewards. Through the ages believers have been performing righteous acts which have been accumulating to adorn the wedding gown. By the way, what are you doing to adorn that wedding gown? What are you doing for the Lord today? (J Vernon McGee)

Rev 19:9

And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

John is specifically told to make mention of the fact that those who are invited to the marriage supper are blessed. Who are these wedding guests? There is still a great debate among scholars on this issue, however if we break it down into what we do know we are really only left with one question instead of many.

We know that the Church is the bride of Christ, so that only leaves two groups, the Old Testament saints and the Tribulation saints. It seems clear that the Tribulation saints – referred to as ‘a great multitude’ in Rev 7:9 – are the ones who are now seen announcing the marriage supper (in verse 6-7) so they are obviously there (See also Appendix B), so the only question is whether the Old Testament saints are part of the bride or among the wedding guests.

There are good scholars on both sides of this question. One often quoted verse in support of the Old Testament saints being ‘friends of the Bridegroom’ rather than the bride is John 3:29 where John the Baptist said: “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.” However as David Guzik, former director of Calvary Chapel Bible College, Germany, points out: What this verse is saying is that “John is the “best man” – who, in Jewish weddings, arranged many of the details of the wedding, and brought the bride to the groom”. This is in effect what John the Baptist came to do, i.e he pointed the way to the Messiah, leading the bride to the Groom.

This verse would not then appear to be teaching that the Old Testament believers are to be excluded from the Church. Indeed Paul tells us that one of the functions of the Church was to unite both Jews and Gentiles together in Christ (Gal 3:28). We also know that the thief on the cross – who believed in Jesus for his salvation – went to paradise. Almost all scholars believe this to be the same place as also referred to as Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:22) where all the Old Testament saints who had died had gone. Thus, if the thief on the cross and Abraham, David, Daniel, Ezekiel etc were all in the same place, it seems reasonable that there is no distinction between them, i.e. they are all to be considered part of the Church and therefore part of the bride of Christ. Also, around the New Jerusalem we find 12 gates with the 12 Tribes of Israel named on them and 12 foundation stones named after the Apostles; thus both Old and New Testament believers united in eternity.

A final confirmation of this is given in Matthew 8:11: “And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.”

Rev 19:10

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

In verse 9 we read “and he said to me” but we are not told who the ‘he’ is. Here however we find out that it is not an angel but a brother who has the testimony of Jesus. This is again strong support for the view expressed in the comments on verse 9. It is reasonable to assume that this was not someone that John had known from the early church (bearing in mind that John received this Revelation in about 96AD), John would have surely recognised any of the early Church leaders (and it would be reasonable to assume that whoever this person is they are of importance given that they are in an extremely important role); therefore we must conclude that this person is one of the Old Testament believers. The fact that they have the testimony of Jesus surely means that they are part of the Church.

It is just a conjecture, but I personally believe that this character may be Daniel for reasons stated in our previous studies.

The Greek could be translated: “The evidence of Jesus is the breath of prophecy”. In other words, prophecy breathes the fact that Jesus is the I AM, the Messiah, the First and the Last.

Rev 19:11

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

A liberal minister once said to me in a disparaging tone “I suppose you think that Jesus is coming back on a white horse?” Now I’m only a simple man but my answer was based on the fact that this verse states that Jesus will come back on a white horse, so I said “Yes, I do believe Jesus is coming back on a white horse”.

To me it’s simple: you either trust what the Bible says and let it interpret itself, or you interpret it yourself – at which point you are trusting in your own ability (not generally considered a good idea according to scripture!).

Rev 19:12

His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

I am so glad that when Jesus looks at me it is with love and not with eyes as a flame of fire. The crowns on His head are diadem’s – a royal crown and not a stephanos crown as worn by Antichrist in Rev 6:2, which is the crown given to someone who is victorious in contest.

Rev 19:13

And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

The only blood in Heaven will be Jesus’. The blood on His garment will be His own. The significance of this is seen in Genesis 37 in the account of Joseph and his brothers:

“And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no. And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces”. (Gen 37:31-33)

Here we see a scapegoat whose blood is shed before Joseph’s garment dipped in its blood and the garment is then presented to their father so that he can identify it as his sons. That is the type; the reality is that Jesus was the scapegoat whose blood was shed instead of ours. The bloodied garment that Jesus is seen wearing in this verse had been presented to the Father as evidence that His son had been slain. Now however, because the Father raised up His Son from the dead, Jesus again puts on this garment

Jesus is the Word of God. God’s Word personified. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1)

Rev 19:14

And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

The armies in heaven that will return with Jesus will include the angels (as confirmed in Matthew 25:31) and the saints (the Bride of Christ)) as stated in Jude 14.

Note however that we will not be involved in the fighting. Jesus himself will ‘trample His enemies’ (see again Isaiah 63:1-4)..

Our fight in now, as we wrestle daily against sin. In some senses we would prefer to fight alongside Jesus at His return, much like Simon Peter, bolstered by Jesus’ presence was prepared to take on the army that had come to arrest Jesus in John 18:10. It is far less glamorous to resist temptation when no one else is watching, and no one will applaud the victory. Bu this is precisely where the battle is to be fought.

This is or moment to stand with all the resource of Heaven, Jesus at our side and take on the enemy on his own ground. If we resist him he will flee. Jesus will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear. And although others might not see, your Saviour sees, and these righteous acts as you war against the world, the flesh and the Devil will one day adorn your wedding garment.

As Paul admonished Timothy, be strong therefore in the grace that is in Jesus Christ. Fight the good fight. Don’t get entangled with the sin that so easily ensnares, but keep your eyes on Jesus.

Appendix A – A Jewish Wedding

Marriage to the Jews is extremely serious, it is a ‘holy institution’ ordained by God. Its very name in Hebrew, ‘Kiddushin’, means “sanctification”. In 1 Thes 4:3 we read: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you should abstain from sexual immorality”. If God’s will for the Church is that we be married to His Son, how appropriate that our being ‘set apart’ (sanctified), and our remaining pure should be joined together in this verse.

A typical Jewish wedding is separated into two parts, 1) the ‘Ketubah’ (Betrothal), and 2) the ‘Huppah’ (wedding ceremony), which is followed by the conclusion/wedding feast, ‘Nisuin’. This is very much like our engagement, which would be followed by the wedding day/Reception. The Ketubah to a Jew however, is a far more serious commitment than we tend to view an engagement. The Ketubah is in fact a marriage contract between the groom and his bride. After the groom has purchased his bride, he draws up a contract in which he undertakes to give all that he has in order to provide for every need of his bride, not only while he is alive, but also in the event of his death. This is exactly what Jesus has done for us. He has purchased us, and has written a new covenant in His blood to ensure His bride – the Church – has been given ‘exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think’ (Ephesians 3:20).

To mark this contract, the Jewish groom and bride drink from a cup of wine. Our agreement was sealed in an upper room (Matt 26:28) where the Groom shared a cup of wine and said “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” (Matt 26:29) After this, it is customary for the Chatan (groom) and Kallah (bride) to remain apart for the time leading up to the wedding day. During this time the groom will return to his father’s house to prepare a room for his bride. Our Groom said: “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:3)

The bride, meanwhile, will visit the ritual bath known as the Mikveh. The purpose of this is so that she can cleanse herself spiritually and enter marriage in a state of complete purity – without spot or blemish.

One part of the ritual includes removing all manmade things (such as jewelry and nail polish etc) and then being fully immersed in water while reciting a special prayer. She is supervised and assisted during the ritual to ensure it is done correctly. This is incredible! The Holy Spirit has been given for the Church to prepare us to meet our Bridegroom.

We too should be fully immersed in the water of God’s word, so that we should be without spot or blemish (Eph 5:25- 32). We should purge ourselves of all that is in this world, “For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)

What a parallel this is to the Rapture when there will be a blast of a trumpet and a shout, and then we will rise to meet Jesus in the air.

As with a Jewish wedding we will also go back to the Father’s house, thus forever severing our ties with this world. For a Jew, the wedding ceremony now begins and the couple say their ‘vows’ reciting ‘the seven blessings’ whilst holding a second cup of wine. These blessings begin with 1) praising God for His creation in general, then 2) praising Him for making man in His image, 3) then praising Him for making a “two part creature”, man and woman, 4) then acknowledging that only together can they be complete. 5) In the fifth blessing they pray for the restoration of Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. 6) The sixth blessing expresses the hope that the bride and groom will grow in love for each other, focusing their love as exclusively as Adam and Eve, when there was no one else in the world. 7) Then finally, the seventh blessing is a prayer for the Messiah to come and redeem the Jews from exile, so that peace and tranquility will reign over the world.

Once the seven blessings have been said, a Jewish couple will drink from the second cup of wine and the marriage is sealed. Again, Jesus said: “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” (Matt 26:29) After this comes the wedding feast and celebration, usually accompanied by much singing and dancing! At the end of this, the Sheva Brachot, the wedding blessing, is pronounced. The same is true for the Church, for in Rev 19:6-9 our own ‘Sheva Brachot’ will be pronounced.

In Matthew 22:2-3 we read “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son…” If God has indeed arranged a marriage for His Son, is it surprising that it has been arranged to model a Jewish wedding, when His Son was in fact born as a Jew?

Appendix B – The Wedding Guests

The view that the wedding guests will be the Tribulation saints would seem to be consistent with the parable that Jesus told in Luke 14:16-24. In that parable Jesus responds to someone who has just declared: “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God”

Jesus then says the following: “A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one [consent] began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel [them] to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.” (Luke 14:16-24)

What was Jesus getting at? What was He trying to tell us?

Well, according to Matthew in Matt 13:35 “Jesus spoke unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.”

So one of the purposes of Jesus’ parables was to reveal things not previously known. We also find that ‘a certain man’ etc. always alludes to the Son of Man – Jesus (cf. Matt 13:24/13:37). So, here Jesus is saying that there is going to be a great supper (in the kingdom of heaven) to which He will invite many. Of those who have ‘official invitations’ none will come but rather they will make feeble excuses (demonstrating a love for earthly things). Jesus will then send His servant to call those not considered important by the establishment, who are found in the streets and lanes of the city. These are they who recognise their own weakness and insufficiency. However there is still room, so the servant is sent out again to compel any who have ‘ears to hear’ to come in before it’s too late and the door is finally shut. Jesus closes by giving a chilling statement saying that none of those who were called will taste of His supper.

My interpretation of this is that the ‘established church’ that will enter the tribulation are the ones with the official invitations – as one commentator put it: ‘they are converted to Christianity but not converted to Christ’ – hence they have missed the Rapture but should now be the first to realise what is going on. However their love for the pleasures of this world is their real motivation and they refuse to accept the offer. Jesus will then send out His ‘servant’ (144,000 Jews? / Two witnesses?) to invite all who recognise their helplessness and need for a Saviour. There is still room so an eagle preaching the everlasting gospel (Rev 14:6) is sent out to preach to them that dwell on the earth to ensure that all who will are gathered in – then the door will be shut, the 7 vials will be poured out on the earth and it’s inhabitants. In heaven however a great multitude will rejoice at being given this last amazing opportunity to come to the marriage supper – and as John is told to write: Blessed [indeed] are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post The Second Coming (Pt1) first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Destruction of Deception

Barry Forder — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 17:51:00 +0000

Throughout history Satan, our great opponent, has been hell-bent on the destruction of mankind by any means possible. Following his failure to destroy mankind by the events that led up to the Flood (see Genesis 6:1-4), Satan launched a far more subtle plan to destroy mankind – his great nemesis.

Remember that Satan had wanted (and thought he was going to be given) this wonderful world that God had created (ref Esther 6:6 / 1 Tim 3:6), But just as Satan thought he was about to be handed the keys to planet Earth, God created Man – in His image – and gave man, not Satan, dominion over the world He had made! Satan’s pride and jealousy led to his fall, and to underline the magnitude of this, one third of the angels also rebelled and followed after heaven’s worship-leader and ‘light bearer’. This was no trivial thing!

So, following the flood, Satan’s new revised plan consisted of three parts:

A one-world government,
a one world religion,
a targeted attack on Israel (through whom the Seed was to come).

Firstly, He would set about the creation of a One World Government, This would give him great control over mankind.

Rather than man being responsible for his own family and needs before God, being largely self-reliant and able to fend for himself, man would become dependent on others in a larger society and as a result become so consumed with the acquisition of wealth and power that it would leave very little time for the things of God. As History has shown, this plan worked very well indeed (!), and added to this was the corruption that comes with power that has plagued almost every government that has existed.

Step one of this plan was the Tower of Babel; a deliberate attempt to unite mankind under a one world government. From what we know historically, it was Noah’s grandson Cush who was led this rebellion against God. This however, was abruptly halted when God intervened (see Genesis 11:1-9) and put a stop to this centralization of power and control.

However, far from giving up on this part of his plan, Satan has been working behind the scenes for the last 4,500 years since Babel to bring about a One World Government. Every empire from Nebuchadnezzar to Napoléon has aspired to rule the world and have power over man. In the books of Daniel and Revelation it is made clear that this will finally come to pass, albeit for a short time.

The phrase Novus ordo seclorum (Latin for “New order of the ages”) appears on the ‘Great Seal’ of the United States, printed on the back of the United States one-dollar bill since 1935. What does this mean? – and why did Present Bush (Snr) announce that his foreign policy would help build a New World Order?

There can be no denying that behind the scenes there are powerful people working to unite the world, monetarily, economically and politically. The European Union has boldly declared they are attempting to reverse the effects of the Tower of Babel and unite people of all languages. In an advertising campaign back in the 1970’s, they even published a picture of Pieter Bruegel’s famous painting of Babel, with the caption ‘Europe. Many Tongues, One Voice’. The European Parliament building in Strasbourg is clearly modeled on Bruegel’s painting, and unashamedly called the ‘Tower Building’!

In whichever way these pieces of the jigsaw eventually fit together, all of this is being manipulated by Satan to bring about a one world government headed by 10 kings (see again Revelation 13 & 17).

Whilst all of this is provocative and even fascinating, particularly to Bible students in the days we are living, there is another attempt to unite the world from a different perspective, not the coming of a One World Government, but the coming of, and eventual destruction of, a One World Church. That is the subject of Revelation chapters 17 & 18.

As we noted in our previous session, this is the second phase of Satan’s ‘master plan’ that he began in ancient Babylon, at the time of, and following on from the Tower of Babel.

Many people ask why there are so many religions in the world today? Particularly if God is in control, why would He allow them? The answer is found by looking at the false religion that was established in Babylon. Almost all religions in the world today can be traced back to that source. There may be different god’s, but they are all just branches of the same corrupt tree. It was a tree deliberately sown to be a counterfeit and keep people from the truth. Ingeniously Satan didn’t create a brand new ‘religion’, he simply took what God had already reveled and twisted it just enough to send people off on tangents. That is why there are so many similarities across the world’s religions. To study this further, it is strongly recommend that you get a copy of ‘The Two Babylon’s’, originally published in 1858 by the late Alexander Hislop. It is astounding to actually see the roots of this tree and make the connections.

In chapter 17 we saw how Satan has used and manipulated the Roman Catholic Church as a catalyst to start to draw all ‘faith’s’ together. In recent times ISIS have also prompted many to seek ‘religious tolerance’ (in essence that means a watering down of the fundamentals you hold to). The pressure for all religious groups to conform will only intensify, and any who stand firm on the fundamentals of their faith will be ostracised and labeled as extremists or radicals.

Out of all of this will grow a One World united faith that will no doubt fuse together elements from all religions. Since 2009 we have had open talk of ‘Chrislam’, which is the working together of Christianity and Islam, promoted by so called leading evangelicals like Rick Warren and Robert Schuller (who died in 2015).

One article stated: The Chrislam movement has gained impetus by statements from President George W. Bush and that Christians, Jews, and Muslims all worship the same God and by Rick Warren’s reference to Isa (the Muslim name for Jesus) in his prayer at the inauguration of President Barack Obama. (http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/chrislam-starts-to-spread-in-america/)

Satan is not so concerned about the labels, but is determined to lay a smoke screen of deception that will keep people from the Truth of the Bible and the knowledge that salvation is in the Name of Jesus alone. This study therefore addresses the pouring out of God’s judgment on this coming false religious system that has actually existed since the time of Babylon and has manifested itself in various forms throughout history.

We pick up from our previous study by looking at where this One World Church will be finally based at the time of her destruction.

The City

Having already shown that the great harlot of Revelation 17 is not directly the Roman Catholic Church, but rather is the Queen of Heaven that was birthed in ancient Babylon, but that the Roman Catholic Church is merely the clothing that this woman has disguised herself in so that she may bring about a one world religion; the question as to what city now has to be settled.

Given all that we have seen, it follows that the city is literal Babylon of the banks of the Euphrates and not Rome. Rome may be home to the Roman Catholic Church but it was not the home of the Queen of Heaven, for that was Babylon. This great spiritual deception may have resided at Rome for a time, as it did at Pergamos (Rev 2:13), but it started in Babylon and will also be destroyed there. This obviously means that this great harlot will have to move from Rome back to Babylon before the judgment recorded in Revelation 18 can take place.

There is a very interesting prophecy in the Old Testament that Zechariah saw in a vision and is recorded in Zechariah 5:5-11:

“Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.

And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.”

The same passage in the Living Bible adds some clarity:

“Then the angel left me for awhile, but he returned and said, “Look up! Something is traveling through the sky!” “What is it?” I asked. He replied, “It is a 35-litre basket filled with the sin prevailing everywhere throughout the land.” Suddenly the heavy lead cover on the basket was lifted off, and I could see a woman sitting inside the basket! He said, “She represents wickedness,” and he pushed her back into the basket and clamped down the heavy lid again. Then I saw two women flying toward us, with wings like those of a stork. And they took the 35-litre basket and flew off with it, high in the sky. “Where are they taking her?” I asked the angel. He replied, “To Babylon where she belongs and where she will stay” (The Living Bible)

So in this passage Zechariah sees a vision that he doesn’t understand and the angel explains that he is seeing a pot containing an ephah which was a commercial measure – representing corrupt world trade – that permeates the world. The talent of lead was also a commercial measure of weight – and is seen here as a lid that covers the ephah. When the lead is lifted up Zechariah sees a woman sitting [comfortably] in the midst of ‘world commerce’. She is identified as wickedness (moral corruption) in the midst of the ephah. Zechariah then sees this wicked woman lifted up and taken to Shinar [Babylon] where she is to build a house on her own base.

The only woman in the Bible that are identified with Babylon are this one and the whore of Revelation 17 & 18. If these are indeed one and the same, as it would appear, then at a time yet future this false religious system will relocate to the city of Babylon on the ancient plain of Shinar in modern day Iraq.

It is no secret that Saddam Hussein had already started rebuilding Babylon, seeing himself as a modern day Nebuchadnezzar.

Left to right: Babylon today – on the banks of the Euphrates in Iraq / Inside the rebuilt palace / More of the city that Saddam Hussein was in the process of rebuilding

Many passages in the Old Testament and chapter 17 & 18 of Revelation prophesy the complete and total destruction of Babylon – something that to date has not happened.

Some Bible commentaries try to explain these prophecies away as having been fulfilled when Cyrus conquered Babylon (on the night of the famous feast of Belshazzer where the handwriting appeared on the wall, as recorded in Daniel chapter 5). This event is known as the ‘fall of Babylon’, and indeed politically it did fall into the hands of the Persians; but the city was not destroyed. Even Cyrus himself bragged how he had taken the city without a fight – this is recorded on the ‘Cylinder of Cyrus’ that is now in the British Museum.

Babylon continued to be a powerful city and was later to be the place where Alexander the Great took up residence and later died. Throughout history the city of Babylon faded from the political scene but was never destroyed. In contrast, the following prophecies make it absolutely clear that when Babylon is destroyed it will be complete and final.

And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged. Isaiah 13:19-22

Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks. For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country [the 10 kings of Rev 17?]: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain [‘Arrows’ that don’t miss – laser guided missiles?] . And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD. Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls; Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert. Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues. Jeremiah 50:8-13

And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD. Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain. And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD. Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers. Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominion. And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant. Jeremiah 51:24-29

For these prophecies to be fulfilled, Babylon has to once again become a centre of false worship, corrupt trade and idolatry in preparation for its final judgment.

CHAPTER 18

Rev 18:1

And after these things…

This chapter opens with the Greek phrase ‘meta tauta’ – after these things; so the natural question is: After what things?

Some have suggested that this phrase means that we are now done with ‘Mystery Babylon’ and our subject changes to view ‘Political Babylon’ – whatever that may be. However as we have already noted, there is no such thing as ‘Mystery Babylon’; it is ‘Mystery, Babylon the great’. The same title is used to clearly identify literal Babylon in 18:2. The ‘mystery’ part of the name simply identifies the spiritual influence of the city of Babylon that has existed throughout the ages since the time of the Tower of Babel. The spiritual influence of Babylon has shifted from place to place but will ultimately end up back on its base on the banks of the Euphrates river as we have seen.

Another problem with the idea that there are two Babylons in view (one spiritual and one political) is that at the start of chapter 17 the angel specifically says to John that he is to come and see the judgment of the great whore. As we arrive at chapter 18 we still have not seen the judgment of the great whore; all that has happened is that John has seen the great whore, the angel has explained who she is, and that she will be (future tense) destroyed by the 10 kings when they come to power. (It is worth keeping in mind that there were no chapter breaks in the original, they were not added until Archbishop of Canterbury Stephen Langton (c. 1150 – 1228AD) added them for convenience).

We have already seen in chapter 17 that ‘Babylon’ is both a woman (representing a spiritual system) and a city. The same idea is carried on in this chapter with the personal pronoun ‘her’ being used 29 times, and the fact that we are also viewing a literal city being alluded to at least 19 times.

As to the phrase ‘after these things’, it is after the vision of the woman riding the beast and the explanation of her identity…..

…I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. With this we will go on to witness the final and complete destruction of Babylon. With the earth being lit up, some see the possibility that this is a nuclear strike by the ten kings whom God will use to destroy Babylon. Certainly the smoke of her burning will be seen far off as we will see.

Rev 18:2

And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

Now we witness the destruction of Babylon. The double reference ‘fallen is fallen’ implies suddenness. Babylon’s new inhabitants are not the kind of neighbours that you would like to find have moved in next door! There is something dark and demonic about this place.

This kind of destruction fits perfectly with what we read in Isaiah 13/14 & Jeremiah 50/51, and clearly has not yet occurred in world history (see also cf: Isaiah 21:9)

Rev 18:3

For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

Commerce between the woman and the merchants of the earth are substantial. They used her and will miss her for she has made them rich.

Rev 18:4

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

The message is clear – have nothing to do with this woman, this false religious system. But who is the message to?

‘My people’ – all who would class themselves as God’s people should therefore take note.

The danger is to assume that this warning is not for us.

Seven times in scripture God’s people are warned to flee from her: Is 48:20 / Is 52:11 / Jer 50 8-9 / Jer 51:6-8 / Zech 2:6-7 / 2 Cor 6:17-18 / Rev 18:4

Seven times in Matthew 24 Jesus warned of great spiritual deception in the last days that would lead many astray: Matt 24:4 / Matt 24:5 / Matt 24:11 / Matt 24:23 / Matt 24:24 / Matt 24:25 / Matt 24:26.

Paul writes: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” (1 Tim 4:1)

And again: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables”. (2 Tim 4:3-4)

And again:“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves……….lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Tim 3:1-6)

Jesus warned: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves”. (Matt 7:15-16)

And in Matthew 24 we read:

“Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” (Matt 24:5)

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many” (Matt 24:11)

“Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. (Matt 24:23-26)

Scripture is absolutely clear, the last times are to be characterised by great spiritual deception; ministers and preaches who will have a form of godliness, who will seem genuine and who will even perform signs and wonders in the name of Jesus. In Matthew 7:15-23 Jesus said that there would be people who would prophesy in His name, cast out devils in His name and in His name do many wonderful works; yet He will turn to them and say: “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt 7:23).

There seems to be an incredible arrogance in today’s church that believes that it is somehow above deception, and therefore we need not worry about these things.

We had the ‘Toronto Blessing’ and Christians just jumped on board, allowing experience rather than scripture to be their guide. What happened to all ‘Toronto’s’ prophecies of revival sweeping the world? Multitudes being brought into the kingdom? Where is the fruit now, by which Jesus said we would know them? Scripture teaches that if a man prophecies in God’s name and it does not come to pass, then that person is a false prophet and has not been sent from God.

Exactly how do you think this end time deception, that Jesus promised, will come? So called ‘Christian TV’ is littered with false prophets who promise things far outside of what the Bible teaches; and yet countless Christians just accept it if it’s got a ‘Christian’ tag on it. Once again Jesus said: “Take heed that no man deceive you” – this is a personal admonition to all of us!

We then had Alpha Course, heavily influenced by the Toronto experience, with its emphasis on ‘feeling right’ rather than the stability of the Word of God; and again everyone signed up – surely it can’t be wrong when so many are doing it?

We now have the ‘Purpose Driven’ movement that is sweeping the church with a self-help gospel that removes the need for repentance and subtly introduces New Age doctrines – see Warren Smith’s excellent book ‘Deceived On Purpose’ (ISBN 0-9763492-0-5).

We have the Message Bible that replaces established Christian doctrine with New Age ideas and phrases such as ‘Master Jesus’ – a New Age term for the coming ‘enlightened one’; and: ‘As above, so below’ – the title of a prominent New Age book. We could list many more examples.

Now at this point some may object and say ‘But I’ve found the Message Bible useful’ or ‘I’ve been on an Alpha Course’ or ‘But our church has gone through the ‘Purpose Driven Life’ and it was really good’ – Surely these things can’t be all bad?

Well, the very fact that these things, and many others like them, are not all bad exposes the fact that it is a mixture. Some of these things are good. However, as we have mentioned, Jacob Prasch (among many others) warns of the dangers of mixing truth and deception. He uses the clear analogy of making an omelette. He says that he has two good eggs and one rotten egg. Does the fact that his omelette contains more good eggs than rotten ones make you want to eat it? Of course not! So why do so many Christians tolerate false teaching and error in their churches? Your church may not be being led astray at the moment, but what is your standard and how do you know that it will stay that way? Deception is subtle, that’s how it works. You don’t get forged £9 notes – because you would immediately recognise it as a fraud.

We have prominent Christian leaders signing joint declarations with Roman Catholics under the banner of ‘evangelism’, overturning all that was accomplished by the lives and deaths of millions during the Reformation.

Gradually the edges are being blurred and we are moving closer and closer to a One World Church. Many, many churches are treading dangerously close to the line in an attempt to become ‘seeker friendly’. Sincerely keen to see the church grow, pastors and congregations are willing to try whatever new thing might work. It is however a very fine line and just as Jesus promised, deception is coming.

A serious question is: Does your church worship the right Jesus?

The Jesus of the Bible said that many would come in His name and deceive many.

However, some churches have a Jesus that is OK with homosexual ministers. That is not the Jesus of the Bible. Some churches have a Jesus that is fine with evolution as the explanation of our origins. That is not the Jesus of the Bible. Some churches have a Jesus that doesn’t believe in a literal Hell. That is not the Jesus of the Bible. Some churches have a Jesus that places church tradition above the Word of God. That is not the Jesus of the Bible. Some churches have a Jesus who is not going to physically return to earth at a ‘2^nd Coming’, but teach that Jesus has come again ‘through the church’ and is waiting for the church to win the world for him. That is not the Jesus of the Bible. The list goes on and on, but the point is clear. So how do we safeguard against deception?

Our Safeguard Against Deception – THE WORD OF GOD!

The Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). It is sharper than any two edged sword and it will bring division between the truth and the deception (Heb 4:12). Jesus declared “Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). The only way to be sure that we will not be deceived is to know Jesus and His Word and meditate in it day and night. We must be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11 who ‘searched the scriptures daily to see whether these things were so’. We must not be ‘carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive’ (Eph 4:14). We must not be driven by our experiences; we must not even be fooled by signs and wonders or miracles.

2 Thess 2:8-11, referring to Antichrist says: “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie”

In Deut 13:1-3 we read: “If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”

To conclude: Jesus said that deception would abound in the last days prior to His return. He also said that many would be taken in by this deception, not evil people, but genuine and sincere people who simply did not receive the love of the truth; people who preached, prophesied and did good works in His name. It doesn’t matter how many good eggs you may find, if there is even just one rotten egg, don’t eat their omelette! – find a church that only serves the meat of the Word of God. This is not a suggestion but a command: “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues”.

Rev 18:5

For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

At the Tower of Babel people wanted to ‘build a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven’ (Gen 11:4). How ironic that here they have reached heaven, not with bricks and mortar, but with their sin. “God requires an account of what is past.” (Eccl 3:15).

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matt 12:36)

Rev 18:6

Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

God will see to it that this false religious system that has (and will) deceive multitudes will receive a just punishment.

When you look into a mirror you see an exact likeness, if you will, a double. That is what is implied here. She will receive an ‘exact likeness’ for all that she has done to others.

Rev 18:7

How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

Here we are again reminded of how she has glorified herself, and at great spiritual cost to others she has lived deliciously. Because of this it is now her turn to receive torment and sorrow.

What she has said in her heart: “I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.” is an arrogant boast against Jerusalem. Remember, we are dealing with a spiritual entity that calls herself ‘The Queen of Heaven’ and is known as ‘Babylon the great’, the great adversary of true religion and worship of God. Jerusalem on the other hand was described by Jeremiah as having become like a widow because she forsook the worship of the one true God.

“How doth the city [Jerusalem] sit solitary, that was full of people how is she become as a widow she that was was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary” (Lam 1:1)

Rev 18:8

Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

This is another verse that hints at the possibility that the 10 kings who God will use to destroy her will launch a nuclear attack that would indeed accomplish all of these things in just one day.

Rev 18:9

And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,

It is hard for us to understand how important ‘organised religion’ is to the governments of the world. The problems that are created by religious tensions provide enormous opportunity for the governments to exert control on the people. Consider the struggles in Northern Ireland – religion has been blamed, but political control has been the victor. And how else would people willingly consent to things such as the introduction of personal ID cards if it were not for the threat of religiously inspired terrorism and events such as 9:11, or the July 7^th Tube bombings in London, or the recent terror attacks in France? All of this gives the government far more power and control than they could have achieved without her.

The Iraq war had far more to do with the West’s need for Middle-Eastern oil than it did the threat of terrorism; but again religion and the threat of religiously inspired terrorism were the tickets that were waived.

(For more on this see “The Twilight’s Last Gleaming – Why Did America Really Invade Iraq?” – www.khouse.org.

However by the time we get to Revelation 17 & 18 the Ten Kings have got complete control and no longer need this newly united religious power, who will be able to exert far too much influence for their liking. It is therefore the other kings of the earth who will bewail her as she is destroyed and they see the smoke of her burning. Once again, for people around the world to see the smoke of her burning it has to be something major, – a nuclear strike with pictures beamed to TV sets around the globe?

Rev 18:10

Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

In verse 8 we are told that this judgment will come in one day, now we find that it will happen in one hour! And why is it that the kings of the earth that are bewailing her destruction are standing afar off? Nuclear fallout/radiation?

Rev 18:11-14

11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

The Catholic Church alone boasts over a billion members. This One World Church will be huge and will by now be controlling so much of the world’s economy that the Ten Kings have to get rid of her.

The trade on earth is going to change dramatically from now on as we move from separate democracies to a dictatorship.

Rev 18:15-18

15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

The merchants of the earth are distraught. How sad it is that people put their trust in things that cannot ultimately satisfy. Many of these merchants were probably not too ‘into’ the religion of this One World Church, but were happy with the relationship because it made them comfortable. In much that same way many, many people go to church because it makes them feel comfortable. The message from these pulpits never challenges them or speaks of sin to make them uncomfortable. Many churches are indeed ‘seeker friendly’ and people like to be made to feel good about themselves. The modern church is telling people that they have a ‘self-esteem problem’ – don’t fall for it! People have a sin problem and unless they repent and put their trust in the One and only Saviour of sins, Jesus Christ, they will join with these merchants in tears as their security and comfort goes up in smoke.

Rev 18:19

And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

Underlining the previous comments, these people were only in it for what they could get out of it. Again this false comfort will be destroyed in one hour.

Rev 18:20

Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

What a contrast as we turn our eyes toward heaven! Here there is rejoicing and celebration because those in Heaven have built on the Rock and not the sand. They recognised their own abject poverty before a holy God; and that God said to them:

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

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

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

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matt 5:3-8)

Rev 18:21-23

21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

Thus the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah will be fulfilled and what started on the plain of Shinar in Iraq almost 4500 years ago as a satanic attempt to deceive mankind will be ended.

In many respects this plan of Satan’s succeeded. Countless numbers were led astray and just as Satan attempted at Babel, his man is now poised to take centre stage as the last three and a half years are about to begin.

As we have already noted, the One World Church will ‘reign’ from the time of the Rapture until the mid-way point of the Tribulation, at which point the 10 Kings under Antichrist’s authority will destroy it once and for all, thus making way for the worship of Antichrist as we saw in our study of chapter 13.

Rev 18:24

And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

As if to just remind us again, God is completely justified in His destruction of this One World Church because she has shed the blood of His beloved children throughout the ages.

To be continued…

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post The Destruction of Deception first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Woman & The Beast

Barry Forder — Sun, 29 May 2016 22:00:59 +0000

The Woman & The Beast

Introduction

Revelation chapter 17 is possibly one of the most important chapters in the Bible in regard to our understanding of history; and also explains why there are so many false religions in the world. Sadly this does not get taught and is replaced by misinformation, deliberate deceit and outright lies. However, anyone interested in the truth does not have to dig far to uncover some startling information that will change the way we look at the world.

On one level, this chapter is not as difficult as it may first appear. As with many portions of scripture, particularly prophecy, the answers and explanations for the symbols and imagery used are clearly explained in the verses that follow. Remember that this was all new to John as well, but the purpose of allowing John to see these things was not to confuse him but to show him “things which must shortly come to pass” (Rev 1:1). God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor 14:33). It is advisable to read the whole chapter before looking at each verse on its own.

In this chapter we will find some key characters, some of whom we have already met, which will make the task of identifying them much easier.

Great Whore / Scarlet Beast / Seven heads / Seven mountains / Ten horns / Ten kings

Identifying what the Great Whore is, is not too difficult if we simply stick to what the scripture reveals and allow that to guide us. The question that is still open to much debate, even amongst some of the best Bible scholars is, who she is; i.e. can we put a name to the face? I believe, because of the information we are given in chapters 17 & 18, that we can identify her. Not only that, but once we do, it sheds light on the times we are living in and helps us to understand why seven times in Matthew 24 Jesus warned of great deception in the last days.

CHAPTER 17

Rev 17:1

And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

Following the pouring out of God’s wrath through the seven vials, this angel now takes John back to show him something of great significance, that answers one of the greatest questions of the ages, namely, “Why are there so many religions, and don’t all roads lead to God anyway!”

As we noted back in our study of Chapter 2, whilst on the surface, this seems like the ultimate in acceptance and tolerance – all people of all faiths, religions and creeds working together for a common cause, we should just stop and think about this for a moment: What kind of God would allow people to approach Him in any way they choose? What God would allow people to call Him by any name that suited them? What kind of God would establish a multitude of religions with contradictory beliefs and practices, see countless numbers of believers give their lives to maintain their religious freedoms and right to be different, and then reveal that actually they are all leading to the same place anyway!(?) Surely this would reveal a ruthless tyrant of a god on a par with the Roman Emperors who watched subjects in their empire fight to the death in the Coliseum?

Although those that promote the ‘all roads lead to God’ philosophy hail themselves as tolerant and accepting, they are in actual fact nothing of the sort. Consider what they are saying: ‘Regardless of what you believe, regardless of your heritage, we all have to go to the same place’; they are telling us that there is only one destination for all (whether you want to go or not!). That is more narrow-minded and dogmatic than anything Jesus ever said. Jesus said there are two destinations and we each get to choose: ‘smoking’ or ‘non-smoking’!

So now this great angel will show John God’s response to this question.

This verse is one of three occasions in the book of Revelation that John is told to ‘come here’ (Rev 4:1 / Rev 21:9), thus highlighting the following vision as something of great importance. What John is shown is the judgment of someone or something described as ‘the great whore’. Throughout scripture whoredom/adultery speaks of unfaithfulness to God, worshipping or serving someone or something instead of Him. This was the crime of Israel in the Old Testament and is graphically portrayed in books like Ezekiel and Hosea (cf: Hosea 1:2 / Ezekiel 23 etc).

The first commandment in Exodus 20:11 states that ‘You shall have no other God’s before me’. God does not want to be number one on a list of ten; God wants to be number one on a list of one. God is a jealous God and wants to be worshipped alone.

Isaiah 40:12-31 is a passage where God Himself argues His case against the skeptics and critics and explains why He should be worshipped exclusively. (See also Job 38-41).

The fact that this whore is said to ‘sit on many waters’ is indicative of her worldwide influence (as is confirmed in verse 15) in drawing people away from the worship of the One true God into spiritual adultery. This is possibly the greatest crime and so deserves the strictest of judgments, as John will now see.

Rev 17:2

With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

Here we are told that it is not just the people of the world that have been led astray by her, but the kings and rulers of the earth have been intoxicated by her; she has become irresistible to them and thus she has been able to exert her power over them in much the same way that a harlot can over a foolish young man. “whoso commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding: he that does so destroys his own soul”. (Proverbs 6:32) – see also Proverbs chapter 5 & chapter 7.

“Fornication” comes from the Greek root word ‘porneia’ (from where we get the word ‘pornography’) it means “unlawful intimate indulgence”. In the Bible, worshipping false concepts of God are often referred to as: “fornication” for the unbeliever and “adultery” for unfaithful believers.

In this passage we are obviously dealing with unbelievers, hence it’s spiritual fornication that is in view. The fact that the kings ‘committed…’ shows that this was a willful choice on their part.

The reference to their being drunk with the wine of her fornication is drawn from Jeremiah:

“Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this [is] the time of the LORD’S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence. Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD’S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.” (Jer 51:7).

Rev 17:3

So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

To help him understand, John is now carried away into the wilderness of both time and place. We will discover that this woman began her career in deep recesses of time and in a wilderness area. We are also told that whoever this woman is, she is seen riding a scarlet beast.

At this point we can draw from things we have already learnt, for we have already met this beast in chapter 12 and 13, and there we were able to identify this scarlet beast as 1) The Devil himself 2) Antichrist & 3) The Empire of Antichrist.

The Scarlet Beast is the Devil:

“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon [scarlet beast], having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads”…….“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” (Rev 12:3 – Rev 12:9)

These verses from Revelation 12 tell us that the great red dragon that John saw is the Devil. John sees the Devil as having seven heads and ten horns. The seven heads as we have already noted are seven world empires that Satan has coerced and manipulated to bring about a second one-world government (the first attempt being at the tower of Babel with Cush and his son Nimrod – the first world dictator). The ten horns are, as we have seen (and as is confirmed in verses 12-13), the ten ‘kings’ that shall arise that will rule the whole world under the control of Satan.

The Scarlet Beast is Antichrist

“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.” (Rev 13:1-2)

Here we are told that the dragon (Satan) will give his authority and power to the beast, who is identified as ‘him’ being a person, namely Antichrist. Again the seven heads and ten horns are seen.

The Scarlet Beast is the Kingdom of Antichrist

[The vision] After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

[The interpretation] 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. 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. (Dan 7:7-8 & Dan 7:23-24)

Here the beast is described as a kingdom.

Thus the Beast is symbolic of 1) the Devil, 2) Antichrist and 3) his kingdom that is yet to arise. This is not as hard to understand as it first seems, for how could these three be separated since their mission and purpose are one? Antichrist is empowered by the Devil and is the ruler of his kingdom, thus we have one image of the scarlet beast depicting the whole.

We should note from the context that it is the beast who is ‘full of names of blasphemy’ (as we noted in chapter 13) and who has ‘seven heads and ten horns’ and not the woman. This may seem like an obvious point to mention, but may who have tried to understand this chapter have confused this an see the seven heads as being connected to the woman, which has led to a number of erroneous interpretations being put forward.

What should grab our attention however is that this woman is riding the beast! So just who is she that she can ‘ride’ upon Satan’s kingdom?

Rev 17:4

And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

Very much like a photo-fit that the police put together to identify a criminal based on the information about height, skin colour, hair colour, eye colour, age etc, etc. we can build a picture from the information given that help us to identify this woman.

She is a woman (I know that’s obvious but mustn’t be overlooked)

There is a definite contrast drawn here between this woman and the woman in chapter 12. As we discovered, the woman in chapter 12 was the mystical Eve whose Seed would ultimately bruise the seed of the Serpent. This righteous woman was then clothed with the nation of Israel for protection; eventually, through the nation of Israel, the Seed of the woman (implying a virgin birth because normally the seed comes from the man), the Messiah was born of Mary.

The woman in Revelation 17 represents everything that in not righteous, and everything that is anti-Christ. In contrast to the woman in Revelation 12, whose purpose was to prepare the way for the true Messiah, the woman in Revelation 17 & 18 has existed to prepare the way for the false messiah, the seed of the Serpent, viz. Antichrist, who will cause all men to worship Satan.

She is clothed in purple and scarlet

In the Jewish Tabernacle there were 3 primary colours: “Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them.” (Exodus 26:1)

As numbers have significance in scripture, so do colours:

Blue = Heavenly Realm Purple = Royal Realm Scarlet = Earthly Realm

Notice that in this woman’s clothing blue is omitted suggesting a self-appointed exalted status on the earth. Notice also that she is clothed with purple & scarlet. The woman in chapter 12 was clothed with Israel ‘to get the job done’. This harlot has a covering for the same reason.

She is rich – being decked with gold, precious stones and pearls

She has a cup in her hand full of things that are an offence to God

Rev 17:5

And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

The key point that John notes are these:

There is something mysterious about her, something hidden / spiritual
She is identified with Babylon
She is a mother (which means she has children)
Abominations started with her (Mother of harlots AND abominations)
Her influence is worldwide

Rev 17:6

And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

She is responsible for shedding the blood of saints
She is also responsible for shedding the blood of the martyrs of Jesus

Who are the saints if they are not the martyrs of Jesus? Why repeat the same thing twice unless one applies to one group and one to another? ‘Martyrs of Jesus Christ’ is clear enough, and as we will show in a moment, countless numbers of martyrs have been killed at the hand of this woman; But who are the saints? The only other group to be called ‘saints; in the Bible are the Jews.

See: Deut 33:2-3 / 1 Sam 2:9 / 2 Chron 6:41 / Psalm 16:3 / Psalm 30:4 / Daniel 7:21-22,25 / Hosea 11:12

We will also see in a moment how this woman is responsible for shedding the blood of the Jews and almost single-handedly elevating ‘Anti-Semitism’ to the lamentable height it reached during the Holocaust – something that is destined to be repeated, and even exceeded (See Zechariah 13:9).

When John saw her, the Greek implies that he ‘perceived’ and was amazed. It’s as if the penny drops, all of a sudden the lights go on. As we go on with our study we will probably find that the same happens to us!

Rev 17:7

And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

The angel says ‘why was this such a surprise?’ This strongly suggests that by now John had understood to a point, but that it should not have been such a surprise if he had done his homework properly. This is the way it is for many Christians; if only they would do their homework they would realise that all the pieces of the jigsaw are laid out in scripture and it is just a matter of putting it all together. “It It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” (Proverbs 25:2) The angel then proceeds to take John through the vision, explaining these two mysteries, firstly the mystery of the beast that has seven heads and ten horns, and then the mystery of this immoral woman.

Rev 17:8

The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

We have already identified the beast as the Devil / Antichrist / his kingdom. In Rev 11:7 we read (regarding the ministry of the Two Witnesses): “And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them”. Thus we know that this is referring to Antichrist himself. The fact that he ‘was, and is not; and shall…..’ shows that the spirit of Antichrist existed in the past, then for a while was put out of the way, and now finally he returns only to be ‘consumed by the brightness of Jesus’ coming’ (2 Thessalonians 2:8) and to go into perdition (Rev 19:20). So the question we then need to ask is: when did the spirit of antichrist manifest itself in the past?

The answer is, in the person of Judas Iscariot. In Luke 22:2-4 we read: “And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.”

We are also told in John 17:12 by Jesus: “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.” (Ps 41:9 / Ps 109:8 cf. Acts 1:20).

Thus the same spirit that will indwell Antichrist, i.e. Satan, indwelt Judas Iscariot, whom we are told went to perdition, where also Antichrist will go.

…. whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world

Whist this is not good news for those for whom it concerns, it is a remarkable fact that those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life, have had their names written in it before God had even created the world! What a great comfort that God not only called you (if you are a believer) by name (John 15:16), but also because ‘salvation is of the Lord’ (Jonah 2:9) and is not about your own ability or worthiness but His, God knew for certain that you would be His for eternity, and to prove it He has recorded your name in the Lamb’s book of life! In a nutshell – you are safe in God’s hands and He will never let you go! (see also John 10:27-29).

Someone might object that this means God has already chosen those who are to be saved. True, but then simply put your trust in Jesus Christ as the only and only payment for your sins and you will suddenly find that you name was in the Lamb’s book of life all along! It is often put this way: At Heaven’s gate there is a sign which reads “Whosoever will may enter”, yet when from the inside you look back you will see another sign that declares “Chosen in Him from before the foundation of the World!” You see, God does not violate our free choice, but because He is outside of time He knows the end from the beginning

Rev 17:9

And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

If we use our minds, we can deduce from what we have already seen that the seven heads are symbolic of the kingdoms of this world. Mountains in scripture are symbolic of kingdoms (see Dan 2:37), which leads us into the next verse which tells us:

Rev 17:10

And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

This is a straight forward logical deduction. Seven kingdoms would suggest seven kings. We are then told that five are no longer, one is in power at that time, and the seventh is yet to come. Consistent with what we know from world history, there were five kingdoms up to the time of John – 1) Egypt, 2) Assyria, 3) Babylon, 4) Medo-Persia, & 5) Greece. When John wrote Revelation, Rome, being the sixth was in power. Then, confirming the prophecies of Daniel 2 and 7, a final world kingdom will arise but will only be in power for a short time.

We continue…….

Rev 17:11

And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

According to Daniel 7:24 the seventh world kingdom will comprise of 10 kings, (three of whom will fall before Antichrist). So Antichrist will be of the seven (world kingdoms) but will supersede them becoming the eighth; and as we have noted already, he will go into perdition.

Rev 17:12

And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

Continuing the explanation, the angel tells John quite clearly that the 10 horns are the 10 kings that will reign for a short time with Antichrist.

Rev 17:13

These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

These ‘kings’ – which may well represent the 10 regions that certain groups have already divided the world into for economic and political purposes – will be deceived by the miracles, signs and wonders that the False Prophet (see Rev 13) will do to convince them that they should follow Antichrist. (See also Rev 16:14)

Rev 17:14

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

This shows that they are not – or will not – be ignorant of prophecy (albeit the distorted version that Antichrist will feed them) for they are expecting Jesus to return and as we saw in the previous chapter, they will march to Armageddon in order to fight.

…they that are with Him… that will be us! We have been called by Him, chosen by Him and are faithful. Our faithfulness is a gift from God also and is in contrast to those who so foolishly and arrogantly make war with the Lamb, their Creator.

This completes the angel’s explanation of the ‘mystery of the beast’ (see again v. 7). Now our attention turns to the woman, as the angel explains…

Rev 17:15

And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

For his explanation of the mystery of this woman, the angel begins by highlighting that her influence is global, and that the waters represent the people of the world.

Rev 17:16

And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

The next piece of information John is given reveals what at first may seem a surprising twist! We saw in verse 3 that the woman was sat upon the beast/kings, exerting her influence over them, yet now we find they turn on her!

[Amidst all the other details we are given, it is actually the destruction and judgment of this woman (at the hand of these kings) that is the focus of chapter 17 and 18].

The 10 kings ruling the earth will get tired of the woman’s influence and her sitting on their backs, and will cast her off and destroy her.

[Note that these kings shall hate her etc. We are told that his will happen (i.e. is about to happen) but it is not happening yet. The reason for making this point will become clear as we move into the next chapter].

Now the diligent may spot a potential problem here; surely this woman, who has taken the worship that was due to God alone, is of the Devil. But surely also the 10 kings are being manipulated by the Devil? That being the case didn’t Jesus say that a kingdom divided against itself will fall? (Matt 12:25-26). The truth is that the Devil is not bothered about having human allies; he just wants to bring about the destruction of man (1 Peter 5:8) and is quite happy to play one side against the other in order to fulfill his goal.

[Those familiar with the Star Wars saga, this is just like Senator Palpatine who played one side against the other, creating a ‘false’ war that led to the Senate voting for the creation of a clone army (that was under Palpatine’s control all along) and also engineering the situation to ensure he was given emergency powers, putting him in sole charge of the Republic. This interesting similarity is the patience of Palpatine and the behind-the-scenes planning that went on for years. In just the same way Satan is patiently manipulating both the world’s political systems and the religious systems to do his bidding].

The false religious system that has led people away from the worship of the true God, and symbolised as this woman, has been skillfully established by Satan since the time of the Tower of Babel with one purpose: to unite all mankind, thus reversing the effects of the Tower of Babel where God confused the languages of the people (Gen 11:7). Once mankind has been reunited again (through this false religious system) Satan will have no further use for it so will destroy it using the 10 kings. He will then cause all mankind to worship him in the person of Antichrist. (See again Rev 13:3-4 / also Isaiah 14:14).

Rev 17:17

For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

Although it has been Satan manipulating things behind the scenes, God will put into the hearts of the 10 kings to destroy Babylon – the great whore and fountain of all false religion on earth – in order that He might bring His wrath and judgment against her. Satan, as we have mentioned will not oppose this because the false religious system has fulfilled its purpose.

There are many in the world who will say that all roads lead to God, that all religions are just worshipping God in their own way. This is actually much closer to the truth than many people realise… it’s just that they have the wrong god!

In actual fact, all roads (except the narrow one that Jesus said leads to life -Matt 7:13), will ultimately lead to the same place – worshipping Satan as god. Ecumenical movements and attempts to remove doctrinal barriers through things like the Alpha Course, or other such things, may seem good on the surface, but by watering down the gospel, by blurring the edges, they are playing right into the hands of Satan who is establishing a one-world-church of all ‘faiths’.

Rev 17:18

And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

In verse 7 the angel told John he would show him the mystery of both the Beast and the Woman. Thus far he has helped John identify the beast as Satan & his 10 kings, and has given clues as to the identity of the women, to summarise:

She has world-wide influence, and has had throughout history.
She wields her influence over kings (governments) and subjects alike.
She is specifically associated with an historical city.
She is clothed in purple & scarlet, gold, precious stones and pearls.
- Thus she is immeasurably wealthy
She is a mother, so must have offspring.
She is full of abominations
She is given to fornication
She is responsible for shedding the blood of Jews and Christians
She will manipulate the 10 kings for a short time until they destroy her

OK, now for the punch line: What city and who is the woman?

The Identity of the Harlot

The answer favoured by many commentators is that the city is Rome and the great whore is the Roman Catholic Church who will bring together all false religions in the last days.

In support of this view is the fact that the city that reigned over the kings of the earth in John’s day was indeed the city of Rome, (although this was politically and not spiritually) and it could be argued that John would have understood the city in question to be Rome. However it was not until about 500 – 600A.D. that the Roman Catholic church became dominant; but from that time on, she fits our ‘photo fit’ so well that you would have no hesitation in picking out the Roman Catholic church as this woman in an identity parade.

In addition to this, one of Pope Benedict XVI stated aims when he became Pope in 2005 was to bring about a greater understanding and unity among all religions, Pope Francis is continuing that work. In January 2016 Pope Francis put a video on the official Vatican web site stating ‘Christians and Muslims are brothers and that people of all faiths worship the same God’. In response to this a Wheaton College professor, Larycia Hawkins announced on her Facebook page Dec. 11 2016 “I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book. And as Pope Francis stated last week, we worship the same God,”

Leading Christian author Dave Hunt in his now classic book on this subject ‘A Woman Rides the Beast’ makes the case with compelling information drawn from the history of the Roman Catholic church that she is indeed a great whore and mother of harlots. There is even a painting in the Vatican of a woman riding a beast that has seven heads and ten horns, with the caption underneath ‘The Mother Church’. Thus it would seem that even the Catholic church herself identifies herself with the harlot!

When we look at our list of attributes – our photo fit from earlier, the evidence would appear to be overwhelming.

She is a woman

As was mentioned a moment a moment ago, the Catholic church proudly sees herself as a woman and has a desire to gather all her children back under her wing. Also, Catholics openly worship ‘The Lady of All Nations’, whom they mistakenly believe to be Mary.

She is clothed in purple and scarlet

The two colours most commonly associated with the Roman Catholic church and her priesthood are without doubt purple and scarlet.

She is rich – being decked with gold, precious stones and pearls

Dave Hunt writes: “Rome’s wealth has been acquired through the sale of salvation. Untold billions have been paid to her by those who thought they were purchasing heaven on the instalment plan for themselves or loved ones. The practice continues to this day.”

(‘A Woman Rides the Beast’ Page 75)

Dave continues: “The Roman Catholic Church is by far the wealthiest institution on earth…….The value of innumerable sculptures by such masters as Michelangelo, paintings by the world’s greatest artists, and countless other art treasurers which Rome possesses (not only at the Vatican but in cathedrals around the world) is beyond calculation” (‘A Woman Rides the Beast’ Page 76)

At Lourdes in France it was recently reported that, in that one location alone, 59 solid gold chalices, rings, crucifixes, statues, heavy gold brooches – many incrusted with precious stones, the crown of Notre Dame de Lourdes that was made by a Paris goldsmith in 1876 and is studded with diamonds, were found. These items are of inestimable value.

All of this is in stark contrast to Jesus who told His disciples “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air [have] nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay [his] head.” (Matt 8:20). Just before this, Jesus had taught His disciples that they were not to lay up treasures and riches on earth, but rather to lay up treasure in heaven where it will have eternal value (see Matt 6:19-20).

The Roman Catholic church truly is “decked with gold and precious stones and pearls.”

She has a cup in her hand full of things that are an offence to God

Having just noted The Roman Catholic church’s wealth, it may well be asked, how did an organisation that claims to be the church of Jesus Christ (in fact they claim to be the only true church, outside of which there is no salvation) end up with such a foothold in this world and so much riches? There are many answers to that question, each as incredible as the next. But one of the despicable ways that she obtained her great wealth was through the inquisition of the middle ages. During this time people were falsely accused, tortured and eventually killed, their property and positions being confiscated by the Roman Catholic church – and all in the name of Christ.

According to one historian: “The punishment of the Inquisition did not cease when the victim was burned to ashes, or immured for life in the Inquisition dungeons. His relatives were reduced to beggary by the law that all his possessions were forfeited.” (‘A Woman Rides the Beast’ P75)

Thus, as we noted in our study of the church of Thyatira in Revelation 2:18-29, in just the same way that Queen Jezebel had an innocent man murdered in order to take his property (as recorded in 1 Kings 21:1-16), so the Roman Catholic church took the property and possessions of those she put to death, thus making her rich.

Another way that the Roman Catholic church has become rich beyond measure is through the sale of indulgences. It is taught by ‘the church’ that unless you are a Catholic you cannot be saved; but even if you are a Catholic your salvation is not secure because you still need to be purified by your works. One way of achieving this is said to be through purchasing an indulgence from the church that, once you have purchased enough, will open the gate of heaven.

Indulgences can not only be purchased for oneself, but also for a dead relative or friend now supposed to be suffering in Purgatory. This is believed to be a place of suffering / purging that according to ‘the church’ exists between heaven and hell and is where you go when you die. Thus by purchasing indulgences you are told that you can effect an entry into heaven for the souls of loved ones by paying to cover their sins and thereby ending their suffering in Purgatory, allowing them to enter heaven.

In ‘A Woman Rides the Beast’, Dave Hunt says the following:

“The very concept of indulgences comes from paganism: the idea that the infliction of pain, the recitation of formulas, or the pilgrimages to shrines and sacrifices to the gods are meritorious and influence the god’s in one’s favour, The idea that saying so many Hail Marys or kissing a crucifix and repeating a formula could reduce purgatorial suffering which Christ’s sacrifice on the cross could not reduce, is bad enough, but the teaching that an indulgence may be applied to the dead carries the blasphemous absurdity a quantum leap further. The idea that ‘time off for good behaviour” could be credited to someone in purgatory who has not done the necessary “work prescribed” betrays again the fraud of Romanism. Anything is possible for a financial offering.”

Dave continues: “Theoretically it should take only one Mass to release every soul from purgatory; Mary’ whose power is infinite [according to Roman Catholics], could do it in a moment; and the popes; whose power is also unlimited, could empty purgatory with the stroke of a pen by simply devising an indulgence to do so. Why not, then? Do they have no love for souls? The answer is obvious…To empty purgatory would stop the flow of offerings for more Masses and endless graces and favours.” (‘A Woman Rides the Beast’)

Thus indulgences, the mythical place called purgatory and Masses said for the dead are just another way to extract money from the Biblically unaware and exert control over such people in the process.

It was the sale of indulgences more than anything else that roused Martin Luther to the extent that he nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Wittenberg castle chapel in Germany, which then became the spark that started the Reformation. How very sad that on October 31 1999, in Augsburg, Germany, representatives of the Lutheran World Federation and Roman Catholic Church signed a Joint Declaration of Justification reuniting the two churches and overturning the reformation. The basis of the new declaration was that Luther and the Catholic Church had apparently been in agreement all along about the issue of justification, it had all been a misunderstanding over words!

I wonder how the thousands who died during the Reformation (for standing on the clear teaching of the Bible that salvation is through Christ and by His grace alone) would have felt to know that the reason they were being burned alive and tortured to death was all the result of a simple misunderstanding?

The Lutherans are not however the only ones to be rewriting history for the sake of ‘unity’ as Dave Hunt documents in his book.

Another abomination is in the title ‘Vicar of Christ’ which is given to the Pope. The title literally means ‘one who stands in the place of Christ’ – and yet scripture teaches that there is only one mediator between God and man, and that is Jesus.

The doctrine of ‘papal infallibility’ which teaches that the Pope is without error when pronouncing on matters of faith, is another belief held by the Catholic church that is flatly contradicted by the Bible. The Bible alone is the authority and there is no man who is infallible except Christ himself. The obvious flaw in this belief can be seen by the fact that throughout the history of the Roman Catholic Church various Popes have made decrees that have then been overturned by subsequent Popes – so which one was infallible?!

And then there is the doctrine of Transubstantiation, which teaches that a wafer used in communion becomes the actual body of Christ; confession to a Priest; forbidding the priesthood to marry etc. etc. All of these things contradict the plain teaching of scripture and are an obvious abomination to God.

There is something mysterious about her, something hidden

The Bible says that this woman is known as ‘Mystery…..’ Again, the Roman Catholic has been shrouded in mysterious inner groups for the specially initiated. The understanding and interpreting of the Bible is also something that is solely in the domain of the trained clergy and even the reading of the Bible is discouraged for the lay person. The term ‘Mystery’ may also refer to this woman being ‘spiritual’. In this regard, numerous visions, manifestations and apparitions have long been part of the Roman Catholic church. Visions and apparitions of ‘Mary’ keep popping up all over the world, declaring that ‘she’ will bring peace to the world. The apostle Paul told the Galatian Christians that even if an angel from heaven were to come and preach another gospel “let him be accursed” (Gal 1:8). Another disturbing thing that is that Pope Benedict xvi has openly said he was in contact with Pope John Paul II (who died on the 8^th April 2005). In an interview, Pope Benedict said that he regularly heard from his predecessor which was a great comfort to him! (http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/benedict_XVI_itv2.asp).

Certainly, the Roman Catholic Church has a deeply [dark] spiritual side.

She is identified with Babylon

From the time of the first century Rome was identified with Babylon and even the Catholic Church uses the verse in 1 Peter 5:13 ‘The church that is at Babylon…” to justify their belief that Peter went to Rome, and called it Babylon!

Countless Christians throughout the ages have believed that the Catholic Church was the harlot of Revelation 17 and even that the Pope was the antichrist (which he will not be).

She is a mother – of harlots and of abominations

The Catholic church has been the mother of all number of denominations that have come out of her, and yet retained many of her distinctives that have led many away from the truth of the gospel. We are told that the woman in Revelation 17 is the mother of harlots, for this I would strongly encourage you to get a copy of Dave Hunt’s book and see the abundant immorality within the Catholic church that has produced whores and illegitimate children without number. This is still happening today and is not just confined to history.

Her influence is worldwide – over all peoples & kings

We are told that the great whore will have worldwide influence – a fact certainly true of the Catholic church as was clearly seen at the funeral of Pope John Paul. The funeral was held at St. Peter’s Square in front of a sea of 300,000 mourners. About two million people came to Rome to see Pope John Paul II during the week before the funeral.

President George W. Bush was the first US President to attend a funeral for a Pope. Two former Presidents also went – President Clinton and President Bush (Snr). The Archbishop of Canterbury was present at the papal funeral for the first time since the Church of England broke with the papacy in the 16th century.

The mass at St. Peter’s Basilica was the first Mass of Requiem for a pope to be televised live in almost every nation in the world to an estimated viewership of over two billion people; the Roman Catholic church claims only 1.1 billion among its members. The funeral of John Paul II was by far the largest funeral in the history of the world and was perhaps the most-watched live event in the history of television.

Even before the College of Cardinals could offer official customary invitations to the various heads of state and government, over 200 foreign officials had expressed their desire to attend the Mass of Requiem. Among the most familiar faces worldwide were the current and former Presidents of the United States, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Chancellor of Germany, the Prince of Wales and United Nations Secretary-General. Also attending was Mohammad Khatami of Iran, not normally tolerant of Christianity in his own country. Khatami sat only two seats away from a traditional enemy of Iran, Israeli President Moshe Katsav. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe defied a European Union travel ban to attend the funeral! Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian made an unprecedented appearance over strong objections from the People’s Republic of China, which had in the past prevented ROC presidents from attending international gatherings. Altogether, the Mass of Requiem was deemed to be the largest gathering of statesmen in world history.

All of this goes to show the unique Influence the Roman Catholic church has over the peoples and nations of the world.

She is responsible for shedding the blood of saints (Jews)

Hitler was a Roman Catholic and not once was he discouraged from his attempt to exterminate the Jews; in fact he even pointed out the fact that he was merely continuing what the Roman Catholic church had started. Roman Catholics have been taught that they replaced the Jews as God’s chosen people and that the Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus. More than 100 anti-Semitic documents were published by the Roman Catholic church between the sixth and twentieth centuries and anti-Semitism became official church doctrine.

Dave Hunt writes: “The rationale was that “Christ crucifiers” had no rights in God’s holy kingdom, the land of Israel no longer belonged to the Jews but to Christians, and the church had to wrest the land from the possession of both Arabs and Jews. To raise an army for the First Crusade, Pope Urban II promised instant entrance into heaven without purgatory for all who fell in that great cause. The knights and knaves who responded with enthusiasm to that deceitful promise left a trail of mayhem, plunder, and murder on their way to Jerusalem, where they massacred all Arabs and Jews. One of the first acts after their triumphal entry into Jerusalem was to herd the Jews into the synagogue and set it ablaze. On their way to the Holy Land, the Crusaders gave the Jews the choice of baptism or death.” (‘A Woman Rides the Beast’– p269)

She is also responsible for shedding the blood of the martyrs of Jesus

It is impossible to number those believers in Jesus Christ and His word that have been put to death at the hand of the Roman Catholic Church. Historian Will Durant writes: “Compared with the persecution of heresy in Europe from 1227 to 1492, the persecution of Christians by Romans in the first three centuries after Christ was a mild and humane procedure.”

Dave Hunt writes: “Every citizen in the empire was required to be a Roman Catholic. Failure to give wholehearted allegiance to the pope was considered treason against the state punishable by death. Here was the basis for slaughtering millions… Thus Roman Catholicism became the most persecuting faith the world has ever seen………commanding the throne to impose the Christian [Catholic] religion on all its subjects. Innocent III murdered far more Christians in one afternoon…. than any Roman emperor did in his entire reign”

“Pope Urban II (1088-99), inspirer of the first Crusade, decreed that all heretics [non-Catholics] were to be tortured and killed” (‘A Woman Rides the Beast’ p243-246)

Catholic historian De Rosa points out that Pope John Paul II “knew the church was responsible for persecuting Jews, for the Inquisition, for slaughtering heretics by the thousand, for reintroducing torture into Europe as part of the judicial process. But he had to be careful. The doctrines responsible for those terrible things still underpinned his position.” (‘A Woman Rides the Beast’ p248)

The following may turn your stomach, but communicates the reality behind the Roman Catholic churches Inquisition:

“Try to imagine being suddenly arrested in the middle of the night and taken to and unknown location kept secret from family and friends. You are not told the charges against you or the identity of your accusers, who remain unknown and thus immune from any examination to discover whether they are telling the truth. Whatever the accusation, it is accepted as fact and you are guilty without trial. The only “trial” will be by the most ingeniously painful torture that continues until you confess to that unnamed crime or heresy of which you have been accused. Imagine the torment of dislocated joints, torn and seared flesh, internal injuries, broken bones on the rack and other devices, mended by doctors so they could be torn asunder again by fresh torture. Eventually you would confess to anything to end the torment, but no matter what you confess it never fits the secret accusation, so the torture continues until at last you expire from the unbearable trauma.

Such was the fate of millions. These were real people: mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters – all with hopes and dreams, with passions and feelings, and many with a faith that could not be broken by torture or fire. Remember that this terror, this evil of such proportions that it is unimaginable today, was carried on for centuries in the name of Christ by the command of those who claimed to be the vicars of Christ. They are still honoured with that title by this Church, which has never admitted that the Inquisitions were wrong. She has not repented or apologized, and she dares to pose even today as the supreme teacher and example of morals and truth. Remember also that the doctrines which supported the Inquisitions remain in force within the Roman Catholic Church even at the present time.” (‘A Woman Rides the Beast’ – p250)

Dave Hunt, writing in 1994 pointed out the following:

“The Office of the Inquisition still occupies the Palace of the Inquisition adjacent to the Vatican, though under its new name, the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith. Its current Grand Inquisitor, who reports directly to the pope, is the former Archbishop of Munich, Joseph Cardinal Razinger”

If that name seems familiar to you, it should. Joseph Cardinal Razinger became Pope Benedict XVI in April 2005.

“And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus” (Rev 17:6)

The ‘prosecution’ rests its case!

Thus the case has been put that the Roman Catholic Church is the harlot of Revelation 17 and the city where she resides is Rome. There is so much to support this view and yet it also leaves some loose ends and questions unanswered. Two principle objections are as follows:

We are clearly told in Rev 17:9-10 that this woman sits on the seven mountains, which are identified as seven kings. Some have tried to link these mountains to the seven hills on which Rome was built. This cannot be the case for we are told that five have fallen, one is and the seventh is yet to come and when he does he will continue a short time. Verse 11 then explains that Antichrist is the eighth and of the seven. Unless we are to believe that five of Rome’s hills had fallen, only one was standing in John’s day, and another is yet to arise, followed by an eighth hill that is actually part of the original seven hills, this is NOT and cannot be referring to the seven hills of Rome. As we have already seen, the seven mountains (not hills) are world empires going all the way back to Egypt. The fact that this harlot is sitting on all of them shows that she has existed from very early in man’s history and has had influence in succeeding world empires. This cannot therefore be the Roman Catholic church.

A second objection is that nowhere in Bible prophecy is the destruction of the city of Rome foretold, nor is Rome mentioned even once in chapters 17 & 18. The only reasons to believe that the city is Rome is to support the idea that the woman is the Roman Catholic church, and of course that Rome was in power in John’s day. However as we have already noted, Rome was in political control but did not reign spiritually over the kings of the earth at that time. It could indeed be argued that she (the Roman Catholic church) has done so since about 600AD, but the city that birthed the religion and practices adopted by the Roman Catholic church was not Rome, but Babylon.

In one of the all-time classic books that should find a place in any Christian’s library, ‘The Two Babylons’ by Rev Alexander Hislop, written over a century ago, Rev Hislop shows how almost all of the practices that are found in Roman Catholicism were not original to her, but rather had their foundation in the religion of ancient Babylon. Not only this, but also that all religions, beliefs and practices on earth can be likewise traced back to Babylon as their source.

In Rev 17:5 we read that this woman has a title on her head which reads: ‘MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT…’ This woman is so often referred to as: ‘Mystery-Babylon’ linking the Babylon part to the Mystery part. It is from this erroneous link that we have the suggestion that it is not referring to literal Babylon on the banks of the Euphrates, but rather to a ‘spiritual Babylon’ that may exist somewhere else.

However what we should read is: MYSTERY – this is our introduction and underlines that we are dealing with a secret, something that was once hidden or concealed, but that can now be revealed as the angel is so doing. It implies that there is more than meets the eye, more than just a casual observance would reveal. Then we read: BABYLON THE GREAT – This is the same title as given to the city in Rev 18:2.

Babylon is mentioned 286 times in scripture (+ a few times where it is recorded under a pseudonym or encoded). But the important thing to note is that in every reference to Babylon, that which is in view is always literal Babylon located on the banks of the Euphrates river in modern day Iraq.

Our former pastor, Ron Matsen, drew out another provocative insight from the roots of the Greek words:

“Mystery” -To be interpreted mystically or spiritually

“Babylon” – From the Hebrew root word Babel (Confusion)

“The Great” – Greek “megas” meaning “huge” One might say her title is: “Huge spiritual confusion”

As we now discover the real identity of this woman, the connection with literal Babylon and the title ‘Huge Spiritual Confusion’ will become clear, as will the reason for the almost perfect fit of the Roman Catholic Church to the passage in Revelation 17. However in order to do this, we need a quick history lesson to give us the background………….

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…..” that much we know; but what is often overlooked is that God finished his work of Creation and saw that it was ‘very good’ (Gen 1:31). We also know from the book of Job that when God laid the foundations of the earth all the sons of God shouted for joy. Now, if all means all (as we could reasonably assume), then it must mean that all the angels (who are the sons of God in this context) shouted for joy. It must also follow that Satan, who is an angel, had not rebelled at this point in time, for if he had, then God’s finished work could not be declared to be ‘very good’ if indeed the embodiment of evil was roaming loose in the earth, nor could it be said that all the sons of God shouted for joy if in fact Satan and his third did not. The fact that Satan did not fall until sometime after the seven days of creation is put beyond all doubt by Ezekiel 28:13-15 which clearly states that “You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering……..You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.”

So if Satan was created perfect and was in Eden, and he sung with the other angels when the foundations of the earth was laid, what made him rebel? Why the change of heart? Pride. (1 Tim 3:6)

On day six God created man ‘in His own image’, and gave him authority over all creation. This did not go down too well with Satan (Lucifer at that time) who was the ‘anointed cherub’ – the ‘top dog’. Isaiah records that Satan said in his heart “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God……I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:13-14)

How could Satan become ‘like’ the Most High? Only man had been made ‘like’ (in the image) of the Most High and given dominion over all creation (Gen 1:28). No amount of wishful thinking on Satan’s part would change the situation. However, if Satan could cause man to forfeit his position, he could steal man’s office and he would thus be able to exalt his throne above the stars (angels) of God, and in so doing, gain the title of the earth.

So we find in Genesis 3 that Satan, who had been in the Garden with Adam & Eve (and was almost certainly know to them), takes Eve aside – and why else would she listen to him or trust him unless he was ‘perfect in beauty’, the ‘anointed cherub’? – after all it is stretching the imagination just a little too far to believe that Eve would have listened to a strange snake and thought ‘oh that sound’s like a good idea’! – and we are clearly told in 1 Tim 2:14 that Eve was deceived and in Genesis 3:1 that ‘the Serpent (Hebrew: ‘Nachash’ – ‘The Shining One’) was more cunning…’. Deception works by gaining your confidence and then twisting the truth. Thus the end result was that mankind fell and Satan usurped mankind’s position gaining the title to the earth. Thus mankind was made ‘for a little while lower than the angels’ (Psalm 8:5 / Heb 2:7-9), loosing his estate and standing before God – a condition that would have persisted but for the blood of the Lamb that redeemed fallen humanity.

NB: The book of Revelation sees the reversal of this situation as in chapter 5, a Man – Jesus Christ, takes the ‘title deed’ (7-sealed scroll) of the earth. Because He was both a kinsman of Adam and an ‘Avenger of blood’, He is found worthy to take the scroll and open the seals. From chapter 5 onwards we see Jesus building up to the ultimate showdown when He will dispossess Satan of the title to the earth, and will return to rule, as the Second Adam, reclaiming what the first Adam lost, and having dominion over all creation!

Satan’s desire has been to be worshipped as God, having control of this earth. However, after Satan was successful in cheating man out of his inheritance, God intervened in Genesis 3:15 and promised that a Seed of the woman would come who would bruise the Serpent’s head.

As you can imagine, Satan was not too pleased about this prospect and set about trying to destroy the Seed of the woman before it became a threat to him. As we know from the Bible, Satan’s first attempt was in having Abel killed at the hand of Cain. However, along came Seth and the world’s population began to grow.

By now it was starting to become hard to keep track of mankind who was multiplying on the earth; which one was to be the promised Seed? Satan had to do something; and do something he did.

Genesis 6:1-2 records that “it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God [angels] saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.”

Genesis 6:4 continues:

“There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare [children] to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.”

Thus Satan sent angels to ‘co-habit’ with the woman of the earth producing a race of giants. By ‘contaminating’ the seed, the possibility of a genetically pure descendant of Adam being born would be eliminated.

Satan almost succeeded, had it not been for a man named Noah who we are told was “a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” (Gen 6:9) Some modern version of the Bible completely mess this verse up! This verse simply means that Noah and his family were ‘uncontaminated’ by the fallen angels, they were genetically pure all the way back to Adam and Eve.

Thus God saved Noah and his family and destroyed the rest of the earth by the worldwide flood because “God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.” (Gen 6:12)

(Some have wondered why a loving God would destroy the whole world with a flood; these biblically unaware people have not understood that if God had not done so, there would have been no possibility of a Saviour coming and it would have been the end of the human race. It was in his infinite love, mercy and wisdom that God sent the flood, to make a way for people like you and me to be saved from an eternity separated from Him).

[The question is not: Why did God do it like that? But: Why did God bother to do it at all? He could have just given up on mankind – all praise and worship and glory to Him that He didn’t and that He has given all of us a second chance!]

Anyway….Satan’s attempt to stop the Seed of the woman had failed again.

After the flood, for whatever reasons*, Satan’s tactics changed and rather than attempting complete annihilation of the human race, he launched a two-pronged attack on mankind: one on the seed of Shem (one of Noah’s sons) through whom the promised Saviour would come, and the other by establishing a one world government and false religious system which he could manipulate and control.

*Purely as a conjecture, it may have been that, having realised he may fail in his attempt to stop the promised Seed, Satan decided to seduce a large proportion of mankind in order to become the object of their worship and then if the promised Seed did come, he would have an army ready to fight against the Seed of the woman. As it happens, this is exactly what will happen through the work of the harlot (one world church system) that will be the stepping stone into Satan worship and then ultimately onto Armageddon when the nations of this world will ‘give their power and strength unto the beast’ (Rev 17:13) and march together against the Seed of the woman – Jesus Christ.

The attempts to destroy Shem’s descendants was with the obvious intent of stopping the Seed of the woman being born. We have seen this through anti-Semitism (Shem-itism), and all through the Old Testament with Pharaoh in Egypt killing the baby boys, the giant tribes in the land of Canaan trying to destroy Israel (Goliath is just one of many!), the murder of the babies in Bethlehem by Herod and the list goes on. In fact much of the Old Testament is taken up with the miraculous way that God protected Israel so that the Seed, our Saviour, could be born.

Satan’s other plan was to set up a one world government and false religious system that would worship him.

It is fairly obvious that if Satan had just gone up to Noah or his sons, who would remember all too well the horror of the pre-flood world, and said ‘worship me, I’m god’ he wouldn’t have got very far. So he waited a generation and then began his ‘master plan’ with Cush, (Noah’s grandson).

It is interesting that we are told in the book of Judges that the Children of Israel “served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, [being] an hundred and ten years old……….. And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that [were] round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.” (Judges 2:7-13)

In just one generation people went from serving God to idols, and we find the same thing happening with Cush. Cush was born after the Flood and although not specifically stated in the Bible, historical records show him to be the one responsible for starting the rebellion against God that led to the Tower of Babel. In ancient Egypt Cush was known as Hermes (which literally means ‘Son of Ham’). Hermes was also known as the ‘confounder’ or ‘divider’ of the people, which itself is born out in the Bible when God came down and destroyed the Tower and confused the languages; thus ending before it had even started Satan’s attempt to take control of the earth and receive the worship of mankind.

Nimrod (Cush’s son), following in his father’s footsteps started building cities “And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.” (Gen 10:10-12) History tells us that Nimrod took people’s land by force and thus became the first world dictator.

In many respects Nimrod, who we are told in Genesis 10:9 ‘was a mighty hunter [in defiance of] the Lord’ was in may respects a prototype of Antichrist, and had he succeeded, would have no doubt completed what his father had started. However, as is well documented in Rev Alexander Hislop’s book ‘The Two Babylons’, Nimrod was killed – legend has it by Shem who wanted to put an end to this wickedness.

Nimrod had, prior to his death, established sun worship as the ‘religion’ of his ‘empire’. During the winter months when the days are shortened a celebration was held on the 23 of December (the shortest day of the year) when it was said that the sun died. That evening a log was put on the fire and left to burn out. In the morning, as the sun ‘came back to life’ the log was replaced with a trimmed tree as a sign of new life. This festival, known as Saturnalia, has been worshiped by pagans for thousands of years, eventually being added to the ‘Christian’ calendar and renamed ‘Christmas’.

Once Nimrod had died it left a real problem for his then pregnant wife Semiramis. Alexander Hislop explains: “If there was one who was more deeply concerned in the tragic death of Nimrod than another, it was his wife Semiramis, who from an originally humble position, had been raised to share with him the throne of Babylon. What, in this emergency shall she do? Shall she quietly forego the pomp and pride to which she has been raised? No. Through the death of her husband has given a rude shock to her power, yet her resolution and unbounded ambition were in flight. In life her husband had been honoured as a hero; in death she will have him worshipped as a god, yea as the woman’s promised seed ‘Zoro-ashta’.” (p58)

Rather than give up her throne, Semiramis told the story that her husband Nimrod, though dead, had been brought back to life as her baby son! And so began the worship of Mother and Child. Both Nimrod (supposedly now reincarnated as his own son) and Semiramis were worshipped as gods; she being known as the ‘Queen of Heaven’ with the extremely clever twist of claiming that her son (who she named Tammuz) was the promised Seed of Gen 3. Practically all false religion and mythology has come from this origin.

Thousands of years before the birth of the real Seed – Jesus Christ – false religions worshipping the Mother and Child were spreading out all around the world. In Egypt the Mother and Child were worshipped under the names of Isis and Osiris. In India, even to this day as Isi and Iswara; in Asia as Cybele and Deoius; in pagan Rome as Fortuna and Jupiter; in Greece as Irene and Plutus; and so it goes on. Alexander Hislop comments:

“Even in Thibet, in China and Japan, the Jesuit missionaries were astonished to find the counterpart of [the Roman Catholic] Madonna and her child as devoutly worshipped as in Papel Rome itself; Shing Moo, the Holy Mother in China, being represented with a child in her arms, and a glory around her, exactly as if a Roman Catholic artist had been employed to set her up”.

Also, at this time in ancient Babylon, the Hebrew Mazzaroth, that told God’s plan of redemption in the stars, became corrupted into the Zodiac that is the same in all the cultures around the world thus demonstrating its single point of origin.

We could write pages of how Christmas, Easter, Lent, Lady Day, the Rosary, the sign of the cross (from the ‘T’ in Tammuz), worship of relics, the doctrine of purgatory, an elite priesthood, the sacrifice of the mass and so many other things all had their origin in Babylon.

Sadly, even the Jews, God’s chosen people, got caught up in this Babylonian worship.

In Ezekiel 8:14-15 we read of the Jewish women weeping for Tammuz (i.e. Nimrod) who had been killed: “Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD’s house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.”

Eventually Babylon as a city became less important but the religion of Babylon continued to ‘reign over the kings of the earth’ with the spiritual centre shifting to Pergamos (Rev 2:13) and eventually to Rome. In the fourth century after Christ, the Roman Emperor Constantine embraced Christianity in an attempt to unite his empire. In so doing, many of the ancient Babylonian practices (then being practiced by the pagan Romans) were introduced into the church and gradually Christian celebrations were put on pagan feast days; this way everyone could be happy!? And so eventually the Roman Catholic Church was born which was, and is to this day, a subtle mix of Christianity and Babylonian Paganism.

The very fact the there is ‘some truth’ in it exposes the fact that it is a mixture. As Jacob Prasch says, if I had two good eggs and one rotten egg and I made an omelette, would you eat it? So it is when you mix truth and error.

For almost 1500 years devout Catholics have worship Mary, believing that they are worshiping the mother of Jesus (whom they call the Mother of God – another Babylonian concept). However in recent times numerous apparitions have been seen around the world and this woman is now claiming (and the Roman Catholic Church is fully supporting) the titles ‘The Lady of All Nations’ and ‘Queen of Heaven’ teaching that peace on earth can only come when all people unite under her. The Roman Catholic Church is already working with Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus and almost every other religion in the world to bring about a ‘greater understanding and unity’ between faiths.

Pope John Paul told leading Hindu Sri-Chinmoy: “The Hindu life and the Christian life shall go together. Your message and my message are the same” (A Woman Rides the Beast p417)

During his 1990 tour of Africa the pope “sought common ground with believers in voodoo” (A Woman Rides the Beast p417)

In 1985 speaking to Muslims in Brussels, Belgium, the pope said: “Christians and Moslems, we meet one another in faith in the one God…..[and] strive to put into practice….the teaching of our respective holy books.” (A Woman Rides the Beast p418)

Speaking to Shintoists and Buddhists in Tokyo in 1981, John Paul II commended the wisdom of their ancient religions which inspired them “to see a divine presence in each human being….[As Christ’s Vicar] I express my joy that God has distributed these [religious] gifts among you” – an unthinkable statement in view of the errors of Shintoism and Buddhism. (A Woman Rides the Beast p418)

As has already been mentioned, Pope Francis is continuing with the Roman church’s ecumenical agenda, and is gaining widespread support from prominent evangelical leaders like Rick Warren (Purpose Driven author) and Nicky Gumball (Alpha Course pioneer).

The Identity of the Harlot – Exposed!

Is the Roman Catholic Church the great whore of Revelation 17? I believe the answer is no.

The great whore of Revelation 17 is a spiritual entity that had its origin in ancient Babylon as part of a deliberate satanic deception. Beginning with Semiramis, the wife of Nimrod, she has permeated almost all cultures going under various names and titles, most notably ‘the Queen of Heaven’ (See Jeremiah 44:15-27). Her mission from the beginning was to sow ‘huge spiritual confusion’ and lead people away from the One true God of Noah, Shem and Abraham.

However, just as the woman in Revelation 12 was clothed with Israel in order to complete her task (that being the birth of the promised Seed), so this Queen of Heaven is clothed with purple and scarlet and decked with gold, precious stones and pearls – the colours of the Vatican, the colours of the Roman Catholic Church. For almost 1500 years this satanic spiritual entity has used Roman Catholicism to her own ends, and will continue to do so until all religions come under her banner. When she has done this, the job started by Semiramis in Babylon almost 4500 years ago will be complete

This part of Satan’s ‘master plan’ will then be accomplished and all that will remain is the removal of this false religious system and the unveiling of Antichrist who will then cause all men to worship the dragon – Satan. (Rev 13:4).

To be continued…

The post The Woman & The Beast first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Great Tribulation

Barry Forder — Mon, 16 May 2016 07:21:02 +0000

It is without doubt one of the most anticipated events in Scripture. It is a constant theme in the Old Testament and expounded upon throughout the New Testament.

The ‘great day of His wrath’ will be unlike anything the world has ever known. The time for mercy and long-suffering has come to an end. No one will anymore have to ask “why doesn’t God do something”, for now God will act, in his righteous judgment, and we will see seven bowls of wrath poured upon this Christ-rejecting world that has shed the blood of countless numbers of God’s own.

The following verse-by-verse commentary is drawn from our Sunday morning studies where we have been studying verse by verse through the book of Revelation.

May these notes encourage you and help to deepen your love for the World of God.

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The Great Tribulation

Introduction

Following on from the parenthetical chapters (11-14) we now rejoin the time-line where we left off, at the mid-point of the Tribulation. Antichrist’s world Government is now established, Israel has fled to the wilderness of Edom (modern day Jordan) to escape the world-wide persecution – and seemingly the world government will have no jurisdiction there. The remaining believers (those who have converted since chapter 6) have come under extreme persecution, and the false religious system that has dominated and manipulated the world for so long has been destroyed by Antichrist’s 10 ‘kings’.

This is Satan’s moment of glory, when the world has all but eradicated the God of the Bible. But the situation is very reminiscent of Adonijah’s claiming the title to the throne of Israel in 1 Kings. Although Solomon had been promised by his father (David) to become the king, we read “Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him” (1 Kings 1:5). Adonijah’s ego trip was brought to a sudden end and Solomon was crowned king. With that in mind, remember where we left off in chapter 10? A mighty angel, with one foot on the land and one in the sea, declared that time was up! (Rev 10:6), and in chapter 11 we had the great declaration that “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev 11:!5). As with Adonijah, Satan will have his tenure rudely interrupted when the Rightful King returns to establish the Throne of David.

In preparation for that, the earth will now be purged and made ready for the Coming King!

CHAPTER 15

This is now one of the most anticipated moments in scripture. This is the beginning of the Day of the LORD. This is the Great Tribulation. This is the moment when God’s wrath will be poured out on this world without restraint, and the wickedness of man will be punished in God’s righteous anger. The blood of the millions of His children who have been killed throughout the ages will be avenged.

Rev 15:1

And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

John has seen a number of signs to this point, so to state that this one is ‘great and marvelous’ should grab our attention! The Greek words here are megas thaumastos, which literally translated could be rendered ‘exceedingly great and to be wondered at’. Even though we are all too well acquainted with the wickedness of man, the ferocity of the judgments that are about to be poured out will cause us to stop to catch our breath. Just as God’s mercy is unfathomable to us, so is His wrath. You may well start to think that this is too extreme, but remember that God is good (Psalm 119:68). The judgment meted out is in direct proportion to the crime. Remember that we also have the tendency to play down sin, i.e. make it out to be not so bad. But God is Holy. Read the book of Leviticus and see how much blood is shed, then you might start to see just how abhorrent sin is to a Holy God. Remember too, that God has gone to extraordinary lengths so that no one would have to endure what is about to follow.

We have had four groups of 7. The seven seals (Rev 6-8), the seven trumpets (Rev 8-10), the seven thunders (which John was not allowed to record – Rev 10:4), and now the seven bowels of wrath as they are often known, in the King James called the vials. When these are poured out it will be done. This is the purging of earth prophesied by Isaiah:

“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it”. (Isa 13:9)

Rev 15:2

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

The Church was Raptured before the Tribulation began, prior to the start of the seven years. A great multitude was then saved and taken out of the Tribulation (as recorded in ch 7:13-14). The two witnesses were then removed when their work was complete, and in the last chapter we saw the removal of the 144,000. All this has been in preparation for the coming hour of wrath. All that remained was for these tribulation martyrs to be killed by the edict of Antichrist for refusing to receive the mark of the beast or his name. Thus, just as with Lot and the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah, all the righteous are now removed and time for the pouring out of these vials has come.

In Romans 11:25 Paul declared: “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in”. Many have speculated at when that moment would be. When exactly would all the Gentiles be gathered in? I believe it is here. It will also be at this time that Israel, now in hiding, will cry out for their Deliver (Hosea 5:15), and so their blindness will be removed.

Rev 15:3-4

3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

How wonderful for these believers who did not know Jesus during the Church age, possibly never went to a worship service at a Bible believing church, and have probably had little to no fellowship to speak of, now to be before the throne in Heaven, all their suffering and troubles behind them forever. No wonder they sing! But just stop for a moment: doesn’t this make you overwhelming glad to be part of the Church right now and not have to endure what they will have to? Shouldn’t this be enough of a wake-up call to never moan again about all the things we have to ‘do’ for the church now? How much do you think these martyrs would have loved to have attended a mid-week Bible study, or go to a mid-weak prayer meeting? They will probably never get to worship in freedom on a Sunday morning, or stay and fellowship after the meeting. There will be a price on their head for defying Antichrist; yet like their LORD, for the joy set before them, they will ‘endure their cross, despising the shame’ (ref Hebrews 12:2). We should stop and ask ourselves how real our faith really is? Do we despise the world, counting the things we once thought were gain as loss for excellency of knowing Christ? (see Philippians 3:8). Or do we still love the things of this world a little more than we should?

After returning from Patmos, John wrote to us and said: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:15-17).

If reading these things in Revelation stir us at all (and if they don’t please check your pulse!), we should be wanting to “fellowship more as we see the day approaching”! (Hebrews 10:25), edifying each other in love (Ephesians 4:16) as we rejoice in our like precious faith (2 Peter 1:1). To be honest, I just don’t get Christians who don’t want to spend as much time as possible with other Christians, “for where two or three are gathered…” (Matthew 18:20).

Look at the beauty and wonder of their song of love to their Saviour! They sing Moses song, and the song of the Lamb, using the very best expressions of worship they can utter. They praise Him for His works, for His justice, for His truthfulness, for His might and power, for His holiness, and because now is the time for His judgments to be made manifest!

Rev 15:5-8

5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

John says that after the incredible things he just witnessed, he looked… the Greek word is ‘eido’ which carries the implication of understanding. It is as if John now sees the Tabernacle in heaven open and what he now observes and records for us suddenly makes sense. If he had not understood before, he does now. After all the tribulation martyrs have gone through, all they have suffered, and even casting our minds back to chapter 6 where we heard the cry of the martyrs under the alter (who are the saints who have been killed for their faith through the ages)… “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled” (Rev 6:10-11). Now that time has come; now it is the time to avenge their blood on those ‘who have made this world their home’, and rejected everything holy and pure.

As the heavenly tabernacle opens John sees these final seven angels to whom are given seven vials (containers / bowls) in which are seven final plagues that God will pour on the world.

It is as if the vials contain things so toxic that all heaven holds its breath as these angels commence their great task!

But two things to note; firstly we are told that the heavenly Temple is the ‘Tabernacle of the Testimony’ or we might say the ‘Tabernacle of Witness’. To fully understand this heavenly Tabernacle we would need to do a detailed study of Exodus 25-31, where the instructions for the earthly model of this heavenly Temple were given to Moses. However, for now, let me just ask the question, what was the heavenly Temple a witness to? The obvious answer is that it is a witness and testimony to the completed work of Christ. Everything in the earthly Tabernacle pointed to Christ in some way. But we are told a number of times in scripture that God keeps records. We know we have the Lamb’s book of life (which we will deal with more fully in chapter 20), but we read in Psalm 56:8 “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” In Psalm Ps 139:16 we are told that ”Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them” .

In other words God keeps records of every tear you shed; He knows exactly how He formed you in the womb, and keeps an inventory.

So my question is, what were these seven angels doing in the Tabernacle of Witness? Could it be that they had gone to consult God’s records, the testimonies that had been recorded regarding every cruel, vicious, merciless, barbaric and ungodly act committed against His saints?

The 2^nd point to mention here is the fact that this is the only time we see angels clothed in white linen. Other than this reference, white linen is only seen being worn by the saints / in connection with man. In Revelation 19:8 we are told that fine linen represents the righteousness of the saints. Could it therefore be that these angels are so clothed because they are here acting as representative of the saints throughout the ages?

CHAPTER 16

Rev 16:1

And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

The word translated vials is translated bowls in some of the modern translations and comes from the Greek word ‘fee-al’-ay’ and means a broad shallow cup. The picture here is clear: these vials contain some nasty things – you can imagine the seven angels treading carefully so as not to trip and spill any of this stuff in the wrong place! The vials contain the ‘wrath of God’; it has been stored up for the ‘day of wrath’ (Rom 2:5). Much of what we have seen up to this point has been a warning – coupled with the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom by the Two Witnesses and the 144,000 Jews. God has done everything possible to allow people to repent; remember, God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11) and has truly been ‘longsuffering toward [mankind] not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). Again, as we move into this chapter we need to remember that God is just and righteous.

Rev 16:2

And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

There have been those who have speculated whether this will be as the result of a chip (microprocessor) implant ‘bursting’ under the skin. Certainly the ‘Mark’ will enable people to buy and sell, so this may well be the case, but it is worth remembering, as we have seen in our study of chapter 13, the Mark of the Beast will be the number of Antichrist’s name and not an individual’s personal and/or security details as is often assumed.

Either way, all those who have received the Mark will break out in extremely painful sores. Medically boils and sores are usually a sign of an inward corruption, a problem under the surface. The same is true in a spiritual sense for all those who have rejected Christ and chosen Antichrist.

Rev 16:3

And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

These judgments are not just random, so we should ask ourselves why the sea? Well, ever since the earliest times the sea has been essential for trade and the moving of goods and produce around the world. In the early years after the flood each family had a simple lifestyle with their own property and livestock being sufficient for their needs, materialism was not an issue and God was central in people’s lives. However along came Nimrod (great grandson of Noah) and he became a ‘mighty one in defiance of the Lord’ (Gen 10:8-11).

According to Justin in his writing ‘Trogus Pompeius’, Nimrod ‘was the first who carried on war against his neighbours, and he conquered all nations from Assyria to Libya, as they were yet unacquainted with the arts of war” Thus everything became more centralised and Nimrod set up cities, becoming the first ruler of men. With this centralisation came the demands that a large populace necessitates and the beginning of industry and trade. Whist industry and trade may of themselves not be wrong, the obvious result was the beginning of materialism and a shift in focus from the Lord God who would provide all their needs, to a desire for the acquisition of wealth and substance. We will deal in much greater depth with this subject in the next two chapters but materialism has become one of the greatest obstacles to men seeking after God. It has often been commented on that people presented with the gospel in third world countries seem to respond readily and often incredible miracles have been reported among isolated tribes and cultures. Why? Because there are far less distractions; they have less to ‘give up’ in order to follow Christ. The western world has every form of amusement imaginable to occupy it’s time so there is no time left to ‘take up our cross’.

The word ‘muse’ means to think. Prefixing a word with ‘a’ implies a negative; hence a-muse literally means ‘not to think’; this is exactly what Satan desires. Before the flood Satan tried to destroy the human race from the outside, that didn’t work so he laid the foundations with Nimrod and Babylon to destroy it from the inside

Tying all of this together, the sea has become essential to world economy carrying the bulk of international trade. 80% of the world’s import-export trade in terms of tonnage is carried by sea. When we get to Revelation chapters 17 & 18 we read of the destruction of ‘Babylon’ which just about encompasses everything that keeps man from God, specifically false religion and materialism. In Rev 18:19 we read: “And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate”.

Jesus, by His own example rejected a materialistic lifestyle, trusting in God alone for all He needed. It is a sad fact that even for many Christians, material things still prove to be a barrier that stops us truly letting go and letting God. We don’t want to risk losing what we’ve got so we try to water down God’s call upon our lives: “Surely God doesn’t want me to give up…”. This is no different to the first lie ever told: “Did God really say……” (Gen 3:1)

This is why the sea gets it!

NB: From the Greek this verse could read “And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea and it became blood, as of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea” i.e the sea doesn’t become like blood, it actually gets supernaturally turned to blood as in the first plague of Egypt in Exodus chapter 7. This will have an enormous effect on the oxygen supply on earth as most of our oxygen is produced by plankton, which will die as a result. The reference to ‘every living soul’ could be misleading because, as we know, animals do not have eternal souls (Cf Job chapter 1 vs Job 42 / Ecclesiastes 3:21). However, according to Strong’s concordance the Greek word used is: “psuche” (psoo-khay’) which means ‘breath’ i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from “pneuma” (pnyoo’-mah); which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from “zoe” (dzo-ay’) meaning life in general.

Rev 16:4

And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

Next it’s the rivers. If the sea is the heart of commerce, then the rivers are the arteries. Just one example of the importance of rivers to the global economy was highlighted by the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina on the ports of New Orleans and South Louisiana in America. These ports are where the Mississippi, America’s second longest river meats the ocean, and are therefore a major artery that feed much of mainland America. Dr Chuck Missler, in Personal Update (the news Journal for Koinonia House www.khouse.org) October 2005 wrote:

“On its own merit, [the Port Of South Louisiana] is the largest port in the United States by tonnage and the fifth-largest in the world. It exports more than 52 million tons a year, of which more than half are agricultural products: corn, soybeans and so on. A large proportion of U.S. agriculture flows out of the port.”

“Furthermore, almost as much cargo, 17 million tons, comes in through the port – including not only crude oil, but chemicals and fertilizers, coal, concrete, etc. The commodity chain of the global food industry starts here, as does that of American industry. If these facilities are gone, more than simply the price of goods shifts: The very physical structure of the global economy will have to be reshaped”

Think too of how the River Thames feeds London and has been central to the economy of London (and therefore the UK in general) since the founding of the city in the 1st century. In the 18th and 19th centuries London was the busiest port in the world, with wharves extending continuously along the Thames for 11 miles (18 km), and over 1,500 cranes handling 60,000 ships per year. Today the Thames handles over 40 million tonnes in the form of timber, paper, vehicles, aggregates, crude oil, petroleum products, liquefied petroleum gas, coal, metals, grain and other dry and liquid bulk materials.

We soon realise that many of the world’s major cities are on the banks of rivers. Consider the Seine that feeds Paris, or the Tiber that feeds Rome.

Another well-known river is the Rhine, one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe, it flows through six countries -Switzerland, Principality of Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands before flowing into the North Sea at Rotterdam. However, the Volga has the distinction of being the longest river in Europe and also one of Russia’s most important rivers. Out of the 20 largest cities of Russia, 11, including its capital Moscow are fed from the Volga.

The Danube is another of Europe’s key rivers and the continent’s second longest river after the Volga. The river was one of the long standing frontiers of the Roman Empire and today forms a part of the borders of 10 European countries. It originates in the Black Forest in Germany and flows eastwards for a distance of some 2850 km (1771 miles), passing through 4 capitals, before emptying into the Black Sea. Since the completion of the German Rhine–Main–Danube Canal in 1992, the river has been part of a trans-European waterway from the black sea all the way to Rotterdam on the North Sea.

When the sea and rivers are turned to blood, the systems of this world will suffer a fatal arrest.

Just as an aside, both the above pictures and headlines were real recent unexplained occurrences where rivers turned blood red. I am not suggesting that these rivers turned to blood on these occasions, but it does serve to remind us that we should cautious before boldly asserting that this could never happen! God has a very good track record at confounding the critics and doing things that our finite minds say are impossible!

Rev 16:5

And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, [and shalt be], because thou hast judged thus.

Rather than go straight into the next vial, in verses 5-7 we have two voices that speak out to declare the justness and righteousness of God in bringing these judgments.

The first voice we are told is the angel of the waters. Thus it would appear that certain angels are given assignments to look over or monitor things on earth. It is therefore fitting that this angel who has just witnessed the seas and rivers being turned to blood, and has firsthand experience of the traffic and trade that takes place on the waters, should declare that God is right and just to bring about these judgments.

It would be easy for an uniformed person to look at these judgments and think that they are a bit harsh; after all, this is an unprecedented event that will have horrific consequences not only for all those at sea but also considering the catastrophic effect this will have on the whole world. But we must remind ourselves that God has made available a way of escape, and those who are left at this point have willfully rejected Christ. That, and the fact that this angel, who is ‘in the know’ declares God’s righteousness is enough to silence any who would dare to accuse God of being unmerciful.

In the Greek the phrase ‘and shall be’ is not there [although implied], it has been added by the translators. [An alternative] rendering of the verse would be “And I heard the angel of the waters saying, Righteous art thou, who art and who wast, The Holy One, because thou didst judge these things.” (J Vernon McGee)

OR: “The existing One, the One who was, the Holy One.” (Dr Chuck Missler)

Rev 16:6

For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

The angel explains why God is just in His judgments, and that is because those who are now being made to drink blood are those who are responsible for shedding the blood of the martyrs of Jesus Christ.

“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” Rev 6:9-11

“He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” Rev 13:10

Rev 16:7

And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

Another = Greek ‘Alos’ ‘another of the same kind’, suggesting that this second voice is also that of an angel. ‘Out of the alter’ links this angel to the multitude slain for the word of God who are waiting under the alter for these judgments to avenge their blood. (See Rev 6:9-11 above)

Rev 16:8

And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.

We now return to the vials and as the 4^th angel steps forward things really start to heat up – literally. We have all heard so much about global warming, and there is still a lot of political maneuverings masking the reality, but there is no question that this is the real thing! There may be various natural causes that result in this sudden increase in the Sun’s heat, but the significant thing is the timing, that it occurs at this particular moment show it to be the supernatural work of God.

Malachi 4:1 foretells this moment: “For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch”.

It is worth noting at this point that Sun worship was the earliest form of paganism – starting with Nimrod on the plain of Shinar in modern day Iraq. Whatever you worship, if it is not the One true God, will end up destroying you, for we have been made for God, and He is a jealous God. “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another” (Isaiah 42:8).

Something else that should be mentioned at this point is what scientists call the ‘anthropic principle’; This principle observes that there are literally hundreds of factors that make life on earth possible; just a small change in any of these factors would render life on earth impossible; thus they conclude that it is as if it has been designed specifically for man! The earth is exactly the right distance from the sun not to be too hot or too cold; the size of the moon is directly proportional to the distance of the sun from earth so that tides, seasons and day and night all fit neatly together in an incredibly balanced framework; so much so that some of the parameters cannot be adjusted by more than 1 part in 10,000 without it breaking down. As is evidenced here, just a small change will have dramatic effects!

Yet with all of this, the world of academia in our top universities & education systems desperately hold onto the foolish notion that it is all just ‘happenstance’, just a lucky coincidence! They would have us believe that it all occurred by chance, a result of nothing exploding! The Apostle Paul insightfully stated: “Professing to be wise they became fools” (Romans 1:22).

Rev 16:9

And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

Once again this is just incredible; men are in immense pain and what do they do? Get down on their knees and repent? No. They blaspheme their Creator who is acknowledged as having power over these plagues. This is just like the stubbornness of Pharaoh in Egypt.

Rev 16:10

And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,

We have all been in a house when a power cut occurs, but this is far worse. This darkness is so thick that it is actually painful. Although it is stating the obvious, darkness is the absence of light – in this case God’s light; this is almost impossible to comprehend. This darkness is centred on the ‘throne’ of Antichrist and as with the first vial, it only affects his kingdom, implying that Israel in hiding in Edom will not be affected – just as it was with the plagues in Egypt. (See also Isaiah 60:2 / Joel 2:1-2/31)

Rev 16:11

And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

Once again they blaspheme God and refuse to repent.

Rev 16:12

And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

The river Euphrates is fed from the water that runs off Mt Ararat. Dr Henry Morris (among others) have put forward the scenario that with the heat from the forth vial, the snow caps on Ararat would melt causing initial flooding but then once the source of water has gone the river would dry up. This is indeed plausible but what makes this provocative is that if the snow caps on Mt Ararat melt, it could leave exposed, for the first time in over 4000 years, a symbol of God’s divine judgment the last time He destroyed the wickedness of man from the face of the earth – Noah’s Ark! However, even if true, it is still not enough to cause men to repent.

Who are the kings of the east? Almost all scholars seem to agree that they will be the communist nations (China, North Korea, etc) and probably India etc. What interest will they have in crossing the Euphrates? Middle-Eastern oil may well be a factor, but the next verses explain that they will be coming at the request of Antichrist to fight against what they perceive to be their common enemy.

Introduction to Revelation 16:13-16

As with all the previous groups of 7 judgments (7 seals / 7 trumpets), there is now a break before the seventh and last vial is poured out. Verses 13-16 introduce us to infamous battle of Armageddon that will be fought in the valley of Megiddo, also know as the Esdraelon Valley.

It is at this battle, as the enemies of God and Israel march against Israel to destroy her, that Jesus will mount His white horse and ride out of heaven to the aid of His countrymen and to establish His throne in Jerusalem. It is interesting to realise that as a boy, Jesus living in Nazareth would have grown up being able to look across to the vast plain of Megiddo where one day He would defeat the enemies of God.

Rev 16:13

And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

Here John is given a glimpse into the spiritual world and sees these spirits that are ‘like frogs’. There is an account in the Old Testament in 1 Kings 22 where Jehoshaphat king of Judah had gone up to assist Ahab king of Israel against the Syrians. As was often the case, he sought the advice of a prophet before the battle to see whether they would be successful. Ahab called his own prophets who told him what he wanted to hear. Jehoshaphat however was not content and wanted to hear from a prophet of the LORD. Micaiah was called who eventually declared: “I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace”

This just angered Ahab and his false prophets, but unperturbed Micaiah continued: “Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.” (1 Kings 22:17-23)

It will be the same spiritual deception that will deceive the kings of the earth as we see confirmed in the next verse….

Rev 16:14

For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

The purpose of these lying spirits is to gather all the nations to side with Antichrist, at which point he will then commence his final assault on Israel in an attempt to destroy them. In the midst of this Jesus will return and Antichrist and his armies will turn to fight against Jesus! It is hard to imagine anything more preposterous than this! (see Rev 19:19). However, just as with Ahab back in 1 Kings 22, God is setting the whole scene in order to bring His judgment.

Rev 16:15

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

This verse is almost ignored by most commentators; the question that it begs is: who is it referring to? The statement ‘Behold, I come as a thief’ is consistent with what other passages teach regarding the way that Christ will come upon this unbelieving world. (Luke 12:39 / 1 Thes 5:2 / Rev 3:3). That being the case, the contrast is drawn between those who are not watching (i.e. the world) and those who are. The ones who are watching are clearly identified in scripture as none other than the Church (the true Church). (Luke 12:40 / 1 Thes 5:4 / Luke 21:34-36).

What then is a passage addressing the Church doing here? It is here for you now! These things are almost upon us, the Rapture could be at any moment, it is imperative that you watch, and that you live lives ‘worthy of your calling’. (See Eph 4:1 / Col 1:10 / 1 Thes 2:12 / 2 Thes 1:11)

Rev 16:16

And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

As we have noted, the purpose of the lying spirits is to ensure that all are gathered to Armageddon.

As an aside, two verses relevant to this scene, but that have caused some confusion in the past are Matthew 24:28 “For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.” And Luke 17:37 “And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles [be gathered together].” In the context that these verses occur the question in hand is the events leading up to Christ’s return at the Second Coming (not the Rapture). This is confirmed by the fact that Jesus is quoting from Job 39:27-30: “Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.”

This is again confirmed in Rev 19:17-19 “And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.”

We will explore this more in Revelation chapter 19.

Rev 16:17

And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

So after our parenthesis we now return to the unfolding vision and the seventh angel now steps forward with his vial. This time the angel pours the vial into the air. Why the air? One answer may be that it is because the air is Satan’s domain for now? (cf: Eph 2:2).

‘It is done’ refers to these judgments and literally means ‘it is concluded’ (Gr. Ghin’omahee’)

This is the last time the temple in heaven is seen. It has been mentioned 6 times during the 7 vials.

Rev 16:18

And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

This needs no explanation – it’s going to be unlike anything known.

As an aside, that fact that is the largest earthquake ‘since men were upon the earth’ this would suggest that the reference in Genesis 10:25 to the earth being divided in the days of Peleg is to do with the languages being divided at the time of the Tower of Babel – which would have been during Peleg’s lifetime – and not the division of the continents as suggested by some as the result of a meteor collision etc. as this would have equalled or been greater than the event that John is recording here.

Rev 16:19

And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

The great city is Jerusalem. The fact that the cities of the nations fall supports the comments for verse 3 – 7 above (the 2^nd and 3^rd Vials). Babylon – that we will look at in depth in the next two chapters – is brought into remembrance before God. The Bible in many ways is the ‘tale of two cities’, Jerusalem and Babylon, God’s city and mans city, God’s rule vs man’s rule.

The concept of God’s wrath is bad enough; but when coupled with ‘the fierceness of His wrath’ it sends shivers down your spine. How wicked is mankind that God’s wrath is kindled to this extent? How much more should we fear and stand in awe of Him ‘who has the power to cast body and soul into hell’ (Luke 12:5). See also Proverbs 1:7.

Rev 16:20

And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

This is going to be an enormous upheaval and is part of the ‘restitution of all things’ (Acts 3:21). Originally the earth was one landmass (see Gen 1:10), and this verse indicates that God will remove the islands by a reversal of what occurred in the Flood where the mountains rose and the valleys sank to the levels He decreed (Psalm 104:5-9) thus causing the continents as we now have them.

Romans 8:20-22 explains that all of creation has been in bondage to decay since the fall and ‘groans earnestly’ to be delivered when the true and rightful Heir to planet earth takes the throne.

Rev 16:21

And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

These are no ordinary hailstones. A talent could weigh anything from 50 – 140 lbs depending on which ancient culture we are referring to. For John it would most likely be in the region of 100 – 110lbs – not that you would bothered about the details if one were to hit you!

The Old Testament penalty for blasphemy was stoning; the people on earth at this time have done nothing other than blaspheme the God of Heaven; now He applies the appropriate punishment for their blasphemy as they are stoned with these hailstones.

To be continued…

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post The Great Tribulation first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Prelude to Wrath

Barry Forder — Sun, 08 May 2016 20:27:50 +0000

On Sunday morning’s we are continuing to study through the book of Revelation – one of the most fascinating books of the Bible. Firstly it is the only book that promises a blessing simply for reading it (see Rev 1:3). But this is a book that has been slandered, more I’m sad to say by believers than unbelievers. The greatest slander is the lie that this is too hard to understand! Let me remind you again, the very reason God gave us this book was that we might know the things that are shortly to come to pass!!

This book should not be brushed aside, especially in the days we are living in. We need to know the things this book reveals for two fundamental reasons:

1) So we can know what is going to happen – and the reason that is important is that it WILL affect the way we live out lives when we come face to face with the reality of these things. I would argue that it is almost impossible to read and understand these things and remain unaffected. The change that God desires to bring about in your life through reading this book is a greater desire for holiness. Not a commonly used word today I know, but when we see the how fragile and temporary the things of this world really are, we should reach to all that is of God, and turn away from any notion of compromise in our Christian lives.

2) The second reason to read this book is so that you will be equipped to reach out and try to drag others out of the impending doom by telling them about Jesus Christ, His great love for them and the way of escaping God’s wrath that He has already paid for on their behalf! That might sound overly dramatic, believe me it’s not. Nothing the world has seen so far could prepare if for the time ahead of it. If you have friends, or even acquaintances, if you care even slightly for them, you must tell them before it is too late, because very soon the Last Train will be leaving (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

The following are my study notes on chapter 14. My you be blessed, challenged and encouraged as you continue to study God’s Word!

Introduction

Chapters 11-14 are parenthetical chapters, that is, they are inserted into the unfolding revelation to give added information. Chapter 14 is a sort of snap-shot view that leads into the last 3¹/₂ years with various events being mentioned that will be explained more fully in the subsequent chapters.

Chronologically, this chapter sits at the mid-point of the seven year time of Tribulation, with some of the events that are mentioned taking place at the mid-point itself, and the others starting at the mid-point and carrying on through the last 3¹/₂ years, concluding with the infamous battle of Armageddon when Jesus will return to crush His enemies and establish His kingdom.

It is worth keeping in mind that what we have seen take place on the earth to this point has been the ‘beginning of sorrows’ as defined by Jesus in Matthew 24. These are just the birth pains if you will. We are now about to move into the Day of the Lord – the Great Tribulation.

Although we have reviewed this already, it would be beneficial to refresh our memories regarding what the rest of scripture says about this time:

Jesus said:

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matthew 24:21-22)

Isaiah prophesied:

“Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.” (Isaiah 13:6-9)

Jeremiah prophesied:

“Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it”. (Jeremiah 30:6-7)

Amos prophesied:

“Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing. And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD. Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?” (Amos 5:16-20)

Zephaniah prophesied:

“The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.” (Zeph 1:14-17)

Zechariah prophesied

Paul said:

“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (1 Thess 5:2-3)

Chapter 14 is divided into 6 sections:

–The redemption of the 144,000 v1-5

–The everlasting Gospel proclaimed v6-7

–The fall of Babylon v8

–Judgment on those who take the mark v9-11

–Tribulation martyrs v12-13

–Prelude to wrath v14-20

Introduction to verses 1-5

The first section of this chapter is from verse 1 to 5 and deals with the 144,000 who we were first introduced to back in chapter 7. In essence the passage is simple in that we see the 144,000 with God’s name on their foreheads at the end of their ministry standing with Jesus whom they will follow and serve. They sing a song that only they can learn and we are told that they are virgins, which may well mean physically but certainly spiritually in that they have not become defiled with the idolatry rampant on the earth.

Among scholars there is a question concerning where this scene is taking place and when? We are told in v.1 that they are standing with the Lamb – obviously Jesus – on mount Zion, but from scripture mount Zion could be either the earthly mount Zion which is the City of David i.e Jerusalem (see 2 Samuel 5:7), or the heavenly mount Zion (see Hebrews 12:22).

If this mount Zion is earthly Jerusalem, then this is a vision looking forward to the time of the Second Coming when Jesus will return and establish His kingdom on earth; this would also mean that the 144,000 would have remained on earth throughout the Great Tribulation, which in itself does not pose a problem because they have been supernaturally sealed so could easily endure this time.

However, I believe from the details given that these events will be taking place in heaven (along with other events recorded elsewhere in scripture) just prior to the commencement of the Great Tribulation on earth. As we now look at these verses we will observe the details given which should help us reach our conclusion.

Rev 14:1

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

As we begin the chapter John sees – and he wants you to take not of this – a Lamb. This is obviously the same Lamb (Jesus Christ) as he had seen in chapter 5, but there John had been particularly drawn to the fact that this Lamb had the ‘marks of slaughter’ (‘as had been slain’). However, associated with this Lamb are not only the marks that tell of His great sacrifice, but also wrath. Back in chapter 6:16 the wrath of the Lamb is spoken of. This is, of course, a strange metaphor, as we don’t tend to think of lamb’s as capable of displays of power and wrath! J Vernon McGee comments:

“From the days of Abel to those of John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus is depicted as a lamb. The apostle John calls Him “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13.8). In other words, God did not choose the lamb because it possessed characteristics of Christ, neither did He choose it for the sacrificial aspect. God created such an animal to represent Christ. Christ is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, before any lamb was ever created”.

“The Lord Jesus Christ has the qualities of a lamb. He was meek (Matt. 11:28–29). He was gentle (Mark 10:14). He was harmless —You never see a sign saying, “Beware of the lamb.” You see “Beware of the dog,” but not of the lamb. He was humble… His coming was a doxology. His stay was a blessing. His departure was a benediction. Even the unbelieving world has been fascinated by His life. The lamb sets forth His sacrifice. Abraham said, “… God will provide himself a lamb …” (Gen. 22:8), and God did provide Himself a Lamb.

But what about “the wrath”? Wrath is strange and foreign even to the person of God, is it not? God loves the good. God hates the evil. He does not hate as you and I hate. He is not vindictive. God is righteous, God is holy, and He hates that which is contrary to Himself. He says that Jehovah is a man of war. He is strong and mighty. He is mighty in battle. The gospel reveals the wrath of God. Paul said, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18). Look at this world we are in, my friend. It already reveals the wrath of God, the judgment of God.

It is like mixing fire and water to bring wrath and the Lamb together, but all the fury of the wrath of God is revealed in the Lamb…

There is a day coming when the wrath of the Lamb will be revealed. Somebody says, “I thought He was gentle and would not punish sin.” My friend, God said, “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him” (Ps. 2:10–12).

…a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand,

Notice where the Lamb is. He is standing, not as we saw him in chapter 5 in the midst of the throne to be worshiped and adored, but now is risen from His throne and is ready to make war.

As this scene seems to occur before the Second Coming, Jesus must still be in heaven, so the implication here is that the 144,000 have been caught up to His throne once their work on earth is completed. This, in part, answers the question we raised in the introduction.

…having his Father’s name written in their foreheads”.

In the last chapter we saw the False Prophet cause all people to take an identifying mark to show their allegiance to Antichrist. Here we see that God has set apart His own, and it is the Father’s name they receive on their foreheads. We are not to be ‘branded’ by this world, but rather we are God’s property, having been purchased at the highest price! (1 Cor 7:23). In Revelation 3:12 we noted Jesus’ promise to the overcomers: “I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”

Our lives are (or should be) reserved for just one Name; and it is the Name above all Names!

Rev 14:2

And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

The voice of many waters simply illustrates the power and force of this act of worship. In heaven no one will be complaining about the songs or singing half-heartedly! As John listens he hears the wonderful music of these heavenly harpers doing what they do best… Harping!

Rev 14:3

And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

Note that we are told that they are redeemed from the earth. In Greek the phrase is ‘agorazō apo ho ghay’ which literally means that they were ‘purchased off/away from the earth’. This would certainly seem to suggest that the mount Zion they are standing on is the heavenly one, and therefore they have been raptured/caught up to heaven at the end of their ministry.

Also we should note the song and who is singing it. “And they sung as it were a new song before the throne” This could, at first glance, be presumed to be the harpers, but remember, we have been specifically told that the ‘harpers are harping with their harps’. ‘Harpers playing’ would suffice, but the Holy Spirit sees fit to underline the fact that the harpers are harping with their harps – which is what harpers would do isn’t it? Without wishing to harp on about it (pun intended!) the point I am trying to make is that they are harping and not singing, just harping.

This means the ‘they’ is referring to the 144,000, who we have already seen are the subject of these verses and who are singing the song before the throne, which again places them in Heaven. From a grammatical perspective, we have the 144,000 introduced in verse1, we are then told that that a voice is heard like many waters and as the voice of thunder – surely this is what 144,000 people singing could sound like – along with this we have our harpers harping on their harps, and then we are told that they sung a new song – who is the ‘they’? Who is it that has reason to sing? Who is the subject of this passage? The 144,000 themselves.

In addition to this we told in verse 3 that only the 144,000 could learn the song. Without splitting hairs, if only the 144,000 could learn the song, then that excludes the harpers, whose job is to harp on their harps anyway!!

If we place this event on earth at the beginning of the Millennial reign of Christ, we have another problem, and that is that the elders in this passage are still in heaven! Having already established that the elders are the Church (see notes on chapters 4 & 5), we know that the Church will come back with Jesus at the Second Coming. This would seem to rule out the possibility that this event could take place on earth at the beginning of the Millennium as some scholars have suggested.

Another point worth mentioning that would place this event in Heaven at the mid-point of the tribulation is the context in which it is found. All of the other events in this chapter take place at the mid-point of the tribulation, or start at the mid-point and conclude at the end of the Great Tribulation.

Finally, as we will see in a moment, an angel is sent to preach the ‘everlasting gospel’ to those who dwell on the earth. The question that comes to mind is: why send an angel to preach the gospel if the 144,000 are to stay on earth during the last 3¹/₂ years to do just that?

Is this not doubling up on resources? Now this is admittedly a shallow argument because obviously God can do what He likes and His resources are limitless; we don’t have to understand why God does what He does for Him to be able to do it! However it would seem to make a lot of sense for the angel to be sent if what we are seeing in these verses is the rapture of the 144,000, knowing that the two witnesses have also just finished their ministry and have been caught up also. If this is the case, the sending of the angel to preach the everlasting gospel (whom we will be introduced to in v6) is yet another act of mercy on God’s part, without which there would be no testimony during this time.

Therefore we conclude that, given these observations, and indeed the fact that everything else in the book fits together so neatly and in sequence, the mount Zion referred to is the Heavenly mount Zion and that this event takes place at the mid-point of the 7 year Tribulation as the Great Tribulation is about to start.

Rev 14:4-5

4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

The world has this notion that when you become a Christian you have to give up lots of things you would otherwise enjoy. It is not about giving up things you enjoy, but rather becoming so overwhelmed by the blessings that are in Christ that you have no time or desire for the ‘things of the old life’ – particularly when you come to realise that most of those things are actually a cleverly disguised deception by Satan intended to bring pain and misery. [Remember from our study in chapter 12 that Satan is our opponent! – He want’s nothing more than to trip you up, and destroy your life].

Marriage between one man and one woman is one of God’s most wonderful gifts, yet it has been mercilessly attacked by Satan. Along with this (and Evolution has to bear a large part of the blame for this) is the decline in morality. People have been told for the last 150 years that they are just evolved animals, with animal instincts, so it is no wonder so many now behave like it. Yet marriage speaks of more than just the union between a man and a woman, Paul tells us that marriage itself was given to speak of Christ and the Church. He as the Bridegroom and the Church as his chaste virgin bride (2 Cor 11:2).

Throughout history many have chosen to live single lives, not out of a sense of duty, or to earn favour with God, but because of love. Love for Jesus!

These 144,000 simply give their lives over to Jesus, choosing to live for Him. Their reward will be great! It is just an interesting point to note that all of these individuals will be men, and are counted as the firstfruits of the nation of Israel (the remainder of the nation will, shortly after this repent and turn to Jesus, calling out to Him to deliver them from the approaching armies of Antichrist).

How incredible that God’s word records them as without fault! – the same is true for all who put their trust in Jesus.

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen”. (Jude 24-25).

One final observations should be made on these verses before we move on: in chapter seven 144,000 were sealed for their ministry. Here in chapter 14 we have 144,000 that are standing before the Lamb. In other words Jesus didn’t lose a single one! This is a great comfort to us because whom Jesus seals He will also protect and bring safely into His presence

2nd Section.

Rev 14:6

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people

Some have tried to work out what this means; quite frankly I think it means that there is going to be an angel who flies in the heavens who preaches the everlasting gospel to all those who dwell on the earth. Why make it more complicated than this? I accept that this is not a normal situation, but these are not normal times. Why an angel? Because all God’s people have been removed in readiness for the outpouring of His wrath during the Day of the Lord.

Rev 14:7

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

It is extremely interesting to note what the angel says; firstly we have a declaration that the hour of His judgment has now come. Secondly the angel is presenting a ‘Creation message’, that God is the Creator of all things; things did not come into existence on their own. Evolution is science fiction and a fraud (See Appendix A).

Verses 6 & 7 are the second section out of five in this chapter (the first dealt with the 144,000). The angel that John sees here is going to be the first of six angels that are introduced in this chapter.

3^rd Section

Rev 14:8

And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

The third subject that we are given a brief glimpse into in this chapter is the destruction of Babylon. This will be dealt with in detail when we get to chapters 17 & 18 where we will be introduced to this mystery that has been concealed through the ages. Since the Garden of Eden Satan has been at work to manipulate and control as much of this world as He can. After the flood he launched a three pronged attack: 1) a very literal attack on the Seed of the Woman (we looked at this in our review of chapter 12). 2) The second attack came though his manipulation of the world governments as we briefly saw in our study of chapter 13. 3)

The final attack (and the subject of this verse) came in the form of false religion, effectively laying down a smoke screen to keep people from the one true God. This began in ancient Babylon, then known as Babel.

There is good evidence to suggest that the tower of Babel was the work primarily of Noah’s grandson, Cush. That attempt to unite the world against God failed, so Satan was more subtle next time, and used Cush’s son, Nimrod, to try to create a world empire, with Nimrod as the first world dictator (very much a forerunner to Antichrist). Nimrod built his empire in the area known as Shinar (modern day Iraq), which is the pain where Babylon is located.

Genesis 10:10 records: “And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.” (before the Lord literally means ‘in defiance of the Lord’).

Throughout God’s word He has foretold the ultimate destruction of this seat of idolatry.

In Isaiah 13:19 we read:

“Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.” This has not happened to date, but the time is coming.

Babylon was the source of almost all false religion and idolatry. We could spend hours documenting the spread of the idolatry that began with Nimrod, but thankfully we don’t have to because various scholars have already done it for us! Most notably Rev Alexander Hislop in his classic book ‘The Two Babylons’. So much of our culture has been influenced by ancient Babylonian religion; such as Christmas (the festival originally called ‘Saturnalia’); Easter, which comes from the name of the goddess ‘Ishtar’; the worship of the mother and child – embraced by the Roman Catholic Church with the characters names changed to ‘fit’ the Christian story; and many, many more. Satan has carefully manipulated the religions of the world to be a both a substitute and a counterfeit for the one true Way – salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

In our review of chapter 17 & 18 we will see just how intoxication the Babylonian religion has been and how she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

4^th Section

Rev 14:9-11

9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

These verses are really self-explanatory but again serve to underline the horrific consequences of those whom God had created taking the name of His enemy on their foreheads etc.

Also note: day and night forever and ever.

There is no annihilation, just eternal damnation. This alone should surely be sufficient to make all mankind cry out for a Saviour? Sadly, many will not and so end up being deceived and taking this mark, sealing their own eternal destiny.

5^th Section

Rev 14:12-13

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

One of the few comforts that those who become believers during this time will have is the knowledge that God will judge righteously and see that justice is done. He is faithful.

As we enter the Great Tribulation we enter the time of the mark of the beast, persecution of the saints and martyrdom in the extreme. This will be the hardest time to be a believer ever, hence the blessing for the few who ‘love not their lives to death’.

6^th Section

Rev 14:14

And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

We are now given a glimpse ‘backstage’ as Jesus prepares to return to earth for the infamous battle of Armageddon. This will occur at the end of the Great Tribulation. The crown is a ‘stefanos’ in the Greek, which is the crown worn by a victor. The reason for the sickle is made clear in the next verse.

Rev 14:15-16

15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

This is gruesome, but we must not forget that these are the people who have chosen to go their own way, aborting innocent babies by the millions, indulging in unnatural sexual relationships, using and abusing drugs and alcohol, oppressing the poor and needy, persecuting and killing believers, blaspheming and cursing God, and hating anything that is pure or true.

Rev 14:17-19

17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

A vine produces that which is to be presented to a king!

In John 15:1 Jesus declared that He was the true vine. As most people read this they see the obvious horticultural analogy, but few stop and ask what Jesus meant by calling Himself the true vine? The obvious conclusion is that if He is the true vine, there is another vine that is not true. Jesus’ mandate was to lead men to God, ultimately through His death. As we read scripture we find that there are two other vines mentioned in scripture that profess to lead men to the father, but in reality only lead to bondage.

In Psalm 80:8-15 we find that God had appointed Israel as a vine that should have been a witness to the nations, testifying to the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob. However, instead of this, Israel (through disobedience) became a degenerate plant (Jer 2:21), a byword & proverb (Deut 28:37). Rather than being a witness they brought God’s name into disrepute. Yet the Jewish religious leaders still thought they were the only way to God. To this day, Judaism still purports to be the only true faith, and unless you convert to Judaism you are merely a Gentile & fuel for the fires of hell. Israel have become a false vine that cannot lead anyone to God.

The other false vine mentioned in scripture is the one in this verse, entitled ‘the vine of the earth’. Once again this false vine purports to be able to lead men to ‘God’ – whatever that ‘god’ may be. Whether pleasure, fulfillment, ritual, religious experience, or whatever else. This vine is that which began in Babylon – the final destruction of which is recorded in Revelation 18, and alluded to in verse 8 of this chapter. This ‘Babylonian vine’ is the epitome of false religion, it promises a way to spiritual security, but leads to destruction. Almost all world religions, past and present, have their root in Babylon.

This verse is when time is called on this deception and God’s wrath is poured out as pay-back for all the atrocities committed in the name of religion. Jesus is the only True Vine. He is the only Way, the Truth and the Life, and no man can come to the Father except through Him!

Rev 14:20

And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

The city is Jerusalem and this is the battle of Armageddon when the armies of Antichrist will march to destroy Israel once and for all, only to be met by a Jew riding a white horse – followed by the armies of heaven.

This is only a glimpse of these things, which will explore more fully in the coming chapters.

To be continued…

Appendix A

The Lie of Evolution

It is one thing for atheistic humanists to want to believe that there is no Creator and no purpose and thus have a need for the theory of Evolution to explain the universe and all therein; but it is amazing that still so many who would call themselves Christians happily accept this false religion and even believe that it is compatible with the Bible.

It is no secret that much of the leadership of the established church (who are merely the product of their liberal theological collages), embrace the theory of Evolution and see it as a perfectly acceptable explanation for our origins, choosing to believe that the Genesis account is simply ‘Hebrew poetry penned in Babylon – a combination of myth and legend’.

Of these people the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy: “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” (1 Tim 6:3-5)

What are the words of Jesus?

“Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female” (Matt 19:4)

“For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (John 5:46-47)

“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)

Jesus clearly believed the account in Genesis to be true and declared that Moses was the author of the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, quoting from each of them and attributing it to Moses. Jesus also stated that not “one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matt 5:18). The heart of the Law is the Ten Commandments as recorded in Exodus 20; in verse 11 we read: “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

In Exodus 31:18 we are told that this was written by the finger of God, and in Hebrews 6:18 we are told that it impossible for God to lie. So did God really create everything in six literal days about 6000 years ago? If we are to believe that, what about all the scientists that have ‘proven’ Evolution? And at the end of the day, shouldn’t we just concentrate on the Gospel message rather than getting side-tracked by issues like these?

Let’s answer one question at a time: What is the Gospel message?

According to the apostle Paul the gospel is that “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3-4). Now, why did Christ die? Clearly we are told it was for our sins. In Romans 5:12 Paul tells us that by one man [Adam] sin entered the world and death came because of sin. Paul is obviously referring to the Fall as recorded in Genesis chapter 3. Therefore, according to the Bible there was no death before Adam sinned, and the reason that Jesus came to die for us was because of sin that entered into the human race through Adam and so spread to all mankind.

You see, without a literal Garden of Eden and literal Adam there could be no literal Fall. If there was no literal Fall there is no need for a literal Saviour, and Jesus wasted His time. Don’t listen to anyone that tells you that this is just a side issue!

The religion of Evolution teaches that ‘nothing’ exploded and became everything. If that is believed it is on the basis of faith and faith alone. Even the ‘great’ Richard Dawkins, champion of Evolution, said that ‘religion’ is belief in the supernatural. ‘Nothing’ exploding is not natural – I think you’ll agree! So, by definition it is super-natural. Richard Dawkins also said that religion requires belief in things that cannot be verified by science. ‘Nothing’ exploding, life from non-life, information formed by random chance, species changing from one form to another…etc., none of these can be verified by science (which demands observation using one or more of our five senses – sight, hearing, touch, taste & smell).

Evolution teaches that we are continually improving; the Bible teaches that we have fallen and are in need of a Saviour. Evolution teaches that things are getting better; the Bible teaches that things are getting worse – and will continue to do so until Jesus returns. Evolution teaches that the white man is more evolved than the black man (Hitler used this to justify the extermination of the Jews, believing them to be less evolved); the Bible teaches that God has made of one blood all nations of men (Acts 17:26). Evolution teaches that there is no God; the Bible says only a fool would say in his heart that there is no God!

So what about the scientists?

Universe is made up of two words: Uni – meaning ‘single’, and verse – meaning a spoken sentence. Thus Uni-Verse = a single spoken sentence: ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth’.

Modern science has finally realised that the universe is finite; that is, it had a beginning. The Bible stated this on page one.
Scientists now know that our reality consists of time, space and matter. Again, the opening words of the Bible declare that: ‘In the beginning’ = Time, ‘God created the heavens’ = Space, ‘and the earth’ = Matter.
The Bible said that the earth was a sphere – scientists eventually verified this.
The Bible said that there were ‘paths in the sea’ – this insight led to the science of Oceanography thanks to Bible believing Matthew Maury.
The Bible explained the water cycle – thousands of years later, scientist ‘discovered’ this.
The Bible described air currents thousands of years ago. We now have Meteorology.
The Bible declared that air has a mass – not until the sixteenth century did science catch up.

We could carry on with page after page including medical insights in the Bible completely unknown until modern times.

Many of the greatest scientists in history believed the Bible, and many still do. Dr A. E. Wilder-Smith had three earned doctorates and many feel that the only reason he was not awarded a Nobel prize was because of his unrelenting stand that the Bible was true. Answers in Genesis, a ministry that promotes the Bible as God’s word and demonstrates that true science and the Bible are completely compatible, list pages of qualified scientists who believe, for scientific reasons, that God created the heavens and the earth in six literal days about 6000 years ago.

There is no problem with reconciling science and the Bible; the problem is with the unscientific theory of Evolution, for which, some of Evolutions leading proponents have conceded, there is no evidence, just belief. Sadly, it is this theory that has led so many to abandon faith in the Bible and therefore in God.

Sir Arthur Keith who wrote the forward to the 100th Edition of Origin of the Species said: “Evolution is unproved and unprovable.”
Professor Louis Bounoure, Director of Research, American National Centre of Scientific Research said: “Evolution is a fairy tale for grown-ups. This theory has helped nothing in the progress of science. It is useless.”
Malcolm Muggeridge, British journalist and philosopher said: “I myself am convinced that the theory of evolution, especially the extent to which it has been applied, will be one of the great jokes in the history books of the future. Posterity will marvel that so flimsy and dubious an hypothesis could be accepted with the incredible credulity that it has”
Dr. T.N. Tahmisian of the Atomic Energy Commission (USA) said: “Scientists who go about teaching that evolution is a fact of life are great con-men, and the story they are telling may be the greatest hoax ever.”

Evolution is a scientific impossibility. It is a religion fathered by the father of lies. Sadly, many brilliant minds have fallen hook, line and sinker for this grown-up fairy tale, or they perpetuate their intellectual dishonesty in order to secure grants and avoid upsetting the status quo.

But one thing is sure, there will be no evolutionists in either heaven or hell!

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post Prelude to Wrath first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

JEHOVAH ROHI -THE LORD OUR SHEPHERD

Barry Forder — Sun, 08 May 2016 19:13:43 +0000

JEHOVAH ROHI – THE LORD OUR SHEPHERD

We have now reached the last teaching on the Names of God. Of course there are many other names that we have not covered, but I hope that the ones we have covered have been helpful to you all in your walk of faith. I pray that they have brought you to a better understanding of our Mighty and Amazing God. I hope also that you have noticed how each name leads on to the next. It’s as if God is saying, ‘Now that you know Me as this Name, let Me lead you on to the next so that you can learn more of Me and know Me more.’

There is no doubt that He supplies all our need and there is not one area of our existence that is not covered by these wonderful characteristics of God. Last time we looked at Jehovah M’Kaddesh, the Lord Who sanctifies. We saw how God had to remove His presence from His people because of their disobedience and sin. I thank our Father God that we as believers in His Son Jesus, are forgiven our sin through Him, and that He is there with us and in us by the power of His Holy Spirit.

We were reminded that we are on a pilgrimage, a walk of sanctification, that one day will bring us into the very presence of God. In this teaching we will see how our God is with us, leading us and guiding us as our Shepherd. So let us begin by looking at sheep.

Whatever kind of sheep they are, wherever they come from, I think you’ll agree that they are rather silly creatures. They all run in the same direction; once one goes, the others follow, you will rarely see a single sheep going against the flow. Everyone else is doing it so it must be right. They like as a group to be left alone to graze and ruminate, they rarely rush at anything, unless that is, they are pushed to it and then they show how fast they can move. They are easily frightened and can even die of shock. They like to be together in a flock, all moaning and complaining in unison. Baah- meh! Baah-meh! When one gets into trouble, the others just walk off and leave it to its fate. Tough luck chum! They are plagued by pests which get into their skin and cause pain and inflammation. They have foot problems and ear problems and eye problems. Pretty sickly really! They need doctoring and dipping to rid them of their pests. They have to be sheared once a year to keep them cool in Summer and because wool is useful to us. They need water, they need grass. Funnily enough, when they are sheared or treated and are turned on their backs, they go quiet and passive and give up resisting and struggling at being held down.Funny animals, sheep!

They are the only domestic animals that cannot survive on their own. They are totally dependent on their shepherd for protection, water, food and shelter. Sheep won’t last long without a shepherd. I think that we can agree that looking after sheep is difficult.

In this country we are all familiar with white, or dirty grey, woolly sheep. We see shepherds on quad bikes, driving their flocks before them or walking behind them with a sheep dog or two herding them back into line at the shepherd’s bidding. We see the cute little lambs in Spring, gambolling about, having fun, all playing in green, rolling meadows beside a gently flowing stream. I think of West Dean Gardens in West Sussex and all the sheep you can see there grazing on the other side of the river. A pretty sight, a pastoral view, and we have those lovely peaceful scenes in our minds.

In Israel however, things are quite different, both for the shepherd and for the sheep. The sheep there look different. They are generally brown and black as well as a creamy colour, and they have horns, big horns, which can be used to make shofars, the Jewish trumpet. They are a much tougher type of sheep physically, though still prone to the the same sort of problems, infections and illnesses as sheep here.

In Israel the shepherd leads his sheep and the sheep follow him. They know their master and follow his lead, because silly as they are, they know he will take them to a place where they can eat and drink.

The terrain in Israel is very different too and that is important for us to understand as we continue this study.

I am sure that when you knew the subject for this study that you immediately thought of Psalm 23, probably the most well known of all the psalms . It was written by David as we all know, and it describes the qualities of a good shepherd, comparing him with our God, Jehovah Rohi….The Lord Our Shepherd.

David was a shepherd long before he was a king. He knew all there was to know about sheep and I believe that he could clearly see, as can we, how like sheep we all are.

Go with the flow!

Follow the leader!

Focus on myself!

Forget about others!

Eat, drink, I need food, take me to it!

Leave me be, don’t rush me!

Love to be with the crowd!

Everybody else is doing it, so it can’t be wrong!

I’m too hot, I’m too cold!

I’m sick, I need a doctor!

I’m scared, I’m on my own!

Where can I go?

Which way now?

What do I do?

How can I cope?

Baah-meh, baah-meh!

We need the shepherd! Oh, how we need Him!

Isaiah 53 V 6 “All we like sheep, have gone astray…….”

Yes, David knew sheep. He knew the land too. He killed a lion, he killed a bear to protect his flock.

1Samuel 17 v 34-36a “But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear….”

It was tough country, not at all like the pleasant green fields of England. Bethlehem was David’s home which is not far from Jerusalem. Indeed the flocks of sheep were in that area to provide for the sacrifices required in the Tabernacle and later the Temple.

Remember how the angels appeared to the shepherds at Bethlehem when Jesus was born? (Luke 2 v 8-18) They were the shepherds who raised the sheep for the Temple worship. They knew the requirements, that the sheep had to be spotless and clean. Their sheep were precious and constantly needed care and attention. Why these shepherds? Poor, despised, illiterate, dirty and probably very smelly, as indeed shepherds were in David’s day and are even today 3000 years later. Shepherds have always been despised in Israel and also in Jacob’s days when he brought his family to Egypt to be reunited with Joseph. Pharaoh would only allow them to live in Goshen which was far away from the dwellings of the rich and privileged, because they were shepherds. Yes it was rich land there, but shepherds were despised in Egypt even more than in Israel. (Genesis 46 v 31-34)

So shepherds were looked down upon, but God did not look down on them, He blessed them. He blessed David. David was a shepherd. Imagine God choosing a despised shepherd to be the King over His people Israel. He blessed the Temple shepherds. He blessed the family of Jacob.

Shepherds are actually very skilful people. There is nothing about sheep that they do not know, they are highly trained professionals. They recognise their sheep individually, and they know the land that they walk.

The land around Bethlehem that David was so familiar with is located on the central mountainous spine of Israel on the edge of the Judean wilderness. It is dry and barren, with scrubby plants, rocky and dangerous with many gorges and deep wadis that flow with torrents of water in the rainy seasons and are bone dry the rest of the time. There seems to be nothing for sheep to feed on at all. The truth is that for those, like the Bedouins today, who are trained to find it and recognise it, the wilderness is filled with water sources and plant life sufficient to sustain large flocks of sheep and goats. Indeed if you visit the area today you will see these flocks shepherded by Bedouins.

David would certainly have possessed such knowledge in his day.

Please don’t imagine him sitting on a grassy knoll overlooking his quietly feeding flock by a gentle stream. Such a picture is a fairy tale.i Chris and Lindy Hill take tour groups to Israel and indeed have been over 89 times to date. This is what he says in his little booklet called ‘The Song of the Shepherd’ (for which I am grateful for a lot of information) .

‘When Lindy and I take our tour groups to the Holy Land, we are sure to include the Wadi Quelt. The dry riverbed winds through towering cliffs in the Judean Wilderness between Jerusalem and Jericho. Part of it is so deeply carved into the earth thatnit never sees the sun. For as long as anyone can recall it has been known locally as the ‘Valley of the Shadow’.

David must have been familiar with that wadi. Maybe be had to lead the sheep through it when he needed to take them to fresh pastures. Sometimes after heavy rain had fallen on Jerusalem and a flash flood had roared and plunged its way through the Wadi Quelt, ‘cups’ of water were left behind in hollows in the ground. Here the sheep could drink after the flood had passed.’

No! Being a shepherd in that part of the world is not an easy job.sheep fall into ravines or wander into dangerous caves, they get caught up in thorny bushes, they get lost, they get taken by wild animals.

I think that once we understand just how difficult it is to be a shepherd out there in that inhospitable land, then we get a far more balanced idea of the meaning of Jehovah Rohi….The Lord our Shepherd.

The term ‘shepherd’ appears more than 80 times in the Bible and in the Hebrew covers meanings such as, feeder, keeper, companion, friend, pastor, herdsman as well as of course shepherd.

There are a number of shepherds mentioned in the Old Testament, from Abel onwards, and the figure of the shepherd became an illustration of the relationship between a leader and his people.

In Exodus 3 v 1 Moses, who was tending sheep when he saw the burning bush and was appointed by God as the shepherd of His people Israel and of course David who was a shepherd of the sheep and became the shepherd of the people of God. (2 Samuel 5 v 2).

But the ultimate expression of this name of God is of course Jehovah Rohi….the Lord our Shepherd. Psalm 23 speaks to us deeply of the love of God for His people, for us.

Davis knew the needs of his sheep and could identify himself with those sheep. He saw the similar tendencies between sheep and people. He knew that he needed a shepherd. It is believed that this psalm was written towards the end of David’s life after he could see how foolish men could be and indeed, how foolish he had often been, just like sheep. He knew that a shepherd provided for his sheep and he knew that God had provided for him in the same way. As I was preparing this, I pondered on this Psalm and this is what I wrote.

The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want;

My Shepherd gives me everything I need, I want for nothing.

I am content and totally dependent on Him.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He MAKES me – a bit like the sheep who are forcefully turned on their backs to be sheared and accept it passively after a struggle with the shepherd. He knows what is best for me and sometimes has to make me see His point of view, despite how I fight and struggle to get my own way. He knows where the best pastures are and He knows that I need to accept His provision and not try to find my own way in my own strength.

He leads me beside the still waters;

Sheep’s nostrils are close to their mouths and is they try to drink from a rushing stream they are likely to drown. They need a placid pool to drink from, like the pools of water in the Wadi Quelt.

He wants me to quench my thirst in Him and not drown in the world full of torrents of depravity.

He restores my soul;

Quenching my thirst in Him means that I will be restored and refreshed in my mind by His word and by His presence.

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His own names sake;

He knows the paths He has prepared for me and He wants me to walk those paths, so He leads me because if I say I am a believer and live a lie then I am damaging His Name. He wants me to be righteous, even though, like those sheep in the wilderness, the way is rocky, rough and difficult, steep, dangerous and precipitous. If I trust Him completely then He will guide me through the dangers awaiting me on the right path, the narrow path.

Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;

The Wadi Quelt is dark and dangerous and so sometimes is my life. It’s scary and God seems so far away and the enemy seems so close like a lion prowling around seeking to devour me. But my Shepherd is there despite how I feel. He is protecting me with His rod to beat off the enemy and His staff to keep me on the right track. What a comfort to know that He is with me in times of darkness and trouble as well as in the good times. He leads me into this dark place for a reason. To take me somewhere better, to help me to trust Him more than I did before.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

He is my sustenance in all situations, and I can hold up my head before those who would seek to harm me and know that they can do nothing to keep me from Him and His provision for all my needs.

He anoints my head with oil, my cup runs over;

He fills me with His Holy Spirit to overflowing, like oil poured over my head, like a cup filled up and brimming over. He heals, He protects, He blesses me, He gives me strength, surely I need no more. He is so good to me!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;

I need never be without Him, I need never be lost for He is always my Shepherd and He will always lead me and guide me and be there for me, whatever happens. My life is filled with His goodness and His mercy even when it doesn’t feel like it.

I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever; And one day I will go home to be with Him for all eternity, part of His Bride, the true church, to,praise and worship Him and thank Him forever.

In the New Testament Jesus is revealed to us as the Good Shepherd of the sheep but we cannot know Him as such until we are part of His flock. He submitted Himself as the Lamb to the slaughter so that He could become our Shepherd. The Lamb of God is also the Good Shepherd, the pure, perfect, unblemished, sacrificial Lamb. He took our place so that we could become like Him. John 10 v 14-18

He knows each one of us by name. John 10 v 3. We bear His mark just as sheep are marked by their shepherd to identify their owner. We are His. He is our example and we follow Him and obey His will. (Hebrews 13 v 20-21).

Do you remember how How Jesus spoke to Simon Peter after His resurrection?

Peter was ashamed and guilty that he had betrayed Jesus so easily, and was all for going back to his trade of fishing; his old nature was kicking in again. Jesus was so loving in the way He spoke to Peter, Jesus knew his heart, He could see the struggle going on there. (John 21. v 15).

Peter was grieved that he could not rise to Jesus request to love Him as Jesus loved Peter (agapeo), all he could promise Jesus was that he loved Him as a friend (phileo). So Jesus came down to Peter’s level and agreed to love him back as a friend for the time being. You see Jesus knew what Peter would become after he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter would be filled with that consuming, compassionate love for Jesus, so much so that he would give up his life for Him. Peter would indeed take care of the sheep and he would become a faithful shepherd of the sheep. Once he allowed the Good Shepherd to lead and guide him he was able to lay down his wilful and wayward old self and devote himself entirely to Jesus.

I love what Jesus said to Peter, ‘Follow Me!’ The very words He used to call Peter to Himself three years before.

A new start, a new beginning.

So it is for us.

It’s never too late to change our ways and follow the Great Shepherd of the Sheep.

Let us keep our eyes fixed on Him so that we can honestly say Jehovah Rohi……the Lord is my Shepherd.

May the Lord Himself bless you and keep you in His perfect ways.

Linda

The post JEHOVAH ROHI -THE LORD OUR SHEPHERD first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Un-Holy Trinity

Barry Forder — Mon, 02 May 2016 23:10:51 +0000

On Sunday morning we were looking at the last two of seven characters introduced to us in chapters 12 & 13 (If you haven’t already noticed, the book of Revelation is arranged around groups of 7).

In chapter twelve we were introduced to 1) the Woman, who we saw was ‘mystical Eve’ carrying the line down through the ages from Eve in the garden of Eden, to Mary. We also saw 2) the Manchild – Jesus Christ who will rule all nations with a rod of iron. Fighting on behalf of Israel we saw 3) the archangel Michael, and in defiance to all that is true and holy we saw 4) the dragon, identified as Satan. The 5th ‘person’ we were introduced to was the ‘saints’ who Satan will turn to attach once Israel is fled for safety and protection in the wilderness of Edom.

So that brings us to this chapter, and we are firstly introduced to 6) a beast that John sees coming out of the sea. This beast is to be the final world government of this age, before Jesus returns and ‘puts down all authority and power (1 Cor 15:24). The final character is then revealed as a beast from the earth, who will be the embodiment of false religion, who is later identified as the False Prophet.

Introduction

From the beginning Satan has been a deceiver and master counterfeiter. Now, at the mid-point of the Tribulation, Satan (man’s great opponent) will attempt to deceive mankind through an unholy trinity, with Satan (as he has always wanted) being ‘like God’; Antichrist (as the name means) ‘in the place of Christ’, and the False Prophet assuming a Holy Spirit-like role, pointing people to the false Christ.

As we noted in the introduction to chapter 12, Satan thought all of creation was to be his. But then God created man in His own image and gave Adam dominion over all the earth (Gen 1:26). Infuriated, Satan’s pride caused him to fall (1 Tim 3:6), and he then immediately set about deceiving man in order to wrest the dominion of earth from him. Satan is, for now, ‘the god of this world’ (2 Cor 4:4).

Since then, Satan has been ‘hell-bent’ on the destruction of man with just one agenda; viz. to be worshiped, whether knowingly or unwittingly. He is equally happy with those who foolishly play with the occult, Ouija boards, tarot cards, horoscopes, yoga, eastern mysticism and other false religions, or with those who just worship materialism, thinking they are free from religion following their own (Satan-inspired) human natures, with a ‘if it feels good do it’ mentality, blissfully unaware of the consequences of their hedonism.

Satan’s desire to be worshipped is seen in the most audacious act eternity has ever witnessed! We read in Luke’s Gospel: “And the devil, taking [Jesus] up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine”. (Luke 4:5-7)

Here we have a created angel asking the Creator to worship him! Talk about delusions of grandeur!

An important point to note in the above verses is that Jesus doesn’t challenge Satan’s claim to be able to give Him the kingdoms of the world, for as already mentioned, for now they do belong to Satan. However, as we have been seeing in our study, in Revelation chapter 5 Jesus was found worthy to reclaim that which Adam lost. From chapter 6 we then see all creation getting ready for a change of ownership! This concludes in chapter 10 when the mighty angel declares that ‘time is up’ (10:6), which is then followed by the triumphant declaration that: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev 11:15).

Whilst God has of course always been in ultimate control, He has allowed Satan, who for now possesses the title deed to the earth, to manipulate the kings and kingdoms of this world (Luke 4:6). Each world empire throughout history has had its own unique traits; Babylon (which spawned almost all false religion) had its idolatry and pride; Medo-Persia had brutish strength; Greece conquered the world with lightning speed, and Rome crushed all in its way. However, as we will see in this chapter, the Bible teaches that there is another world empire on the horizon that will encompass and eclipse all of the previous empires put together.

At this point it is worth taking a look at some of the remarkable and instructive prophecies in the book of Daniel. In Daniel chapter 2 we have recorded the dream of Nebuchadnezzar. Neither the king nor his ‘wise men’ were able to interpret the dream until Daniel came and said: “…there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these….” (Daniel 2:28)

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a large statue made from different materials laid out the entire history of the world kingdoms, from the time of Daniel (Babylon as the head of gold) until the time of the final Satanic world kingdom (the iron mixed with clay). It is that final kingdom that we will see introduced in Revelation chapter 13. However, that will not be the end, for Daniel also records that following this attempt by Satan to eradicate Christians, destroy Israel, rule the world and to be worshipped by all mankind, Jesus will return! “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” (Dan 2:44) – that is why we are told to pray ‘Thy kingdom come…on Earth!’ (Matthew 6:10).

In Daniel’s interpretation of king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream he told the king: “You, O king…Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee. Exactly as Daniel had said, after the Babylonian kingdom (of which Nebuchadnezzar was the head), came the Medo-Persian Empire, which was powerful and subdued the Babylonians, Egyptians and the Libyans (North Africans); however, it did not become as powerful as Babylon in its prime …and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. After the Medo-Persian Empire came the Greeks led by Alexander the Great, which swept across the world and conquered all before them …And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. Finally, the mighty Roman Empire came which did ‘crush in pieces and subdue all things’, as Daniel had prophesied. However, whereas all the other kingdoms were subdued by the succeeding one, the Roman Empire was never conquered, but rather broke apart with all the major parts taking their turn in ruling for a time …And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken (Dan 2:37-43). It is this divided kingdom, often spoken of by prophecy students as a ‘revived Roman empire’, that will be seen and explained further in Revelation chapter 13.

However, before we get into our study of Revelation chapter 13, more insight is gleaned from Daniel chapter 7 where there is another vision of these world empires, but this time Daniel sees them as beasts. Regarding the forth kingdom, when Daniel receives the interpretation he is told: “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. This is historically true of the Roman Empire, but then we are told …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”. (Dan 7:23-24).

Horns typically symbolize strength, so it is no surprise they are idiomatically used to depict kingdoms. As seen from the above verse, somehow, out of the old Roman empire will come a ten-kingdom world empire, but of which three ‘kings’ will fall before Antichrist (the ‘another’).

The identity of the ten horns is again confirmed in Rev 17:12-13: “the ten horns…. are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.”

Thus from these verses we can see that there is a phase of the Roman Empire that has yet to be fulfilled, where the Empire will once again come to power. Out of this revived Roman Empire will then come 10 kings represented here by the ten toes (Daniel 2) and ten horns (Daniel 7/Rev 13). We are told that these 10 kingdoms will cover the whole world; or it might be that the world will be divided into 10 regions. It is interesting to note that the Club of Rome has already suggested that the world be sectioned into 10 ‘administrative districts’ with the intention of avoiding the potential of a world economic collapse. Antichrist (the little horn) will then arise and subdue three of these 10 kings taking total control of the nations of the earth, and thus we will be back to where it all started at the Tower of Babel with Cush and his son Nimrod – a one world government with Satan at the helm. This has been Satan’s plan since that time.

With some background covered, we are ready to move into Revelation 13!

Rev 13:1

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

In the Greek, the opening words of this verse are ‘kai histemi’ which literally translated would be ‘And stood’. In other words, the ‘I’ has been inserted by the translators. However, there is a strong suggestion among some Bible commentators that this is better translated “And he stood on the sand of the sea…” implying that it is Satan himself standing on the shore and calling this beast out. This would make sense following on from chapter 12, where after being cast down to the earth, we read: “And the dragon [Satan] was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

(We should remember that the chapters and verses were not added until the 12^th Century by Archbishop Stephen Langton). So let’s read on: “And [He] stood upon the sand of the sea, and [I John] saw a beast rise up out of the sea…”

This view is consistent with scripture and doesn’t imply anything that we don’t already know, i.e. that after being cast out of Heaven, Satan will ‘go after’ Israel (the Woman), and it will be through the person of Antichrist that he will seek to fulfill his plans. J Vernon McGee comments: “The dragon (Satan) stands on the sands of the sea, and it is he who brings the wild Beast out of the sea and dominates him. This is Satan’s masterpiece.”

Although not a recommend translation in itself, the RSV (Revised Standard Version) actually adds the opening of v13 on the end of ch12 v17 as follows:

17 Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

13:1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads,

The ASV (American Standard Version) & the NASB (New American Standard

“And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore” (NASB).

“and he stood upon the sand of the sea” (ASV)

We now are faced with an array of ‘signs’, just as we were in the opening of the last chapter. As we have already mentioned, signs point to something literal; our task is to find their meaning and of course, scripture itself will be our guide.

The first sign is a beast that rises out of the sea. The sea that John is referring to is probably the Mediterranean, but is symbolic of the Gentile nations of the world as we have already seen from Daniel 7. The beast who will arise out of the nations of the world (and more specifically out of the 10 kingdoms of the revised Roman Empire) is none other than Antichrist; there are various confirmations of this as the chapter unfolds. The next four things that John notices all point to the identity of the beast , and the first thing that should grab our attention is the similarities between this Beast and Satan himself as described in the previous chapter:

“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.” (Rev 12:3)

The beast is synonymous with Satan and yet at the same time distinct from him as is clear from verse 2 & 4 (below) where we read that Satan gives his power to the beast. Clearly however, the beast has the attributes of Satan and we will discover that this is the beginning of Satan trying to establish a satanic trinity; we will explore this in more detail in verse 11-12.

…a beast rise up out of the sea

Returning to Daniel 7 verse one we read: “In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea, and four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. (Dan 7:1-3)

Again, as we have seen, these beasts represent kingdoms that arise from the earth: “These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth”. (Dan 7: 17)

Thus the beast that John is seeing and recording in Revelation 13 is the same that Daniel saw 2500 years earlier. The beast is symbolic of both Antichrist and his kingdom, and in both John and Daniel’s visions we see him coming to power and establishing his throne on earth for 3¹/₂ years (time, times & the dividing of time).

…having seven heads

In Rev 17:9-11 we read: And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth [we will deal with the ‘woman’ when we get to chapter 17] …And [they] are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

The mention of seven mountains has led some scholars to conclude that this passage is referring to the city of Rome because it is built on seven hills. However, whilst Rome is indeed alluded to (both politically and religiously) the scope of this prophecy is wider than just Rome.

When mountains, are used symbolically in Scripture, they are always a symbol of a king or kingdom or throne; and we are clearly told in the text that the seven heads are seven mountains, which are in turn seven kingdoms. We are also told that at the time John is receiving this prophecy, five of the seven kings (kingdoms) have fallen, one is existing, and one is yet future. It is a matter of history that the Roman Empire was in power in John’s day and prior to that there had been five ‘world’ empires, starting with 1)Egypt, and going on to 2)Assyria, 3) Babylon, 4)Medo Persia and 5)Greece. Rome then became the sixth and we are now awaiting the emergence of the final world Empire which will start as a World Government, that will devour the whole earth; then it will be divided into 10 ‘kingdoms’ from which Antichrist will arise.

…and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns

As we will discover in the next verse, this beast is really the culmination of all the beasts (world empires) that preceded it; this is also the case with the 10 horns. The horns as explained in Daniel 7 and also Revelation 17:12-13 “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.”

Rev 13:2

And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

Now we see that this beast has the attributes of the preceding world empires and is given Satan’s power and authority.

In Daniel’s vision we read: “The first [beast] was like a lion [Babylon] and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear [Medo-Persia], and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard [Greece], which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. (Daniel 7:4-10).

Rev 13:3

And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

The heads represent the world empires, the ruler of the last will be Antichrist, and it is this ‘head’ that is ‘wounded to death’. How this will happen is unclear but somehow Antichrist will be wounded and appear to die. Some scholars think that he will actually die and raised to life again by the power of Satan; either way the effect will be the same because the world will believe that Antichrist has died and will then see him ‘miraculously brought back to life’.

This will be one of the satanic signs that are performed to deceive the world and cause them to follow Antichrist.

It is such an important issue and therefore must be stressed again in the strongest terms: Our faith should not be in our experiences regardless of how genuine they seem, but in the Word of God which is unchangeable. Sadly many Christian leaders are leading their congregations to chase ‘every wind of doctrine’, searching for the latest ‘move of the Spirit’. One of the greatest deceptions of the last days will be an abundance of ‘signs and wonders’. As John urged in 1 John 4:1-3 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

Your only safeguard against deception is the Word of God.

Regarding the ‘fatal’ wound that Antichrist receives, there is an interesting passage in Zech 11:16-17 that some believe to be referring to Antichrist at this time:

For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces. Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.

Does this imply that his head wound will affect the use of his arm and the sight of his right eye?

Rev 13:4

And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

As a result of this deception, people will fall hook, line and sinker for the lie and will start to worship Satan who has given power to Antichrist; this will require all other religions to ‘fade away’. It is no coincidence that there is a massive world wide effort to unite all religions with the lie that we can all find our own path to ‘god’. One of the stated aims of the new Pope was to bring about a greater understanding between all religions. As a result of the atrocities committed by fundamentalist Muslims, mainstream Islam is now distancing itself from the fundamentalists and becoming more tolerant and open to other faiths in an attempt to stem the tide of anti-Islamic feeling. All of this will continue until there is one world religion (that will be headed up by the Roman Catholic church), we will deal with this in Revelation chapter 17.

Eventually Antichrist will put an end to this false religious system and cause all to worship him, convincing them that he is their ‘Christ’ or ‘Mohammed’ or ‘Buddha’ etc.

Rev 13:5

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

Satan’s sin was pride (1 Tim 3:6), which is seen here manifesting itself as arrogance as he (through Antichrist) keeps opening his mouth and speaking against the God of Heaven.

Again we have confirmed that his ‘moment of glory’ will only last for 42 months (3¹/₂ years).

Rev 13:6

And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

It is really hard to imagine the twisted arrogance that would cause a created being to speak against its Creator. Those who dwell in Heaven (no doubt including the Church) are also the subject of the malicious lies and insults.

Rev 13:7

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

Satan’s hatred of anything good will ‘vent’ itself on the saints on the earth during this time. Daniel also comments on this:

“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. (Daniel 7:23-25)

As we have already mentioned these saints cannot be the Church because we are told in Matthew 16:18 that: “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” These saints will be those who come to faith during the tribulation (probably through the preaching of the two witnesses and the 144,000 Jewish evangelists). Although they are called saints they are not part of the Church – which will be complete at the time of the Rapture. ‘Saints’ is simply a term that refers to God’s people whether they be Jews, Christians or Tribulation Saints.

Rev 13:8

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

There are just two groups of people as described by Paul in the book of Romans; those who are saved and those who are perishing. That is what we see here; either your name is in the book of life and you are saved or it is not and you will end up worshipping Antichrist. The fact that it is predestined (decided) before the foundation of the world does not relieve us of our responsibility or make God unjust by deciding people’s fate for them; it simply shows that because God is outside of time, He knew the choice and decision that you are going to make in regard to your relationship with Him. Either you will accept or reject the way out that He has made through the death of His Son in your place. We all have free choice and our eternity will depend on what we do with that freedom to choose.

Rev 13:9

If any man have an ear, let him hear.

This is the same phrase that we encountered in Rev 2 & 3, however the Church is no longer on earth so the line ‘what the Spirit says to the Churches’ is now omitted. Once again we see the mercy of God in that the call is still going out. One of the most incredible things about the Tribulation is the number of opportunities that God gives people to repent – again He has “no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the he should turn from his way and live.” (Ezekiel 33:11)

Rev 13:10

He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

One consolation for the believers during this time is that whoever harms them will be harmed in the same way. Nevertheless it is still going to be a really tough time for believers and it may well be that the only way out of this time will to be martyred (killed) for their faith. How much easier and rewarding it is to believe now and become a part of the Church! If you are reading this and you are not part of Jesus Christ’s Church, don’t leave it a moment longer. Repent (of your sin – that means turn away from it, literally going in the other direction), believe (that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead) and receive the free gift of the Holy Spirit as a guarantee that you are now safe in His hands.

If you would rather ‘sit it out’ and decide later, then what we are reading about in this verse is what you have in store – provided that you are not deceived first.

Rev 13:11

And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

Now we are introduced to a second beast. Two is the number of witness or testimony and being like a lamb he is trying to deceive by appearing to be like the true Lamb of God. However when he opens his mouth we are no longer in any doubt where he is coming from.

Rev 13:12

And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

So here we have the completion of the Satanic trinity. Satan as (an extremely poor copy of) God the Father, Antichrist as the name literally means, ‘in stead of Christ’, and now the False Prophet (as he is called in Rev 19:20) as a type of the Holy Spirit; and as the Holy Spirit doesn’t take the praise but always points to Jesus, so the false prophet will seek to exalt and glorify Antichrist, causing all to worship him.

Rev 13:13

And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

The people of the earth had seen God’s two witnesses call down fire from Heaven on any that tried to harm them; Satan now gives this power to the false prophet as if to counter what God has done. This reminds us of Pharaohs magicians in Egypt who tied to counter the signs that Moses and Aaron did in an attempt to harden the people’s hearts.

Rev 13:14

And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

We now see the ‘real thing’ for which king Nebuchadnezzar’s statue was a dress rehearsal. The false prophet will deceive the people (who have made this world their home) by the ‘signs and wonders’ and then he’ll suggest that they make an image of Antichrist.

Rev 13:15

And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

Somehow the false prophet will make the image of Antichrist (which will be placed in the Holy of Holies in the temple in Jerusalem) to seem as if it’s alive and even cause it to talk. Just like it was with king Neb’ back in Daniel 3, any that don’t worship the image will be killed.

Rev 13:16

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads

All really does mean all: the ordinary folks & the famous celebrities, rich & poor, employers & employees; all will be made to receive a mark in either their right hand or forehead.

Rev 13:17

And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Everyone will have to receive the mark and buying or selling will be made impossible unless you have either the mark, or Antichrist’s name, or the number of his name. In this way everyone will be forced to pledge allegiance to Antichrist. Whilst some sort of electronic microchip may well be used during this time, the mark is unlikely to be your own personal ID number (such as you currently have with your Credit Card number), because the whole point of this is that you are given Antichrist’s number. Whatever the mark will be it will also probably be visible; again, it is an outward sign that a person has pledged their allegiance to Antichrist. This is also another one of Satan’s poor copies, because back in chapter 7 the servants of God were marked in their foreheads with the name of God (this is confirmed in the next chapter also).

Rev 13:18

Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

This is written for those on earth during this time who will be able to identify Antichrist by adding up the letters in his name which in the Hebrew or Greek will add up to 666. Many fruitless hours have been wasted by people who have tried to figure this out before the time. In 2 Thessalonians we are told that Antichrist is being held back until the Church has gone.

To be continued…

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post The Un-Holy Trinity first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Man’s Greatest Opponent

Barry Forder — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 17:04:42 +0000

What do the names dragon, serpent, beast, accuser & deceiver all have in common? They are all names given to mankind’s greatest enemy – Satan.

Satan, often simply called ‘the Devil’ used to be known as Lucifer, which means ‘light bearer’ (Isaiah 14:12). According to Ezekiel 28, he was once a stunningly beautiful super-angel, possibly even the highest ranking angel of all. He had the privilege of being in charge of the worship in Heaven, and literally had musical instruments built into his body (Ezek 28:13). He had unrestricted access before the throne of God. So how (you might be thinking) could this ‘anointed cherubim’ end up becoming the embodiment of evil and the most deadly enemy man has ever faced?

The answer is simple. Pride (1 Tim 3:6).

We read in the book of Job that when God made the heavens and the earth all the angels sang for joy (Job 38:7). If all means all, Lucifer must have been among them, and in all probability was actually the one leading the praise to God! As the angels looked on, the Earth and Universe God was creating must has seemed truly breathtaking! As God caused the Light to shine on Day 1, separated the land and the sea on Day 2, and then caused trees, plants, vegetation and fruit to appear all over the earth on Day 3, the excitement must have been building among the angels, wondering what God was going to do next, and what was it all for? As God flung galaxies out into space on Day 4, and then caused living creatures to appear in the oceans and birds to fly in the sky on Day 5.

Then on Day 6 God created lions, elephants, dinosaurs, squirrels, sloths, bears, penguins and so much more! God’s new creation was indeed very good! You can almost hear the angels whispering among themselves, “This is amazing! I wonder who it is for? Who will be given the job of ruling over all of this wonderful creation?” No doubt some eyes had started to look toward Lucifer; after all, he was already God’s right-hand-angel! Lucifer himself had also started to wonder! “To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?” (Esther 6:6).

But then, with what was probably the biggest metaphorical bombshell in all eternity, God creates Man! But the real wonder was not man was fearfully and wonderfully made, but that God created him in His own image! There was not a creature in the heavens or the earth that could compare! But (if you are following…) this led to one inescapable conclusion… Lucifer was no longer the pinnacle of God’s creation, and it quickly became clear that this stunning new world that God had just spent the last 5 days creating, was to be given to Man!!

At that moment, something happened that seemed utterly impossible; it was something so catastrophic that it would later require an unimaginable price to be paid to remedy the situation, and even then would leave a tragic scar on the whole of eternity. Lucifer – the light bearer – rebelled against God!

Isaiah 14:12-15 records that Lucifer, already overflowing with envy and hatred for the Man who had been created in God’s image, said in his heart “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the [angels] of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:13-14).

Lucifer had not been created ‘like the Most High’, but Adam had. So if he had not been given it, he would take it by force! He would take the wonderful earth he thought he rightfully deserved, destroying this Man in the process! Then he would be exulted and the other angels would worship him! Lucifer’s nature now changed in an instant, his name effectively changing to Satan, which means ‘opponent’, for now he had become – not God’s opponent – but Man’s.

However, just as with the account of Mordecai and Haman in the book of Esther (which is a dramatic re telling of this very situation), the very blow that Satan would strike against man would ultimately prove to be his own undoing.

“And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him” (Esther 6:13).

As we will see in our study of Revelation ch 12, Satan took one third of the angels with him when he rebelled against God, and for the last 6000 years of human history he has been hell-bent on one thing: the destruction of man by whatever means possible. But the man he was most intent on destroying was not the first Adam, but the Second Adam – Jesus Christ. For from Genesis 3:15, where God pronounces his judgment falling the Fall, Satan knew he had begun to fall, and that he shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. In essence, the whole account of the Old Testament is the story of how God engineered and ensured the safe arrival of the Second Adam – the Seed of the Woman, and how Satan – the Dragon – desperately tried to prevent it!

Rev 12:1

And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

The word ‘wonder’ is the Greek word ‘semeion’ meaning ‘sign’ – it occurs 7 times in Revelation although in the English it is translated as three times as ‘wonder’ (12:1 / 12:3 / 13:13), three as ‘miracle’ (13:14 / 16:14 / 19:20), and once as ‘sign’ (15:1).

In the opening of the book we read that Jesus ‘sent and signified’ this Revelation, i.e. rendered it into signs (Rev 1:1). Our challenge is to now see what this sign is pointing to – because that’s what signs do!

The first thing to observe is that we have a woman and that she is clothed. The clothing is not the woman, but she is under the covering of the clothing.

The first mention of clothing is found in Genesis 3:21, where God clothed Adam and Eve with the skins of animals. These animals became the first ‘innocent blood sacrifice’ in the Bible. But from Genesis 4 onward we see that God was establishing a sacrificial system long before the Law of Moses, where by the slaying of an innocent animal, the blood would atone for sin as a temporary measure until the Seed of the woman would finally come, and in so doing pay once and for all for sin.

Adam, it would appear knew this, and there are strong suggestions that the original Mazzaroth (what we know today as the Zodiac) was named by Adam as a way of telling the Gospel story that could then be passed down through the generations – Starting with Virgo (the virgin) with child, and ending up with the Lion (Leo) conquering all. Unfortunately the Mazzaroth was corrupted by the Babylonians and has since become something that is used to draw people away from God rather than lead them to Him.

Anyway, clothing (animal skins) as well as giving physical protection, were to be this symbolic reminder of the temporary protection/covering (from the consequences of sin) until the Seed of the woman, the Messiah, came.

In Genesis 3:20 Eve is describes as the mother of all living – this was prophetic because it was not until chapter 4 that she conceived and gave birth. But more than just the natural, there is the hint of the supernatural, for through Eve came the Messiah who said:

“I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever:” (John 6:48-51).

In this sense, Eve has indeed become the mother of all those who would live as a result of her Seed. But even this expression, the Seed of the Woman, is provocative, because biologically the seed comes from the man. So in this there is the hint of the virgin birth

Who is this woman? From all that follows it is clear that the woman is, if you will, the ‘mystical’ Eve, (the line that started with Eve and came down through the generations) from which the Messiah came.

…a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

In Genesis 37:9-11 we read: “And he [Joseph] dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying”.

As we have already noted, in the 404 verses in Revelation, there are over 800 allusions to the Old Testament. If John didn’t immediately make the connection, we certainly should, for the imagery used in Revelation 12:1 is straight from the above verse from Genesis 37. From this we can deduce that the sun is Jacob, the moon is Leah (as Rachel was dead by this time), and the stars were the brothers of Joseph. Thus the sun, moon and stars are representative of the nation of Israel. God ‘clothed’ the seed of the woman with the nation of Israel to protect it until the time appointed for the Messiah to be born.

Rev 12:2

And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

The Old Testament is the story of this Woman ‘travailing in birth’ waiting for the Child to come. Right from the start, Satan was ‘hell bent’ on stopping this Child coming and tried everything possible to prevent it. Understanding this simple fact sheds light on so much of what might otherwise be confusing. We need to understand all the battles and struggles in the Old Testament in this context.

God promised Abraham that the Seed would be one of his descendants, and through him, all the world would be blessed. To make this possible God promised to Abraham the land of Canaan – that we now know as Israel – but the promise was for Israel to have from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates, from the border of Egypt to Syria. This was to be a permanent possession. The promise was unconditional and therefore cannot be forfeited.

Satan now not only had a people group to target, but a land also. This is the beginning of Anti Semitism – the hatred of the Jews. It is Satanic in origin and has just one purpose; to attempt to thwart God’s plan.

Cain killing Able: This was Satan’s 1^st attempt after the fall to destroy the Seed of the Woman. In all probability, Satan at that time may well have thought Abel was the Seed.
The Nephelim and Giants of Gen 6: This was a Satanic plan to corrupt the human race, so that there would be no pure Adamic stock remaining. It was to cleanse the earth from this ‘infection’ that God sent the flood, but saved Noah and his family, who were the only ones left ‘perfect in their generations’ (i.e. genetically pure). When we know this truth, we see the Flood as an act of mercy, not the knee-jerk reaction of a tyrannical God.
The 2^nd wave of Nephelim: Notice how this ‘invasion’ only centered around Israel? This was because of the promise to Shem (and the later covenant with Abraham). Satan now knew the Seed would be one of Shem’s descendants, so focused his attention on that geographical region.
Nimrod trying to establish a One World Government at Babel (Babylon): Not only would this would give Satan control of the world systems & therefore individuals, his real intention was to get mankind to unite against the Seed (ironically their only Saviour!). Satan failed with this first attempt, but will succeed the second time around – only to then be defeated by Jesus.

False Religion: Babel failed as a world Government so Satan set about corrupting the truth about the promised Seed and introduced false religions – many of which have retained the worship of mother and child (simply a distortion of Eve and her Seed). These soon began to engulf the world. But now God called Abraham out of this idolatry; and through his family there would be a protective environment, kept separate from the world, from which the Seed could one day come.

Ishmael’s contempt for Isaac: Their descendants have carried on a family feud until this day
Attempts on Jacob’s Life: Jacob feared for his life with Esau, then later Laban.
Slavery in Egypt: Satan used the Egyptians to crush Israel
The killing of the male babies in Egypt: This was another deliberate attempt to stop the Seed of the Woman coming.

The Wars of Israel: Critics love to attack Israel for their conquest of Canaan, yet the inhabitants were the remnants of the Nephelim. Had Israel had been destroyed, the Saviour could not have come!
Many more attacks: Satan did not give up, and still hasn’t. The numerous attempts to wipe out the Royal line (1 Samuel 19:10 / 2 Kings 11:2), the blood curse on Jeconiah (Jer 22:30), the Babylonian conquest, the hostility towards Nehemiah’s attempts to rebuild Jerusalem following the Exile, and many more.

All of this was the labour pains the ‘Woman’ (and because the Woman was clothed with Israel, Israel too) had to go through in order to bring the Child to birth.

But Satan’s attempts did not stop after Jesus was born, for we see this carried on in the New Testament with the killing of the babies at Bethlehem, the plot of the Jews to kill Jesus and eventually the betrayal by Judas and the crucifixion. This time Satan thought he had finally won.

What a difference three days can make!

Rev 12:3

And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

This ‘great red dragon’ is identified in verse 9 as none other than Satan. Seven symbolises ‘complete’. Ten appears in reference to man’s government in the Bible and horns are a symbol of power. Thus Satan has, for now, complete control of the governments of this world (this has been the case since the fall when he deceived Adam & Even and ‘stole’ their position as ruler of this world).

“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,” (2 Cor 4:4).

Rev 12:4

And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

The stars in this verse are a reference to angels. Whether through Satan’s coercion or simply their own pride, we find that a third of the angels rebelled with Satan. Satan has one third, but he is outnumbered two to one! Satan had waited (and no doubt feared) throughout the Old Testament period for the moment the Child was to be born. If he could not prevent the birth of the Seed, he wanted to ‘devour’ Him as soon as He was born, and this is seen dramatically in the attempt (as mentioned above) to kill of the babies of Bethlehem.

Rev 12:5

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

The Woman, now in the protection of the nation of Israel, gave birth to the Messiah and despite Satan’s best efforts at Calvary, three days later his worst nightmare came true; and in fact by orchestrating Jesus’ death Satan became a murderer, and under God’s law stated back in Genesis 9:6, he had now forfeited his own life. Jesus was untouchable and returned to Heaven. Jesus will rule all nations with a rod of iron. (See Psalm 2:8-9)

Rev 12:6

And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

We now jump forward in time as becomes clear by the reference to the 1260 days.

Note: This is not unusual in scripture as the Church Age is often omitted from prophecies. For example in Daniel 9:24-27 we have the prophecy of the 70 weeks for which the clock stops on Palm Sunday and does not restart until the ‘confirming of the covenant’ at the beginning of the Tribulation. Jesus also gives us an example of this in Luke 4:18-20 where He took the scroll of Isaiah and read “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord……….. The passage that Jesus was reading was Isaiah 61:2; however in Isaiah, where Jesus stopped there is a comer, in other words Jesus didn’t finish the sentence, that is why we read: “And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him”. The verse in Isaiah actually goes on to say “……and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn”. Jesus didn’t complete the verse because that portion of the prophecy will not be fulfilled until the Church has been raptured. The prophecy did not take into account the Church Age because the Church was ‘hidden’ in the Old Testament. (See Matt 13:35). There are actually 24 of these ‘gaps’ in the Bible as listed by Dr Chuck Missler in his book Cosmic Codes (Interestingly, in Revelation ch 4-5 we have the number 24 used to identify the Elders who are representative of the Church).

With the Church Age omitted from the record for the sake of this prophecy, the Child is caught up to God’s throne and the Tribulation begins. At the 3¹/₂ year point (which is where we have reached in chapter 10), we now see the following events unfold and Israel, following Jesus’ advice (recorded in Matt 24), flees into the wilderness – probably to Petra / Bozrah, in Jordan (Old Testament Edom) which we are told will not come under the control of Antichrist (Dan 11:41).

This will fulfill Jacob’s prophetic utterance to Esau in Genesis 33:14. On that occasion Jacob (returning to Israel from his time with uncle Laban) promised Esau that he would join him in Edom. To this day that promise had not been fulfilled, but it will be at this time when Israel flee from Antichrist and go to one of the only places in the world that Antichrist will have no jurisdiction (see Daniel 11:41)

Jesus gave this warning to Israel, which will come to fruition at this time: “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matt 24:15-22)

As we have seen in the preceding chapters, we have been building up to the crescendo that marks the end of the beginning of sorrows, and now will be ushered in the Great Tribulation. Israel will now also be moved out of the way as God brings unimaginable judgment on this world.

Rev 12:7

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

Michael is an Archangel and possibly the only one. He is always seen as the protector of Israel. (cf. Daniel 12:1). Satan may well have been of this rank prior to his fall. It is hard to imagine what the battle between these two super-angels will be like, but we should remember that the Devil’s angels are outnumbered two to one.

Rev 12:8

And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

In Job we see that Satan has access to the throne of God, but now his access to God is revoked; not least because he has now lost his claim to the earth and therefore has no reason to ‘report’ to God anymore.

Rev 12:9

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Jesus spoke prophetically Luke 10:18 “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” This is good news in Heaven, but as we see in a moment, bad news for the earth.

It is worth noting that Satan’s method has always been to deceive. The next time that you are tempted, remember that Satan is trying to deceive you; what he is offering you maybe ‘good’, but unless it is in God’s way and God’s timing it will only cause you heartache and sorrow. God really wants the best for you; Satan only wants to destroy you – you are his enemy. Remember that his name (Satan) means ‘opponent’, and as we have already mentioned, he is not God’s opponent but yours!

Rev 12:10

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

The kingdom has come. Jesus has become the rightful and lawful ruler of planet earth!

Even now Satan accuses us before the throne; it appears to be his favourite weapon against us. We stumble and fall when we start to believe the accusations. However we have been purchased by the blood of the Lamb, the old has gone the new has come, sin no longer has any power over us – He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world! God has removed our sin as far as the east is from the west! (1 Pet 5:8 / 1 Cor 6:20 / 2 Cor 5:17 / Rom 6:14 / 1 John 4:4 / Psalm 103:12)

Rev 12:11

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

The blood of our Passover Lamb is the only thing that has saved us – nothing we can do can add to it, it is complete. (Heb 9:28 / Eph 2:8)

All Christians have the same testimony; we were on our way to hell, Jesus saved us, now we are going to heaven – the rest is just details.

It has been said that it is harder to live for Christ than to die for Him. If we are called to die for Him, we find the resolve to stand for what we know is true. But to live for Him, day after day when no one seems to be watching, and no one seems to care; to remain loyal when we don’t have to – that’s the real challenge.

We need to learn this secret of the burning heart. Suddenly Jesus appears to us, the fires are kindled, we have wonderful visions; then we have to learn to keep the secret of the burning heart that will go through anything. It is the dull, bald, dreary, commonplace day, with commonplace duties and people that kills the burning heart unless we have learned the secret of abiding in Jesus. – Oswald Chambers (My Utmost For His Highest)

Paul spoke concerning the things of this life, even the good things, not necessarily sinful things, but all that came between him and his Saviour regardless of how small, he had chosen to put aside.

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.” (1 Cor 10:23)

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” (Phil 3:7-8)

Is our testimony right now one of abandoning all to Jesus, living each (ordinary) moment for Him alone; not loving our own lives but dying to self so we can live for Him? As we read this is there anything in our lives that has come between us and our Saviour? If so, stop reading this, get on your knees, repent and ask His forgiveness. If we hold onto sin He cannot hear us (Psalm 66:18), but if we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). There is no-thing in Heaven or Earth that is more important than being rightly related to Jesus.

“It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:” (2 Tim 2:11-12)

Rev 12:12

Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

This is, as we have said the 3¹/₂ year point. Satan is now really ‘sore displeased’ having being cast down to earth, and so now indwells Antichrist who at this point really ‘turns nasty’ and establishes himself as the sole ruler of the nations (10 ‘kingdoms’), putting all people in subjection to him. He also begins to abolish all world religion except worship of himself, and blasphemes the God of Heaven and those who dwell there – all of which we will see in chapter 13.

Rev 12:13

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

As the old adage goes: ‘you are what you wear’. In this context, the woman who was clothed with Israel is now seen as synonymous with Israel as Satan, through Antichrist, seeks to destroy Israel because they still have a part to play in God’s plan. One prerequisite of the Second Coming is that Israel repent and realise that Jesus is their Messiah, petitioning Him to return and help then in the ‘time of Jacob’s trouble’ (Jeremiah 30:7).

“I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.” (Hosea 5:15-6:2)

Rev 12:14

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

Some have conjectured that this reference to a ‘great eagle’ could be the USA who air lift Israel to safety – possibly. But it is more likely a reference to the speed of her departure and God’s assistance. However she gets there, God sustains her for three and a half years.

Rev 12:15-16

15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

Is this a literal flood or some sort of military pursuit, also sometimes referred to as a flood?

Either way the earth opens up – possibly due to the fault line that runs through the Jordan valley – and the ‘flood’ is swallowed up by the earth.

Rev 12:17

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Who are these? They cannot be Israel, for she is now being protected by God in the wilderness. Neither can this be the Church; because she is in Heaven; and besides, Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church (Matt 17:18). These must therefore be those who have been converted during the tribulation as a result of the preaching of the two witnesses (Rev 11:3-12), and/or the 144,000 Jewish evangelists (Rev 7:3-8). These will therefore be the ones who come out of Great Tribulation (Rev 7:9-17) and will join those who have already been slain for their witness and testimony (Rev 6:9-11 – the 5^th Seal). They will be given white robes to wear and will be the ones who are ‘called to the marriage supper of the Lamb’ (Rev 19:6-9)

To be continued…

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry

The post Man’s Greatest Opponent first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

God’s Two Witnesses

Barry Forder — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 16:58:45 +0000

On Sunday we were studying Revelation chapter 11, where we are introduced to two witnesses who are give the power to perform supernatural miracles during the first three and a half years of the Tribulation (aka ‘The Beginning of Sorrow’).

In the study notes below, we will go verse by verse through the chapter and ask the question, ‘who are these individuals?’.

However, there is an even more pertinent question we should ask, and that is why are there two witnesses?

The simply answer is that, according to the law of Moses, two witnesses were required to establish something. Jesus Himself alludes to this in John 8:17.

In Luke 16:29, we discover that the two witnesses God has given, for all of time and eternity are the Law and the Prophets. The Law is given to convert the soul (Psalm 19:7), to convict our hearts. The Prophets are given to convince the intellect (see 2 Peter 1:19).

So I hope you are blessed by this study of chapter 11, but remember, the same witnesses that God will use in the days ahead of us are available to you today! You can use God’s Law to convince a sinner of their sin, and you can use the prophetic scriptures to convince even the hardest of skeptics that the Bible really is the Word of a God who is outside our space-time.

Introduction to Revelation chapter 11

Various Bible commentators see this chapter as possibly the most difficult in the book of Revelation. Certainly the first two verses by themselves raise many questions. The good news is that we have 66 books, by 40 or so authors, written over approximately 1600 years that are in essence, a single message from a Sovereign God to His creation; so these opening verses are not by themselves, the rest of scripture stands by to answer the questions that are raised.

If we view this chapter as a single unit without the light of the rest of scripture, it is not just hard, but almost impossible to understand what is going on in these verses.

As is so often the case when it comes to understanding the book of Revelation, scholars are divided as to whether the events recorded are actual literal events, or if they are just pictures pointing to a deeper truth. We have the liberal theologians on one side telling us this is just picture language, a mystery wrapped up in an allegory, and on the other side we have those who take the Bible seriously – by that I mean those who take it at face value and believe what it says, wherever possible taking the text in its usual literal sense.

As we have already noted in our study, God gave this Revelation to John that we might know what is coming to pass (Rev 1:1). In that very fact there is a mandate to accept the things recorded as literal future events, for it would make no sense to tell John to record the things that are going to come to pass and them merely impart spiritual truths through a series of dramatic visions, particularly when any supposed ‘deeper truths’ are so ambiguous as to be of no help at all!

John may not have understood where all this was leading, but he knew what he was seeing!

None of this was intended to be confusing. God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor 14:33).

As we have dealt with in the past, when it comes to interpreting scripture, the golden rule is: When the plain sense of scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning, unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages indicate clearly otherwise.

Important Background for Chapter 11

When the disciples asked Jesus “when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, at the end of the world’ (Matt 24:3), Jesus pointed them to the book of Daniel and in particular, chapter 9 vs 24-27. The same passage is the key to our understanding the ‘end times’ in general and in particular, the opening verses of this chapter.

Daniel was just a teenager when he was taken away captive from his home in Israel to Babylon; however, by the time we get to chapter 9 of his book, almost 70 years had passed. Daniel remembered that God had promised through the prophet Jeremiah that Israel’s captivity would last for 70 years. Therefore, understanding that the promise was to be taken literally, (God had said 70 years so Daniel figured that that was what He meant!) Daniel started to pray and ask God about the future of his people and the city of Jerusalem.

God sent the angel Gabriel to give Daniel the answer: “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city” This tells us ‘how long’ and to ‘whom’ this prophecy refers.

Note: Although ‘seventy weeks’ is a strange term to us, it was not to the Jews. There are several Hebrew words that are all translated as ‘week’ in the English. There is a week of days (i.e. 7 days), a week of weeks (i.e. 7 weeks) and a week of years (i.e. 7 years). The word here is ‘shawbooah’ and in this context means a week of years. The same word is used in Genesis 29:27 when Jacob worked for 7 years to marry Rachel, only to find that he had married Leah by ‘mistake’! Jacob protested because he had already served 7 years for Rachel, so Laban told Jacob to fulfil Leah’s ‘week’, i.e. work for another 7 years to pay for Leah, and he could have Rachel too.

So in effect Daniel was told that seventy 7-year periods (= 490 years) were determined on his people, the Jews, and on his holy city, which was of course Jerusalem. Gabriel then told Daniel what would be accomplished during this time: “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”. By the end of the seventy 7-year periods, all of these things would be done. It is obvious to even the casual observer that this list has not been fulfilled to date; the next three verses explain why this is so.

“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”. Here Daniel is given the starting point for the 490 years, which from history we know was 1^st Nisan 445BC when king Artaxerses Longimanus signed a decree allowing the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Just as Gabriel prophesied, the streets and walls were built again in ‘troublous times’ as recorded in the book of Nehemiah.

We are also told that ‘unto the Messiah’ there shall be 7 weeks + 62 weeks = 69 weeks = 483 years. This is one of the most amazing prophecies in the entire Bible, because after an interval of 483 years – to the very day, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey fulfilling the prophecy from Zechariah 9:9. This prophecy in Daniel 9 was written down over 500 years before the event and serves as undeniable proof that Jesus is the Messiah and that the Bible is the Word of God.

This accounts for 483 years of the 490, so we are left with just one ‘week’ still remaining. However, before that last week could begin, certain things must happen. We are told: “after threescore and two weeks, [but before the last week] Messiah shall be cut off, but not for himself: Less than a week after the triumphal entry into Jerusalem in AD32 Jesus was crucified – but not for Himself. He died to pay for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

…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. The people who destroyed the city of Jerusalem were the Romans in AD70 – an event prophesied by Jesus in Luke 19 / Matt 24 etc. – but this verse introduces us to the ‘prince that shall come’, and tells us that it is going to be a bumpy ride for the Jews up until the end.

Clearly then, there is an interval between the 69^th and 70^th week during which Messiah was to be ‘cut off’ (AD32), Jerusalem was to be destroyed by the Romans (AD70), and the Jews would suffer persecution. Throughout this time, which has now lasted almost two thousand years, it is as if God’s clock for Israel has been put on hold while the Gentiles are ‘gathered in’. However the final verse of this prophecy draws our attention to the event that will trigger this last ‘Week’ (7-year period) and restart the clock thus completing the 490 years of the Gabriel’s prophecy.

And he [the prince that shall come, from verse 26] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” Dan 9:24-27

So the ‘trigger’ that restarts the prophetic clock is when this ‘prince’ will confirm a covenant intended to last for 7 years – the final 7 years of the prophecy.

However there are certain requirements that must be met before this ‘week’ can begin:

For a covenant to be confirmed with Israel, they must be back in their own land. This prophecy could not have been fulfilled before May 14^th 1948 when the Jews were once again given the land of Israel as a homeland. For almost two centuries up to this point the ‘wandering Jew’ was spread all around the world in fulfilment of Deuteronomy 28:25, 65-66. Now talks of peace agreements in the Middle East are daily news.

For this ‘prince’ to cause sacrifice and offering to cease, it must have been happening prior to this point – otherwise he can’t stop it! However, for the Jews to be making their sacrifices there needs to be an alter, and just as importantly a Jewish temple in Jerusalem in which to do it. It is no secret that the Jews are even now preparing to rebuild their temple. Today in Jerusalem, in the Temple Institute, you can see the priestly robes and utensils, the Incense Alter, the Table of Showbread, + more that they have already prepared. Special die has been manufactured, and animals are already being bred in anticipation of this time.

One potential hindrance to this is the Muslim Dome of the Rock, which is on the temple mount. However there are those who believe that the Jewish temple could be rebuilt on the original site of Solomon’s temple without interfering with the Muslim shrine.

We will discover later in our study of Revelation (chapter 13), that in the middle of the week (half way through the 7 years) this ‘prince’ (who will be Antichrist) will not only stop the Jews from sacrificing, but he will put a statue of himself in the holy of holies inside the temple – this is the abomination of desolation that Jesus spoke about.

To conclude (the introduction!):

From this brief overview (and you are strongly encouraged to do a serious study of Daniel ch 9 on your own), we can clearly see that there is a final 7-year period marked out for the Jews, completing the 490 years as prophesied by the angel Gabriel.

Before* the start of this ‘week’ (7-year period), the Jews will rebuild their temple and begin sacrificing according to the Law of Moses. For this to happen the Dome of the Rock will either have to be destroyed in war, through an earthquake, or by other means; or it will be discovered that the Jews will be able, by their continued archaeological research, to prove where Solomon’s temple once stood, thus enabling both Jews and Muslims to have ‘temple’s’ on the temple mount.

This could happen at any time, but the Jewish temple must be standing before the mid-point of the Tribulation in order for Antichrist to stop the sacrifices and put his image inside.

*Some scholars wonder whether the temple will be built before the seven years begin or built during the first 3 ¹/₂ years. If the temple is not built before the start of the Week, then the covenant that Antichrist confirms will no doubt be the go ahead to build it. However from Rev 11:1-2 it would seem that the temple is standing at the start of the week for John to be able to measure it. This is the view held here.

Timing

The final piece of the jigsaw to put in place before we begin our verse-by-verse study of chapter 11 is the chronology (or timing) of the events we are about to study. This will make it much easier to understand how it all fits together.

It is important to remember that in the original Greek there were no chapter or verse divisions, these were added later for convenience. Therefore, at the risk of stating the obvious, chapter 11 is just a continuation of chapter 10, where John had just reached a crescendo with a mighty angel declaring that ‘time has run out’ for the people of the earth. In other words, the warning period that we call the ‘Beginning of Sorrows’ is now over, the Great Tribulation is about to begin.

However, before John is shown what will happen on earth during this time, he is given additional information in chapters 11 through to 14 that describe events and situations that occur both during the Beginning of Sorrows and in the middle of the ‘week’.

Chapter 10 ends with the mighty angel telling John that he must now ‘prophesy again’. This is as if the angel has pressed the reset button and John now ‘rewinds’ to the beginning of the ‘Week’ / Tribulation. As chapter 11 unfolds we are taken through the first three and a half years from a different camera angle, so to speak. By the end of this chapter, John will have brought us back to the point he left off at the end of chapter 10 and introduce the seventh and final trumpet judgment.

Having now done our homework, this chapter becomes much easier to understand.

CHAPTER 11

Rev 11:1-2

1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

As we now come to the first verses of this chapter, we are immediately faced with a temple, an alter and those who worship therein. Some scholars have tried to make this fit the church, but the language and context just don’t allow for that. Others see this as the heavenly temple, but again this view does not fit the context. This is a temple in Jerusalem – the holy city – and therefore must be the rebuilt temple on the temple mount. The alter and the fact that there is worship in this place, show that there are sacrifices taking place. Therefore this must be during the first 3 1/2 years of the Week, because in the middle of the Week, the sacrifices and offerings (worship) are stopped by Antichrist.

Regarding verse one, J Vernon McGee comments: “Every time you see the beginning of measurements, in either the Old or New Testament, it indicates that God is beginning to deal with the nation Israel (see Jer. 31:38–39; Zech. 2)” With the commencement of the 70^th week of Daniel, God’s clock for Israel starts ticking again. It is as if God has two stopwatches, one for the Jews and one for the Gentiles, but only one of them is used at a time. This is another reason the church has to be removed prior to the 70^th week starting. Consistent with this, and building on the concept of the 490 years that we mentioned a moment ago, it is remarkable to observe that the entire history of Israel is divided into four 490 year periods if we deduct the time they were under Gentile ‘rule’.

In the Bible, on various occasions a rod is seen as indicating Judgment (Lev 27:32 / 2 Sam 7:14 / Job 9:34 / Ps 89:32 / Prov 22:15 / Ezek 20:37); some scholars feel that John is being told to measure ‘with a reed like unto a rod’ as a type of being weighed in a balance, seeing how the Jews are ‘measuring up’ as Daniel’s 70^th Week starts.

The reference to leaving the outer court ‘for it is given to the Gentiles’ is provocative, as one of the possible locations for the temple to be rebuilt would make it possible for the main structure to be built alongside the Dome of the Rock, but this would require that the outer court would be omitted falling as it would in Arab (Gentile) control.

In Luke 21:24 Jesus spoke of Jerusalem being trodden underfoot until the times of Gentiles were fulfilled. Some have thought that this period ended in 1967 when Israel recaptured Jerusalem and the Temple mount; however verse 2 clearly shows that even during the Tribulation time, the Gentiles will tread Jerusalem underfoot. The times of the Gentiles will not be complete until Jesus returns at the Second Coming and puts an end to Gentile rule.

(See Dan 2:44 / Dan 7:12-14 )

Forty-two months* (see note on following page) is three and a half years taking 360 days per year. Again this must be the first half of the ‘week’ / Tribulation because as we will see in chapter 12, in the second half of the ‘week’, the Jews flee into the wilderness to a place prepared for them by God. This is to escape Antichrist who will try and destroy them during this time for the simple reason that a prerequisite condition of Christ returning, is that the Jews petition Him to come (Hosea 5:15). As Satan tied to kill the babies at Bethlehem, and before that, sent the Giant tribes to destroy Israel, so he will stop at nothing in his attempt to destroy the Jews in a vain attempt to thwart God’s plan.

As an aside, 2 Thessalonians 2 is another example in scripture that clearly shows the Jewish temple must be rebuilt in the last days, for Paul, speaking of Antichrist says: “……for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” (2 Thess 2:3-4)

Note: *Three and a half years are referred to in three different ways: 42 months, 1260 days and time, times and the dividing of time (with ‘time’ singular = 1 year, ‘times’ plural = 2 years and the dividing of time = half a year).

Twice we have 42 months:

The first time it is in reference to the ‘Beginning of Sorrows’ (Rev 11:2).

The second time it is in reference to the ‘Great Tribulation’ (Rev 13:5).

Twice we have 1260 days:

The first time is in reference to the ‘Beginning of Sorrows’ (Rev 11:3).

The second time it is in reference to the ‘Great Tribulation’ (Rev 12:6).

Twice we have time, times and half a time:

In both cases these are in reference to the ‘Great Tribulation’. (Dan 7:25 & Rev 12:14)

In this way we are left in no doubt how long Daniel’s 70^th week will last because we are given it in days and months for both halves. Therefore the entire period will last exactly 84 months, or 2520 days, which is seven 360-day years – to the day.

This also underlines the fact that this is not allegorical; this is a real period of time and therefore the events that we are told occur during this time are also real; and therefore cannot be merely a spiritual story designed to illustrate a ‘deeper truth’

Rev 11:3

And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

During this period (the first half of the Tribulation), God will send two witnesses to preach to whosoever has ears to hear. The fact that God sends them to witness is in itself another indication that this is the first 3¹/₂years; because God’s character throughout the Bible has been to warn before he brings His judgment. As Peter says: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

Whilst the judgments of the first half of the Tribulation are like nothing ever seen before in earth, Jesus Himself said of the last half: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matt 24:21-22)

These two witnesses being sent are another example of God’s love and compassion for His creation; it is a final warning before the coming of the ‘Day of the LORD’

“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.” (Isa 13:9-11)

Rev 11:4

These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

Olive trees are mentioned 7 times in scripture and there seems to be the idea of fruitfulness associated with them. It may well be as a result of the preaching of these two witnesses that the 144,000 Jewish evangelists that we encountered back in chapter 7 are saved. They too will be preaching during this time.

Candlesticks were seen in chapter 1 as representative of the Church being a witness. But now the Church has gone, these two witnesses pick up the baton.

There is a curious passage in Zech 4:11-14 where it appears we see a model (or prophetic vision) of these two witnesses: “Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.

Rev 11:5

And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

How many people will try to destroy these two witnesses before they realise that they are indestructible?! This verse implies that some will try. This is obviously going to draw a great deal of attention; if a whale swims up the Thames on a ‘quiet news day’ it will be on TV sets around the world, how much more so for two supernaturally protected men of God who can shoot fire out of their mouths!

Rev 11:6

These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

The days of their prophecy will be 1260 or three and a half years as we saw in verse 3. They will have a worldwide impact; and the fact that will ‘smite the earth with plagues’ shows that the effects are not just confined to Israel.

Now we turn to the big question: Who are they?

The truthful answer is that we cannot be 100% sure, however as we know from Proverbs 25:2 “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” Certainly we are given some very provocative pointers that suggest their identity as we will explore.

Two theories that are worth mentioning, but are short of any real substance are 1) They are Joshua & Zerubbabel, because of the verse we read earlier from Zechariah 4 – although this seems to be the only support for this view. Or 2) they are Elijah & Enoch. We will deal with Elijah in a moment, but the reason that Enoch has been suggested is that he was raptured and therefore did not taste death. In Hebrews 9:27 we read “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” Because of this, and the fact that both Enoch and Elijah have not yet died, it is suggested that these could be our guys. However the passage in Hebrews is laying down a general principle and not a hard and fast rule. Whilst Enoch and Elijah are indeed the only two people recorded in scripture that have not died once, we have many examples of people who have died twice. Lazarus / Jairus daughter / Those who rose at the time of the Resurrection (Matt 27:53) and various examples in the Old Testament. Thus using Hebrews 9:27 to support this case is not what it may first appear to be, and there is really no other reason for Enoch to be put forward as one of our witnesses.

Elijah on the other hand is a very good candidate for the position. Elijah was known for calling down fire from heaven on his enemies (2 Kings 1:10 / Luke 9:54) and for stopping the rain for 3¹/₂ years in the days of Ahab king of Israel. This is confirmed in James 5:17 “Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.” The fact that we have the same miracles and the same time period is not conclusive but certainly points to Elijah as a possibility. However the case for Elijah is made stronger still in Malachi 4:5-6 where we are told: Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

The day of the Lord, as we have seen, specifically refers to the Great Tribulation, the last 3¹/₂ years; so the fact that it is prophesied that Elijah will return before this again supports the view that these events are taking place during the first 3¹/₂ years.

Because of this prophecy in Malachi, the Jews even to this day leave a spare chair out at their Passover meal in case Elijah turns up.

What is also interesting is that Elijah is not the only prophet that the Jews are expecting to return. In John 1:25 the people asked John the Baptist “Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?” The prophet that they were referring to was none other than Moses. From a prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:18 the Jews believe that Moses himself will return. The pieces of our jigsaw now start to fall neatly into place; for in the list of miracles that the two witnesses will do, half of them have been done in the past by Elijah as we have just seen, but the other half were performed at the hand of Moses.

In Exodus 7:17 Moses turned the water to blood, and from Exodus 7 through to 11 Moses unleashed a total of 10 plagues on the land of Egypt.

One further observation would seem to pair these two together as our supernatural preachers for the Tribulation.

In Matthew 17:1-13 we read of a strange encounter: “And after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

In Luke’s account he says: “And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elijah: Who appeared in glory, and spoke of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:30-31)

Clearly Moses and Elijah appear together in this scene (both apparently looking the same despite the fact that Elijah had been raptured), but another insight is drawn from their topic of conversation – Jesus’ death! Why would Jesus call for Moses and Elijah, (or why would God send Moses and Elijah) to discuss with Jesus something about His death?

Under the Mosaic Law two witnesses were required to establish the truth about any given situation. Jesus Himself confirmed this in John 8:17 “It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.” On the morning of the resurrection Luke records: “And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:4-5)

Luke specifically uses the word ‘aner’ which means ‘man’ (and not angel). Although Luke wasn’t there at the tomb himself, he labours the point that he thoroughly checked out all the details he recorded in his Gospel (see Luke 1:1-4), and as a physician, he knew the difference between a man and an angel!

As an aside, there were at least three angels in addition to these two men at the tomb that resurrection morning; one mighty angel rolled the stone away (Matt 28:2) and two ‘Cheribuim’ were seen by Mary Magdalene sitting at either end of the ‘box shaped’ cut out where Jesus’ body had been laid, seemingly acting out the scene from Leviticus 16 where the blood of the innocent sacrifice was sprinkled on the mercy seat atop the ark that had the golden Cherubim at either end.

Could it be that these two men, clothed in shining garments, were the same two men that had spoken to Jesus only a short while before about His death? Could it be that the purpose for that conversation was to ensure that there were two witnesses present to witness the resurrection?

We also see, what would seem to be these two men witnessing the ascension of Jesus in Acts 1:10: “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel”; On this occasion they spoke to the disciples about Jesus’ return.

If Moses and Elijah are indeed the two witnesses of Revelation 11, it would make sense because they represent the Law and Prophets = God’s written Word, which is the greatest witness of all. In the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16, the rich man dies and goes to hell, whereas Lazarus dies and is comforted in ‘Abraham’s bosom’. The rich man calls out to Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his brothers of their fate but Abraham replies: “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them” but the rich man said: “Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent” Abraham, speaking prophetically, closes by saying: “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” (Luke 16:29-31)

Jesus did rise from the dead, but as Abraham foretold people still will not believe. In this last great act of mercy before the Day of the LORD, God will send His two witnesses to testify of the truth. The Law and the prophets as recorded in the pages of the Bible are sufficient to convict and convince all men if they will but listen. Who better therefore than Moses and Elijah themselves to bring this final warning before the Great Tribulation? Moses as the great proponent of the Law, and Elijah as representative of God’s prophets. He who has an ear, now is a really good time to hear!!

Rev 11:7

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

They couldn’t be touched until God’s appointed time. This should be a great comfort to us because until we have finished our course and accomplished that which God has called us to do, there is nothing that man or the devil can do to us to thwart God’s plans. “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” (Ps 118:6)

Paul Said: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:6-7)

Earlier in his ministry Paul told the Corinthains: “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” (2 Cor 11:24-27)

On the occasion that Paul was stoned people thought that he was dead! (Acts 14:9) And yet God still had work for him to do. Likewise God will not allow anything to touch you that is not in His will for your life. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8:28)

This is the first mention of the beast – Antichrist. From this point he is referred to as the beast 36 times (which is 6 x 6!). Although Antichrist will be a man, he is obviously possessed by a supernatural power, which we are here told comes out of the bottomless pit. This power will not ‘indwell’ Antichrist until the half way point of the Tribulation, at which time Satan is cast out of Heaven (as we will see in chapter 12), and Satan then ‘calls him up’ out of the nations of the world and gives him his power (as we will se in chapter 13). One of Antichrist’s first acts with this supernatural demonic power will be to silence the voice of the two witnesses. This shows that the end of their ministry will be at the mid point of the tribulation when Antichrist is empowered. Thus it confirms that their ministry will be for the first 1260 days of the Tribulation (the Beginning of Sorrows), and this also underlines the fact that they are sent as two lampstands to bear God’s light before the darkness of the Great Tribulation – The Day of the Lord – comes. In the midst of judgment, God still reaches out His hand in mercy.

Rev 11:8

And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Jerusalem – in case you’re not sure!

Rev 11:9

And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

Quite why no-one wants to bury them is not clear; maybe people are still fearful that fire will come down from Heaven if anyone touches them. The fact that we are told the whole world is going to see this seemed an exaggeration even 50 years ago. However, we are now in the digital age when events taking place on the other side of the world are beamed into our living rooms in seconds. No doubt CNN / Sky News / BBC News 24 etc will all be there covering the dramatic events as they unfold.

Once again it appears that the news media of the world have missed out on the exclusive! It appears that Asaph, the psalmist of Israel, beat them to it by about 3000 years: “O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps. The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.” (Psalm 79:1-3)

Rev 11:10

And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

The phrase ‘they that dwell/dwelt on the earth’ occurs nine (the number judgment) times in Revelation, and the meaning is really ‘those who have made this world their home’. This is in contrast to those who have given up this world for something far better – Jesus Christ.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 John 2:15-17)

The world loves any excuse for a party, but how sick the world has become that people actually celebrate the taking of life. The Word of God as preached by these two witnesses is sharp and living and will cut to the heart the people who refuse to repent. Being faced by the truth and righteousness of the Word will be torment indeed for these unbelievers.

Rev 11:11

And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

Can you imagine the look on people’s faces as they watch the TV and see these two witnesses get up and dust themselves off? They were really not expecting this – and just think of all that money they have just wasted on presents! No wonder great fear falls upon them.

Rev 11:12

And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

‘Come up here’ is a rapture call – the same Greek as used in Rev 4:1

This must be terrifying for all those on the earth; you can almost feel the anxiety – “what’s going to happen now?”

Rev 11:13

And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

The great fear of the people (v11) was not without a reason. Now we see God responding via an earthquake that destroys 10% of Jerusalem, killing seven thousand people. It is worth noting that the largest geological fault line is known as the Great Rift Valley and runs all the way down from Syria, through the Jordan valley and the Dead Sea, down to Africa.

It is hardly surprising that the remnant were scared; but what is remarkable is that whilst they give glory to the God of Heaven, it appears that no one repents. How can it be that people give glory to God for His greatness but choose not to repent? This would be more of a puzzle if it were not for the fact that we see the same thing each Sunday. Christians in churches all around the world meet to give glory to God, recognising Him as the Lord of all,; and yet so many Christians have things in their lives – things left over from the ‘old life’ – that they are not prepared to lay at the cross and ask forgiveness for. God wants us to walk with Him in victory over the world, the flesh and the Devil; but unless we choose to yield all to Him, put to death the “old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” (Eph 4:22), then we will not be able to walk with Him in victory. The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart! It is where we have placed our treasure that counts, and these people will acknowledge God with their lips, but their heart will be far from Him.

Amos 3:3 asks: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” How can we truly walk with God unless we are going in the same direction as He is? Unless we have the same attitude to sin that He has. Just because people give glory to God does not mean that their hearts are right with Him. “He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me”. Mark 7:6

Rev 11:14

The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

We are now back to where we were at the end of chapter 10 and rejoin the time line

Rev 11:15

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

The mighty angel in chapter 10 claims the earth and sea for Jesus, carrying the title deed with all the seals now opened; here heaven celebrates that Jesus has the legal title to the throne of planet Earth. What is to follow as we enter the Great Tribulation / The Day of the Lord is that Jesus will begin to purge the earth in preparation for His coming in power to take position of what is now rightfully His.

The Seventh Trumpet lasts throughout the Great Tribulation cf. Rev 10:7

Rev 11:16

And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

Unlike those on the earth, those in Heaven not only give glory, but worship as well. This worship is the kind the Father desires, in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24)

Rev 11:17

Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

The meaning behind the phrase ‘and hast reigned’ is not clear to understand from the way it has been translated – in the Greek the tense of the word is the ingressive first aorist active indicative (according to Dr Chuck Missler!). It should read “Thou hast begun to reign”. This is consistent with all that we have understood about this time and commentated on thus far.

Rev 11:18

And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Thy wrath is come – the Great Tribulation is here. As a result, all the other things will now follow; including the judgment of the dead, the rewards to the prophets, saints and those who fear His name, and God will destroy those who destroy the earth. The good news for supporters of Greenpeace et al is that God cares about the earth and will restore it; the bad news is that unless they repent and put their trust in Him they won’t get to stay around and enjoy it.

Rev 11:19

And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

John is now taken from the scene on earth in verse 18 back to Heaven and our attention is drawn to the Temple in Heaven being opened. Inside we see the original ark of which Moses made a copy at God’s instructions. The effects that are witnessed, lightnings, thunderings, eathquake & great hail, are seen happening on earth as a consequence of what is happening in heaven.

To be continued…

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry

The post God’s Two Witnesses first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

JEHOVAH M’KADDESH – THE LORD WHO SANCTIFIES

Barry Forder — Sun, 17 Apr 2016 14:38:07 +0000

The word ‘holiness’ is from the Hebrew ‘kodesh’, and is allied to ‘sanctify’ the Hebrew for which is translated in English as ‘dedicate’, ‘hallow’, and ‘holy’. In its various forms it appears about 700 times in the Bible and in this expression, Jehovah M’Kaddesh, the Lord Who Sanctifies.

God created Israel to be a holy nation.

‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ Exodus 19:5-6

We as believers are also considered by God to be a holy priesthood and nation.

‘But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.’ 1 Peter 2:9-10

We are expected to be holy as He is holy.

‘But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” Leviticus 11 v 44

‘For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy.’ 1Peter 1 v 15-16.

That is a high calling indeed, but what does it mean to be holy as He is holy. God is holy…that is a given….He is unique, set apart, sinless, perfect. He cannot be holier than He already is.

How can we possibly expect to achieve such a goal? The answer to that of course is that we can’t.

We know that we are part of a fallen world, we are sinners saved only by the grace of God, there is no good thing in us, our hearts are desperately wicked, there is no hope for any of us apart from Jesus. It is His blood that covers us and makes us acceptable to God the Father.

The plain fact is that we cannot sanctify ourselves, make ourselves holy. It is a work of God by His Holy Spirit.

‘And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.’1 Corinthians 6 v 11

However it is for us a journey, a pilgrimage of faith. We recognise Jesus as our Holiness, our perfect and amazing God, who died so that we could be saved. But salvation is not the main goal, or it shouldn’t be. As soon as we are saved it is not enough to sit back and say, ‘Well, I’m alright Jack! No more struggle!’ Indeed as we all know it is just the beginning of a tough struggle which we understand as the path of sanctification. It takes us through the narrow gate and onto the narrow path, but we still have to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil whilst walking that narrow path. As long as we stick to it we are okay, but so often we stray off it and when we do we find ourselves in difficult places.

As I was struggling to write this piece, and it was a struggle, seeking the Lord for the right way to present it and feeling as if I was getting nowhere fast, Pilgrim’s Progress popped into my mind.

I wonder if you are familiar with this wonderful book by John Bunyan who wrote it while he was in prison in approx 1676. He was imprisoned for his faith in Bedford jail, in a tiny cell which is built into the pier of the bridge over the river and is literally a few feet above the normal water level. I hate to think what that cell must have been like, especially in flood conditions; wet and damp, cold and dark. He was imprisoned for his bold teaching of the Word of God and Jesus truly met him there in that horrible cell. He recorded that his cell was filled with golden light as the Lord came to him to encourage him and to give him hope in his isolation and loneliness. This story is an allegory of his struggle as a believer, and we can relate to it also.

John Bunyan was 47 years of age when he wrote Pilgrim’s Progress and he drew on two main sources, firstly the Bible and secondly his knowledge of the world. He likened his hero, Christian, running away from the City of Destruction to Lot fleeing from Sodom.

Christian met many characters on his journey, such as Pliable, who couldn’t make up his mind about anything and was blown about by any wind of doctrine, and who typifies many of the members of Bunyan’s congregation. Vanity Fair was modelled on Stourbridge Fair, near Cambridge, and the trial of Faithful before Lord Hate Good, was based on Bunyan’s own trial before Justice Keeling.

The story was written as if it was a dream. It all came from Bunyan’s own band and shocked many of his pious friends. They called it ‘an idle tale full of demons and goblins’. But idle it is not and it has become a very famous book. It is a story full of hidden meaning and it is relevant for everyone even today.

We bought a copy of The Dangerous Journey for our son many years ago, and now our grandchildren love it. It is a young person’s version of the Pilgrim’s Progress with amazing illustrations; a true to the story version and easier to understand than the original. So I looked it out and read it again.

Christian leaves the City of Destruction despite the pleading of his family and friends. He is carrying a burden which has become almost too heavy to bear and the question that keeps going through his head and which he can no longer ignore is, ‘What must I do to be saved?’

He reads his book, the Bible, and realises that he and the city and all those he loves are doomed to be burned with fire from heaven. He has to find a way of escape for himself and his family, but his wife and four sons think that he is crazy. He walks into the fields outside of town to think about what he should do and where he should go and then meets Evangelist who points him in the right direction. As his family and friends chase after him he puts his fingers in his ears and runs.

He meets many characters who seek to deflect him from his desire to find the Endless Kingdom where he will live forever and be safe. He falls into the Slough of Despond and Help calmed to his aid and pulls him out, and he struggles on, his load getting heavier and heavier. He meets Mr Worldly Wise, Mr Legality and gets led astray by such characters often. Evangelist points him back to right path again and he plods on until eventually he arrives at the cross and an empty tomb where to his relief the burden he has been carrying for so long, falls away and he is free at last. He is clothed miraculously in clean fresh garments and is filled with joy.

Is that the end of the story? No!

Like us when we are saved Christian goes on to experience worse things than he did before he was saved, but now the attacks are directly spiritual. He journeys on, he cannot stay where he is at the cross, he has to move on towards the Celestial City. As he travels on his pilgrimage he learns more and more. He meets many who would seek to divert him from his course. Formalist and Hypocrisy who try to get to the Celestial City the wrong way and tempt Christian to go with them. They each go their own way and end up being lost and come to a sticky end. Then there are Timrous and Mistrust who are running away from danger, as they see it. Christian faces the lions who seek to devour him by keeping to the narrow path of light. He is prepared for battle against Appollyon by four lively young women called, Charity, Piety, Prudence and Discretion who give him armour to help him defeat the enemy. Appollyon, the devil, almost overcomes him till Christian wounds him with his sword and the devil has to flee.

Healed from his wounds received from the enemy by leaves from the Tree of Life, he continues on and into the Valley of the Shadow of Death where danger meets him in every side. The path is really narrow and on one side is a sheer precipice falling away and on the other a deep, dark, deadly marsh. One false step and he’s gone. He arrives at the very mouth of Hell itself and is almost overcome by ghosts and apparitions, by hobgoblins and foul fiends, until he is so miserable, low and desperate that he is ready to do away with himself. Until he hears a voice, ‘Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.’ With renewed strength and vigour he carries on till he finally comes out of the valley. He then meets up with his friend Faithful and once again Evangelist points them in the right direction and warns them that the way they are on will be filled with tribulation, but that the Kingdom of Heaven lies ahead. Together the friends go on until they come to Vanity Fair where, because they are different, they are arrested and after a mockery of a trial, Faithful is burnt at the stake and is taken to the Celestial City in a golden chariot. Hopeful helps Christian to escape and together they face more temptations and snares. Christian is now learning discernment, but even so he is deceived and more troubles come against him and his new friend Hopeful. Again they lose their way and end up in Doubting Castle which is owned by the giant Despair and his gross wife, Diffidence. In this terrible place, and almost giving up, Christian remembers he has a key called Promise which will open up the door to freedom. Once free again the two companions struggle on nearly coming to a bitter end as they fall into the net of Flatterer who appears to them as an angel of light. Rescued once more by a real angel they are accosted by Atheist, nearly fall asleep in the Enchanted Ground and despair of ever making it. Then all at once they are within view of the Celestial City, but to get to it they have to cross a wide, deep and dark river, the River of Death.

But Death could not hold Christian and Hopeful and after struggling with him they find themselves safely on the other side. Soon they are climbing the hill to the city and are welcomed in with much rejoicing.

This story is such an amazing picture of the path of sanctification, the journey we must all endure in our Christian pilgrimage to the Holy City of God.

So many things stand in our way, so many circumstances come against us, but each set back only makes us more determined to succeed.

‘Beloved do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgement to begin at the house of God, and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?’ 1 Peter 4:12-17

The Lord who Sanctifies…….Jehovah M’Kaddesh. The Lord who makes us holy is the One who will guide us and help us along the way. The Word of God , the promises of God will keep us focussed on the goal. God sees us as holy because of Jesus, but we will not be holy as He is holy until we enter into His eternal presence in Heaven.

Like Christian, to often we have to confess that we succumb to the error of giving the enemy a foothold in our lives and we so easily fail in our desire to be holy and separated unto God. But we have to remember that we cannot fall into sin and be holy too. We daily need to confess our sins for He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

He offers Himself as Jehovah M’Kaddesh……the Lord who alone can sanctify us.

Who Would True Valour See – John Bunyan – 1628 – 1688

Who would true valour see

Let him come hither.

One here will constant be

Come wind, come weather.

There’s no discouragement

Shall make him once relent

His first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.

Whoso beset him round

With dismal stories

Do but themselves confound

His strength the more is.

No lion can him fright,

He’ll with a giant fight,

But he will have a right to be a pilgrim.

Hobgoblin nor foul fiend

Can daunt his sprit.

He knows he at the end

Shall life inherit.

Then fancies flee away,

He’ll fear not what men say,

He’ll labour night and day to be a pilgrim.

In Jesus,

Linda

The post JEHOVAH M’KADDESH – THE LORD WHO SANCTIFIES first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Basis for Belief

Barry Forder — Sun, 10 Apr 2016 23:19:40 +0000

Why do Christian parents bring their children up to know and read the Bible? Is this just indoctrination or are we really giving them a solid foundation for life?

How do you know what you know? What is basis for what you believe? Whether you have realised it or not, we all accept most of what we know on the basis of faith. We might have faith in what our parents tell us, or what we learned at school or university. However, almost all of this is taking what someone else tells us – on the basis of faith, faith that what we are being told is true. Very little of what we know we have actually ‘discovered’ and empirically tested for ourselves.

The Bible exhorts us to think soberly (literally, ‘exercise the mind’) with regard to the things we believe (Rom 12:3). We are not to just take a blind leap in the dark with our lives in the hope it will all work out OK in the end!

What may come as a surprise to some is that the Bible does not expect people to simply believe it. Nowhere are we told to just accept it and don’t ask questions!

The early church certainly didn’t subscribe to wishful thinking! In face the Apostle Peter boldly declares that “we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). Peter says ‘we did not make this stuff up!’ ‘We know it’s true because we were there!’.

Dr Luke not only based all that he wrote on eyewitness accounts that had been fully verified (Luke 1:1-2), but also asserted that the belief Jesus was risen from the dead was on the basis of ‘many infallible proofs!’ (Acts 1:3).

When the disciples were looking for a replacement for Judas, they insisted that the one they chose must be an eyewitness of the resurrected Jesus! (Acts 1:21-22).

The Bible really is the most solid, reliable & trustworthy document known to man. This Bible can be demonstrated to trustworthy and true in regard to the scientific statements it makes, many of which modern science has only recently caught up with! In Psalm 8:8-9 we are told that there are pathways in the sea. This led to Matthew Fontaine Maury discovering this to be true, and led to the science of oceanography. The Bible states that living things only reproduce after their kind. this is a fact that has never been violated – despite 150+ years of Darwinian indoctrination from schools to universities to the BBC! (Oh, and please answer me this – why can ITV produce a documentary series looking at the extremes of our planet – Life At The Extreme, featuring Davina Mccall – and not mention millions of years or evolution even once, yet the BBC get barely past the opening credits without some reference to the non-science that is Evolution??). If you want a basis for your beliefs, why choose a man-made theory that has been totally discredited and proven false, rather than accept the simple, straight forward, easy to verify statements given to us in the Bible?

The Bible is also accurate geographically, historically, archaeologically, astronomically, prophetically & mathematically – to list just a few!

In regard to the unparalleled historical basis for the Bible, consider the words of Professor Robert D Wilson. We talk about ‘experts’, but consider this:

He could read & write 45 ancient Semitic languages
At 25 yrs old he could read the NT in 9 languages
He had memorised the NT from Matthew – Revelation
He also had many of the OT book memorised in Hebrew

He asserted:

“For 45 years continuously I have devoted myself to one great study of the Old Testament. In all of its languages, in all of its archaeology, in all of its translations.

The critics of the Bible who go to it in order to find fault claims to themselves all knowledge, all virtue, all love of the truth. One of their favourite phrases is ‘all scholars agree’. Well, when a man says that I wish to know who the scholars are and what they agree on? Where do they get their evidence? I defy any man to make an attack on the Old Testament on the ground of evidence that I cannot investigate.

After I learned the necessary languages, I set about the investigation of every singe consonant in the Hebrew Old Testament – there are about one million, two hundred and fifty thousand of them. It took me many years to achieve my task. I had to observe variations in the text, in the manuscripts, notes of the masorites in all their various versions, parallel passages, and contextual emendations of critics; and then I had to classify the results of every character, every consonant, to reduce the Old Testament criticism to an absolutely objective science, something that is based on evidence and not opinion. The result of those 45 years of study which I have given to the text has been this: I can affirm that there is not a page of the Old Testament concerning which you need have any doubt!”

In our study this morning (available for free download with the PDF Powerpoint slides here: https://www.calvaryportsmouth.co.uk/sermons/a-solid-foundation-for-life/) we looked at the overwhelming evidence for the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt, their crossing the Red Sea, their journey to Rephidim where Moses struck a rock and water flowed out. We see that the rock is still there to this day, along with the evidence of a large volume of water once being present, and we see the alter Moses built. We then look at Israel’s journey to Mt Horeb/Sinai (aka Jabel El Lawz in Saudi Arabia), the ‘Golden Calf’ alter, which has been fenced off by the Saudi authorities as an site of archaeological importance, and the super-heated granite rock on top of the mountain that the Bible says God descended on with fire!

You can reject the Bible if you will, but not because there is not enough evidence.

Just as with the Jews in slavery in Egypt, God has offered each one of us the chance to be delivered from the bondage and slavery of sin, passing by faith through the waters of our own Red Sea, coming face-to-face with God’s righteous Law as was given on Mt Sinai, there to find that there is a Deliverer – Jesus Christ- who will lead us safely to the ‘Promised Land’.

This is why we will continue to teach the Bible to our children, and bring them up in the fear and admonition of the LORD (Eph 6:4). The reason we believe the Bible and base our lives upon it is quite simply because it’s true! – and the evidence is overwhelming!

But it is not just our children who need to know this. You, the people you work with, your neighbors, your friends, people you bump into down the town… all need to know. Because the Bible tells us that time is running out. If you have not yet put your trust in Jesus Christ, ‘today is the day of salvation’. YOU CAN PRAY RIGHT NOW! and tell Him you believe in Him, that you believe He paid for your sin in full on the cross, and that He will come back and take you home to heaven.

If you already know Jesus as your LORD and Saviour, I pray that this study will stir your heart and encourage you love the Word of God more! – and want to share what He has done for you!

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post The Basis for Belief first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Jehovah Shammah – The Lord is There

Barry Forder — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 07:29:20 +0000

Ezekiel 48 v 35

‘All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be “THE LORD IS THERE.”

This verse is talking about the incredible vision that Ezekiel had of Jerusalem as it will be in the Millennial Age and of the temple that will be there. The detail is amazing from chapter 40 to 48. He saw a magnificent temple and described it even to its dimensions and detailed measurements. God gave him a guided tour and told him to write down all that he saw. The altar is described in great detail, the gates, the walls, the sacrificial offerings, those who can be admitted, the regulations for the priests, the temple’s place in the new city of Jerusalem, the river which will flow from the temple, the borders of the land and the divisions between the tribes of Israel, the land which will belong to the Prince, and last but not least, the new name to be given to this amazing city; Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is There.

It’s very hard for us to even get our heads around this wonderful vision, and to imagine how it is going to be. Interesting too that in Ezekiel’s vision there doesn’t seem to be anyone around. That is because it is a prophecy of what will be in this period of time that we call the Millennial reign of Christ; the time when Jesus will rule the whole world with a rod of iron. David will be His Prince over the city and it will be the base from which our Lord will rule and reign.

Many Bible scholars don’t believe that this description given to Ezekiel is literal, but attempt to allegorise it by coming up with strange ideas like; as we are the temples of the Holy Spirit, so this temple is a representation of all believers, and that the rooms of the temple are the different nations of the world.

I categorically do not agree with this thinking which I believe cheapens the power of God and His ability to do anything He wills. To spiritualise and allegorise this most important prophetic passage of scripture is like saying that we have to do the same with all other prophecies in the Bible, and what would that mean for the first coming of Jesus?

The Shekinah presence of God has always dwelt with His people, firstly as a pillar of fire and smoke as He led them out of Egypt, then in the Ark of the Covenant and in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle, and following the death of King David, in the Temple built by Solomon to his father’s specifications, given to David by God.

When the first Temple was completed, Solomon held a service of dedication to God.

2Chronicles 5 v 11-14, 6 v 12-20, 7 v 1-3 and v12-22 As the people celebrated and sang, ‘For He is good, for His mercy endures forever.’, The Temple was filled with a cloud and the priests could no longer minister. The glory of the Lord filled the house of God. Solomon praised God before all the people and fire from Heaven fell to consume the burnt offering and the sacrifices and God’s glory was shown to all who were gathered, and they fell on their faces before Him and worshipped and praised.

The Lord appeared to Solomon that night and spoke to him. “If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

BUT if the people turned away from God then He would uproot them from the land and the Temple that was so important to the people would be destroyed.

God’s presence remained in the Temple until that very thing happened. The people forsook God and turned to the worship of idols.

Ezekiel had an earlier vision than the one we have been looking at. He saw the very Temple that Solomon had so faithfully dedicated to the glory of God filled with abominations. Ezekiel’s heart was broken by what God showed him.

Ezekiel 10 v 1-4, v 18-19

‘And I looked, and there in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubim, there appeared something like a sapphire stone, having the appearance of the likeness of a throne. Then he spoke to the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in among the wheels, under the cherub, fill your hands with coals of fire from among the cherubim, and scatter them over the city.” And he went in as I watched. Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the Temple when the man went in, and the cloud filled the inner court. Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, and paused over the threshold of the Temple; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lord’s glory.

Then the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the Temple and stood over the cherubim. And the cherubim lifted their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight. When they went out, the wheels were beside them; and they stood at the door of the east gate of the Lord’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.”

God removed His presence from the Temple at the East Gate, and did the priests notice it? Did the people see it? No! They carried on as if nothing had happened.

Interestingly enough, after the exile, when Ezra and Nehemiah rebuilt the city and the Temple, the Temple was dedicated to God, the people repented , the priesthood was re-established and the sacrificial system and the law began again, but nowhere does the Bible say that the Shekinah glory of God returned to the Temple.

Not until the vision of Ezekiel and the Millennial Temple do we read again of the presence of God filling the Temple once again, and when the presence of God does return it will enter the way it left, by the East Gate.

There is an East Gate to Jerusalem today, and it is blocked up. Why? Because of this very reason, to allow the presence of God to return to the third Temple which the Jews will build, and for which the implements are all ready now. You can see them, or copies of them at the Bible Institute in Jerusalem. This third Temple will be the place where the Antichrist will attempt to be worshipped as Messiah. This Temple is NOT the Millennial Temple which I believe will be a miraculous building constructed by God Himself.

So to get back the the third Temple and the East Gate. The Muslims who know of the Jewish expectations of the coming Messiah have placed a cemetery slap bang in front of the blocked up gate. As if anyone could prevent God’s glory from doing what God means it to do.But the Jews and the Muslims have it all wrong! The East Gate, or the Golden Gate as it is often called, which is presently there is not the gate that scripture talks about. The present walls of Jerusalem were built during the time of the Ottoman Empire and are, apart from anything else, many feet higher than they were at the time of the second Temple. As Zechariah tells us, a huge valley will open up and split the Temple Mount wide open from East to West as soon as Jesus descends to the Mount of Olives.

Zechariah 14 v 4-5

No the Shekinah glory will not be in the third Temple, but in the fourth, the Millennial Temple, Jesus Himself will be there.

Zechariah 14 v 9

Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the Person of Jesus will rule and reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Wonderful!

The Lord Himself will be there. Jehovah Shammah!

As believers in Jesus we are so privileged to have God’s Holy Spirit dwelling in us. We can truly say the Lord is there……….the Lord is here!

We know that He will never leave us or forsake us. Hebrews 13 v 5 We are Temples of the Holy Spirit.

But sadly, the Holy Spirit, God’s precious presence, can and does leave a church, if indeed it can be called a church, where sin is allowed and is prevalent and which is spiritually dead.

As the blinded condition of Judah’s people caused God’s Shekinah glory to leave the Temple without them even noticing it, so the blinded condition of many churchgoers causes God’s Holy Spirit to leave their churches. Apathy, worldliness and outright sin cause God to withdraw His glory from their midst, but do they notice? No! They carry on as usual with their rituals and traditions and don’t even see the need for the Holy Spirit in their presence. Is it any wonder then, that numbers decline as the true church of God sees what is happening and sadly leave as God calls them to be a part of fellowships where there are people who are living and worshipping in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is devastating to know that God is taking His presence away from a precious and loved group of people, especially when those people were once enjoying His presence in their midst and now they do not even realise He has left them high and dry and desiccated and dead.

That is enough to make one weep as I believe Ezekiel wept over Jerusalem and the Temple.

We have something really special awaiting us during the Millennial reign of Christ, so let each one of us make very sure that we are in the right place with God.

There are questions for us to address:

Does the glory of God fill this Temple? (that is ‘me’) Does the Holy Spirit reside within each one is us as individuals?

Would we be aware if the Holy Spirit left our church?

Do we each give God the glory and only Him?

The Lord is There, Jehovah Shammah, is a privilege and a blessing to be realised by each one of us in our individual walk with Him, and I pray that others will be able to see the presence of Jesus in our lives and in our behaviour, as a witness that He is there within us.

May we be willing to proclaim the Name of Jesus wherever we go and whoever we speak to.

Jehovah Shammah is with us?

May I suggest that you read Psalm 139 as a reminder of what an amazing and wonderful God we serve.

In Jesus,

Linda

The post Jehovah Shammah – The Lord is There first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Time is Up!

Barry Forder — Sun, 03 Apr 2016 23:57:05 +0000

As we continue our journey through the book of Revelation, we have now come to a pivotal moment. All that John has recorded for us in chapters 6-9 has been moving toward this crescendo, as we now arrive at the middle of the seven year tribulation. The first three an a half years, as recorded in chapters 6-9, were described by Jesus in Matthew 24: as the ‘beginning of sorrows’. During this time we have seen God’s judgment being poured out, but because He is long-suffering, not willing that any should perish, the judgments thus far have been ‘in part’. Only a third of the trees, one third of the creatures in the sea, one third of the Sun & Moon smitten. But now, time is up; the season of grace is effectively over, and we will see Jesus send a mighty angel to finally reclaim the Earth, wresting it from the hand of Satan, who has been the ‘legal custodian’ of the Earth from the time of the Garden of Eden to now.

All that we have seen in these chapters is the fulfillment of that which Jesus referred to in Mathew 24:8 as the ‘beginning of sorrows’

“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ ; and shall deceive many [Rev 6:2]. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars [Rev 6:4]: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom : and there shall be famines [Rev 6:5-6], and pestilences [Rev 6:7-8], and earthquakes, in divers places [Rev 6:12]. All these are the beginning of sorrows… And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations [Rev 7]; and then shall the end come“ Matt 24:5-8.

May you be blessed as you study God’s Word!

Rev 10:1

And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:

The first thing we are introduced to in the chapter is this mighty angel. This ‘angel’ has caused much debate among Bible scholars. Some say that it must be Jesus, for very good reasons; others say that this is just another mighty angel, again for very good reasons. Whist we will put forward some of the best arguments for and against, we shouldn’t let ourselves become sidetracked and miss the importance of what this ‘angel’ does and says.

In support of the view that this angel is Christ, we note that he is clothed in a cloud, has a rainbow on his head, a face like the sun, feet as pillars of fire; he roars like a lion (verse 2). All of these are characteristic of Jesus as He appears in the scriptures. In Exodus 34:5 / Numbers 11:25 / 2 Chronicles 5:14 / Isaiah 19:1 / Luke 21:27 and Acts 1:19 The Lord is seen clothed in a cloud. In Rev 4:3 we see a rainbow around the Throne. In Rev 1:16 John said that Jesus’ face was like the sun in its strength; and in Rev 1:15 John tells us that Jesus’ feet were ‘like unto brass, as if they burned in a furnace’.

Adding further weight to this view is the fact that in verse 11 this ‘angel’ gives John an instruction very similar to the instruction that Jesus gave John in chapter one verse 11 to ‘prophecy again’, recording what he is seeing.

The thing that almost clinches this view is the fact that in the next chapter this angel calls the two witnesses ‘my two witness’. Would an angel say this? Whose witnesses are they? Surly they are the Lord’s witnesses; so is this not proof that this angel is Jesus?

As it says in proverbs: “The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him” Proverbs 18:17

The key word here is ‘another’, which in the Greek it’s the word ‘Allos’, meaning another of the same kind. Jesus uses this word when He said that He would send ‘another comforter’ in John 14:16. On that occasion Jesus was speaking of the Holy Spirit, who is of the same type and substance as Jesus; Jesus was literally going to send us someone just like Himself to comfort us when He returned to the Father. It is indeed a great comfort that the Holy Spirit has been given to us forever!

J Vernon McGee comments: “And I saw another strong angel.” Another means that it is another of the same kind. The other strong angel to whom we were introduced was back in Revelation 5:2. There was no argument there; it was not Christ. It is the livery of this angel (that is, the way in which he is garbed) which has led some to identify him as Christ. Though all angels are the servants of Christ, in this final book of the Bible, this is evidently the special envoy of Christ, bearing all the credentials of his exalted position. He comes down out of heaven from the presence of Christ, the One who is in the midst of the throne.”

Here, J Vernon McGee brings our attention to the mighty angel in Rev 5:2 who said: “Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?” Obviously the angel in 5:2 is not Jesus, so it follows that our subject here cannot be Jesus either. It is worth pointing out that the context could also imply that the ‘another’ is not specifically in reference to the ‘mighty angel’, but to the ‘coming down from heaven’, and therefore could refer to the angel that ‘came down from heaven’ with the key of the bottomless pit in the previous chapter. Was John therefore saying that ‘I saw another mighty angel’, which, as McGee says would link this one with the mighty angel in Rev 5:2; or was he saying that ‘I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven’? Thus linking it to the angel that came down from heaven in the previous chapter. Either way we have to conclude that this angel cannot be Jesus.

McGee continues: “And his face was as the sun.” This is his badge of identification. This is the signature of the glorified Christ (see Rev. 1:16). It does not follow that this one must therefore be the Son of God. Moses’ face shone after he had been in the presence of God (see Exod. 34:29). This angel’s face is shining because he has come out from the presence of Christ. You will recall that the raiment of the angels at the resurrection of Christ also shone (see Luke 24:4). The angel of Revelation 18:1 is a light giver, as the sun and moon, yet no one asserts that he is Christ. Also, I take it that this angel in chapter 10 is not Christ, but he is what it says: an angel, another great, mighty angel.

So, as noted, the thought that this angel is Christ comes from the description of the clothing and appearance. However, in the book of Esther when the king wants to honour Mordecai, he seeks the advice of Haman, who thinking that the king wants to honour him, suggests that the king orders that the man in whom the king delights should be dressed in the kings clothes, sat upon the kings horse and with the kings royal crown upon his head be paraded through the streets. This suggestion back-fires on Haman and the king tells him to do all of this to Mordecai the Jew who Haman despised. To all intents and purposes as Mordecai was paraded around the city, he looked like the king – but he was just an ambassador.

Joseph was also clothed in Pharaoh’s apparel to act on his behalf, as an outward symbol that authority had been given to him, and that his voice was now as Pharaohs’ (Gen 41:40-44). There is no reason, given the importance of this angel’s mission in this chapter, that he would not be so clothed in the apparel and authority of the King.

Other details that would seem to show that this is an angel and not Christ are firstly, that in verse 6 this angel swears by Him who lives for ever and ever – which is a title that Jesus gives himself in Rev 1:18. The angel continues: ‘who created all things’ – which according to Rev 4:11 & Col 1:16 is also Jesus. So the fact that it appears that this angel swears by Jesus would strongly suggest that he is not Jesus. Secondly, John does not identify this angel as Jesus as he had previously done in his vision in chapter one. It would be reasonable to assume that as the Lamb of God has been the focus of much of the book, indeed the book is the Revelation of Jesus, that John would delight in recording that He leaves His throne and descends to earth to claim His inheritance if this were so.

The fact that John mentions no such thing is admittedly an argument from silence, but nonetheless significant. On this same theme, John records in chapter one (verse 7) that when Jesus returns in the clouds, every eye shall see Him, which does not appear to be the case here.

Finally in answer to the phrase in chapter 11 verse 3 when this angel calls the two witnesses ‘my two witnesses’, it would appear that he is speaking as a royal emissary on behalf of the King because a few verses later in verse 8 he talks to John of Jerusalem as being ‘where also our Lord was crucified’, thus again it appears from this language that it is not Jesus speaking.

Once again, we must not the identity question take our minds of the message this angel brings!

Rev 10:2

And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

Whilst again it is not free from controversy, it would seem that the little book this angel has in his hand, is none other than the seven-sealed scroll with all of the seals now removed. As we commented back in chapter 5, the scroll appears to be the title deed to the earth. That being the case, it follows that by putting one foot on the sea and one on the land, this angel is claiming the earth and sea for the rightful heir – Jesus Christ.

“This little book, if it is the same as the seven-sealed book, was originally in the hands of the Father in heaven (see Rev. 5:1). It should be noted how it is first transferred to the nail-pierced hands of God the Son. It was given to the Lord Jesus who was the only One who could open it. The breaking of the seven seals opened the book; and the seven trumpets, six of which have already been blown, are still part of what is in the book. After He removes the seals, the Lord Jesus Christ in turn transfers the book to the angel, who gives it finally to John to eat. This is the book of the title deed of the earth, and it contains the judgments of the Great Tribulation by which the Lord Jesus is coming to power. The book is now open, and the judgments are on display. This book is the angel’s authority for claiming both the sea and the earth for Christ.” (J Vernon McGee)

Rev 10:3

And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

Lions roar to strike fear into their prey. It is fitting that the inhabitants of the earth, after still choosing to reject God’s offer of salvation in Jesus, are once again made to tremble with the sound of this roar and the noise of the seven thunders that followed it.

Rev 10:4

And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

Many have tried to put forward theories as to what the seven thunders said; it is a futile exercise because if God had wanted us to know He would have allowed John to write it down. One interesting point that arises from this is the nearness of these events. At the end of the book of Daniel, he is told the words of the book are ‘closed up and sealed up until the time of the end’ (Dan 12:9). In contrast to this, John is only told to seal up the things that the seven thunders uttered. Everything else is for our understanding and could start to occur very soon.

Rev 10:5-6

5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,

6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

Verse six has been misunderstood and therefore misinterpreted by some who have suggested that it is teaching that from this point, all time will come to an end, that there will be no more ‘time’. From the wording of the King James it can be understood why some have interpreted it this way. It is easy to reach such conclusions when a single verse is taken without considering what else the Bible teaches on a given subject. Such is the case here.

The fact that the Millennium (period of 1000 years – and a year being a measure of ‘time’) will follow the events of the Tribulation shows that ‘time’ has to continue to at least the end of this heavens and earth. But even in the New Jerusalem we will find that each tree gives its fruit in its season, which once again implies some form or measurement of time.

So what does this verse mean? Well, we have been building up to a crescendo in the previous chapters as we move toward the mid-way point of the Tribulation, the end of the first 3 ½ years. The judgments have been getting more intense as God gives people every opportunity to repent; but now ‘time has run out’. That is what this angel is saying. The earth and the sea have now been reclaimed for the rightful Heir, and He will set about removing sinners from His earth. In the dramatic stage-play of which the book of Joshua was the shooting script, Jesus will not dispossess the usurpers from the earth as Joshua did the inhabitants of Canaan from the Promised Land. As we will see in the following chapters, Satan will be cast out of Heaven; Antichrist will break his covenant with the Jews and they will in turn flee into the wilderness; Antichrist will also establish himself as the ruler of the world and force all people to worship him and to receive a mark for buying and selling. Because of this, God’s long anticipated judgment will begin. The Great Tribulation, the Day of the Lord, the Time of Jacob’s Trouble – this is it, the final showdown, the wrath of God, 1260 days of hell on earth.

“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matt 24:22)

“And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?” (Joel 2:11)

Rev 10:7

But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

We are almost there – but what a long way around it’s been. Just as Israel could have entered the promised land in a matter of months, instead, because of their disobedience and unfaithfulness it took them 38 years. So Adam and Eve could have overcome the Serpent by their obedience to God and they and their offspring would then have walked in perfect harmony with Him. Instead it fell to the Second Adam to make a way back to God by shedding His blood in our place. (See Ephesians 1:9-10).

Amos 3:7 says: “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he reveals his secret unto his servants the prophets.” God’s plan has all been laid out in advance in the Word of God for any who care to look.

Rev 10:8-10

8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.

9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

This is the same as happened to Ezekiel (2:3 – 3:14). Prophecy tastes sweet; it excites us and captures our imagination. But when we digest it we begin to realise the horrific consequences for those who do not turn to the Lord and repent. The prophecies that we have studied, and those that will follow as we enter the Great Tribulation, should turn our stomachs as we stop and consider all those who we know personally that don’t know the Lord, who are on a collision course with the wrath of God. Maybe even stop right now and pray for those who you know by name.

Time is running out, we need to be abandoned to God, not living lives of compromise, counting all that we once held dear as loss, being cleansed vessels that He can use every moment of every day. The harvest is great but sadly the real labourers are few.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:9-12)

Rev 10:11

And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

To be continued…

The post Time is Up! first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Sound of Silence

Barry Forder — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 23:27:01 +0000

Over recent weeks we have been journeying through the book of Revelation. After all the intensity and tremendous worship we have seen from chapters 4-7, with the great chorus of praise from the great multitude, the elders, the angels and the four living creatures, everything now comes to a screeching halt. The suspense and anticipation of this moment is tangible. Back in chapter 7 we saw an angel holding back the judgments that we now see unveiled through the sounding of the 7 trumpets. The reason was that the 144,000 Jews had to be sealed (granted supernatural protection) before these trumpets were to sound.

In chapter 8 we have another earthquake followed by one third of the trees, grass, marine life, ships in the ocean, all destroyed. In chapter 9 we see demonic locusts released from the bottomless pit to cause terror on the earth.

As terrifying as is, we should remember that this is still the ‘beginning of sorrows’, the Great Tribulation is still to come. This highlights God’s great mercy, because all of the judgments in these chapters are in measure, they are restrained. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), God does not delight in the death of the wicked, but wants them to turn to Him (Ezekiel 33:11).

So, if you are a Christian, these chapters should stir you to be the light and salt you have been called to be; to preach the Word, in season and out of season, because the people standing next you in the queue at the supermarket, or at your work place, may well be the people who end up experiencing the first hand effects of these judgments.

If you are not a Christian, as the Bible says, today is the day of salvation. Don’t leave it a moment longer.

May these verse-by-verse study notes encourage and challenge you.

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

CHAPTER 8

Revelation 8 begins with the deafening sound of silence! That of course is an oxymoron (a self-contradictory expression), but I remember hearing some years ago that the producers of a film wanted to emphasise a big explosion to give it the most dramatic effect. They experimented with various sounds to find the one that had the maximum impact, but nothing was quite working. Eventually they decided to precede the explosion with a second or two of absolute silence; no music or ambient noise, just silence. The decision worked and the end result was dramatic. We are so used to noise, that the sudden absence of noise is extremely powerful. In the UK, some years ago, we witnessed an eclipse during the middle of the day. As it went dark while the Sun passed behind the moon, suddenly all the birds stopped singing. The usual mid-day noise was stopped. It was quite eerie, and you just got this sense that nature itself was saying that something wasn’t right!

Rev 8:1

And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

After all the intensity and tremendous worship we have seen from chapters 4-7, with the great chorus of praise from the great multitude, the elders, the angels and the four living creatures, everything now comes to a screeching halt. The suspense and anticipation of this moment is tangible. It’s as if everyone suddenly remembers what is going on… the Lamb is opening the seals, and there is one seal still to loosen. All eyes turn back toward the throne…

Rev 8:2

And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

The only other occasion in scripture where we find seven trumpets together is in the Book of Joshua. In chapter 6 God told Joshua to prepare seven priests to blow seven trumpets in preparation for the conquest and laying claim to the Land of Canaan. When the time came for them to blow the trumpets, the walls of the city of Jericho would fall down.

It is exciting to discover that the book of Joshua is a Holy Spirit inspired model of the Book of Revelation. Almost as if to expose those who would try to deny or allegorise these dramatic events in Revelation, we see that the ground has already been prepared, and a literal forerunner to these events has already taken place.

The first thing to note is the titles of the books; ‘Joshua’ is Hebrew for ‘Jesus’, and the book of Revelation is the revelation of ‘Jesus’, so the in effect have the same title. In both we have the account of God’s champion setting about the task of dispossessing the usurpers from the Land; in Joshua it is the Land of Canaan in view; in Revelation the Earth is the ‘real estate’ being claimed! Also, in both places, before the blowing of the trumpets, three is silence! (cf: Josh 6:10 / Rev 8:1).

In Joshua, when the trumpets had sounded the walls came down and Joshua went in a destroyed the enemy. So in Revelation, when the 7^th trumpet has sounded the judgment will be complete and Jesus will return to destroy the enemy and establish His throne (see Rev 10:7).

In the Apocrypha ( which is not inspired Scripture) we are given the names of seven archangels: Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Sarakiel, Gabriel and Phanuel. Are these the seven we are seeing here? We don’t know, and it doesn’t really matter. If God had wanted us to know He would have told us. What we do know is that this is not a symbol, allegory, or picture of something else. These are real angels with real trumpets, and the results will be real also.

The table below highlights the key parallels:

Rev 8:3

And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

Back in chapter 5v8 we were told that the golden ‘bowls’ were full of odors, which represent the prayers of the saints. Throughout scripture incense is used as a type of worship and prayer – that which is a sweet savor and willingly offered up to God. Our deepest, most intimate communication with God is when we pray in the Spirit: “….Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:11).

In the Old Testament, in the Tabernacle, and then later the Temple, the Brazen alter was where the sacrifices were offered. Once the sacrifice had been consumed, the burning coals were then taken to the Incense alter (also known as the Golden Alter) where they would heat the incense thus producing a sweet smell as the incense burned. When we have been consumed on God’s alter, as Oswald Chambers puts it, ‘given up the right to ourselves’, and yielded complete control to God, crucifying our flesh life and trusting completely in Him, our lives truly become a sacrifice and a ‘sweet smelling aroma’.

It is when we are in this place that we can pray in the Sprit, and not in the flesh. – What is the difference? When we pray in the flesh it is usually about what we want. When we pray in the spirit it will always be about what God wants. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray He told them to start by praying ‘Our Father, hallowed be Your Name”. In other words, when we pray we should have our focus on Him, not ourselves. It is not until half way through the prayer we get to pray ‘give us this day…’ If we start by getting the focus off ourselves and onto God, we start to see things from His perspective, so that by the time we get to ‘me’ bit, we are already thinking differently.

Chuck Missler says: “Prayer is not about getting man’s will done in Heaven but about getting God’s will done on earth.”

So what are these prayers that are being offered on the golden alter? In short, these are all the prayers from Adam to Abraham, Abraham to you, where it has been prayed “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matt 6:9-10). Of course the Old Testament saints may not have used these words, but throughout Psalms David continually prayed for God’s Kingdom to be unveiled on Earth (see Psalm 1:5 / Psalm 2 / Psalm 7:6 / Psalm 10:12-18 / Psalm 29 / Psalm 34:16 / Psalm 37:10-20 etc.).

When you pray, ‘Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done’ what is it you think you’ve been praying? What is the kingdom you’ve been praying for?

In his Gospel, Matthew uses a term that none of the other Gospel writer’s use. Matthew repeatedly refers to ‘the Kingdom of Heaven’, or to be more precise, ‘the Kingdom from Heaven’. It is the Millennial Kingdom of Christ, when Jesus will return at the end of the Tribulation to ‘put down all rule and all authority and power’ (1 Cor 15:24) and reign on the Throne of David (Luke 1:32) as King of kings and Lord of lords.

What John is seeing in Heaven in this verse is a petition signed by the church (and the other saints) for God to restore the kingdom to the One found worthy to open the seven seals – The Lamb of God.

Is your name going to be on the petition? Are you praying for the kingdom to come?

As an aside, the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ is ‘Pre-millennial’, that is, it requires Jesus to return and establish His own kingdom before the Millennium (as detailed in Rev 19-20 and Daniel 3 & 7). Yet week in and week out this prayer is prayed in churches all over this country that actually teach (if and when they do actually teach anything concerning these things!) that the Church will win the world for Christ, and then, and only then will Christ return. This belief is generally known as Amillennialism (denying that there will be a millennial thousand year reign of Christ). See appendix A – What is the danger of “Amillennialism”?

Rev 8:4-5

4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.

5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

This earthquake (the second in Revelation) is in response to the events in heaven – “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” (Rom 8:19-23). Creation itself is getting ready to ‘give birth’ to a new era when the Creator Himself will rule.

In Acts 3:20-21 we read: “And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” What will things be restored to? The way it was in the beginning when God declared that ‘it was good’. (This is yet another verse that makes it impossible for a Christian to believe in evolution).

This is the end of the seventh seal.

Rev 8:6-7

6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

We will notice the similarity with the plagues in Egypt as we go through the following judgments, and rightly so! For the events recorded in Exodus are another shadow, a model in advance, of the Tribulation. The Egyptian Pharaoh at the time of the Exodus was actually Assyrian (see Isaiah 52:4), so it is no surprise to find that one of the titles of Antichrist is ‘the Assyrian’ (See Isaiah 10:24 / 14:25).

Hail is seen in scripture as a judgment from God (see Exodus 9:22-26 – the seventh plague of Egypt) and so it is here. There is speculation as to the cause of these events, but two possible causes are as follows.

Firstly, the volcanic eruptions resulting from a worldwide earthquake such as has just occurred in Rev 8:5 would throw debris up into the atmosphere. The only place for all of this to go is back down to earth. This could account for all the things mentioned, i.e. hail and fire mingled with blood, (blood being in the earth (albeit dried blood) from creatures that have died and whose blood has been shed upon the ground.

There is strong evidence to suggest that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed in this way, by a massive build-up of oil, bitumen and other compounds, mixed with sulpher that had been trapped under ground. As the pressure continued to increase, there was eventually only one for the pressure to go – up! The resulting upward force would have propelled this lethal mixture up into the atmosphere, from where it would have very literally rained down fire and brimstone on these two cities that were in rebellion to God. This doesn’t ‘explain away’ the miracle, God still had to orchestrate the event, but it is a possibility.

Jesus Himself said :“And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed” (Luke 17:26-30).

A second possible scenario is a nuclear exchange. As Pastor Jon Courson points out: “Keep in mind history verifies that weapon systems have never been developed which have not been used. Therefore, it would be an aberration of history if all of the countries which presently have nuclear weapons including Russia, France, England, Israel, India, China, the US, and a host of others failed to use them. I am not saying this passage can only refer to a nuclear holocaust. However, the fact remains that upon the detonation of a nuclear warhead, 250-mph winds of fire follow. In addition, above-ground nuclear tests on the island of Bikini caused the surrounding water to shoot thousands of feet into the air, where it froze and returned as hailstones big enough to destroy the equipment intended to monitor it.”

Either way, one third of the earth’s trees being destroyed would play havoc with the climate and one third of all green grass would severely affect agriculture and produce. The effects of these things combined (the events and the aftermath) are unimaginable.

Rev 8:8-9

8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;

9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

(cf. Exodus 7:17 – the first plague of Egypt)

This was not ‘a great mountain’ but John doing his best to describe this tells us it was ‘as it were a great mountain’. This is most likely to be a burning meteor that crashes into the sea. If this is the case, the ships would probably be destroyed by the ensuing tidal waves that such a massive meteor hitting the oceans would produce. Planes would almost certainly be grounded, and with major problems for the world’s shipping companies, trade on planet earth is going to get very hard – you can almost hear the people crying out to have a leader who would govern the distribution of food – in fact, a system could be introduced to ensure that each person gets their ration, a mark maybe?!

Possibly as many as 8000 ships are going to be destroyed (based on current figures of the number of ships on the sea). Provocative, if nothing else, is the fact that 1/3 of all ships can be found at any one time in the Atlantic Ocean, which just happens to be about one third of the world’s oceans!

However, possibly even more frightening is that approximately 70% of all our oxygen comes from the oceans. If one third of the sea becomes blood and as a result one third of all marine life dies, it would have life changing effects! It has been estimated that losing 1/3^rd of the Earth’s oceans would have the same effect to the oxygen levels on Earth as losing ALL the rain forests and plant life! It’s it going to make taking a deep breath, something that we take so much for granted, seem like a luxury!

Rev 8:10-11

10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

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.

What is meant by ‘a great star’ is unknown. Again, two possible scenarios present themselves. Firstly, another burning meteorite hitting a third of the world’s rivers, the resulting gasses of which could poison them causing many to die. Or alternatively, a nuclear missile, which if John was seeing in his vision he may well describe as ‘burning as a lamp’. This could easily pollute the waters with radioactive material and make them lethal. Maybe it’s a coincidence, but the Russian word for ‘Wormwood’ is translated ‘Chernobyl’. When the Chernobyl reactor problem occurred in 1986 many died and the surround water supplies were contaminated.

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.

As this forth angel sounds, something happens that reduces the amount of light from the Sun, Moon & stars by one third. The most probable explanation is that either a nuclear fallout or volcanic debris in the sky fill the atmosphere with ash or dust. Remember that as John is seeing these things it would indeed look as if the celestial orbs themselves were being darkened – which we should not completely rule out, as God may do something beyond our comprehension! This will however affect the temperature on earth, as with a 1/3^rd less light the Earth will cool down – so you won’t have to worry about ‘global warming’ just yet!

Rev 8:13

And I beheld, and heard an [Eagle] 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!

The word translated ‘Angel’ in this verse is actually from the Greek word for ‘Eagle’ according to the Septuagint. Why an eagle flying through heaven? – I don’t know, and I’m fairly sure that John was a little taken back. What does matter is what is said. ‘Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth’. This literally means ‘those who have chosen to inhabit the earth’. This idea occurs 12 x in Revelation and the obvious contrast is with those who ‘do not love the world or the things in the world….For all that is in the world….. is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (See John 2:15-17).

Jesus told us that we are not of this world, but are pilgrims passing through. So don’t hold on too tightly, because believe me, you really don’t want to stay here! How do I know? Because the eagle the eagle pronounces three woes for the three trumpets that have yet to sound. In other words, if you thought the first four trumpets were bad – you ain’t seen nothing yet!

A word of warning:

“Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.” (Prov 17:5)

It is easy for us (Christians) to get complacent; after all we’ve been promised that Jesus will deliver us from the wrath to come (1 Thess 1:10) so we know that we won’t have to suffer these things. But we read in Ezekiel 18:23 “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?”

A few verses later we are given the answer (in case we’re not sure). “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” (Ezekiel 18:32)

It breaks God’s heart to see men and women He created turn their back on Him. He doesn’t want to judge them; that’s why He did everything He could – sending His only Son to die for them – so they might live.

The things that we have studied in this chapter could produce two reactions: a sense of morbid curiosity and excitement, or a fear and a desire to forget about it and try to pretend that it’s not real. However, God has revealed these things to us in His word, and therefore they are here for our learning, that we might be ‘thoroughly equipped for all good works’ (2 Tim 3:16).

We need to act on these things and make it our resolve never to miss an opportunity to talk to someone about the wrath to come and the Saviour who so desperately wants to rescue anyone who has ears to hear.

Invasion!

CHAPTER 9 Rev 9:1

And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.

We are dealing in this verse with an angel and not a literal star or meteor such as we have seen in previous chapters; for we are told that he was given the key to bottomless pit.

An asteroid or meteor would not have a lot of use for a key!

Some scholars think that because this angel ‘falls from heaven’ it must be Satan. Jesus said: “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven”. However, in this verse from Luke 10:18, it would appear that Jesus is speaking prophetically of an event that will occur in Rev 12:7-9 in the middle of the Week (i.e. at the mid-point of the Tribulation.) When Satan falls to earth in Rev 12, he ‘knows he has a short time’ and immediately goes after Israel who then flee into the wilderness. In contrast to this, as we will see from the book of Joel, when these events in chapter Rev 9 take place, Israel are still in their land. This is consistent with the view that all of the events in chapters 6-9 take place in the first half of the Tribulation.

If therefore this angel is not Satan, the question arises as to whether this angel is a fallen angel or one of God’s good angels. In support of the idea that this angel is a good angel, Bible scholar Dake comments: “There is no indication that this is a fallen angel. He will descend from heaven to open the abyss, liberating the creatures who will fulfil this vision…….He must be a holy and trusted angel to have the key to the pit. If a fallen one he could liberate all the fallen creatures that are now there. He is not the angel of the bottomless pit, for no king of demons could be trusted with such a key”

In support of this view is the opening verse of Chapter 10, which states “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven”. There is no question that the angel in chapter 10 is a good angel and the Greek word for ‘another’ used here means ‘another of the same kind’, which would strongly suggest that the previous angel that came down from heaven was also a good angel.

The only real objection to this is that we are told that this angel ‘fell’ from heaven, which in the English implies an involuntary action. However, the word in Greek is ‘pipto’ which means to ‘alight’ (as you would choose to alight from a horse for example). If we compare this to Rev 12:9 where Satan is cast out of Heaven, the word is ‘ballo’ which means to ‘throw’ or ‘thrust’ and implies a violent or intense action involuntarily forced on the subject – in this case Satan.

From these observations, it would seem fairly conclusive that this angel is an obedient servant of God acting as instructed.

The phrase ‘bottomless pit’ is literally translated as the ‘long shaft of the abyss’. The abyss was understood by the Jewish Rabbis and Greek philosophers to be a hollow place in the centre of the earth that was the abode of the dead. This view has much biblical support from verses such as Num 16:33 ‘…went down alive into the pit’, Ezek 26:20 ‘When I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth’ Ezek 31:16 ‘I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit’ (See also: Romans 10:7 / Isaiah 5:14 / Isaiah 38:17-18 / Psalm 28:1 / Psalm 30:3)

It is also consistent with the idea that the abyss was bottomless; for the only place that you could have a bottomless pit would be at the centre of the earth for the simple reason that every direction from there would be up.

It is also interesting to recall the words of Peter regarding the angels who sinned prior to the flood by taking the daughters of men: “….God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;” (2 Peter 2:4). The Greek word translated ‘Hell’ is ‘Tartaros’ which was believed to be the deepest part of Hades. Some scholars believe that God has held these angels in chains until this point. Literally: they have been ‘reserved for a time of judgment’ when they will be loosed to fulfill God’s purposes prior to their own destruction.

One final thought on this verse is that there is the implication that somewhere on planet earth, there is a long shaft that leads directly to the abyss. But don’t worry, God has got the key – until He gives it to this angel, and then…

Rev 9:2

And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

It is clear from this verse that tension is implied. The smoke comes out, everything starts getting dark, and you get the feeling that something nasty is about to happen…

Rev 9:3

And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

…there we go, we were right, this is something very nasty!

Apparently the sting of a scorpion is one of the most painful things that you can experience. These are no ordinary locusts because ‘power is given to them’.

In Egypt there were real locusts that devastated the land (Exodus 10:12-15), but we are told there would never be locusts like those again, and indeed so, for here they are supernatural and far more frightening. People who have witnessed swarms of locusts have said that the most terrifying thing is the sound of them eating their way through whatever is in their path.

Rev 9:4

And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Those who have the seal of God are the 144,000 Jews that we encountered in chapter 7.

Just to hammer it home once again, there is no mention of the Church being sealed – so either Christ, who now judging the world, is allowing these supernatural creatures to torture and hurt His Bride, or the Church is not on earth! Ephesians 5:25 says that husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the Church. If the Church is on earth during this time, and Christ is allowing creatures to trample over her, are we to believe that this is the way husbands should treat their wives? I think not!

These creatures have one mission only: to hurt mankind.

Rev 9:5

And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.

We can only speculate as to why only five months are allotted to them. One of the most plausible explanations is that the number 5 often seems to be used to indicate grace and completeness. It is certainly by the grace of God that these creatures are not left any longer, and it may also be that 5 months is all that is required for God to make His point. We see this with the plagues in Egypt. God left the plague only as long as it took for the message to hit home with Pharaoh. Even in judgment God is merciful.

Rev 9:6

And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

In Ecclesiastes 8:15 we read that God gives life, and this verse shows that only God has the power take it away at the end of our days. Whilst it is appointed to all men once to die (Heb 9:27), it is God who decides when our life on this earth is to come to an end. An example of this is seen in the death of Lazarus that we read about in John 11, which occurred at just the right moment. It was approaching the end of Jesus’ ministry and God had arranged all the details so that Lazarus would die at the appointed time so that four days later when Jesus arrived, Lazarus would be raised as a witness to the nation. Only God had the power to take life from Lazarus, and only God in the flesh – Jesus had the power to restore it.

Here we have men that are so scared that suicide seems the best option – until they realise that they can’t die. Imagine trying to end your life but every attempt makes it worse. You try and jump in front of a truck, but instead of dying, you just get hurt really badly and your pain gets worse. As you get to your feet you look up and there’s another ‘Demonic Locust’ bearing down on you getting ready to strike.

This is not an attempt to dramatise the situation, but rather an attempt to bring home the reality of it. Surely there is no one that we know whom we would want to have to endure this time? Why is this information revealed for us in the Bible? It is there so that we might wake up to the awful reality that awaits those who choose to live their lives without God.

Attention Church! We have a mission to warn people before it’s too late.

Rev 9:7-9

7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.

Notice that John says they were like horses, on their head as it were crowns of gold etc.

John is just trying to describe what he is seeing – and it is obviously not normal. But neither is it allegorical (just a picture to illustrate something else). Make no mistake, the reason we are given so much detail is so that we don’t make the assumption that this can’t be real!

Dr. Vincent makes this observation in his comments on these verses “The likeness of a locust to a horse, especially to a horse equipped with armor, is so striking that the insect is named in German ‘Heupferd’ hay-horse, and in Italian ‘cavaletta’ little horse”.

Rev 9:10

And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

This verse adds to what we are told in verse 5 as if to underline the pain that they cause and the duration for which they will torment men. This locust invasion is not confined just to one area; they may well cover the whole Earth. You certainly get them impression there is nowhere to hide from these terrifying creatures.

This picture is Christian artist Rodney Matthews’ rendering of what these creatures might look like. We are not told what size they are, but from Joel 2 and Rev 9:7 it would seem that they will resemble horses in size as well as other features.

Rev 9:11

And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

“These locusts are further differentiated from ordinary locusts in that they have a king over them. Proverbs 30:27 says of natural locusts that they have no king. The king or leader of these locusts is probably one of the fallen angels, the chief henchman of Satan, and he is permitted to lead an invasion of earth for the first time. This is something that is going to be rather frightening. His name in Hebrew means “destruction,” and in Greek it means “the destroyer.” This confirms what Daniel told us, that the demon world of the fallen angels is divided into gradations. I think there are generals, majors, lieutenants, sergeants, and buck privates. In Ephesians we find that the angels of God are divided in the same way.” (J.Vernon McGee)

Rev 9:12

One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

Trumpet judgment 5 has now past, but we need to watch out because Trumpets 6 and 7 are about to sound.

All of this – the 7 seals, the 7 trumpets – seem to be leading to a crescendo which we will reach in chapter 10:6. Remember also that seemingly all of this is really the prelude to the Great Tribulation and therefore God’s wake up call to the people on the earth to repent before things really start to get nasty. Notice that everything is in measure at this time; one third of the sea, one third of the rives turned to blood, one third of the grass & trees burned up, only 5 months of torment etc. When we get to the ‘Great Tribulation’ – the last 3 ½ years, there will be no more mercy. God’s wrath will be unrestrained. Once again, God is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish, and every opportunity is given for men to repent. No one can blame God for not knowing as these events are going to impact the whole world.

Rev 9:13-14

13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

The golden alter is in Heaven, also known as the Alter of Incense, where the prayers of the saints were offered in Rev 8:3. Now a voice comes from alter with a strange and chilling request. The four angels that are loosed must be fallen angels as is clear from the fact that they are bound (there would be no need to bind a good angel). The Euphrates appears to be a dividing line on God’s map of the world. It is the eastern boundary of the land that God promised to Abraham in Gen 15:18: “In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates”

Rome was able to conquer up to the Euphrates but no further. At the time of Rome the land east of the Euphrates was the territory of the Parthian Empire (home of the Magi) whom even the Romans feared. It was from the area of the Euphrates that God raised up the Assyrians and Babylonians as an instrument to judge Israel to turn the nation back to Him. One of the main purposes of the Tribulation is to do exactly that, and this time it will succeed. Israel will cry out to the Messiah to save her from her enemies as recorded in Hosea 5:15-6:1 “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early”.

In light of what we are about to read it is also interesting that the religions east of the Euphrates have literally millions of god’s which are nothing more that demonic deceptions. Psalm 96:5 in the Septuagint is translated: “For all the gods of the nations are demons”; and Babylon, the birthplace of false religion and idolatry is situated on the Euphrates itself, the river dividing the city.

Rev 9:15

And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

This is an important verse as it makes it absolutely clear that God’s clock is on schedule. The erroneous idea that the Church is responsible for ushering in the kingdom age is nonsense. God is working all things to His timetable – to the very hour.

In the forth seal (Rev 6:8) we saw a third of mankind die, the third trumpet (Rev 8:10) judgment causes ‘many men’ to die, and now a third of those who are left. This is way over half the world’s population – or every second person you know – and we haven’t even got to the 7 Bowels of Wrath or Armageddon yet! Again, we are not being told this to satisfy our curiosity. God wants us to know this so we will act.

Rev 9:16

And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

This verse has led to much speculation about the 200 Million army being an army from communist China or Asia. Whilst these nations may well play a major role in the events on earth during this time it is clear from the context and information following, this army is a demon army.

Rev 9:17

And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

This is a scary image, worse than any fictional horror story.

This is not ‘picture language’, John is describing what he is seeing. However John was not the first; the prophet Joel saw the same events and adds further insight……………

“For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion”. (Joel 1:6)

“Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, (food will be in short supply and famines will about as we have already seen) yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God? The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered. How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field. (We have already seen a third of the trees and green grass burnt up in Rev 8:7 with the first Trumpet) The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.” (Joel 1:15-20).

“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, (notice we have here a trumpet being blown) and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: (The sun and moon will be darkened again we have seen in Rev 8:12, the forth Trumpet, and also when the ‘locusts’ are released in Rev 9:2, the fith Trumpet) a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. (This description is almost identical to John’s in Revelation) They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.

They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.” (Joel 2:1-13)

Notice: once again God’s call for people on earth to repent.

In Leviticus 23 we have detailed the 7 feasts of Israel that were to occur during the year. From various passages in the Bible we know that these feasts also have a prophetic application. The first three had their prophetic fulfilment during ‘Passion Week’ (i.e. Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread & Feast of Firstfruits – all of which were fulfilled in Jesus’ death burial and resurrection). Pentecost, or the Feast of Harvest as it is also known, had a partial prophetic fulfilment when the Church was born on ‘Pentecost’ and will be completed at the Rapture (also apparently destined to occur on Pentecost). Thus the first four feasts are all but complete from a prophetic perspective, leaving just the last three feasts.

There would appear to be a prophetic link between the book of Joel and the last three of these feasts, namely:

The Feast of Trumpets cf. the trumpet judgments (Joel 1:1-2:11)

The Feast of Atonement cf. Israel’s spiritual restoration (Joel 2:12-32),
The Feast of Ingathering (or Tabernacles) cf. Israel’s re-gathering to the land and the Lord’s returning to dwell (‘tabernacle’) amongst them (Joel 3:1-21).

Rev 9:18

By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

As if to underline the fact, we are again told that a third of men will die. Forget Sci-Fi monsters, these are the real thing – and there will be no stopping them until God says enough. Clearly Jesus was not exaggerating in Matt 24:21-22 when He said: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”

And bear in mind the ‘Great Tribulation’ hasn’t yet begun! (that’s the last 3 ½ years).

Rev 9:19

For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

Again, the description pushes our imagination to the limit. Thy can attack from the front with the mouths; but they also have tails and the tails have heads that can hurt – so you can’t creep up from behind either, not that you would want to. The best advice would be to RUN! Actually that’s not quite true. The BEST advice is to repent and put your trust in Jesus Christ now and “be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:36)

Rev 9:20

And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

Why? How stubborn and rebellions can mankind be? This must break God’s heart; He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:23) but desires that they would repent (Acts 17:30). God could unleash ‘all Hell’ at once and destroy mankind; but with each succeeding judgment we see His mercy and longsuffering.

In Isaiah 44 God mocks those who worship idols, for God alone can save.

Rev 9:21

Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Even today, murders are a fact of daily life. 52 million children are aborted each year. Recently, three schoolgirls in a Muslim country were beheaded – they were Christians.

Sexual immorality is presented as the norm, and any who oppose are labeled ‘old fashioned’ or ‘intolerant’. Crime, particularly as a result of drug abuse is escalating around the world.

If this is what it’s like now; what will it be like when the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit indwelt Church is taken out of the way at the time of the Rapture? (See 2 Thes 2:6-8)

But even given that there will be no restraint during this time, it is still hard to believe that people will still choose not to repent when such terrifying judgments are coming on the earth.

The word translated ‘sorceries’ is the Greek word ‘pharmakeia’ which is the using and selling of drugs. Drugs bring about an altered state of consciousness and opens people up to forces that God does not want us exposed to. With the internet and world communication as it now is, we are back at Genesis 11:6 when with one ‘language’ nothing will be beyond the wicked imagination of man.

To be continued…

The post The Sound of Silence first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

JEHOVAH SHALOM

Barry Forder — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 22:10:38 +0000

JEHOVAH SHALOM – THE LORD OUR PEACE

The word ‘shalom’ means ‘peace’ and is used as a form of greeting in Israel, and also as a form of benediction as in, Peace be to your house,’ or ‘Peace be upon you’. It is a word we are familiar with as believers in Jesus and maybe we have used it ourselves as a blessing. The basic idea underlying this word ‘shalom’ is contentment and satisfaction in life, not just as a feeling, but after completing a transaction to each party’s satisfaction, or the payment of a debt, or the reconciliation of a relationship. It appears often in scripture in these ways.

In its purest form it means being at peace with God, knowing that blessing flows from being in that position with Him. The peace we are talking about here is not the absence of war or strife, or the quietness and stillness that comes from being in a pleasant place. It is the absence of war or strife with God, and the quietness and stillness that comes from being in His presence.

As believers we know that our Heavenly Father is the God of peace and that Jesus Himself is our peace, and that the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of peace. So you can see how pivotal this term is to our understanding of the names of God.

The first time Jehovah Shalom appears in the bible is in connection with eternal peace and is found in Judges chapter 6. Joshua had been dead for many years and after his death the Israelites quickly descended into idolatry and disobedience once again. All the time Joshua lived, things went fairly well except that the tribes of Israel did not drive out the enemy as God had commanded them, and so the Angel of the Lord, or Jesus, had to appear before them and remind them of their covenant with God. (Judges 2:1-19) It is interesting that in verses 4 & 5 it talks about the children of Israel weeping. But these were not tears of repentance, they were self centred crocodile tears. Oh I think that they genuinely felt sorry, but at root they wanted to have their cake and eat it. They wanted to be under God’s protection but still go their own way.

Their conviction didn’t last long however, for they still did not let go of their idols. They thought that they could still be protected by God as well as serve their foreign gods.

There is a lesson here for us too. If we are going to be truly at peace with God, then we have to give up our idols, whatever they might be.

You probably know of TV evangelists who have had their sin exposed in public. They wept and they wailed, they confessed their sin and said they were sorry whilst in private they continued in their sin. They wept tears of remorse, but not of repentance. They were sorry that they had been caught out, but were soon tempted back to their misdeeds.

It is not enough to merely weep over ours sins. We have to turn our backs on our sins, walk away from them and not go back. Outward confession of sin means nothing if it does not mean a change of heart.

The book of Judges is such a sad book in many ways. Consider the last words of the book, ‘everyone did what was right in his own eyes’. Judges 21:25 We can learn a lot from this book which can be applied to the church today and indeed to our own lives. Everyone did what was right in his/her own eyes.

There is widespread apathy towards sin in the churches today. I say churches, because the true church is the body of Christ and is a remnant from all churches, the institutions, the denominations which call themselves Christian. People are no longer outraged by the things shoved in their faces every day. TV and films bombard us with sexual promiscuity and adultery. The name of Jesus, the name of God are regularly misused, and most don’t blink an eye at it. Swearing and cursing are rampant and we should be offended. Our consciences are being dumbed down by the enemy and we are letting him get away with it time after time. Do we forget that we have the on/off control in our hand?

We have to declare war on the enemy’s seductive ways in this age. So it was for the Israelites. Time and time again they failed, till they were brought to a terrible place.

Judges 6:1-6

Every year the Midianites came and took the crops and livestock from Israel until they were completely impoverished. For seven years these enemies of Israel would come at harvest time and descend like locusts and take the fruits of Israel’s labour. So bad was the annual invasion that the people of Israel took to hiding in caves in the mountains.

This reminds me of the cartoon film ‘Antz’ where the grasshoppers came each year and stole the ants stores and an unworthy champion sorted them out. I wonder if the writers of that story got their ideas from here?

Judges 6:7-10

‘And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried out to the Lord because of the Midianites, they the Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel; ‘I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage, and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. Also I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.’ But you have not obeyed My voice.”

The Israelites were reaping the consequences of their disobedience before God. They were an unholy people, idolatrous and stubborn and hard hearted. God had to teach them a lesson. He will not be mocked.

Oh yes! They acted in a holy way, they wept and prayed, but as soon as they had finished they went back to their idols and to their kneeling before the altars of Baal. In fact throughout the seven years of distress, Gideon’s father Joash, kept an altar to Baal on his property. Why would he do that? Because he and the rest of the Israelites saw the wealth and prosperity of the Midianites and were jealous. So if Baal could let the Midianites have all these riches then they would try to see if Baal would provide the same for them. How foolish! So they became double minded, wanting the best if both worlds. The unnamed prophet of God told them the reasons why they were in this predicament.

And then;

Judges 6:11-24 a

‘Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, ‘The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valour!’ Gideon said to Him, ‘Oh my Lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. Then the Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from up the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” So he said to Him, ‘O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘ Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.’ Then he said to Him, ‘If now I have found favour in your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me. Do not depart from here, I pray, until I come to You and bring out my offering and set it before You.’ And He said, ‘I will wait until you come back.’ So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat, and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot; and he brought them out to Him under the terebinth tree and presented them. The Angel of God said to him, ‘Take the meat and the unleavened bread and lay them in this rock, and pour out the broth.’ And he did so. Then the Angel of the Lord put out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel,of the Lord departed out of his sight. Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the Lord. So Gideon said, ‘Alas, O Lord God! For I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face.’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.’ So Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it The-Lord-is-Peace.’

Jesus came to see Gideon, as the Angel of the Lord.

(We don’t know if the unnamed prophet was actually a ‘Christophany’, ie., an Old Testament appearance of Jesus or not. I tend to think that the prophet was just as the word says, an unnamed man of God endowed with the gift of prophecy, also remembering that though idolatry was rife there was always a remnant of Godly people.) Why did God visit Gideon as the Angel of the Lord in the person of Jesus?

Gideon didn’t seem like a worthy man to be used by God, did he? Hiding away like a coward, doing nothing to stop,the Midianites for seven years. Just like all the rest. He didn’t even object to his father’s pagan altar. Yet Jesus called him a mighty man of valour. Funny how God chooses seemingly unsuitable people to do His work.

Who did Gideon think this Angel of God was? He didn’t seem to me to be suitably impressed. He didn’t fall down before Him in worship, he just complained. Why? Because he had a really wrong idea about God.

Jesus was not moved, He didn’t answer Gideon’s complaints. He just told Gideon to go and save Israel from the Midianites. God wasn’t about to change His mind, Gideon was the one who had to change his thinking. God in Jesus was humbling Gideon and empowering him by His Holy Spirit for the huge task that lay ahead of him.

One moment Gideon was a complaining coward, the next, a mighty warrior of God.

Yet Gideon seemed to have no idea of the fact that God was standing before him, and didn’t yet know that the empowering had happened. He still wanted to know who it was who was telling him all these things. His answer is astounding, ‘Show me a sign!’, as if the mere presence of Jesus was not a sign in itself. God is so patient with Gideon here, who was behaving in rather a ridiculous way.

Gideon even got God to wait for him while he prepared a huge meal. What was he thinking? Maybe he needed time to absorb all that had happened or maybe he thought that if he closed his eyes, when he opened them again it would all be a dream and the Angel of the Lord would be gone.

Anyway, our lovely Jesus patiently waited till, Gideon brought the food and then told him to put it on a stone and pour the broth over it.

Now bear in mind that Gideon, for all his doubts, had very carefully prepared this food. He must have wondered what Jesus was doing there, messing up his lovely meal, I state of eating it. And then, all became clear, Gideon was given his sign as the food was consumed by fire from the rock when Jesus touched it with His staff and then disappeared from Gideon’s sight.

Too late almost, Gideon realised his mistake. What had he done? He suddenly knew that he had been face to face with God and knew he should die, for no one can come face to face with God and live. Then God spoke to his heart, ‘Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.’

So Gideon built an altar of remembrance and called it, the Lord is Peace. Jehovah Shalom!

Gideon’s attitude to God was casual, unbelieving, doubtful.

Our attitude can be the same. We are apt not to fear and reverence God as we should. There is a popular soft image of God in many churches today and from that watered down view comes permissiveness. We hear of churches where things are accepted that should not be, in fact everyone does what is right in their own eyes.

When Gideon realised just who he had been talking to, he was filled with fear. He knew then that Israel was reaping what it had sown as a nation of people. Sin and disobedience had caused the trouble and distress. It wasn’t until he got to that place of understanding that God was able to give him leave.

Not till he was in a place of repentance and acknowledgement of sin, not just the nation’s sin, but his own.

God’s peace -Shalom- cannot be earned nor is it given to everyone who calls themselves Christian. Multitudes of regular churchgoers do nor have Shalom.

Many often go through times of distress quoting the words of peace without actually experiencing shalom.

We each have to recognise God for who He truly is. Perhaps God has led us into these teachings on the Names of God so that each one of us can have a fresh revelation of His power and might.

We use grand words like, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, yet do we really believe that He is all these and more? He is speaking to us, pleading with us not to take Him for granted.

Let each one of us pay attention to what God is saying to us, get rid of our idols, turn our minds to Him and thus truly experience and know His peace in our lives, whatever comes against us to try and steal away our love of God and His desire that we should know Him completely as Jehovah Shalom, the Lord our Peace.

May you know His peace.

Shalom,

Linda

Next time Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there.

The post JEHOVAH SHALOM first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Operation Rescue

Barry Forder — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 21:31:59 +0000

Picture the scene: The war is almost over and all the soon-to-be victorious warriors have been air-lifted home. All that remains is for the heavy artillery to launch the final decisive blow on the enemy. However, there are a number of soldiers who had gone AWOL, disobeyed their General’s orders, and as a result had found themselves caught behind enemy lines. The enemy, through defeated, wasn’t going down without a fight and would take as many with him as possible. The experienced General however, wasn’t prepared to lose a single soldier, so an elite specially trained team was put together to go in a rescue those who, albeit through their own fault, had missed the initial evac. The heavy artillery had been instructed not to fire into the danger zone until the rescue team had each been marked with a special marking that would show up under the hi-tech night-vision scanning equipment. This would then afford them the protection they needed whilst going deep into the heart of enemy territory to rescue anyone belonging to the General who would hear the message to escape and take this ‘last ship home’.

Welcome to Revelation chapter 7! The battle is almost over, the church have been air-lifted to safety in the greatest evacuation in the history of the world. Yet there were inevitably those who chose to ignore the warning signs, who did not respond to the Gospel when they had chance, but now that the Tribulation has begun, find themselves trapped behind enemy lines. There are many others too who would respond to the Gospel now, if only there were a preacher. Enter the 144,000 Jewish evangelists whose role seems to be to reach out to whosoever has ears to hear in Earth’s darkest and final hour.

This study should do two things; firstly, remind you of God’s great mercy, not willing that any should perish. Secondly, this should highlight the privilege of receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour this side of the Rapture. Those who come to Christ after, those who make up the great multitude seen in this chapter, will be saved by the blood of the Lamb, but will not have the position and blessings afforded to the Church, the Bride of Christ.

May the following verse by verse study of Revelation chapter 7 encourage you deepen your love for God and His Word!

CHAPTER 7

In Revelation 7 we have a respite in the text from the judgment that is being poured out. It is a much needed break for the reader after the horror of the first six seals.

Rev 7:1

And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

These angels are holding back God’s judgment, which is seen as coming by the four winds. In Daniel chapter 7 we also read of four winds, which on that occasion brought about a change in the government of the world – the same job is being done here.

The four ‘corners’ does not imply that the earth is flat! Isaiah referred to the ‘circle’ of the earth, which literally translated would be ‘globe’. In this verse we simply have a figure of speech. We have the four points of the compass and the world can, and often is, divided into four quarters. Military strategists have divided the world into four quadrants, and from some satellite images the world appears to be divided by four mountain ranges into four sections.

Rev 7:2

And I saw another angel ascending from the east……..

Adding further weight to the above point, the fact that this angel is ascending from the east shows the earth cannot be flat (or square) as the critics suggest the Bible teaches. If the John was looking at a flat earth, this angel could not be ascending from the east but merely coming from the east. For John to see the angel ascend, which means to rise, from the east shows that the earth must be spherical, as the angel would appear to arise from the distant horizon in much the same way as the sun rises and could also be said to ascend from the east.

Anyway, this angel………. [has] the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

As in verse one, the command is to hold back from hurting the earth and sea. In chapter 8 we meet the Trumpet judgments, the first four of which see these angels with the four winds then released and as we will see, they do indeed harm the earth, sea and the trees.

Rev 7:3

The angel that arises from the east then says to the other four angels:

Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

So the reason that the four angels are to hold back is to allow time for God’s servants to be sealed so that they will be immunised (supernaturally protected) from the coming judgments. We have heard much about the ‘mark of the beast’, which we will encounter in chapter 13, but Satan does nothing new, he simply distorts what God has already done. In Ezekiel 9 we read of an angel going through Jerusalem marking the foreheads of those who still worshipped the true and living God and were not given over to idolatry, so that they would be spared when the judgment came. Here we see the servants of God being marked on their foreheads, with some sort of mark that identified them as God’s.

Rev 7:4

And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

The JW’s and the Worldwide Church of God (Armstrongism) both claim that they are (or some of them are) the 144,000 – despite the fact that we have just read that the 144,000 are from all the tribes of Israel. The JW’s actually had a convention for the ‘144,000 elect’ some years ago and 250,000 people turned up! So don’t become a JW because their Heaven is already over subscribed!

Rev 7:5-8

5 Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.

6 Of the tribe of Asher were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nathalie were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasseh were sealed twelve thousand.

7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

8 Of the tribe of Zebulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed

twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

God could not have made this clearer or easier to understand; 144,000 Jews from the 12 tribes of Israel – sealed by God for a particular work that they will accomplish for Him during the first half of the Tribulation.

See Appendix A – The Purpose of the Sealing of the 144,000

Rev 7:9

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

We are now introduced to another group, which appears to startle John by its size and sudden appearance in Heaven. This great multitude are given white robes to wear – the reason for this we will look at in a moment – and have palms in their hands, possibly as a sign of victory and celebration, or more likely drawing from the feast of Tabernacles where palm branches were used, this feast also being known as the feast of ‘ingathering’ or harvest, and this great multitude are indeed a great harvest that has been gathered in.

Rev 7:10

And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

This verse shows once again that Salvation is the work of the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Although the Holy Spirit is not mentioned in their praise, His work in the salvation of souls is not negated, for Jesus said clearly in John 16:13-14 that the Holy Spirit would not speak of Himself, but would glorify Jesus.

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come……… he shall not speak of himself ……….He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (John 16:13-14)

Rev 7:11 – 12

11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

It is fitting that these souls who have entered Heaven begin their time there as they will continue – in praise to God whom they (like us) owe everything, for His great mercy.

Rev 7:13

13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

The question and John’s answer indicate that the multitude were new arrivals in heaven that John hadn’t previously seen. Again mention is made of the white robes that they had been given.

It should be obvious but it’s worth pointing out, that the elders are not the multitude and vice versa for the 24 elders (representing the Church) are around the throne but the ‘great multitude’ are before the throne (verse 9), and it is one of the elders who puts the question to John as to the identity of the great multitude, showing that they are distinct from the elders.

See: Appendix B – The 12 Tribes of Revelation 7

Rev 7:14

And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

This shows that they were saved in the same way as all other men – by the blood of the Lamb, and links them to the previous group that John had seen under the alter when the fifth seal who also came out of the Tribulation (see again Rev 6:9-10) – who also were given white robes to wear.

Rev 7:15 a

Therefore are they before the throne of God….,

Some scholars have suggested that this is a glimpse forward into the millennium, and that these events will take place on earth. However, the fact that the 24 elders, four living creatures, angels, etc. are all in view shows that John is seeing this event taking place in heaven during the Tribulation, and not on earth during the Millennium.

What settles the question is that they are before the throne of God, not the throne of David that Jesus will reign upon during the Millennium. Added to this is the simple fact that John has already given a good description of the throne room of heaven, and that he doesn’t elaborate any further would indicate that he expected his readers to know what throne he was talking about.

If this is so, it is interesting that from this verse there appears to be day and night in heaven, and again we have mention of the heavenly Temple (tabernacle) on which the earthly copies were modeled.

Rev 7:15 b

….and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

From this we can be sure that the ‘great multitude’ are not, nor will be part of the church (as represented by the elders) because when the Church gets to heaven they are not there as servants, but are invited to sit on thrones (Rev 3:21 / Rev 4:4), whereas this ‘great multitude’ serve day and night in His temple.

This is also confirmed in Rev 19:6-9 where we read: “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”

Here the ‘great multitude’ announce the marriage of the Lamb, and declare that His wife has made herself ready. The Bride of Christ is the Church as Paul explains in Ephesians 5:25-32, so the fact that the ‘great multitude’ are declaring that she is ready show that they are not themselves part of the Bride. Furthermore we then read that the one speaking to John told him to write: Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. From this it seems safe to assume that the ‘great multitude’, after announcing the wedding, would indeed be invited, and therefore are the ones who are called to the marriage supper. And surely it is no coincidence that, as with a Jewish wedding where the guests are given a wedding robe to wear, the ‘great multitude’ are given white robes to wear.

Added to this, as the Millennium is about to begin in chapter 20 of Revelation we read: “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.” (Rev 20:4-5)

Here John sees a group who are sitting on thrones who are given the authority to pass judgment. This can only be the Church, the Bride of Christ (see also 1 Cor 6:3). However in addition to this John sees a second group who appear to not have received their resurrected bodies yet – they are seen as ‘souls’ only, who are about to receive new bodies in verse 5 – these are clearly identified as those who came out of the Tribulation. So again these must be the ‘great multitude’ who were invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

The fact that they have not received their resurrected bodies at this point shows they were not raptured, but rather martyred for their witness, as is confirmed by Rev 6:9 / Rev 7:14-17 / Rev 20:4.

Rev 7:16

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

Unlike the 144,000 the ‘great multitude’ are not sealed, so they will experience the effects of the Tribulation. They will also hunger and thirst because they won’t be able to earn money to buy food unless they receive the mark of the beast, which they will not do.

Rev 7:17

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

The tears are because they had suffered great persecution – this is borne out by Rev 13:7-10.

I believe that the only way ‘out’ of the Tribulation is to be martyred for Jesus. Those who do take a stand for Christ will be martyred, enter Heaven where they will receive a white wedding robe, and then be invited guests at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

This is indeed a great privilege, but how much greater a privilege to ‘escape the wrath to come’ and actually be part of the Bride!

There have been those who have said they will wait to see if the Rapture takes place before putting their trust in Christ. Not only is that foolish given what the Tribulation saints will have to endure, but as Pastor Chuck Smith says, “If you don’t have enough guts to live for Him now, how in the world are you going to have enough strength to die for Him then?”

To be continued…

Every blessings,

Pastor Barry.

Appendix A – The Purpose of the Sealing of the 144,000

One thing that is not told in the text is why are the 144,000 sealed anyway? What is their function?

It is clear from the text that the 144,000 Jews are sealed after the sixth seal, which ends the ‘natural’ / man-made judgments, and comes before the opening of the seventh seal. But why?

Although it is not specifically stated, most scholars agree that the purpose of the 144,000 is to preach the ‘Gospel of the Kingdom’. In Matthew 24: 14-15 Jesus said : “ And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place……… (Matt 24:14-15)

A popular view in the church today is to take verses like this to mean that the Church is responsible for preaching the gospel in the whole world, and until we do, Jesus can’t come back.

This has led to various errors suggesting that the Church will win the world for Christ, and then He’ll come back. If this were true, it puts a great onus on the Church to reach the whole world, a task made all the harder by the fact that we are told in 1 Timothy 4:1 of a great ‘departing from the faith’ in the last days! Jesus also makes it clear that the end will come – starting with the abomination of desolation – after the gospel has been preached for a witness to all nations. A witness of what? Surely a witness of the coming Kingdom and the need to repent now!

In Matthew 24, the Church would have already departed by the time that Jesus gets to this verse, so someone other than the Church must be doing the preaching! Jesus has just warned of the beginning of sorrows (which echo the first six seals of Revelation 6), and then tells the disciples that the ‘gospel will be preached….’ – and then the end will come. The end that Jesus is referring to is the Great Tribulation (the last 31/2 years) as is confirmed by the fact that Jesus then points to the ‘abomination of desolation’ as we have just mentioned. This abomination will be when the image of Antichrist will be erected in the Temple in Jerusalem. From Dan 9:27 we know that this will mark the ‘middle of the week’ (or mid-way point through the 7 years).

As we have said before, we must always be alert to the fact that the Holy Spirit is very clear and specific in the words He uses. The ‘preachers’ in Matt 24:14 are preaching the ‘gospel of the kingdom’. This is the same ‘gospel’ that was preached by John the Baptist (Matt 3:1-2) who was expecting the Messiah to establish His throne there and then, as had been prophesied (2 Sam 7:12 & 29 / Luke 1:33).

John the Baptist was surprised / confused that Jesus had not established his throne so sent some of his own disciples to ask Jesus if He really was the One they had been waiting for (Luke 7:20). John the Baptist, like the Jews, didn’t understand that Messiah had to come twice, once as a suffering servant (Isaiah 53), and then again as King of kings when He would then assume the throne of David and rule the earth from Jerusalem.

As the late Barry Smith pointed out, the gospel that is now preached by the Church is not the ‘gospel of the kingdom’, but the ‘Gospel of the Grace of God’. The Church’s main message is not warning that the kingdom is about come, but telling people about God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ which is available to all men everywhere, and that ‘whosoever’ will can become a part of His Church.

The time will come when this offer will expire, and when it does (at the time of the Rapture) the preaching will revert to announcing the coming kingdom when the Messiah will come to rule on David’s throne in Jerusalem. Given this, who better to preach this message than 144,000 Jewish evangelists, or as one commentator put, 144,000 Jewish Billy Grahams!

With 144,000 Jewish evangelists, which no doubt will speak many languages (as is the case with many Jews today), it makes preaching the gospel of the Kingdom to all nations a fairly simple task – especially when we consider that they will be supernaturally bullet proof(!), and also that their preaching is for a witness – so no one will be able to plead ignorance.

It is very likely that the ‘great multitude’ in Rev 7:9-17, and their predecessors in Rev 6:9-12, will be converted by the preaching of these Jews. This makes sense of why in Revelation chapter 7 we read first about the 144,000, followed by the great multitude – the fruit of their ministry.

Appendix B – The 12 Tribes of Revelation 7

You may have noticed that Dan is missing from this list; some have suggested this is because Antichrist will come from the tribe of Dan – possibly, but not really supported by scripture. In fact Antichrist is called the ‘Assyrian’ in Micah 5:5-6, so this would suggest that he is a gentile, a view also supported by Daniel 9:26. One possible reason that Dan is omitted is found in Deut 29 where a curse is pronounced upon any tribe that goes after false gods. Whilst this was true of all tribes, Dan and Ephraim (who is also conspicuous by his absence) were the first, and as a result the other tribes followed.

When king Solomon died and the kingdom was divided into the north (Israel) and south (Judah), Jeroboam led the people into idol worship as recorded in 1 Kings 12:26-30: “And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David (he was worried that people would abandon him and pledge allegiance to king Rehoboam again if they went up to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to God as was their custom): If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.”

As just mentioned, we note that Joseph is listed in the 144,000, but the half-tribe of Ephraim is not; so it comes as no surprise to discover that the principle town in the region of Ephraim was Bethel – the other location that Jeroboam put a golden calf.

This is all just speculation, but as they say, it’s a theory that fits the facts, and it does account for why both Dan and Ephraim are absent.

What we do know is that there are actually 29 places where the 12 tribes are listed in the Bible, and they are often listed differently. The reason for this is that there are actually 12 tribes + the two half tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (being the sons of Joseph). When the land was divided up among the 12 tribes the Levites didn’t receive a piece of land because they were to be the priests. Joseph’s portion was then split between his two sons to get us back to the 12. Because of this, it means that each time a list is given there are a potential of 14 names to choose from,

Ruben
Simeon
Levi
Judah
Issachar
Zebulun
Joseph
Benjamin
Dan
Naphtali
Gad
Asher
Ephraim
Manasseh

Despite the fact that Dan is omitted from the 144,000, he is ‘reinstated’ when the tribes are back in the land during the Millennium as listed in Ezekiel 48. This demonstrates the faithfulness of God, because we find that the same 12 tribes that God made the covenant with as listed originally in Genesis 35, are given their promised possession in the Millennium, with the half tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim coming back under the one banner as the tribe of Joseph.

The post Operation Rescue first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

This is just the beginning!

Barry Forder — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 21:16:53 +0000

Much of the church today tends to ignore prophecy, or at least, put it to one side, deeming it to be ‘difficult’, ‘hard to understand’ or even divisive! In ‘The Purpose Driven Life’, a book embraced by many churches both in the UK and in America, pastor Rick Warren made the following incredible statement: “When the disciples wanted to talk about prophecy, Jesus quickly switched the conversation to evangelism. He said in essence. “The details of my return are none of your business.” – yes, pastor Rick says the details of Jesus’ return are not for us to worry our little heads over! Err…. Excuse me! In the words of an old Christian song “If the Bible don’t back it then it seems quite clear, perhaps it was the Devil who whispered in your ear!”

Seems to me like pastor Rick and those who subscribe to views like this should spend less time on motivations pep talks and get back to what the Bible actually says!

The Bible actually says:

“Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” (Matt 24:5)

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. (Matt 24:25-26)

Now learn a parable of the fig tree…… (Matt 24:32)

So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near (Matt 24:33)

Therefore be ye also ready……… (Matt 24:44)

Watch therefore…….. (Matt 25:13)

Take heed lest any man deceive you: (Mark 13:5)

But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that reads understand,) (Mark 13:14)

For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. (Mark 13:22-23)

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. (Mark 13:33)

Watch ye therefore (Mark 13:35)

And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch (Mark 13:37)

Take heed that ye be not deceived (Luke 21:8)

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (Luke 21:28)

Doesn’t look like this is ‘none of our concern’!

In fact, almost one third of the Bible is made up of prophecy; and God says that prophecy is unique to Him, and is evidence that His Word is supernatural and from outside this time domain.

In Isaiah 46:9-10 God says: “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure”.

Prophecy is not a prediction about the future. We make predictions, which are really educated guesses, about things like the weather, or a sporting contest. We have a little bit of information, and coupled with experience we give it our best guess. But prophecy is history recorded in advance by a God who is outside of Time!

Without doubt, one of the most detailed areas of prophecy in the Bible has to do with the ‘Day of the LORD’, or as we are often more familiar, ‘the Tribulation’. This coming seven-year period begins in chapter 6 of Revelation, and concludes in chapter 19. This period of time is spoken of by a number of names in both the Old and New Testaments:

The Tribulation in the Old Testament

The Time of Jacob’ Trouble – Jeremiah 30:7

The Seventieth Week of Daniel – Daniel 9:27

God’s Strange Work – Isaiah 28:21

The Day of Calamity – Deuteronomy 32:35-43

The Day of the Lord – Obadiah 15-17 / Isaiah 2:12 / 13:6-9 / Joel Ch 1-2

The Tribulation – Deuteronomy 4:26-31

God’s Indignation – Isaiah 26:20-21 / Daniel 11:36-37 / Isaiah 34:2

The Overflowing Scourge – Isaiah 28:15, 18

The Day of Vengeance – Isaiah 34:1-8 / Isaiah 61:2

The Time of Trouble – Daniel 12:1

The Great Day of The Lord – Zephaniah 1:14-18

The Tribulation in the New Testament

The Day of the Lord – 1 Thessalonians 5:2

The Wrath of God – Rev 15:1 / 14:10

The Hour of Trial – Rev 3:10

The Wrath to Come – 1 Thessalonians 1:10

The Great Tribulation – Matthew 24:21 / Revelation 2:22

The Hour of Judgment – Revelation 14:7

In Chapter 6 of Revelation we see the beginning of the wrath of God being poured out on this unbelieving and Christ-rejecting world. The Lamb – bearing the marks of slaughter – now begins to break the seals on the scroll, and with each succeeding seal that is broken there is an accompanying event that unfolds, as if part of a chain reaction. This will usher in the most terrifying and cataclysmic period of history since the Flood of Noah. We will see world-wide conflict, poverty and starvation on an unimaginable scale, disease and pestilence that will confound the World Health Organisation and will be so great that a quarter of the Earth’s population will be wiped out in a matter of months. Then we will see the largest earthquake ever recorded, where every island – including the British Isles – will be rocked and shaken. But remember, this is just the ‘birth pangs’!

The following verse-by-verse study notes of Revelation chapter 6 accompany the audio teaching given on the 6th March 2016, available for download from our ‘Sunday morning studies’ section.

Before moving into Revelation chapter 6, it is helpful to look at how God foretold this period of time, and to realise that the Tribulation is not merely an intense period of persecution, it is the outpouring of God’s wrath on this world:

Isaiah 2:10-21 “Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols he shall utterly abolish. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.”

Isaiah 13:6-13 “Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames… Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.”

Zephaniah 1:14-18 “The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.”

Isaiah 26:20-21 “Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.”

The New Testament is also gives many details, so that we should not be ignorant of these things!

1 Thessalonians 5:1-9 “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ”

Matthew 24:4-22 “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened”.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-8 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked [one] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming”

Other background reading: Mark 13 / Luke 21 / 2 Thessalonians 2

One thing already alluded to in our studies is that this period of time will last for seven years, itself divided into two periods of three and a half years. Three times in Revelation itself this is highlighted. In Revelation 11:3 the first three and a half years are referred to as ‘a thousand two hundred and threescore days’ – being the time that God will raise up two witnesses to witness from Jerusalem (more of them when we study chapter 11!). The second reference is in chapter 12v6, and records the time God will protect Israel from Antichrist, during the last three and a half years of the Tribulation. The final reference in 12v14 also concerns this time of Israel’s protection and is stated as being “a time, and times, and half a time”. This might initially sound strange to us, but back in Daniel we find a the same expression used in chapter 4 where it is clear that ‘seven times’ means seven years; and in Daniel 7:25 and 12:7 we have “a time and times and the dividing of time”, where ‘time’ (singular) = 1 year, ‘times’ (plural) = 2 years and ‘half a time’ / ‘the dividing of time’ = half a year.

But why seven years?

The Seventieth Week of Daniel

To answer that we need to again go back to the book of Daniel. In chapter 9 we have what is arguably the single most incredible prophecy in the Bible! That is quite a claim, but this prophecy foretold the very day Jesus would enter into Jerusalem, presenting Himself as King, on what we now know as Palm Sunday – over 500 years before the event! However the real scope of this prophecy is the future for the nation of Israel, and the city of Jerusalem.

I have annotated the text below to aid understanding – however this is worthy of a detailed study in its own right, and you are encouraged to be Bereans (Acts 17:11) and search the scriptures to see if these things are so!

“24 Seventy weeks [490 years] are determined upon thy people [Daniel’s people, Israel] and upon thy holy city [Daniel’s city, Jerusalem], 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. [These things have not been completed, so we know the prophecy has not yet been concluded].

25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem [given by Artaxerxes Longimanus in 445 B.C.] unto the Messiah the Prince [literally, ‘Jesus the King’] shall be seven weeks [49 years], and threescore and two weeks [434 years] – [totaling 483 years]: the street [of Jerusalem] shall be built again, and the wall [surrounding Jerusalem shall be rebuilt…], even in troublous times. [The troubles Israel had in rebuilding the city are detailed in the book of Nehemiah].

26 And after threescore and two weeks [so after the 483 years – but before the final 7 years…] shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself [Jesus was crucified and ‘cut off’ (Psalm 37:22) from the land of the living (Isaiah 53:8), but not for His sin, but ours]: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary… [the people who destroyed the city of Jerusalem were the Romans, so the prince mentioned here is Antichrist who is yet to come, who will also be ‘of the Romans’ i.e. will come out of the remains of the Roman Empire] and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined [viz. Israel are in for a very bumpy ride!]

[At the point the 483 years stopped, there were still 7 more years of the prophecy to run. This interval has now lasted for over 1900 years, but we are now poised for this prophetic clock to start ticking once again!]

27 And he [the price who shall come – namely Antichrist] shall confirm [ratify] the covenant [a peace treaty]with many [implying Israel and others] for one week [and here we have our final 7 years of this prophecy which become the 7 years of the Tribulation]: and in the midst of the week [after 3 ½ years] he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease [meaning that Antichrist will stop Israel from offering sacrifices in their newly to-be-rebuilt temple – thus breaking his covenant with them], and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, [in a re-run of the historical events of 167 B.C. where Antiochus Epiphanies desecrated the then Jewish Temple by erecting an image of himself and sacrificing a pig on the alter, Antichrist will do the same] even until the consummation [until everything God has decreed has been completed], and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate [and God’s judgment has been poured upon those who will be made desolate]” (Daniel 9:24-27).

REVELATION CHAPTER 6

Rev 6:1-2

1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

The Lamb – bearing the marks of slaughter – now begins to break the seals on the scroll, and with each succeeding seal that is broken there is an accompanying event that unfolds, as if part of a chain reaction.

The first thing John records is the noise like thunder, and it’s as if this ‘thunder’ reverberates back through time and into eternity. For now the Lamb, who had been found worthy open the seals, who had been found a rightful kinsman of Adam and able to claim back the title to Adam’s forfeited inheritance, begins to lay claim to what He has purchased!

All that follows in chapter 6-19 is the outworking of the Lamb wresting from the hand of Satan all that Satan can no longer legally keep. This world and all therein is now the Second Adam’s. Yet Satan does not give up his prize without a fight.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

There is much written, both in fact and fiction about these horsemen; but as to whether they will in some way ride on literal horses, time will tell. There is however no reason to believe that this is now purely allegorical. What is sure is that the colours of the horses themselves are significant, and none more so than with this first rider on the white horse.

At the end of the Tribulation Jesus will ride out of Heaven on a white horse, so some think this could also be Jesus here. However a little closer study and we see that this is one imitating Jesus, coming as it were in the place of Christ!

The rider in Revelation 19 is clearly identified as ‘the Word of God’ wearing a ‘diadem’ crown, such as worn by a King; it is unmistakably Jesus. However, the crown worn by the rider here in chapter 6 is a ‘stephanos’ crown, the type of crown given to an overcomer or victor. The fact that this rider is wearing such a crown shows they are coming to conquer, and by being on a white horse underlines that is part of a deliberate attempt to deceive. Jesus spoke of many coming in His name to deceive (Matthew 24:5), but also spoke of one specific individual who would not come in the Father’s name, but in his own name (John 5:43).

We also note that this individual has a bow. Some commentators have drawn a parallel with Nimrod, whom we read about in Genesis 10, who was a ‘mighty hunter’ and the first world dictator, setting up the first ‘one world government’ at Babel. This suggestion is certainly provocative, as Nimrod is without doubt a type or shadow of Antichrist. What is also significant is the fact that he has a bow, but no arrows! Our thinking naturally assume the bow is a weapon, however when we look at the word ‘bow’ we find that in Greek the word is ‘toxon’. The only other place this word is used is in the Greek Septuagint translation of the Old Testament where it occurs in Genesis 9:13, and it is the symbol of a covenant!

So what we have here is a rider posing as Christ, bringing a covenant, and going forth to conquer. This can be none other than Antichrist.

This is confirmed by Daniel 8:23-25 where we are told that this man will magnify himself in his own heart, be anti-Christ, and conquer by bringing false peace.

“And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” (Daniel 8:23-25)

Rev 6:3-4

3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

We now will see three other horses, and although the identity of the riders may not be known, the judgments they are bringing were foretold by Jesus in Matthew 24. “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

Breaking this down:

“……For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” The white horse is Antichrist will be the culmination of all the false Christ’s that have preceded him and will establish a one world religion, worshipping him.

“……And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars……..For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom”

These quotes come from the Old Testament, ‘nation against nation’ comes from 2 Chronicles 15:1-7, and ‘kingdom against kingdom’ from Isaiah 19:1-4. In their original contexts they point to a total conflict of the area in view. When Jesus uses these expressions the area in view is the whole world. The first time this prophecy was fulfilled was with the First World War, and then with the 2nd World War – which in many respects was a continuation of the 1st.

The second rider, on the red horse, takes peace from the earth suggesting another world war.

40% of a global spending is on weapons. $3 Trillion per year spent on weapons, which equates to $8.5 Billion per day. $344 Million per hour $100,000 per second. There are 27 countries with long range ballistic missiles, and at least 10 with nuclear weapons. 50% of all scientific research is given over to weapons and weapons systems – yet every 8 seconds a child dies of hunger!

From the prophecies in Daniel we know that when Antichrist rises to power he will at first be the head of a 10 ‘nation’ confederacy. However he will subdue three of the ‘kings’ taking total power. It is easy to see how a world war would leave people wanting a leader, already known for bringing peace, to assume complete control and sort things out.

Rev 6:5-6

5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

“……..and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24: 7)

History has recorded how wars have led to famines and plagues. More people died from disease and starvation after the 1st World War than died in the war itself.

As the third rider comes on a black horse we hear the cry “Three measures of meal for a ‘denarion’”. In our language, that is a day’s wage for a loaf of bread. That’s somewhere in the region of £50 for a loaf!

But notice, as is always the case, the oil and wine are not affected. In other words, the rich get richer while the rest of the world plummets toward poverty.

As evangelist Barry Smith used to say, by controlling energy they control nations, and by controlling food they control individuals. All of this puts global power in the hands of Antichrist.

Rev 6:7-8

7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

This is a combination of all the first three riders, war, famine, pestilence and ‘the beasts of the earth’ – probably due to the shortage of food. Chemical/nuclear warfare may also play a part.

‘One fourth of the earth’ is over 1.3 Billion people. It is the equivalent of all of Europe, all of North America, all of Canada, all of Central America and Mexico, all of South America – all dead.

It is hard to even begin to imagine the carnage that will occur for those left on the Earth during this time – but it is also clear to see why Paul refers to the Rapture of the church as a blessed hope!

Rev 6:9-10

9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Who are these martyrs? They seem to be distinct from the Elders; so whilst, throughout the history of the church, there have been countless numbers who have been martyred for naming the name of Christ, the context here implies that these martyrs have been recently slain, and they are asking God to avenge their blood on those who are on the earth at that time. They must therefore be people who were martyred during the start of the Tribulation. This will be confirmed in Rev 7:9-14.

It is worth noting that they are ‘souls’ and they are conscious, ie no ‘soul sleep’, which is the unbiblical idea that when we die we enter a state of unconsciousness until we are resurrected with new bodies. When we die we are immediately in the presence of the Lord (cf. Phil 1:23) (or in Hades, depending on which destination we have chosen to go to!). This is also confirmation that ‘we’ – the real us – are our souls. Our bodies are the temporary house that our souls live in, and our spirit – or if you will, our ‘conscience’ – is given by God for the duration that we are in our bodies to act as our God-consciousness. When we die our spirit ‘goes back to God who gave it’ (Ecclesiastes 12:7), but our soul will enter Eternity.

How did these people get saved? 1) By the testimony that we have left, 2) By the preaching of the gospel by the 144,000 Jewish evangelists that we will meet in chapter 7.

We should leave notes for our unsaved friends and family!

We should also note that there will be unparalleled persecution to the death during this time – it’s much better to get saved now, because, as we see in the next verse, it appears that to be saved during the Tribulation time results in being martyred for your faith.

Rev 6:11

And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Again, these is a set number that only God knows who will go to Heaven. It’s not that there are limited places in Heaven, but rather that the places in Heaven are limited to only those who repent and accept Christ.

Two questions for further study: Will these martyred saints be part of the Church? (the Bride of Christ). And: Where is the Holy Spirit during the Tribulation?

Rev 6:12

And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

There are five earthquakes recorded during the Tribulation time: Rev:6:12 / Rev 8:5 / Rev 11:13 / Rev 11:19 / Rev 16:18. All of them are serious and cause great fear. However the last one is the one recorded in Isaiah 24:19-20 and is the ‘daddy’ of them all.

There are also five times that the Sun is turned to blackness, the first being before the Tribulation begins as recorded in Joel 2:31/ Acts 2:20, the last is immediately after the Tribulation as foretold by Jesus in Matt 24:29 / Mark 13:24, the others are here in Rev 6:12 and also Rev 8:12 and Rev 9:2.

Two other occasions in scripture are Exodus 10:21-23 (Moses & Pharaoh) and Matthew 27:45 (the crucifixion).

These could be ‘natural’ (Cf. Mt St Helens) or supernatural – either way I don’t want to be here!

Rev 6:13

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

“Stars of the heaven” – in the Greek is ‘aster’ from where we get the word Asteroid.

Of asteroids we are told: ‘Their diameters range from 930 kilometres to less than one kilometre’ In Arizona in America there is a meteor crater that is a mile wide and 600ft deep; there is one in Siberia that is even bigger! NASA and other agencies have acknowledged the real threat posed from Asteroids and they have come up with a plan to shoot these huge space rocks into lots of little pieces by sending nuclear missiles into space to blow them up before they get to earth – just like we see on the films! – The only problem is back in 1989 they discovered an asteroid that was 50,000 miles, equating to 10 hours away from the earth, but they didn’t notice it ‘till it had passed by!

Seemingly, these asteroids don’t miss!

Rev 6:14

And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

It is hard to imagine every mountain and island being moved. However in August 1883 the volcanic island of Krakatoa in Indonesia erupted, it was heard 3000 miles away, it changed the tides up to 7000 miles away; that’s over half way around the world in each direction. Tidal waves for 1500 miles were recorded, and it took the weather two years to recover. And that was just one volcanic mountain!

Rev 6:15

This covers everyone! No one will escape from this. Jonah tried to hide from God – it doesn’t work! One commentator said that holes in the ground will become the most expensive real estate in the world during this time – so for those who don’t want to accept Jesus now, go by a hole while it is still cheep!

Rev 6:16

And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

For years this verse has amazed me. How can people be so arrogant as to acknowledge that these disasters are from God’s hand, and yet still not submit to Him, and bow the knee in reverent fear?

I now am certain that part of the answer lies in the fact that people are gradually being conditioned and prepared for this time by the Devil. The last 50 years on this earth have seen some amazing technological advances, some of which I believe God will use during the Tribulation as we will see. But Satan also has, and will continue to use these things to his advantage wherever possible. One of the most powerful ‘tools’ that the Devil uses is the media in general, and in particular movies. Now I’m not saying that all movies are a work of Satan, but over the last 50 years we have seen a growing number of disaster movies with recent films such as Independence Day (alien invasion), The Core (major planetary problems), Armageddon (meteor on collision course with earth), Volcano (major volcanic eruption), Earthquake 10.0 (half of America’s coast line falls into sea), Meteor (another big space rock on a collision course), The Day After Tomorrow (major climate change), Waterworld (ice caps melt & continents disappear) etc. etc. The one thing all of these have in common is that mankind wins in the end. This is now so ingrained that people won’t turn to God because the mentality will be ‘we must be able to fix this somehow!’

Rev 6:17

For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

The truth is that no one will be able to stand against the wrath of God, absolutely no one.

To be continued…

Every blessing

Pastor Barry.

The post This is just the beginning! first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Jehovah Tsebaoth – PT.3

Barry Forder — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 13:10:54 +0000

JEHOVAH TSEBAOTH / Part Three

Following on from the previous post…

3) Thirdly they had to experience the Passover

“Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho.” Joshua 5 :10

Passover was instigated by God as He rescued the people of Israel from Egypt, and as a remembrance it was to be celebrated on the 14th of the first month of the year and, surprise, surprise, on the day that the men had recovered from the knife of circumcision at Gilgal, it was that very day.

Just as they were about to do battle against the stronghold of Jericho in the Promised Land, the day came for the celebration of Passover. God’s perfect timing!

There, within the environs of the massive citadel of Jericho, the first Passover in the Promised Land was experienced and the blood of a lamb was sprinkled on the people, to signify their releasing from the guilt of sin by God. God was giving them a fresh start, a new beginning, and reminding them to lay aside all bitterness and rebellion. The old had rolled away. That is the meaning of Gilgal………rolled away!

Moses had spoken to them such a short time before and said these his last words to them: (The Hebrew for rebellion here means bitter, disobedient.)

“For I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. If today while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lord, then how much more after my death?” Deuteronomy 31 v 27

They were a difficult people who were prone to backslide into those very ways they had seen in their parents. They needed to be encouraged to remain faithful and not fall back into their predecessors habits. They had come to the blood to be forgiven by the sprinkling so that they could be cleansed for what lay ahead. Little did they realise that they were heading into spiritual warfare big time, but God wanted them to be in the right place with Him, their Lord of Hosts, Jehovah Tsebaoth.

4) Fourthly they had to face the walled city of Jericho.

The city was, by human standards, impregnable. The walls were so thick that it is believed that chariot races could have been held on them. Remember that Rahab’s house was built in the wall, and it was a home big enough to house her and all her family, and of course if she lived there, then so did many others. It was these formidable walled cities that caused ten of the twelve Israelite spies to return totally disheartened and afraid to go into the land. All except Joshua and Caleb, and from his previous experience Joshua knew what they would find across the River Jordan. As a result of their fear God made that generation wander in the wilderness for forty years until all had died excepting Joshua and Caleb, the only two to believe what God had said.

How did Joshua feel about this city they had to conquer? Did he spend hours trying to work out strategies, how to deploy his forces, such as they were?

“Hmm! Let’s see! Dig under the foundations to weaken the walls? Try to scale the walls? Burn down the gates? No! Nothing like that would work. Ok God, it has to be up to You. There is nothing we can do.

“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said, ‘Are You for us or for our adversaries?’ So He said, ‘No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.’ And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped and said to Him, ‘What does my Lord say to His servant?’ Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, ‘Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.’ And Joshua did so.” Joshua 5 :13-15

Suddenly a man appeared before Joshua. The Commander of the army of the Lord! The Captain of the Lord’s hosts! Jesus Himself!

And we know it was Jesus because Joshua fell down and worshipped Him. No mere angel would allow himself to be worshipped, only God.

Joshua asked if He was for them or against them. Jesus answered in a strange way, ‘No!’, and proceeded to introduce Himself to Joshua, who fell at His feet in worship. Jesus told Joshua to take off his shoes as he was standing on holy ground. Jesus was saying that He was on no ones side and that Joshua’s question was misguided. There was no side for the Lord of Hosts to be on, because the war was between God and Satan, not between Joshua and Jericho.

Jesus said, ‘I Am Jehovah Tsebaoth, the Captain of the Lord’s heavenly army, this is not your battle but Mine.’ What a relief that must have been for Joshua, God was in control all the time.

You see the people who inhabited Jericho were pagan worshippers ruled by Satan and sadly God could not allow them to survive. Satan all through history would try to destroy the people from whom came the promised Messiah. His plan had to be thwarted. It was to be Jesus and His army who would fulfil that need, notJoshua and his people. All they had to do was to follow instructions which on the face of it seemed ridiculous.

“Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘See! I have given Jericho I to your hand, it’s king and the mighty men of valour. You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of ram’s horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times. An done priests shall blow the trumpets. It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.'” Joshua 6:1-5

Israel prepared to follow the Lord of Host’s orders and while they did that Jesus was organising His forces to destroy the walls of Jericho and bring them crashing down at the appointed time.

I wonder what the people thought about this plan. They knew that what they had to do couldn’t possibly bring down those huge, strong walls, but whatever they thought, they carried out the commands in obedience to God’s will.

“Then Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, ‘Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of ram’s horns before the ark of the Lord.’ And he said to the people, ‘Proceed, and march around the city, and let him who is armed advance before the ark of the Lord.’ So it was, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of ram’s horns before the Lord advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them. The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. Now Joshua had commanded the people saying, ‘You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, ‘Shout! Then you shall shout.’

So he had the ark of the Lord circle the city, going around it once. Then they came into the camp and lodged in the camp. And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. Then seven priests bearing seven trumpets of ram’s horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually and blew with the trumpets. And the armed men went before them. But the rear guard came after the ark of the Lord, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. And the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they did for six days. But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times. And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: ‘Shout, for the Lord has given you the city! Now the city shall be doomed by the Lord to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.’

So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, of and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword. But Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the country, ‘Go into the harlot’s house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her.’ And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel. But they burned the city and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father’s household, and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. Then Joshua charged them at that time saying, ‘cursed be the man before the Lord who rises up and builds this city Jericho, he shall lay its foundation with his firstborn, and with his youngest he shall set up its gates. So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout all the country.” Joshua 6 v 6 – 27

Not once during that week did they see any evidence of anything happening. Then on the seventh day (seven being the number of completion), down came the walls. I cannot begin to imagine how awesome that must have been.

It wasn’t the Israelites’ shouting that brought down the walls, it was Jehovah’s heavenly host pushing them down with supernatural strength. Amazing!

Those people plodding around the walls every day behind the priests blowing their shofar so, having to remain quiet, must have wondered what on earth was going on. They couldn’t see the angelic hosts fighting on their behalf.

On the last day, as they shouted out in victory, they saw their obedience rewarded by Jehovah Tsebaoth, the Lord of Hosts.

In His Name,

Linda

Next time Jehovah Shalom, the Lord our Peace.

The post Jehovah Tsebaoth – PT.3 first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Title Deed of Earth

Barry Forder — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 00:36:59 +0000

Session 8 – The Throne Room of the Universe Pt2

In the previous session we saw a glimpse of Heaven as John is ‘caught up‘ and told “Come up here and see the things which must be ‘after these things’” – literally, things that are to occur after the church age. John is then ‘immediately’ – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye – before the throne in Heaven and sees the One sat upon the throne. Chapter 4 describes the brilliance of this scene as being like pure Jasper, yet at the same time blood red – suggestive of the impending wrath to be poured out upon this unbelieving and Christ rejecting world.

John was not the first to see this incredible scene, for we learn from 2 Corinthians 12:4 that Paul was also caught up to Heaven. However Paul simply says that what he saw ‘it wouldn’t be right to utter’ – in other words, it was so wonderful that any attempt to put it into words would not do it justice! So we have to be grateful that this ‘Revelation’ was given to John and not Paul, for at least John tries to convey what he got to see! Paul does at least say that God dwells in such a magnificent clothing of light that ‘no man can approach’! (see 1 Timothy 6:16).

John adds that around the throne was what appeared to be an majestic emerald-green rainbow, seemingly to be an eternal reminder that Jehovah-Nissi is a covenant keeping God.

One thing to note before we move into chapter 5 is that, to this point, John has been looking at the Triune God on the throne. That is, the Father, Son & Spirit in One; hence the Holy, Holy, Holy chorus sung by the four angelic ‘living creatures’. As John’s eyes seem to be adjusting from the sheer brilliance of all he is looking at, he becomes aware of the most awesome sight in time and eternity!

Rev 5:1

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

Ancient ‘books’ used to be made from papyrus which was a reed type plant that grew along river banks (particularly the Nile in Egypt). The long strips were laid out vertically and horizontally and glued together, beaten and then smoothed with stones to make a soft material that you could write on. Usually only the smoothest side would be used for writing, but for certain documents both sides would be used.

Typically a title deed to a piece of land, a will or other legal document would be like this. Interestingly enough, the Romans sealed their wills with seven seals.

What it appears we have here is the title deed to the earth, which was forfeited by Adam, and currently resides with Satan:

The Title Deed To The Earth

In Genesis 1:26-30 God passes the Title of the newly created Earth over to Adam
Through his pride and jealousy, Satan sets about usurping man, causing Adam to forfeit his inheritance
Satan’s ‘ownership’ is confirmed in 2 Cor 4:4 & Luke 4:6-8
According to the rules of inheritance:
“If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold” – Lev 25:25
The book of Ruth is an incredible model of God’s plan of redemption!

Naomi has forfeited her land…
In steps Boaz, who is a wealthy kinsman
He redeems the land…not for the land’s sake…but to purchase his bride!
Adam had ‘become poor’ and been forced to give up his possession
Only a kinsman was entitled to claim back the land…
But he would have to able to redeem it
That would mean paying the price for which it had been sold
That price was sin
So only a sinless kinsman of Adam could redeem the land!

Rev 5:2

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

The fact that a strong angel is underlines the importance of the task. This call goes out to all humanity, for the response has internal consequences.

The question is an important one. Only one who is legally entitled, that is worthy and able, can open a title deed.

Rev 5:3

And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

It is interesting where they looked:

In heaven – this proves that men are in Heaven, and further supports the Rapture occurring in Rev 4:1.
In earth – this is to be expected as it is the usual abode of mankind.
Under the earth – this is another one of those scriptures that strongly suggest that Hades / Sheol is a real physical place that is ‘geocentric’ i.e. in the centre of the earth. Other examples of this are: Numbers 16:30-33 (Korah) / Psalm 28:1 / Psalm 30 / Prov 1:12 / Ezek 31:16-17 / Eph 4:9 etc. – no one was found worthy in any of these places – no surprise really!

This is also a rebuttal to the many so-called Christian evangelists (Copeland / Hagan / Hinn / etc) who teach that we are little God’s, or even that we are equal with God. That is just another regurgitation of the lie in the Garden of Eden. No man is found worthy.

Rev 5:4

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

John ‘sobbed convulsively’. We might not get it, but John did. If no one could be found who was a kinsman of Adam, who had the right to redeem the land (earth), it would stay in the hands of it’s current owner – Satan. Now we can see why he was so upset.

Tears in heaven? See also 1 Cor 3:15 – See Rev 21:1-4.

Rev 5:5

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

It is worth noting that it is one of the elders who steps forward to explain the situation to John

“Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” John 15:15. The LORD reveals his secrets to his friends.

‘Weep not Look! There is a kinsman of Adam, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David who has overcome and has the authority and legal position to open the book and break the seals.’

Two titles are given to Jesus here:

One to answer to the ‘Worthy’ requirement – drawn from Genesis 49:9-12

One to answer the ‘Kinsman’ requirement drawn from Isaiah 11:1-5

At this point you can almost hear all of Heaven breath a sigh of relief!

Jesus as Kinsman

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh”: (Rom 8:3)

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 2:5)

“And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit”. (1 Cor 15:45)

Redeemer of the Land

God owned the Land (earth). God gave it to Adam. Satan usurped Adam and gained the title of the earth as is seen in Luke 4:5-6 “And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.”

However when Jesus came as a kinsman of Adam, He had the right to purchase the earth back – which He did on the cross with His own blood – this made Satan a murderer of a righteous man and therefore he forfeited the earth.

In Rev 5 the ‘title deed’ is opened by the only one with the credentials to do so, and in the 19th chapter we see Jesus laying claim to what is now His – ie the earth.

Jesus as Avenger

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44)

But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities:

Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die. (Deut 19:11-12)

That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. (1 Thess 4:6)

And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. (Rev 19:1-2)

Rev 5:6

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Now for the most awesome sight in time and eternity – one glimpse that answers every question, calms every fear & comforts every broken heart.

John starts by saying ‘behold’ – that is, look, pay attention! Then he says ‘lo’ – this is something too awesome to behold, something that, despite everything John has already seen, almost takes his breath away.

There are two Greek words used for Lamb in the New Testament, the word used throughout Revelation speaks of a tender lamb, yet one who would lead. This is indeed a fitting description of Jesus; the eclectic mix of the gentleness of Jesus combined with His power and strength.

Notice: ‘in the midst of the throne’. He had been there all the time, surrounded by the four creatures and the elders. In the words of the great hymn Immortal Invisable: “tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee”.

And here in Heaven John sees the fulcrum of eternity: a Lamb, the Lamb; the lamb that John the Baptist declared to be the one who takes the sins of the world

Lit: a lamb as it had been slaughtered – Isaiah 53:7

John 1:29 “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

There are 24 titles given to Jesus up to this point – In the rest of the book Jesus uses this title of Himself more than any other (27x).

Severn horns – complete power

Severn eyes – all seeing / all knowing / all wisdom

‘The only man-made thing in Heaven will be scars’

Rev 5:7-8

And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

These must be prayers that have been prayed before this time, by us! How many of us really pray ‘Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven”? Do we not prefer to pray “Give me this day……”? It this because we haven’t comprehended the reality of these things yet? What does it mean to pray for God’s kingdom to come on earth? And why did Jesus say that we were to pray for this?

Rev 5:9

And they sung a new song, saying, ………

Notice we will be singing in Heaven – we’re even given the words ahead of time so there will be no excuse!

………Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Rev 5:10

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Verses 9 & 10 have caused some controversy in the past. The NIV, RSV and others Most modern ‘Bible versions’ have a note in the margin saying that the ‘best manuscripts’ or ‘the most ancient manuscripts’ or ‘the most authoritative manuscripts’ say: ‘them’.

This is important because if it’s ‘us’ then the Church is in Heaven before the Tribulation starts. If it’s ‘them’ then it doesn’t necessarily mean the Church is in Heaven at this time.

(NB: to reach this conclusion you would still have to ignore all the other clear teaching on the subject which clearly show that the Church will be in Heaven – but still people choose to debate this point, so we need to have the answers).

Modern versions talking about ‘best manuscripts’ etc. have been at best very clumsy, and at worst intentionally dishonest to say the ‘best manuscripts’ or ‘the most ancient manuscripts’ or ‘the most authoritative manuscripts’. This has more to do with wielding academic muscle and appearing ‘scholarly’ than a desire for the truth, but it has proved very effective in selling new Bibles.

For example, in the Latin Vulgate version, which was translated by Jerome in 385AD, we read: “And they sung a new canticle, saying: thou art worthy O Lord to take the book to open the seals thereof because thou was slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every tribe tongue people and nation and has made us to our God a kingdom of priests and we shall reign on the earth”

Tyndale, in his translation wrote in 1537: “And they sang a new song saying thou art worthy to take the book to open the seals thereof, for thou was killed and hast redeemed us by thy blood out of every kindred, tongue, people and nation and made us unto our God kings and priests and we shall reign with Him upon the earth”

In fact, all of the old translations are unanimous about the word ‘us’.

The English translation we have for the book of Revelation was actually done from 95 Greek manuscripts – not all of them were complete.

Now scholars will be quick to tell you that only 23 of the 95 manuscripts say ‘us’ in verses 9-10 of chapter 5. On the surface this appears to be a problem, but as they say: ‘a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing’; because we find out that out of the 95 Greek manuscripts used, only 24 manuscripts have chapter 5 verses 9-10 in them, and out of those 24, 23 of them say ‘Us’ – the only Greek manuscript that says ‘them’ is the Alexandrinus, from Alexandra in Egypt – the home of the Gnostics! Even the Siniaticus says ‘Us’!

This means that over 95% of the earliest manuscripts say ‘us’ – placing the Church firmly in Heaven before the Tribulation. There is just one manuscript, from a place that was renowned for false doctrine, says ‘them’.

You make your own choice, but I would much rather be in Heaven before the Tribulation starts. Some have said that this is just ‘escapism’. If the other alternative is ‘stayism’, then I know what I’d prefer! As Jesus said: “Pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36)

Rev 5:11

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

In other places this word (Greek: ‘Mooreeas’) is translated ‘innumerable’. The idea that John is try to convey is that there were an innumerable company of angles as far as the eye could see surrounding the throne.

Rev 5:12

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Jesus is worthy to receive riches. Human rulers become puffed up and sin when riches are increased (Deut 17:15-20). How above our ways the Son of Man is; He is holy, without blemish, the spotless Lamb of God!

Rev 5:13

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Every creature in heaven, we can understand that. Every creature on the earth, again we’re happy with that. But creatures under the earth, what are they?

What about giants/demons that have been cast into the ‘abussos’ – the bottomless pit in the centre of the earth?

2 Peter 2:4 says: “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;”

In Luke 8:30-31 we read: “…….And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep (abussos – the bottomless pit).

We will consider this further in Chapter 9.

Rev 5:14

And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Not surprised! What else could we do in the presence of such a wonderful and awesome God and Saviour?!

Bring it on! I can’t wait!

More next week…

May you be blessed and encouraged as you continue to study God’s Word.

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post The Title Deed of Earth first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Throne room of Heaven

Barry Forder — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 20:17:26 +0000

According to a writer for Newsweek, “81 per cent of Americans and 51 per cent of Brits say they believe in heaven – an increase of 10 per cent since a decade ago. Of those, 71 per cent say it is an actual place”. People want to believe in Heaven!

We talk about Heaven all the time, using phrases like:

For Heaven’s sake!
Heaven help us!
Heaven knows!
It was Heavenly…
Heaven sent
Match made in Heaven
Heaven forbid!
Heaven’s above!
Move Heaven and Earth
Heaven on Earth
Stink to high Heaven

All of these suggest that Heaven is a good place, a place where the problems of this life fade away.

Rather perplexingly, despite our fascination with this place, seldom do we go to the ‘official tour guide’ to find out what Heaven is really like!!

In chapter 4 of Revelation we are given an incredible glimpse of this place, that for many is far more than an abstract hope, it is a promised certainty.

The verse-by-verse study notes below are from our journey through the Book of Revelation.

Bible Study Notes from Calvary Chapel Portsmouth’s verse-by-verse study of the book of Revelation – February 2016

Session 7 – The Throne Room of the Universe

As we have previously noted, the book of Revelation is divided up into 3 sections as explained by Jesus Himself in Chapter 1 verse 19: The things that John had seen – i.e. the vision of Jesus in chapter one; the things that are – the things that existed at that time, namely the seven churches that have been the focus of Chapters 2 & 3, which also depict the seven eras of the church throughout history, and finally… The things that shall be ‘after these things’ – the things that will occur after the churches; literally, after the church age, once the Church has been taken out of this world.

Jesus made a promise to His disciples in John 14:1-3 that He was going to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house – Heaven – and He would one day come again and take us from earth to that place. From numerous scriptures, it seems this will occur before the time of Tribulation, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, in an event often referred to as the Rapture. (1 Corinthians 15:52 / 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

The division of the book of Revelation, as noted above, supports this notion of a ‘pre-tribulation’ Rapture, where the Church will be taken to Heaven before the commencement of the Tribulation (also known as the ‘Day of the LORD’). Isaiah (Isaiah 13:9-11), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 46:10) and Daniel (Daniel 7:13-14) all underscore that the Tribulation will be a time of God’s judgment, when He pours out His wrath on this unbelieving and Christ-rejecting world.

It therefore follows that believers will not be here for this time of God’s wrath because we have already been declared ‘not guilty’ because of Christ’s completed work on the cross, where His blood was shed as payment in full for our sin. God’s wrath fell on His Son at Calvary (Isaiah 53:10), it will not fall again on the Church He has purchased. So, just as with Lot, who was removed from Sodom before the judgment fell (see Genesis 18:25), in like manor the Church will be removed – Raptured – prior to the Tribulation, just as Paul said: “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

The Structure of Revelation 4-22

The events we will read about in chapters 4 – 22 are all a prophetic glimpse at future events, as seen and recorded by John, starting in chapters 4 & 5 with a vision of the Throne room of the Universe! We find that thrones are mentioned 51x in the New Testament, with 39 of these occurring in Revelation, and 17 being found in chapters 4 & 5. The very first thing John notices – amidst all the wonderful sights in Heaven – is the throne, and more importantly, the One sat on the throne!

After talking to the disciples about the events of the Tribulation, Jesus said: “pray that you be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:36). It is the fulfillment of this that we will see in chapters 4 & 5 when the Church will indeed stand before the Son of Man. The events that follow, in chapters 6-19, are the ‘things that shall come to pass’, from which Jesus promises His own a way of escaping from.

The Tribulation will conclude with the Second Coming of Jesus and will then lead into a literal millennial (1000 year) reign of Jesus Christ on this earth. Is this important? Absolutely! Our whole view of scripture, both Old Testament and New Testament, will be affected by our understanding of these things, and the way we understand the many prophecies about this period of time.

Chapters 20-22 then take us into the Millennial kingdom where Christ will reign on earth, and then …“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Rev 21:3-4)

It is worth remembering that in the very first verse of the book of Revelation, we read that it is “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass”

God wants to show us these things, He wants us to understand and have hope as the world around us appears to be coming apart at the seams. Once again, this book promises a blessing, He wants to bless us as we read, hear and retain the things written in this prophecy.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Tim 3:16-17)

Rev 4:1

After this……….

‘Meta-tauta’ – this is the same word that john uses in Rev 1:19 – “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter:”

These things will begin to take place after the church age has come to a close.

…………. I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven:

Twice in this book we find that Heaven opens. Here there is a ‘catching up’, and in chapter 19 we have a coming down. Here it is John who is called up into Heaven, and in chapter 19:11-14, Jesus and the saints return to earth for the 2nd Coming.

…………and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me;

The first voice that John refers to is the voice of Jesus as we saw in chapter 1:10-11 “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:”

………which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.

As if to underline the point, we are again told that the events John is about to see will happen ‘hereafter’-‘Meta-tauta’.

A picture of the Rapture? In this verse we have John, who could be seen as a representative of the Church, hearing the voice of Jesus as a trumpet, being caught up into Heaven. One cannot help to see the similarities between Johns’ experience here are the situation that Paul describes at the time of the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: hen we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

(1 Thess 4:16-17) Now, this could all be just a coincidence, but as the Rabbis say: ‘coincidence is not a kosher word’!

It is however interesting to note that the church is mentioned 19 times up to the end of chapter 3 – it is not mentioned again in the rest of the book. The Church is seen in heaven – as the Bride of Christ, but it is not apparently on earth during the Tribulation as we will discover.

Rev 4:2

And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

How quick is ‘immediately’? If this event is a preview of the Rapture, Paul says that we will be changed ‘in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye’. (1 Corinthians 15:52). Now that is immediately, wouldn’t you agree?

As an aside, the Greek word for ‘moment’ in 1 Corinthians 15:52 is ‘Atomos’ which means an indivisible unit of time. It is where we get our word Atom from. It is interesting that physicists have now discovered that time itself is a physical property, and as such there is a point at which it cannot be divided any more – it becomes ‘indivisible’.

One moment John is on earth, the next he is in Heaven. The first thing he notices is a throne, and one who sat on the throne. We are going to find that there are a lot of creatures, angelic beings and ‘things’ that are in Heaven, but John’s attention is immediately drawn to the throne and He who sat on it – the triune God. The other things, as we will see are enough to blow your mind, but these are secondary compared to the sight of the One on the throne.

We all have many distractions on earth that keep us from looking at Jesus first, but when we get to Heaven all of these distraction will be gone forever.

Dake says: “The first thing John saw in Heaven was the throne of God…….It is literal as much as the door is literal [in verse one]. The same things that prove that one is literal will prove that the other is literal. Some cannot conceive of God sitting on a real throne, but there is no such thing as a spiritual throne. We have no ground at all for making these scenes symbolical or unreal, and not as they were actually seen by John. Our misconception of things cannot disprove their existence…….If God could create literal thrones, heavens, planets, etc., it seems He should be able to sit on or in any of them He desires.”

Rev 4:3

And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone:

Matthew Henry comments:

“This jasper is a transparent stone, which yet offers to the eye a variety of the most vivid colours, signifying the glorious perfections of God; the sardine-stone is red, signifying the justice of God”

However, searching the internet for ‘Jasper stones’ adds confusion to the issue because they range from red to green to brown to blue to white etc – in fact almost any colour you can think of! Many of the original names for Gemstones have been altered by different cultures throughout history, so it is hard to be absolutely certain of the exact colours. But in Revelation 21:11 in regard to the New Jerusalem Jasper is described as being clear. Most commentators seem to agree that Sardine stones, which were apparently first discovered in Sardis – hence the name, are bright red in colour – judgment? / blood?

What we do know is that the Jasper stone was the last stone in the high priests breastplate and represented the tribe of Benjamin – whose name means ‘ the son of my right hand’.

The Sardine stone was the first stone in the breastplate and represented Ruben – the firstborn.

So, we have the first and the last! We can be sure that all these details represent some aspect of Jesus, who sat down at the right hand of the Father, and was the firstborn from the dead (Col 1:18) and the firstborn over creation (Col 1:15) – not in the sense of being born first, but as having the rank of the firstborn, i.e no.#1

One suggestion is that these stones represent brightness and an array of colours almost beyond description. 1 Tim 6:16 says that Jesus is dwelling in unapproachable light. And we know from 2 Thessalonians 2:8 that Antichrist will be consumed by the brightness of Jesus’ coming. It seems that John could barely distinguish who was on the throne because of the brilliance and brightness of His person.

It is going to be an awesome sight – and one that we will defiantly need our new bodies for! Our existing bodies couldn’t cope, we would probably go blind – which may have been what happened to Paul. (Cf. his throne in the flesh: 2 Cor 12:7 / Gal 4:15 / Gal 6:11)

………..and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

The rainbow was given as a sign of the covenant between God and mankind after the flood. God keeps His promises and this rainbow – this time it appears to be just bright green – is an eternal reminder of God’s amazing plan to redeem a special people despite the wickedness of man. The unveiling of this mystery – the Church – declares the ‘manifold wisdom’ of God to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.

Rev 4:4

And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

OK, this is the big question. When we understand who the 24 elders are, so many other issues and questions get solved and many other passages of scripture make sense.

The options are Angels, Israel, The Church, some other angelic being, or we don’t know!

One hint is found in 1 Chronicles 24 & 25 where king David established 24 courses of priests and 24 courses of musicians representative of the entire nation. So it is reasonable to assume that these 24 elders are representative of a group.

They cannot be angels because Rev 7:11 says: “And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God” They cannot represent Israel because throughout scripture we find that Israel are on earth during the Tribulation. Jer 30:7 / Ezek 22: 18-22 / Dan 9:27 / Rev 12:1-6 / Matt 24:22 This leaves the Church as the only really viable alternative, and when we look at what we know about the 24 elders, the question is answered beyond any reasonable doubt.

Firstly, we know that the elders are clothed in white raiment – which is specifically given to the Church (Rev 3:4-5 / Rev 3:18 / Rev 19:8 / Rev 19:14)

Secondly, they have crown of gold on their heads – which again are only promised to the Church in scripture (1 Cor 9:24-25 / 1 Thess 2:19 / 2 Tim 4:7-8 / James 1:12 / 1 Peter 5:1-4).

(See Appendix A)

Thirdly, they are redeemed to God by the blood of the Lamb (Rev 5:9). This can only be the Church, as Christ’s blood was not shed for any angel or any created being except man, and then the fact that they are redeemed shows that these ‘men’ were the once who received and accepted the offer of salvation through the blood, hence became redeemed – i.e. the Church.

Fourthly, they are from every kindred, tongue, people and nation (Rev 5:9), which again proves them to be the Church – and clearly shows that the ‘24’ is used as in the OT, to be representative of the whole.

Fifthly, they are kings and priests to God and shall reign on the earth – as again is only promised to the Church (1 Peter 2:9 / 2 Tim 2:12 / Rev 20:6 / Rev 22:5).

Sixthly, in the other recorded visions of Heaven found in the Old Testament, Isaiah 6 / Ezekiel 1 etc, we observe that the other heavenly creatures are found – the Cherubim and Seraphim and Angels, but the 24 elders are not mentioned. Given the fact that both Isaiah and Ezekiel give us so much detail about what they saw, we must conclude that the 24 elders were not in heaven at that time. This confirms what Jesus said in Matthew 13, and what Paul said in Ephesians 3, that the Church was a ‘mystery’ hidden in ages past, but now is revealed to show the unparalleled wisdom of God throughout history.

Seventhly, the 24 elders are sitting on thrones. The word translated ‘seats’ in the King James is the Greek word ‘thronos’, which is better translated as ‘throne’ (as it is at the beginning of verse 4). Rev 3:21 “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” This promise is not given to any angel.

Finally, the term ‘elder’ (Greek – Presbuteros) is used sixty-six times in the new testament, twelve times in this book, and it is always used to describe older, senior, or elder in connection with seniority / maturity in the church. The term is never applied to any other being except man.

The scriptural basis for believing that the 24 Elders are representative of the Church is very clear. If the 24 Elders are not the Church then they must be a group not known or mentioned anywhere else in scripture, and it would leave the insurmountable problem of the whereabouts of the Church during the Tribulation.

Conclusion: When such clear information is given regarding their identity, it is difficult to see how anyone can deny that the 24 Elders are indeed representative of the Church.

So why then do some reject this view? Because it leads to the inescapable conclusion that the Church are in Heaven before the Tribulation begins. It also demonstrates that scripture should be taken as it is written – not allegorised.

The fact that it is a pre-requisite that the Church be Raptured before the Tribulation as is made clear by 2 Thessalonians 2:7 / Genesis 18:23-25 / Isaiah 26:20-21 / Zephaniah 2:3 / John 14:3 / I Thessalonians 4:16-17 / Luke 21:36 / 1 Thessalonians 1:10 / 1 Thessalonians 5:9 / Rev 3:10.

As we now, through John’s eyes, get a glimpse of Heaven’s throne room, we will discover that we are looking on the ‘original’ that Moses was given instructions to make a duplicate of in the wilderness – i.e. the tabernacle.

Ex 25:8-9 – And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

Ex 25:31 – And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.

Heb 8:1-5 – Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

Rev 15:5 – And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

Rev 4:5

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

Lightning and thunder usually precede a storm – and what a storm we find brewing here.

The seven lamps we have already met in chapter 1:4 and 3:1 are identified as being the seven (complete) Spirits of God. In the tabernacle of Moses we find the seven branched lamp stand (the Menorah) symbolic of the real thing that John is seeing here.

Rev 4:6

And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal:

This is the real laver that Moses was instructed to make a copy of. It is interesting that despite all the other detailed instructions given to Moses, no dimensions were given for the laver. The priests were to wash bodily in the laver before entering the holy place. In the New Testament the laver has given way to the Word of God, which we are to immerse in bodily – washed by the water of the Word (Eph 5:26) – There was no limit given for the laver, there is no limit to the cleansing power of the Word of God, and we know that this sea is vast from Rev 15:2

……….and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

Rev 4:7

And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

These are undoubtedly the same living creatures as seen by Isaiah (6) and Ezekiel (1 & 10).

Isaiah calls them Seraphims, Ezekiel Cherubim. The best rendering is ‘living ones’.

The attributes of these creatures all point to Jesus, depicting His kingly nature, as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the ‘suffering servant’ as seen in the nature of an Ox – typically a beast of burden. The face of a man speaks of His humanity – the Word become flesh, and the Spiritual nature, like an eagle that soars above all.

We see this deliberate design intertwined throughout scripture in the arrangement of the Tribes of Israel as they camped around the Tabernacle, and also in the fourfold presentation of Jesus given to us in the gospels.

Rev 4:8

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

3 x Holy because they are worshiping Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Rev 4:9-11

9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

It seems an almost involuntary reaction, as soon as the 24 Elders hear the praise of the ‘four creatures’ they fall down and worship.

Now this is the moment we have all been waiting for! We cast our crowns before Him.

It is amazing how many churches sing ‘Crown Him with many crowns’ without having a clue! If fact it is even worse than that, because many churches would deny that the 24 Elders represent the Church, and yet they still sing the hymn.

How interesting that we praise Him for all He has created, to praise Him for all He allowed to evolve through chance mutations over millions of years doesn’t quite have the same ring, does it?!

God is Creator and regardless what the world thinks and teaches, all those going to Heaven better get this issue sorted out!

The act of creation is attributed to Father, Son and Holy Spirit, confirming that the ‘one’ on the throne is the triune God.

Appendix A – The Five Crowns

In the New Testament there are 5 distinct crowns that are promised to believers as a reward for their labour. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Gal 6:9)

1 Corinthians 3 tells us that when we arrive in Heaven at the time of the Rapture we will be judged according to our works. “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Cor 3:13-15)

In 2 John 8 we read “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.”

As we have seen in our study in Revelation 4, the crowns that we are given will be cast before Jesus feet as an act of worship. In Rev 19:12, at the Second Coming, Jesus is seen wearing ‘many crowns’ – could these be the ones that His Church have given Him? If so, this could be the only thing that we are able to give to Him that is not His already. The more crowns we ‘earn’ in this life, the more we will be able to give Him as an acknowledgement of deep love and gratitude to Him for all that He has done for us.

The number 5 represents completeness; these 5 crowns represent a life completely yielded to our Lord and Saviour in every area.

The Crown of Incorruption – 1 Cor 9:24-25 – Run the Christian race to win

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

The Crown of Rejoicing – 1 Thess 2:19 – The prize for Soul winning

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

The Crown of Righteousness – 2 Tim 4:7-8 – The prize for those looking for Him

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

The Crown of Endurance – James 1:12 – The prize for overcoming temptation

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

The Crown of Glory – 1 Peter 5:1-4 – The prize for faithful ministry

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

More next week…

May you be blessed and encouraged as you continue to study God’s Word.

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post The Throne room of Heaven first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Sardis, Philadelphia & Laodicea – Lessons for today

Barry Forder — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 00:41:05 +0000

Over the last few weeks we have looked at 4 of the 7 churches that Jesus sent letters to, as recorded in Revelation 2 & 3 . As we have noted, these letters were to real historical churches that existed in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). However each letter Jesus sent was also intended for every believer ‘who has ears to hear’, and to all churches – ‘hear what the Spirit says to the churches’. What is also of great significance to us today is the prophetic fulfillment of these letters.

This week we conclude our study of these letters looking at Sardis, Philadelphia & Laodicea – I hope this encourages you to go deeper into God’s Word!

Chapter 3: 1-6 The Letter to Sardis ‘the Remnant’ 1517 A.D – Tribulation

Sardis was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia and one of the oldest and most important cities of Asia Minor. It was located inland and built on a small, elevated plateau which rises sharply above the Hermus Valley. On all sides but one the rock walls are smooth, nearly perpendicular.

Because of this the people at Sardis became complacent and in 549 BC the Median soldiers of Cyrus scaled the parapet, and then again in 214 BC Antiochus the Great captured Sardis because a Cretan slipped over the walls while the sentries were careless. This earned the label that Sardis could be taken by a thief in the night. According to historians, there was an arrogance and superiority about the city. Archaeologists think that the first coins used for currency were made in Sardis.

Rev 3:1

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars;

Jesus reminds that church at Sardis that He is the one that has the 7 Spirits (an idea from Isaiah 11) (which go throughout the world), and He has the 7 stars, which are the 7 angels. There is an implication in this that they have forgotten who is in charge. This church was know for their works, but they were works from a plan or system that analysed before doing. A big removal from the faith of the early church who were led by the Spirit.

…I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

“Protestantism today, as a whole, has a name that it lives, but it is dead. Many Protestant churches today are just going through the form. They are building all the time, and people are coming, especially on Sunday mornings. But there are not many at the midweek service, when they really ought to come to hear the Word of God. “Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” This is a frightful condemnation and is a picture of Protestantism today”. (J Vernon McGee)

This church has a name, reputation that it’s doing fine – but in Jesus’ eyes it is dead.

In the same way, the church of the reformation was characterised by the different ‘names’ (denominations) that resulted from it.

…Be watchful… If there is one thing the Protestant church isn’t it’s watchful.

“Protestantism, as hole, has turned away from looking for the coming of Jesus Christ, and they have built up these systems that certain things must be fulfilled before He can come. My friend, it is tissue-thin from where we are right now to the coming of Christ for His church. He could come the next moment or tomorrow. Don’t say that I said He is coming tomorrow because I don’t know. It may be a hundred years, but, my friend, His imminent return is what we are to look for. Sardis didn’t know when the enemy was coming, and we don’t know when Christ is coming—we have no way of knowing at all. In view of the fact that the Rapture could take place at any moment, the church is to be alert. The date is not set, nor even the period in which He will come, and the reason for that is that the church is to be constantly on the alert for His coming.

“Looking for that blessed hope …” (Titus 2:13). You see, anyone can make ready for a fixed hour, but you must always be ready for an unexpected hour. (J Vernon McGee)

I remember hearing a sermon in a Protestant church saying that Jesus won’t be coming back any time soon. Much of today’s church is being brainwashed by things like ‘The Purpose Driven life’ (Rick Warren), which teaches that Prophecy is none of the churches business!

…and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die:

They had started out on the right path, but they had not continued to the end. Consequently, the things that had been started would die if they did not pursue them.

When something is planted it starts to grow, but unless it is cared for and maintained, it will die.

… for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Perfect = Complete

This is most defiantly true of the reformation church (Protestantism), they reclaimed many doctrines that had been corrupted by the Roman Catholic Church, but left just as many undone. And those that were done are now being undone.

Eg. Salvation by faith alone – giving way for a works based system

Repentance required – giving way to ‘we are all good deep down’

The Word is the foundation – giving way to we must find our own spirituality.

This church has appearance without reality, promise without performance.

Rev 3:3

Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard,

How did the reformation church hear and receive? By returning to the Word.

…and hold fast, a phrase often used in connection with holding onto sound doctrine…

…and repent. a doctrine misunderstood and often ignored today.

…If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

As we have noted, this admonition was most apt for the church at Sardis, given the city’s history of unexpected invasions. There is a real danger in complacency in the natural, but in the spiritual it can be fatal. This verse would indicate that many in this church system are not saved, because Jesus will not come ‘like a thief’ to true Christians whom Paul states ‘are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief’. However, to the unsaved, the coming time of Tribulation will come like a thief in the night, or as Jesus and the Old Testament prophets often describe it, like labour pains on a woman. (see 1 Thes 5:1-2).

It also shows that this church system is in existence at the time of the Rapture.

Rev 3:4

Thou hast a few (Lit: a remnant) names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

There are those (as with the church at Thyatira – the Roman Catholic Church) in the church at Sardis – The Protestant Church, who have not ‘defiled their garments’ – and as we will see in Rev 4 and 19, all saints will be given a white robe to wear – as would be done at a Jewish wedding feast.

Protestantism has certainly produced some great men of God. Romanism did the same thing, even during the Dark Ages, but that does not mean to commend the system. The system of Romanism and the system of Protestantism, as they are revealed in the great denominations which have departed from the faith, to me are the organizations which will eventually bring in the apostate church because they have departed from the great tenets and doctrines of the Christian faith.

(J Vernon McGee)

Rev 3:5

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life *x7,

(The Greek would read: “no I will never blot His name out…..”)

It is no coincidence that the Protestant church begun in the Word of God, and yet has now whittled it away to suit themselves. Though the Protestant Church had in many ways blotted Jesus name out of the Bible – the Book of Life, He will not do so to those who are His.

but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Awesome verse! Jesus will announce us before God! It would be embarrassing if it were not for the new clothing and new name. We should never be ashamed of confessing his name.

(Matt 10 / Luke 12)

Rev 3:6

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

This is what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Churches – right now!

Chapter 3: 7-13 The Letter to Philadelphia ‘the church of brotherly love’ 1517 A.D–Rapture

The name means ‘brotherly love’. Clovis G. Chappell said, “Were it my privilege to go back across the years and attend a service at one of these seven churches, I think I should choose the church at Philadelphia.”

This was the church of ‘brotherly love’; they had so allowed the Lord to permeate their lives that they had taken on His characteristics of love and were not just ‘hearers of the word’ as James speaks of, but they were ‘doers of the word’.

Possibly the one characteristic that is missing from many churches today is brotherly love. We find ourselves focussed upon our own ministries and forget to ‘bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ’ (Gal 6:2). We put expectations on others and grumble and complain when they don’t come up to our standards (as if we could ever come up to Christ’s standards!) We should have a deep-rooted love and compassion for our fellow Christians; after all we are going to spend eternity with them!

When I was younger I knew that if I were nasty to my brother or sister, Dad and Mum would find out about it when they got home. Jesus is coming back soon, so let’s make sure there are only good reports of what we’ve done to His other children. If we don’t love, John says that it show that we don’t know God (see 1 John 4:7-8).

The area around Philadelphia was rich farm land known for its rich harvest of grapes, mainly due to the volcanic ash in the soil. There were also frequent earthquakes, which meant that the people often had to pack up and leave. Consequently the people never got too attached to their surroundings or possessions. Philadelphia was the youngest of the seven cities, and was originally founded as an outpost for Hellenism – the spread of the Greek language and culture to the surrounding nations. (Derived from ‘ Héllen’, the Greeks‘ word for themselves)

Just like the soil were they lived, the church at Philadelphia was also ‘fruitful’, and as all Christians should be, they were more concerned about heavenly things than the worldly things, which are only temporal. We are not of this world, nor should we love the world or the things in the world; all that is in this world is passing away. (1 John 2:15).

Rev 3:7

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

Unlike the other letters, where the description of Jesus is drawn from chapter 1 of Revelation, this description of Jesus comes from Isaiah 22.

“And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.” (Isaiah 22:21-22)

The wording is particularly appropriate because as we will see, Jesus gives this Church an open door to preach the gospel – however not necessarily without persecution, but no one can stop it. From a prophetic perspective has indeed been true of this church age.

Rev 3:8

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Again, Jesus knows this church’s works, and is obviously pleased because he gives them an open door. Whilst we know that we are saved by Grace alone – there is nothing we can add, James reminds us that faith without works is dead.

The ‘open door’ is evident in so many ways.

Evangelism: Almost all people we meet know that there is something wrong with the world – this is a great opportunity to witness, a wide open door.
Our own walk with the Lord: Never has been easier to read and study God’s Word. This is another door that is now wide open – I even read recently of a Christian in a Muslim country where he cannot have a Bible or attend a church, but he secretly listens to J Vernon McGee’s ‘Thru the Bible’ radio broadcasts, a verse by verse commentary that goes from Genesis to Revelation (thruthebible.org)

They have ‘kept His word’ – how refreshing in these days when so many seek after experiences and programs that they can sign up to, rather than the Bible.

‘And not denied His name’ – how could they it they are keeping His Word?!

Rev 3:9

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

This church age covers the post-reformation ages from 1750 right up unto the Rapture. This age has seen some of the greatest missions, missionaries, and preachers in history. Charles Spurgeon, Dwight L Moody, Oswald Chambers, Hudson Taylor, Billy Graham etc. etc.

But again, as we’ve looked at before, this idea that there are those who claim to be Jews, and are not, and lie – in a church age that last up to the Rapture, this can only be those who promote replacement theology, as we have already looked at in Rev 2:9. Even the great Martin Luther was anti-Semitic and thought that the church was the new Israel.

Rev 3:10

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

‘Hour’ is literally: ‘Time of trial’. This is promised to those who keep His word.

The Flood as a type of the Tribulation: Noah (a type of the 144,000?) preserved through the flood. Enoch (born on Pentecost according to Jewish tradition – a type of the Church?) Raptured before the flood.

This ‘hour of temptation’ can only be the Great Tribulation, for no other trial in the bible will encompass the whole earth. The phrase ‘them that dwell on the earth’ could be translated ‘earth dwellers’ or ‘those who choose the earth as their home’ and appears elsewhere in the book. It is used in contrast to the Church whose home is in heaven (see John 15:19).

Rev 3:11

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Again, crowns are promised to those who hold fast. Do you realise that this verse implies that someone could take your crown? How secure is it?

You obviously won’t give it away. So the only way of losing it is if you are deceived. Again, deception is coming in these last days – be watchful and don’t be deceived!

(For more on this see www.deceptioninthechurch.com also www.myfortress.org)

Rev 3:12

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

In the temple in Philadelphia they would erect a pillar in honour of a pagan deity or emperor that they wanted to exalt. Jesus will exalt us in due time and honour us in God’s house – we don’t deserve this – it’ is the very least that we can do to live 24/7 for Him now.

Rev 3:13

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Again, we all have ears.

Chapter 3: 14-22 The Letter to Laodicea ‘the rule of the people’ 1900 A.D–Tribulation

Laodicea was an important and wealthy city; that had a large Jewish population; like other cities in the region, it had become a centre for Caesar worship and the worship of Asklepios (having a famous medical school there in connection with his temple).

History records that an earthquake devastated the region in 60 AD, Laodicea refused help from Rome in rebuilding the city, choosing to rely on their own resources.

The historian Mounce said: “It is frequently noted that Laodicea prided itself on three things: financial wealth, an extensive textile industry, and a popular eye-salve which was exported around the world.”

However, a poor water supply made Laodicea vulnerable to attack through siege; they were therefore quite accommodating to any potential foe, choosing rather to negotiate and compromise instead of fight.

The Romans had constructed a six-mile aqueduct from the hot-springs of the nearby mountain town of Hierapolis, down to Laodicea. However by the time that the water had got down to Laodicea it was lukewarm.

These historical details are very interesting because Jesus draws from these ideas – that they were rich and in need of nothing, the notion of them being ‘lukewarm’ and given to compromise, the fact that they were comfortable and clothed (when in fact they were spiritually poor and naked), and that He could provide them with His eye salve that would help them to see spiritually. Jesus often uses real things to illustrate a deeper spiritual meaning. God will often use our circumstances to get through to us – a sad reflection that all too often we are not listening.

The church of Laodicea also represents the final church age, and again we find that situation at Laodicea fits our own time like a glove.

We are living at a time when ‘the church’ has become self sufficient, and is ‘in need of nothing’; it has also repeatedly given in to compromise and become ‘lukewarm’ – politically correct, not wanting to rock the boat; and now more than ever does the church need His eye salve that she might see things from Jesus’ perspective.

It is generally agreed that this last church age began at the turn of the last century and will continue until the Second Coming, going through the Tribulation. This means that this church will not be raptured; in other words this church represents the apostate church, not real true believers. The call still goes out to any individual ‘who has ears to hear’, but the church at large is so far from God’s word and so corrupt that it is not part of the body of Christ – the true Church. This point is made clear in verse 16 as we will see.

Rev 3:14

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Jesus introduces Himself as the ‘Amen’ – the ‘let it be so’, the ‘faithful and true witness’, and finally ‘the beginning of the creation of God’. All of these truths are being attacked in today’s modern church. The lie of the Serpent in the Garden was ‘Did God really say that?’, and today we find pulpits full with those who try to teach that ‘the Bible doesn’t really say that’. Jesus is the Amen, the ‘let it be so’.

Jesus is the faithful and true witness and yet today we even have groups of men (such as the ‘Jesus Seminar’ in the USA) who meet to decide what Jesus actually said, and what He meant by it; they then cast votes to decide what is true and what isn’t! This is madness! You can’t vote on truth, Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth and the life….”

We could talk for hours about the last title Jesus gives Himself here – ‘the beginning of the creation of God’. The term means ‘the originator’, the one who caused it to happen. We know from Colossians that Jesus is the creator of all things: “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” (Col 1:16)

It is hardly surprising to find fallen, sinful men trying to come up with theories about our origins that deny God’s existence or involvement, but it is almost beyond comprehension to find (so called) ministers of the Gospel openly embracing the anti-God religion of evolution!

Recently in America, one State forced the schools to put a disclaimer on the textbooks saying that evolution was not a proven fact and just one theory about our origins. This caused such a stir and ended up in a court case where the State was told to remove the stickers! But most amazingly of all was that 200 ministers from various denominations all got together and wrote to the State pledging their support to the ‘proven scientific theory of evolution’ and saying that those who were against it were standing in the way of scientific progress!

Evolution is the single biggest hindrance to science that the world has known! – the mind boggles!

The really sad thing is that these were ministers who regularly teach their congregations; presumably that Jesus is our Saviour – but Saviour from what? If evolution were true we do not need a Saviour, because we are continually improving. However the Bible teaches that we are a fallen race and desperately in need of a Saviour. How sad that thousands of Christians choose to go to churches were the word of God is ‘trampled under foot’ by these Biblically illiterate men (and women).

It is therefore no accident that Jesus gives Himself this title to this church – to this church age.

Rev 3:15

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

It is so sad that so many ‘Christians’ fall into the category of being lukewarm. However it is the environment around something (or someone) that affects their temperature; so following on from the comments above, why do so many Christians stay at bad, ‘lukewarm’ churches? Because they are comfortable, because there is no real challenge, because they can have ‘the best of both worlds’ – so they think. The best of both worlds is a lie that Satan uses to keep us right where he wants us, because in so doing we become ineffective. If Satan can’t have you, he might as well neutralise your potential threat to him by making you comfortable. If you’re comfortable right now, stop for a moment and think why that is.

Rev 3:16

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

This is some of the most graphic language in the Bible. The true Church is Jesus’ body. When a body detects poison in it, it expels it – violently if necessary for the sake of the body.

Jesus will spew this compromising church out of His body prior to the Rapture when those who have been washed by the water of the word, and continued in the doctrine they have received, and are without spot and blemish, will be gathered together to meet the Lord in the air.

Commenting on Rev 3:16, Calvary Chapel Pastor David Guzik says:

“Has there been a greater curse upon the earth than empty religion? Is there any soul harder to reach than the one who has just enough of Jesus to think they have enough? Laodicea exemplifies empty religion; and tax collectors and harlots were more open to Jesus than scribes and Pharisees”.

In John 8, Jesus said to the Pharisees: I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins (John 8:24)

The professional religious leaders of the day had rejected Jesus – the Word of God made flesh. Countless sincere but misguided Jews followed them. In fact Jesus Himself said: Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (Matt 15:13-14).

It is no different today. Pulpits are full of evil men and impostors just as the Bible said it would be (2 Tim 3:13), who go about deceiving, and being deceived, who have a form of godliness, but deny its power (2 Tim 3:5), supposing that godliness is a means for gain (1 Tim 6:3-5). Paul tells us that we are to turn away from such people.

Jesus said to His disciples in Luke 21:8 that they should pay attention because the last days would be characterised by people coming ‘in His name’ and claiming that they are ‘Christ’.

The New Age is already talking about ‘Master Jesus’ who is coming, and sadly Eugene H Peterson in ‘The Message’ ‘Bible’ uses various New Age terms, as does Rick Warren in his ‘Purpose Driven Life’. It appears as if people are getting softened up ready for a major wave of deception to hit the church.

This is not about sincerity. Most people in churches are sincere, but you can be sincerely wrong as well sincerely right. Jesus even refers to those who have preached and prophesied in His name and done miracles, but they were preaching ‘another gospel’ (Gal 1:8), like the Pharisees they too will ‘miss out’. (See Matt 7:13-23).

Anyway, getting back to the verse, Jesus will spue these people out of His mouth – get rid of them from His body. When? I believe it will happen before the Rapture, which will then leave the true Church to be Raptured, and the apostate church to go into the Tribulation, eventually forming a one-world religion (with the Catholics (see the church of Thyatira above) and Muslims and New Agers etc.)

Signs of the times

One result of the rise of ‘Islamic State’ or ISIS, has been a softening of Islam and a distancing of ‘general’ Islam from ‘fundamental’ Islam. Fundamental Islam is now being ‘hunted’ while moves are now afoot to bring a greater understanding and unity between Muslims, ‘Christians’ and Catholics – all in preparation for a one-world church/religion, which will culminate in the worship of Antichrist.

Rev 3:17

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: Could we better describe the church in today’s world? The Church has become a business in many cases, and is focused on profitability and success, as seen by the world’s standards.

“The only certain barrier to truth is the assumption that we already have it” The church today, in many cases, thinks it has all truth, even that it makes truth, and therefore is not interested in learning from the Word of God.

“What a mistake we make if we think that the church has the authority to decide what is right and what is wrong. – Chuck Missler

The inscription on the cathedral in Lübeck, Germany, is still true:

Thus speaketh Christ our Lord to us:

Ye call Me Master and obey Me not.

Ye call Me Light and see Me not.

Ye call Me Way and walk Me not.

Ye call Me Life and choose Me not.

Ye call Me Wise and follow Me not.

Ye call Me Fair and love Me not.

Ye call Me Rich and ask Me not.

Ye call Me Eternal and seek Me not.

Ye call Me Noble and serve Me not.

Ye call Me Gracious and trust Me not.

Ye call Me Might and honor Me not.

Ye call Me Just and fear Me not.

If I condemn you, blame Me not.

Rev 3:18

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

This is the church in the world in its final pitiful state. This church is made up of all the bad elements of Thyatira and Sardis + a big dose of complacency.

Jesus pleads with them, but they appear not to be listening – how sad this must be for Him.

It is worth mentioning again that Jesus does not want anyone to perish, but a false religion is as bad as no religion. There is only one way for people to be saved, by repenting from sin and trusting completely (and only) in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rev 3:19

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

This shows the Father-heart of God. A child once asked his dad, “Is God always watching me?” The dad replied, “Son, He loves you so much He can’t take His eyes off of you!”

What an incredible love that God has for us that He won’t leave us where we are, but continually moves us on in Him.

“My son, do no despise the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.” (Heb 12:5-6)

Rev 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Jesus is on the outside of the door of this church knocking. As He is with all men everywhere who are called to repent – the handle is on the inside only. It’s up to us to open the door, if we want to. How could we say no to this Man?

Rev 3:21

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

This is a dreadful church age, indeed the call is to overcome.

Note: Jesus has sat down on His throne. There He will stay until He comes to take us home. So therefore any person that claims to have seen Jesus, or been visited by Jesus before that time (there are plenty of candidates on the GOD Channel etc), must have seen a different Jesus – i.e. been deceived. Particularly sad when Jesus said that this is what we should watch for so that we are not deceived!

Rev 3:22

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

All ears, all churches.

To be continued…

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry

The post Sardis, Philadelphia & Laodicea – Lessons for today first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

JEHOVAH TSEBAOTH Pt. 2

Barry Forder — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 21:31:22 +0000

JEHOVAH TSEBAOTH / Part Two

THE FALL OF JERICHO

Last time we saw how Jesus is the Lord of hosts and how that title covers the whole hosts of Heaven and Earth, indeed He is the Lord of all, history is His Story from beginning to end.

We also saw how this name of God covers the spiritual forces of Heaven, the angels who serve Him in fighting the principalities and powers of evil, and that is what is at the heart of the Fall of Jericho. This passage illustrates so well the power of our Lord of Hosts.

Joshua was quite a man, he was totally loyal to God and a more than worthy successor to Moses. Moses knew that he was not to be allowed to go into the Promised Land of Canaan, but that Joshua would be the one to lead the people of Israel there after his death. In Deuteronomy 31 v 6 Moses says to Joshua, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

After Moses had died God spoke to Joshua:“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them – the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1 : 2-9

Joshua acted immediately on the word of God, and gathered the people together, ready to cross the River Jordan. He was determined with all his heart, mind soul and strength, to be obedient to the calling that God had given him in complete and utter trust.

He was so different to the rest of his generation in that his faith was totally in God. He refused to compromise, he refused to be bitter and disillusioned and full of unbelief. He chose to be a soldier for God, obedient and ready to sacrifice himself for God’s cause, ready to bring down all strongholds that stood between him and God’s victory. Remember that all those strongholds that lay before him were in the Promised Land, on the other side of the River Jordan. So often we read or hear songs about crossing the Jordan that intimate that once we are over the Jordan all will be well, or we are crossing the Jordan to the Promised Land of Heaven. That’s all nonsense! The Israelites were crossing the Jordan into a land full of enemies, full of trouble and certainly no paradise.

Joshua was the leader of a new generation of Israelites who knew nothing of life in Egypt. They had all been born in the wilderness and were eager to go with Joshua, eager to serve God and declare war on anything that stood in their way.

What stood in their way? Jericho!

1) Firstly they had to cross the River Jordan.

“And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they shall stand as a heap. So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests, who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest) that the waters that came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea or Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.” Joshua 3:13-17

They were prepared and ready and they knew that God was going before them, but they also knew that as soon as they reached the other side they would be in enemy territory.

Exciting? YES! Scary? YES!

But God’s promise was there. He held back the waters of the Jordan so they could cross over on dry land. A mini Red Sea experience for the generation who had not seen God’s miracle there. All except Joshua that is.

I was trying to work out how old Joshua would have been at this point and I believe ha had to be at least 60 to 70 years old, because as we remember from before, he had already defeated the Amalekites not long after the Israelites began their wanderings, and he was at Mount Sinai. Ex 24 v 12 – 13 Joshua came out of Egypt, he was with Moses all the way through the forty years of the wilderness wanderings. He was the only one, with Caleb, from the previous generation to go into the Promised Land on the scouting mission and so, because all his generation perished through unbelief, he was now the oldest of all the Israelites, along with Caleb (Numbers 13 & 14).

Back to the crossing of the river.

As they crossed into Canaan they were on the offensive, prepared for confrontation and war. When they were seen crossing into the territory of Canaan, the word quickly spread and fear filled the Amorites and Canaanites. “So it was, when all the kings of the Amorites, who were on the west side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we had crossed over, that their heart melted; and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel.” Joshua 5 v 1

It’s interesting how fear took hold of these Godless people who had had things all their own way for so long. They had not been challenged before, and all the time the Israelites were wandering about on the other side of the river, they presented no threat to those living in the land. Not until this point in time. Up to that time the gates of Jericho had remained open, people could come and go as they pleased. Joshua knew that, because he had sent two spies to Jericho before, and they had lodged in the city wall with Rahab, who had helped them to escape when their presence was discovered.

Now that the Israelites were in the land and fear overcame the people, the gates were shut. Things had changed, now they felt threatened and insecure. They knew how God had dried up the Red Sea for these people, but forty years is a long time for a story to last and it becomes like a fairy tale; but now God had dried up the River Jordan, and things were getting a little too close to home. Now they were faced with a huge number of people and they felt intimidated.

2). Secondly the men of Israel had to go through something totally humbling.

“At that time the Lord said to Joshua, ” Make flint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time.” So Joshua made flint knives for himself, and circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: All the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way, after they had come out of Egypt. For all the people who had come out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness, on the way as they came out of Egypt, had not been circumcised.” Joshua 5 v 2 – 5

Can you imagine the rejoicing of these young people as they set foot in the Promised Land? Joshua had trained the men and turned them from raw recruits into a fighting army. You know what young men can be like when faced with the prospect of a battle. We see it in our own history of WW1 and WW2. The sheer bravado, the ‘we want to join up’ attitude, egging each other on, glamourising war. All the time this was going on amongst the Israelite men however, Joshua was sharpening flint knives.

Circumcision was an important outward sign of the covenant made between God and Abraham so long before.

“Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff necked no longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.” Deut 10:16-17. Not only did fleshly circumcision obey the command of God, but also signified a spiritual commitment.

“Then the Lord your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” Deut 30:5-6

This was a prophetic word given through Moses to these young men. This circumcision had to do with spiritual warfare. It signified the end of all confidence in the flesh. God knew how enthusiastic they all were. He saw them straining at the leash to tear down the Satanic stronghold of Jericho, but God commanded Joshua to cut them off short, to put an end to their confidence in their own strength.

We can imagine that after that most unpleasant experience the last thing on their minds was war and victory. They would have been much too sore and possibly feverish. No more dancing and singing right now, only groaning in pain. They were rendered impotent, helpless and utterly vulnerable and useless as soldiers. God was teaching them how powerless they were in the flesh. He wanted them to see that the only way they could be safe was through faith in Him. He brought them to this place of weakness because He wanted to prove Himself strong on their behalf.

Isn’t it strange that the enemy didn’t attack them in their time of weakness? Why didn’t they? Perhaps God didn’t allow them to, because in the heavens unseen forces were at work protecting the Israelites. Perhaps the enemy saw things that the Israelites did not which kept them away.

I remember a true story about a group of missionaries in Africa, who knew they were surrounded by hostile natives who were driven by the devil to destroy them. All night they huddled under a makeshift tent, wondering when the angry men would strike; but nothing happened. Later after some of those devil driven men became believers in Jesus Christ, the missionaries asked why they didn’t attack that night and kill them. “We couldn’t!” was the reply, “because of the big strong men standing around you with swords in their hands.” I think it might have been like that in this situation. It was the hosts of Heaven who were protecting the people of God and putting fear into the hearts of their enemies. You see, it wasn’t their battle, it was God’s. They were not required at this time to lift a hand in their own power. God was making the way forward for them. “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts.” Zechariah 4:6. As the men healed and rested, so God calmed their souls so that they could listen to Him.

More next time.

In His mighty name, Jehovah Tsebaoth,

Linda.

The post JEHOVAH TSEBAOTH Pt. 2 first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Pergamos & Thyatira – Lessons for Today

Barry Forder — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 00:02:24 +0000

In chapters 2 & 3 of Revelation we find seven letters that Jesus Himself writes to seven churches that existed in Asia Minor in the first century. As we noted last week, these letters were intended to have at least four levels of meaning and application.

Local application – these were 7 real churches in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey)
We are told they are for any that have ‘ears to hear’
These 7 letters were all intended to be passed around, to mutually encourage, edify and strengthen the churches at that time – and so are applicable to all churches through the last 2000 years
However, as we noted last week, these letters are prophetic, and tell – in advance – the history of the church.

Chapter 2: 12-17 The Letter to Pergamos ‘the church in the World’ 313 A.D–590 A.D.

Pergamos was situated about 50 miles north of Smyrna and about 15 miles inland off the Aegean Sea. The city was given over to idolatry and worshipped many pagan gods. There was an Acropolis on top of the hill along with an amphitheatre that could seat 10,000 people.

Pergamos was famous for the alter of Zeus – the Greek and Roman deity. The alter was huge, measuring 100ft on each side; and it had become a place of Cesar worship.

Asclepius (pronounced: sc-lay-pe-us) the serpent god was also worshipped and it was believed that he had power to heal. This idea was a distortion of the account recorded in Numbers 21 when God sent fiery serpents among the Children of Israel. When the people cried out to God, He commanded Moses to put a brass serpent on a pole. Whoever had been bitten then only needed to look at the pole and they would be healed. In John 3:14-15 Jesus explains that this was an anticipatory type of Himself dying on the cross and being judged for our sin (the pole represents the cross / the brass speaks of judgment / the serpent represents sin). On the cross, Jesus became sin for us and was judged in our place. Just as with the serpent on the pole in the wilderness, anyone who looks at Jesus will be saved. The worship of Asclepius was a distortion of this story that had been handed down through the generations.

NB: The medical profession still have the emblem of snakes on their belts / uniforms even today!

During this period of history, the Roman Empire was divided into two sections. Constantine, in a bid for total control entered into a war with Maximus. Just before a battle at Milvian Bridge, legend has it that Constantine looked up and saw a flaming cross in the sky and heard a voice saying ‘in this sign conquer’. He then went out and won the battle and was so impressed that he ‘converted’ to Christianity. This brought about a dramatic change that has affected the world ever since. One day the Christians are being fed to the lions, the next day Christians are given equal rights and even given their land and property back.

According to historians, Constantine then invited Christian Bishops form all over the area to come to Rome to talk about this new ‘faith’. One of these Bishops was a monk called Damasis. In an effort to please all the religious people of the day, Damasis had mixed some of the Babylon religious practices with Christianity. Constantine was impressed with Damasis’ ability to please ‘everybody’ (after all, what Emperor wouldn’t want all his subjects to get along?), and as a result he gave Damasis the position of ‘Bishop of Rome’ and the title of ‘Supreme Pontiff’ (which up until that point had only been used by Emperors). This title is still used today by the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Constantine also set up a basilica (sacred Roman building) and had 13 sarcophaguses (tombs) placed within it. His intention was to bring the bodies of the 12 Apostles to Rome, and lay them to rest in this basilica. The 13^th place was intended to be for himself when he died.

The Catholic Church, as it became known (catholic simply means ‘universal’) had 5 major centres. Antioch / Byzantium (later to be renamed Constantinople – and now known as Istanbul) / Jerusalem – These three were in the east of the empire. The other two were Alexandria, in Egypt, and Rome – both in the west of the empire.

Constantine, named the church in Rome the ‘Roman Catholic Church’.

However, being concerned that the church at Rome was going off on a tangent (supported very much by those within the church in Alexandria, Egypt), the churches in the east named their churches ‘Orthodox’ meaning the original, or authentic. This is where we get the Greek Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox and Russian Orthodox churches.

The rivalry grew and before long the Roman Catholic Church started to collect ‘relics’ in an attempt to prove that they were the most authentic. (Relics are artefacts, or things that belonged to, were worn, or had some connection with Jesus or the 12 Apostles or other key early church figures).

The Roman Catholic Church then started telling people that they had the ‘best’ relics, so they must be the true church. To counter this the Greek and Eastern Orthodox churches started doing the same, thus it became a treasure hunt to find the best relics.

To underline the madness of this, until recently the Roman Catholic Church had the body of James but the Eastern Orthodox had his head! In a ‘gesture of good will’ the Eastern Orthodox church gave the head to the Roman Catholic Church – James can now be put back together again!

The Roman Catholic Church then started saying that people had been healed from touching the bones and relics, so the Orthodox did the same.

Now, on the positive side it was probably good for new Christians to see the tombs of the Apostles and the things that one belonged to them. This would help them to realise that they had an historic faith – that it was real, and unlike the pagan religions that were based in mythology and superstition; but the problem was that this soon turned to idolatry as people started to worship these relics.

One of the other major problems at this time was that the whole theology of the church shifted. For years the church had been persecuted and in fear of death, eagerly looking for the return of the Lord, holding to the blessed hope. Now, overnight, the persecution had stopped and some Christians started thinking that maybe all the persecution had been the tribulation. If that was so, then this must now be the Millennium. This idea went hand in hand with another idea that began to surface saying that you don’t have to take the Bible seriously, that it doesn’t mean what it says, but rather it’s just stories to illustrate good and bad. This idea was largely promoted by a man call Origen, and later by one of his pupils called Augustine of Hippo. Augustine became so influential in the church that even people like John Calvin during the reformation over 1000 years later leaned heavily on his teaching.

This is now a matter of history and can be easily verified (www.hallofchurchhistory.com is a good place to start)

Irenaeus, a pupil of Polycarp (who in turn was a disciple of John the Apostle), became the Bishop of Lyons in France. Irenaeus, like Justin Martyr (an early Christian historian), believed that Christ will reign on earth for a thousand years, and he vehemently protested against attempts to allegorize away the millenarian proof texts. Irenaeus also argued against the Gnostic doctrine of a secret teaching by appealing to apostolic succession — if there had been such a teaching, the apostles would have passed it on to their successors. The apostles, he claimed, taught the Rule of Faith (very similar to our Apostles’ Creed).

Irenaeus wrote, “The tradition of the Apostles is manifest throughout the whole world; and we are in a position to reckon up those who were, by the Apostles, ordained bishops in the churches, and the succession of those men to our own time. If the Apostles had known hidden mysteries, they would have delivered them, especially to those to whom they were committing the churches themselves. For they were desirous those men should be very perfect and blameless in all things, whom also they were leaving behind as their successors, delivering up their own place of government to these men.”

However, people like Augustine, realising that it was unpopular to teach that Jesus was coming back to usurp the rulers of this world, (the same rulers that had just ‘legalised’ Christianity) popularised the Gnostic teachings from the 2^nd century that scripture, and particularly the Book of Revelation, were to be taken symbolically, not literally.

Hence the church shifted form looking for the imminent return of the Lord to deliver them, to believing that the kingdom had now come and was being manifested on earth through the church. This is still the view taught in most Roman Catholic and Anglican churches today.

The name ‘Pergamos’ means mixed or elevated marriage.

Pergos – berg (German) = castle or something that is lifted up.

Gammos – marriage (as in polygamy, monogamy etc.)

The church had become elevated through its marriage to Rome, and now the influences of the pagan religions had come under its roof.

One day, the pagan priests were worshipping their idols in their temples, the next, they are told that they must convert to Christianity or die. The church, which for so long had been oppressed, suddenly became the oppressor with its newly found poitical power.

The Christians then started to use the lavish pagan temples and turn them into ‘churches’. As more churches began to be built, they were modelled on the existing pagan temples, but also began to become even more elaborate. This was a good move for architecture but bad for true Christianity. Now the buildings themselves became the focus; a practice that persists even to this day. It is because of this that so many people associate ‘church’ with a building and not with the people who have left all to follow Jesus Christ.

All in all, this was one of the worst times in the history of the Church, far from setting their minds on heavenly things, the Church had embraced the world and allowed countless compromises, including the watering down of the Word of God.

Rev 2:12

And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

As we have already noted, the letter is addressed to the pastor of the church – Jesus holds him accountable for the sheep entrusted to his care. The pastor’s role is to feed the sheep and bring them to spiritual maturity. Sadly, in Pergamos, as with so many churches today, the pastor had let the influence of the world permeate the church. It is therefore no surprise that the characteristic of Jesus drawn from chapter one that Jesus uses in the introduction to this letter is the image of Himself with the two-edged. The two-edged sword is symbol of the word of God (Heb 4:12). This was the very thing this church were moving away from.

Rev 2:13

I know thy works, and where thou dwellest……………………,

“Where thou dwellest.” The Lord commends this church for three very definite things. First, He takes note of their circumstances. He knew that these believers were living in a very difficult place. And, my friend, the Lord takes note of our circumstances. Sometimes we are inclined to condemn someone who is caught in a certain set of circumstances, but if we were in the same position, we might act in an even worse way than he is acting. (J V McGee)

…………………………..…….even where Satan’s seat is:

Satan had persecuted the Church from the outside, but this had only made the Church stronger. So now he switches tactics and introduces the world into the church. Pergamos was overflowing with idolatry and pagan religious practices. So this place became the center of Satan’s operations.

……………..and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith,

In the midst of all of this compromise, the Church at Pergamos are commended for holding fast Jesus’ name and not denying the faith. Although much of the so-called church was shifting away from the truth, the true church was still standing.

However, it was during this time that Arius, a theologian, built on the teaching of the Gnostics and taught that Jesus was not God, he was the son of God, but not God. Alexander of Alexandria led the move to depose Arius and those who had joined him.

This led to the council of Nicaea (Nicaea is a town in northern Turkey) where Christian leaders from all over the Roman empire were called together to establish a creed, that would constitute a basis of Christian faith. The creed that they produced is still used in many churches today as a statement of faith:

“We believe in One God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible:”- “And in One Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father, Only-begotten, that is, from the essence of the Father; God from God, Light from Light, Very God from Very God, begotten not made, One in essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made, both things in heaven and things in earth; Who for us men and for our salvation came down and was made flesh, was made man, suffered, and rose again the third day, ascended into heaven, and cometh to judge quick and dead.” “And in the Holy Ghost.”

“And those who say, `Once He was not,’ and `Before His generation He was not,’ and `He came to be from nothing,’ or those who pretend that the Son of God is `Of other subsistence or essence ,’ or `created’ or `alterable,’ or `mutable,’ the Catholic Church anathematizes.”

Even though Arius had taught that Jesus was not God, the council ‘held fast Jesus’ name’ and did not deny the faith.

……………….even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Very little is known about Antipas except that apparently he was slowly roasted alive inside a hollow bronze calf.

Antipas means ‘against-all’ – he stood against all heresy.

Rev 2:14

But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the “doctrine”……..

A boy was in Sunday school and was having a quiz. The teacher asked, “What is false doctrine?” The boy’s hand shot up. “Yes” said the teacher. ‘I know’ said the boy. ‘It’s when a Doctor gives the wrong thing to someone who is sick’

This is exactly what false doctrine is! As with the physical body where the wrong medicine prescribed to a patient could kill them, or at least have harmful effects; so can false doctrine to the spirit. Jesus mentions doctrine twice in this letter.

Doctrine is mentioned 45 times in the New Testament. Anything mentioned that many times is worthy of our attention. Some people say that we should not insist on doctrine because it causes division. But this is exactly why we must ‘hold fast’ to the apostles doctrine (1 Tim 4:16 / 2 John 1:9). In fact we are even told to divide over doctrine. (See: Romans 16:17 / 1 Tim 6 / 2 John 1:10)

– It is a healthy body that purges itself of poison – Joe Focht

Well-meaning individuals within the church have suggested that we should lay aside our doctrine for the sake of love. After all is not love the most important thing –

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John 13:34)

And it’s true that doctrine without love is hard and legalistic. Doctrine needs love to soften it, but love needs truth.– speak the truth in love

“That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ (Eph 4:14

Without love doctrine becomes hard, but without doctrine love has no strength

……………..of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. (See Numbers 22.)

“The doctrine of Balaam” is different from the error of Balaam (see Jude 11), which revealed that Balaam thought that God would curse Israel because they were sinners. It is also different from the way of Balaam (see 2 Pet. 2:15), which was covetousness. But here in the verse before us, it is the doctrine or teaching of Balaam. He taught Balac the way to corrupt Israel by intermarriage with the Moabite women. This introduced into the nation of Israel both idolatry and fornication. And during the historical period that the church at Pergamum represents, the unconverted world came into the church. (J Vernon McGee)

The Devil could not bring Israel down from the outside, so he did from the inside. He could not bring the church down through persecution, so he did it from within by infiltrating the church with pagan and Gnostic teaching.

Rev 2:15

So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

See notes on Rev 2:6 – This has now become a doctrine. Notice that Jesus hates this because it puts people (Priests / Religious leaders) between Himself and his children. We all have direct access to God through Jesus Christ.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:28)

“But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1 Peter 2:9)

“But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” (Matt 23:11)

Rev 2:16

Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Fight against ‘them’. Who were the ‘them’? The ones teaching heresy. Jesus will fight against them with the Word of God.

What a mistake we make if we think that the church has the authority to decide what is right and what is wrong. – Chuck Missler

Rev 2:17

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;

to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna………

“Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:32-35)

…………..and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

A white stone was a mark of acceptance in the Jewish council.

Those who overcome will receive a personal acceptance from Jesus.

We will be given a new name – the ‘old’ will finally have passed away! All of the regrets of the past will be gone – they are identified to our present name.

Chapter 2: 12-17 The Letter to Thyarira ‘the church of the dark ages’ 600 A.D–Tribulation

The historical application has been lost in the sands of time, although many commentators believe that there was a woman – probably labelled ‘Jezebel’ – who had set herself up in the church at Thyatira as a prophetess, and probably bring many Babylonian ideas and teachings into the church. However, that is all just speculation. What we do know is that when looked at in the light of prophecy, this church fits like a glove the medieval church from about 600 to 1520 (which was when the reformation began – which we will look at in the next chapter).

The name Thyatira means ‘continual sacrifice’ – and is again very apt.

All we know about Thyatira from the scripture is recorded in Acts 16 (and Rev of course!)

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. Acts 16:14-18

The ‘purple’ mentioned is rather significant. It was a dye that was extracted from a plant and/or a salt-water snail, used for dying material. It is therefore interesting to note that it is the colour worn by the woman in Rev 17:4 – and is the colour worn by the priests of the Roman Catholic Church.

Rev 2:18

And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

‘the Son of God’ is a title always used in reference to His authority. It is used here to remind the Church who is in charge. This is then backed by the idiom of ‘eyes like unto a flame of fire, and feet like fine brass – always speaking of judgment.

Jesus presents Himself as the Judge to this church.

People get scared about some silly things sometimes – this however is the time to be afraid when the Creator presents Himself to you in this way.

Rev 2:19

I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

From a prophetic standpoint, all of the churches so far have had their own period of history. However the last four churches all appear to last up until the Tribulation (or Rapture in the case of Philadelphia).

Viewed in this light, it is a matter of fact that Christians within the Roman Catholic church have done marvellous works of charity. As we look around the world we see hospitals and care homes started by the church – Buddhists do not start hospitals, Muslims do not establish care homes. People like Mother Theresa etc. have worked tirelessly to tackle social and political injustices.

In recent years, these works have been considerable – Jesus says He knows this.

Rev 2:20

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

But Jesus is absolutely clear; He is against these Christians’ acceptance and toleration of the false religious system taught by this woman.

As we have noted, not only were these letters to be sent to real churches in the first century, with the clear intention that there would also be an application to all churches and all individuals, but we also find that in the order they are given, they lay out – in advance – the history of the church! That being so, we find that the church of Thyatira depicts the era that saw the birth and subsequent future of the Roman Catholic Church. It is no surprise therefore to see some incredible parallels between the character and nature of this woman Jezebel and the Roman Catholic Church.

Firstly, this woman is called ‘Jezebel’.

From the Old Testament we know that Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Zidonians, and was given to King Ahab of Israel, in marriage. Ethbaal was the high priest of Ashtaroth “goddess of sensuality and fertility” and Jezebel brought with her the pagan rituals and idolatry that ending up corrupting God’s people. She was also responsible for an inquisition (see 1 Kings 21), when she had a righteous man falsely accused in order to gain property for the ‘state’.

The Roman Catholic Church also merged pagan rituals and idolatry with true Christianity, which ended up corrupting the ‘church’. The Roman Catholic Church was also responsible for the famous ‘Inquisition’, where people were burned alive, tortured and their lands given to the ‘church’. There are historical records of people being tortured to death for owning their own copy of the scriptures – something that the Roman Catholic Church could not allow for fear of people finding out the truth for themselves. Even today Catholics are not encouraged to read the Bible; apparently only the specially trained theologians of the Roman Catholic Church are able to interpret it correctly!

(For more on this see Dave Hunt’s book – “A Woman Rides the Beast” ISBN-13: 978-1565071995 )

Secondly, this woman Jezebel is self-appointed, “she calleth herself a prophetess”

This is also the case with the Roman Catholic Church. They profess to be in the office of St Peter – the first Pope – so they say! (This is easily disproved).

It is dubious weather Peter ever went to Rome, and even if he did, he did not establish a ‘throne’ to be inherited by his offspring, ruling over the Christian world.

And yet assuming this authority, subsequent Popes declared themselves the ‘Vicar of Christ’, ‘Pontifas Maximus’ – the title once held by Caesar.

Thirdly, she teaches and leads God’s servants into fornication – The history of RC church is unbelievably shocking – again, see Dave Hunt’s book if you really want to know!

Finally, she teaches and leads God’s servants into eating things sacrificed to idols. This is exactly what is done through the Roman Catholic doctrine of ‘Transubstantiation’.

Rev 2:21

And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

God’s longsuffering – even in view of all that this ‘woman’ has done, God sill offered a way back – but she rejected it for worldly gain. Therefore…….

Rev 2:22

Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

It is no accident that the great tribulation is referred to here. This wicked woman, prophetically depicting the Roman Catholic Church, will be subject to God’s wrath – a theme we will explore in more detail in Chapter 17 & 18.

However, what is significant here is that it is not just this woman who will go into the great tribulation, but those who ‘commit adultery’ with. That is, those who, rather than seek after God alone, are seduced by this woman and come under her power and authority.

The Reformation in Europe saw many give their lives to come out of the spiritual corruption in the Roman Catholic Church, yet today those fundamental differences are being eroded. Anglicans, Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans and many other Protestant group are gradually coming back under the sway of the Church of Rome, all for the sake of ‘unity’. But possibly even more significant is the fact that in January 2016 the Pope put online a prayer request, effectively calling for all religions to come together under one umbrella. The Pope made the outrageous claim that Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Christians, etc. are all worshiping the same God! This is not true, and the Bible repeatedly affirms that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is unique and that there is none like Him.

On the surface, this seems like the ultimate in acceptance and tolerance – all people of all faiths, religions and creeds working together for a common cause. This is seen as a good thing. But just stop and think about this for a moment: What kind of God would allow people to approach Him in any way they choose? What God would allow people to call Him by any name that suited them? What kind of God would establish a multitude of religions with contradictory beliefs and practices, see countless numbers of believers give their lives to maintain their religious freedoms and right to be different, and then reveal that actually they are all leading to the same place anyway!(?) Surely this would reveal a ruthless tyrant of a god on a par with the Roman Emperors who watched subjects in their empire fight to the death in the Coliseum? Although those that promote the ‘all roads lead to God’ philosophy hail themselves as tolerant and accepting, they are in actual fact nothing of the sort. Consider what they are saying: ‘Regardless of what you believe, regardless of your heritage, we all have to go to the same place’; they are telling us that there is only one destination for all (whether you want to go or not!). That is more narrow-minded and dogmatic than anything Jesus ever said. Jesus said there are two destinations and we each get to choose: ‘smoking’ or ‘non-smoking’! Nevertheless, the Roman Catholic Church is doing just this.

This verse also tells us that she (Jezebel/The Roman Catholic Church) and ‘they’ are not truly born again believers, for no born-again believer will go into the Tribulation. Matthew 13 tells that there are wheat and tares, each looking almost identical, yet at the time of the harvest there will be a separation, when the wheat will be gather into Christ’s barn (a beautiful picture of the Rapture) whereas the tares will be gathered into bundles – just as we are seeing – and then their destiny is to be burned – Again, the subject of Revelation 17 & 18.

Yet even in the mist of this great spiritual adultery we see God’s great Grace as He offers a way out…. ‘except they repent of what they have done’. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

Another thing we can deduce from this verse is that this woman and her teaching will carry on up until (and into) the Great Tribulation. Hence we know that the scope is not intended to be just the 1^st century church at Thyatira, but a prophetic fulfilment is also in view.

Rev 2:23

And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Notice that it is her children (not God’s) that will be killed.

Revelation 17:5 refers to the woman as ‘Mother of Harlots’. Who are her children? The churches that came out of the Roman Catholic Church – that is all of the reformation churches and any others that she adopts – which may will include Muslims whom the Pope has declared are all saved!

God searches the ‘reins’ – the controlling influence. Are your works out of a sense of duty to your controlling influence, or are they out of a deep, personal, love for God?

It is not the works that count, but the attitude of heart behind the works.

Rev 2:24

But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

Not all Christians were caught up in this satanic deceit. Not all in the Roman Catholic Church or the denominational churches will be swept away with this Satanic deception. God has His own and knows each one by name, and not one shall perish who is saved by the blood of the Lamb!

Jesus doesn’t ask for anything else – no other burden – than to………

Rev 2:25

But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

This is a staggering situation. They are not told to preach more, or evangelise, or do works of charity, but simply to hold on to what (and who) they had until Jesus comes – (the Rapture).

Rev 2:26-27

And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

This is one of many rewards for all true Christians.

“Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” 1 Cor 6:3

“He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.” Luke 19:12-19

Rev 2:28

And I will give him the morning star.

Rev 22:16 says: “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”

The morning star is Jesus. Here we are told that Jesus will give us Himself (in marriage) to those who overcome, occupy, hold fast until He comes.

Rev 2:29

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

We need to hear what each of these letters are saying, but as we go on through the letters they get more intense and therefore the call to hear becomes stronger.

“Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”

1 Thess 5:5-6

Next week will move into Revelation chapter 3 and look at the final three churches, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry

The post Pergamos & Thyatira – Lessons for Today first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Ephesus & Smyrna – Lessons for today

Barry Forder — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 22:39:23 +0000

They were letters to seven churches that existed at that time, and Jesus was addressing specific concerns in those churches.
They are also letters for each and every church, for the issues addressed in each church are experienced by all churches, and the instruction Jesus gives all do well to take heed of.
Thirdly, the letters are written to you personally! If you have ears that is! This is worth thinking about for a moment… it means that here are seven letters written by Jesus to you – and to all believers. This means there is a very personal application to the instructions Jesus gives here.
Finally, each successive letter lays out the prophetic history of the Church from the first century to the time of the Rapture, and culminating in the final church age that will give way to a one world church – the subject of Revelation 17 & 18.

As an aside, the Church is mentioned at least 19 times in chapters 1-5, but then conspicuously not mentioned at all from chapter 6 to 20 – the chapters that detail the events of the Tribulation. This begs the question, where is the church during the time of Tribulation? It is certainly not in the world, for in chapter 7 we find 144,000 Jews are sealed to protect them from the coming judgments – but the Church is not mentioned. The only explanation for this is that the church is no longer on earth. We will explore this more in our study of chapter 4 & 5.

Suffice to say, we should therefore pay close attention to chapters 2 & 3, as these should be of particular interest, being the most relevant, practical and applicable chapters in Revelation to the Church on earth in these days.

As we begin to look at the 7 letters, we note that each adopts the same basic structure and outline.

There is some feature of the glorified Christ (whom John saw in chapter 1) that is emphasized in addressing each church. A particular characteristic is emphasized that is fitting to the particular church.
After the introduction Jesus begins each letter by stating: “I know thy works…..,” He first gives a word of commendation/encouragement, and then He gives a word of condemnation/rebuke. There are, however some exceptions that should be noted. There is no word of rebuke to Smyrna or Philadelphia. Smyrna was the martyr church that was faithful unto death, and Philadelphia was the faithful ‘missionary’ church, characterized by brotherly love. Also there is nothing good said about the church at Sardis (the dead church) or Laodicea (the apostate church).

Each letter ends with a call to understand and a promise to the overcomers. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith.” (NB: This phrase is only used in scripture in connection with the kingdom of God – the Church. This is because it is only the Holy Spirit filled believer that is able to understand the things of God – (see 1 Cor 2:9-16).

There were many other churches in the Roman Empire, certainly some of them were more well know. The church at Jerusalem, the church at Antioch etc. but these seven were chosen for specific reasons as we have mentioned.

In addition, another reason may be due to the fact that they were located in the most important area of the Roman Empire during the first, second, and even third centuries. The area was important because it was where East and West met.

As far back as 2000 B.C. there was a civilization along the coast of Asia Minor (the modern west coast of Turkey). It was a beautiful area and some of the richest land was there; it also used to be the heart of the great Hittite nation (mentioned in the Old Testament). In fact, Ephesus was founded about 2000 B.C. by the Hittites, as was Smyrna (modern Izmir). Pergamum was founded later, and then Thyatira and Sardis even later still. During the time of Alexander the Great these cities rose to prominence.

Chapter 2: 1-7 The Letter to Ephesus ‘the loveless church’ 32A.D – 100 A.D.

Ephesus was the capital of Asia Minor and had a population of about two hundred thousand people. It was both the religious and commercial center of that entire area which influenced both East and West—Asia and Europe.

It was the gateway from Rome to Asia (Turkey) and the east. It was a major seaport and trade route. The road to the harbor was wide and lined with impressive marble columns with shops and trading stalls. It was a place of resorts, and the Roman emperors apparently came there for a break. It was a city constructed almost entirely of white marble, a beautiful place.

As you moved up from the harbor you passed a huge outdoor theater that could seat about twenty thousand people.

It was at Ephesus that the great temple of Diana was found – this was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. It was the largest Greek temple ever constructed. In it were over one hundred external columns about fifty-six feet in height, of which thirty-six were hand carved. The doors were of cypress wood; columns and walls were of Parian marble; the staircase was apparently carved out of one vine from Cyprus. Her temple was four times larger than the Parthenon at Athens, but was finally destroyed by the Goths in A.D. 256. The temple served as the bank of Asia and was the depository of vast sums of money. Ephesus was also well known for art with galleries displaying the masterpieces of ancient artists such as Praxiteles, Phidias, Scopas, and Polycletus. ‘Apelles’, a famous painting of Alexander the Great was also there. Diana was supposed to be the daughter of Zeus and sister of Apollo according to Greek mythology. But she is the same goddess worshipped by other cultures by different names, ‘Ashtoreth’ being one.

After the ministry of Paul and John, there was a tremendous Christian population in that area. It seems that Paul had his greatest ministry in the city of Ephesus, and Luke writes, “… all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:10).

The impact of the gospel was great in that area, four great pillars or towers were placed at the entrance to the harbor, and upon them was the emblem of the cross. One monument was dedicated to Matthew, one to Mark, one to Luke, and one to John. Only one pillar stands there today, but it still bears the symbol of the cross. And there are other evidences of the tremendous impact of the gospel where pagan temples were later turned into churches.

Paul came to Ephesus on his third missionary journey to begin a ministry. For two years the Word of God went out from the school of Tyrannus. Of this experience Paul wrote, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Cor. 16:9).

Later John, the “apostle of love” and the “son of thunder,” came to Ephesus as a pastor. He was exiled to Patmos, then after about ten years of being exiled and imprisoned, he returned to Ephesus. The Basilica of Saint John, which is located on the highest point there, is built over the traditional burial spot of the apostle John.

Rev 2:1

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things says he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks lampstands;

“Unto the Pastor of the Church…”

Jesus has given pastors to serve the church Eph 4:11
They are not to be ‘Lords’ katakurieuo’ lit. i.e. not to ‘exercise dominion’ – 1 Peter 5:3
But they are to be ‘poimen’ lit. shepherds that tend & feed His sheep – John 21:15-17

“Christ holds the seven messengers of these churches in His right hand, a place of sovereign protection as well as divine authority over them” – John Walvoord

We should also note that Jesus is in the midst of the church. How different would we be, and how differently would we ‘do church’ if we really realised that He is walking in the midst of the church today? It’s His church not ours, He paid for it and has entrusted it to us. Are we being faithful with what He’s given us? Are we doing all things without murmurings and disputing? (Phil 2:14) Are we bearing one another’s burdens? (Gal 6:2) – When was the last time you did this? Are we loving each other? (1 John 4:20)

He has forgiven us and told us to forgive each other (no matter what has been done). He has loved us and told us to love each other in the same way.

Next time you say something unkind about another Christian, just consider that Jesus could be

walking by just at that moment. …who walketh in the midst of the seven golden lampstands

Rev 2:2

I know thy works… This is both good and bad. Jesus sees what we’ve been doing in secret and will reward us openly (Matt 6:3-4). But Jesus also sees the things that we have been doing in secret – you know the things that you thought no-one else knew about, the things muttered under your breath, the thoughts of envy, or anger, or lust – He knows.

To the Ephesian Christians Jesus says that He has been watching and knows what they have been doing for Him …and thy labour, – the Greek meaning of this word means ‘labour to the point of exhaustion’. Jesus also notes their patience …and thy patience, – this literally means ‘endurance’, a heart to persevere. Without pressure we endure just great! But when something goes wrong, how do we acquit ourselves!

These were great Christians who endured under great persecution. Jesus commended them for this and adds …and how you cannot bear them which are evil:

How much evil are we prepared to bear? How often do we tolerate evil for the sake of ‘peace’ in our county, community or family? When was the last time we stood up for the truth?

Calvary Pastor Gail Erwin, talking about church discipline said that we should restore the sinner, remove the person that causes divisions and reconcile with the person we have personal problems with. But he then added that sadly many churches have it backward. We restore the person that causes division, we remove the sinner, and we never reconcile with the person we have problems with!

Pastor Joe Focht said: ‘A healthy body heals itself – it has an immune system. The church at Ephesus was healthy enough to put out those who would infect. When a person is infecting other people it’s time to put them out.’

…….and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

This was a real feather in their cap. Paul would have been delighted. In Acts 20:28-31 in his final talk with the Elders of the Ephesian church, he said the following:

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”

Paul’s warnings had paid off. They had been vigilant and held fast to the Word that had been taught.

Sometimes we can be criticized for warning about false teachers and the dodgy doctrine that flows from many pulpits, because apparently ‘it’s not positive’ or ‘encouraging’. Let me ask, if a Doctor knows that something you are taking could kill you, what kind of a Doctor would he be if he didn’t tell you because he might upset you?

Paul was with the Ephesian Christians for three years and warned them all, night and day, with tears. Do you think you are above being deceived? Deception is subtle – that’s why it works!

99.95% of rat poison is nutritious, that why rat’s like it. But the 0.05% IS ENOUGH TO KILL THEM!

Jesus said don’t be deceived – particularly in these last days when scripture tells us that there will be a great falling away! “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” (1 Tim 4:1-2)

The only way safeguard against deception is to know the Word of God, being so familiar with it that when counterfeits come along, you can spot them a mile off. “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this you shall both save yourself, and those that hear you.” (1 Tim 4:16)

Rev 2:3

And have borne, and have patience, and for my name’s sake have laboured, and have not fainted.

Summery of the Ephesian’s good points that we can learn from:

Jesus likes:

Workers – those who are active as Christians
Labourers – those who carry on to the point of exhaustion
Those who endure under pressure, of whatever kind
Those who can’t bear with evil/infectious sinners who are destructive in the body of Christ
Those who have enough discernment to test false teachers
Those who have borne and not fainted
Those who do all of this for His name sake

Rev 2:4

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

When Jesus says ‘nevertheless’ you can almost feel an awkward silence where you could hear a pin drop.

This church had been so busy in the service of the King that they had forgotten about the King; and it is Jesus Himself that has to bring it to their attention.

It is a sad fact that almost 2000 years after the Ephesian Christians heard this report of themselves, Christians today are still busy ‘doing things’ for God when all God really wants is their love.

Oswald Chambers said: ‘We have to get rid of this notion—“Am I of any use?” and make up our minds that we are not, and we may be near the truth. It is never a question of being of use, but of being of value to God Himself. When we are abandoned to God, He works through us all the time.’ (My Utmost For His Highest)

In Luke 10:38-42 we read: “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Jesus just wants us to sit at His feet and hear His word. Too many of us are like Martha, so into our serving that we haven’t got time for our Saviour. We need to realize that God doesn’t need us to accomplish His plans. If God does use us, praise Him for the opportunity, and give willingly, but we must never let it detract us from our no. #1 priority – our relationship with Him.

The story is told in New England, America, about two girls who worked in a cotton mill. They were friends, but when one of them quit working there, they lost touch with each other. Finally, they met one day on the street. The working girl asked her friend, “Are you still working?” “No,” she said, “I got married!” When that girl worked in the mill, she watched the clock, and every evening when five o’clock came, she had her coat on and was on her way out. It was hard work, and she didn’t like it. Now she is married and she says that she has quit working.

Well, if you could look at her life, you wouldn’t think she had quit working. She gets up earlier than ever before to prepare breakfast for her husband and to pack his lunch. Then she throws her arms around him as she tells him good-bye. All day long she is busy cleaning house and washing clothes and caring for two little brats who are two little angels to her because they are hers. Then when five o’clock comes, she doesn’t put on her coat and leave; she starts cooking dinner. About six o’clock here comes her husband. She is right there at the door to throw her arms around him and tell him how much she has missed him that day. When a man comes home in the evening, opens the door, and hears a voice from upstairs or from the rear of the house calling, “Is that you?”, he knows the honeymoon is over. But this girl is in love. Her husband’s workday is over, but hers has only just gotten started. She serves dinner to her husband and feeds the children. Then she washes the dishes, puts the children to bed—and that’s not easy—and works around getting things ready for her husband for the next day. I tell you, she is weary when she finally gets into bed—but she’s not working anymore, she says! Why? Because she is in love. That’s the difference.

My friend, when your home life and your church, life become a burden, there is something wrong with your relationship with Christ. When you get that straightened out, other things will straighten out also. This is the reason the Lord Jesus said to the Ephesian believers, “You are getting away from your first love, your best love.” (J Vernon McGee)

The love that Jesus says that the Ephesian Christians had left was the ‘love of espousal’.

This is the love that a newly married husband and wife would share.

When two people fall in love the effects are amazing! Everything else in the world is unimportant; it’s almost as if no one else exists. When you’re apart you count the hours ‘till you’re together again. She wears the clothes he likes; he stars washing and using deodorant. Love will cause you to wait until the person is all the way in the car before you close the door! Love will cause you to eat in a place with a menu that you don’t have to drive by! This kind of love seeks to excel and knows no limits. This is what the love of espousal is like.

Have you seen couples who are in love? They are often all giggly together, wear matching jumpers, swap key rings or whatever, all they talk about is each other.

But there was a time in our Christian experience when we used to be like. There was an excitement and passion in our relationship with Jesus – and other people couldn’t help noticing. But now we’ve matured, we’ve become ‘sensitive’ to others. We don’t want to offend anyone or jam it down people’s throats. I suppose that we think we might be able to boar people into the kingdom instead! But that is not how it should be; something’s missing – Our first love.

How different would this coming week be of you removed Jesus from your life? How much more time would you have if you didn’t pray this week? Or read the Bible?

If the answer is that your week would hardly be any different, then it’s time to stop and remember how it used to be.

Notice what Jesus says: they have not lost it, they’ve left it – it is a willful act. Other things have got in the way. Jesus is no longer no#1.

Don’t let the situation continue. Why not stop even now, and let the Holy Spirit rekindle the fire in our heart. He is only ever a prayer away, and He has never stopped loving you!

Rev 2:5

Remember (keep remembering) therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

“Or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove the candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Christ says that He will remove your lampstand. Oh, how many churches in our day have been practically closed. Once the crowds came, but they don’t come anymore because the Word of God is no longer being taught. My friend, Christ is still watching the lamps, and He doesn’t mind trimming the wicks or even using the snuffer when they refuse to give light. (J.V. McGee)

Rev 2:6

But this thou hast, that thou hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Nicolaitans is a compound word. Nikao means “to conquer” and laos means “the people.”

Nike – as in the trainers – to be victorious We get our word ‘laity’ from the same root – laos.

These were a group of people with roots in pagan religions that were trying to create a division between the ‘clergy’ and the ‘laity’. They act as the people’s representatives before God, thus people could afford to be a little less concerned about their ‘religion’, because they didn’t have to answer directly to God anymore.

Jesus hates this! Imagine what it would be like if you found that somebody was trying to come between you and your husband/wife. Or if you discovered that another person was coming between you and your children. How would this make you feel?

The Ephesians hated it and so did Jesus.

NB: In this letter we see the deeds of the Nicolaitans, by the time we reach Pergamos it has become the doctrine of the Nicolaitas.

Rev 2:7

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

God wants to give His best to those who love Him.

We will enjoy face-to-face fellowship with God as Adam & Eve did.

Chapter 2: 8-11 The Letter to Smyrna ‘the persecuted church’ 100 A.D. – 313 A.D.

‘Smyrna’ means ‘bitterness’ and implies suffering – it comes from the same root as myrrh.

Smyrna is about 35 miles north of Ephesus, on the coast of the Aegean Sea. Today, with a population of over 200,000, it is now known as Ismir. The city goes back to about 2000 BC when a Hittite city was built around the slope of Mount Pagos. Later Alexander rebuilt it into the beautiful city that it became. About 200 BC the people became allied to the Roman cause and it was where the Roman republic began to form.

Romans called the city “The Beauty of Asia” and it was where a statue to the Roman goddess was located and eventually became a place of Emperor/Cesar worship. This was to be the trigger that started the persecution of the church. In 26AD they were awarded the honour (ahead of other cities) to have the temple of Emperor Tiberius built there. (This was a bit like countries today bid to hold the Olympic games).

As we have mentioned, Smyrna was on the slopes of Mount Pagos, on top of which was an acropolis. Smyrna was called the crown city (see verse 10) because the acropolis was encircled with flowers, a hedge, and myrtle trees which from a distance looked like a crown. The city had buildings and many beautiful temples such as the temple of Zeus, the temple of Cybele (Diana), the temple of Aphrodite, the temple of Apollo, and the temple of Asclepius. Smyrna also had a theater and an ‘odeum’ which is a music center—it was regarded as the home of music. In addition to this, there was a famous stadium, and it was at that stadium that Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna and student of the apostle John, was martyred by being burnt alive in a.d. 155.

The people of Smyrna had for some time worshipped dead emperors, and it wasn’t long before they stated to worship the living emperors as well. Emperor worship became enforced with each citizen being required to obtain a certificate as proof that they had burned incense on the alter to Cesar. Needless to say, the Christians refused.

The Jews (who according to Roman rule were exempt from emperor worship), seeing this as a way of getting rid of their ‘enemies’ had stirred up the people against the Christians, and so it was that they went searching for Polycarp.

Polycarp, disciple of John, had been the pastor of the church for many years. His friends had moved him to a farm, but it became known, so they moved him to another farm, but two boys were captured who knew where they had taken him and were forced to tell the Roman soldiers the location. When the Roman soldiers arrived at the farm where Polycarp was, they found him asleep. However God had revealed to him in a vision that they were coming and he had already prepared them a meal. He requested that while they ate, he could pray for an hour. They were so overwhelmed that they agreed to his terms. He prayed for two hours for everyone he had know in his life, no doubt praying also for the soldiers who would have heard everything. Eventually they took him to the Roman Proconsul, who offered Polycarp the chance to recant and worship Cesar, but he said: “These 86 years I have followed Jesus and he has done me no wrong, I cannot deny Him now” They told him that if he didn’t worship Cesar he would be thrown to the beasts. However, by then it was too late because the ‘games’ had finished for the day; so instead they made a bonfire with Polycarp in the middle. When they lit it the flames, they just seemed to go up avoiding him, so in desperation a Roman soldier ran in and stabbed him with a sword. The blood came out and apparently put out the fire! – but Polycarp died.

Rather than crushing Christianity, the news of Polycarp’s death motivated the Christians and gave them renewed determination and courage. In order to try and stop the spread of this ‘new religion’ something had to be done. History records that shortly after the death of Polycarp, 15,000 believers were slaughtered in one day; and a few months later another 800 were killed.

Tetulien (an early church leader who was a lawyer converted from paganism) famously said that: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”

And Tertulien records that the church became the scapegoat if anything went wrong.

“If the Tiber river overflows it’s banks, or if the Nile has remained in it’s bed, if the sky has become still, or if the earth in commotion, if death has made it’s devastations, or famine it’s afflictions, the cry of Rome is always: this is the fault of the Christians!”

The same cry is being heard in the world today. It’s the Christians fault! We are nowadays often being presented as intolerant and a fundamentalist minority. One confirmation of this a few years ago was at the American Convention for World Peace, where it was stated that: “The greatest roadblock to world peace is the fundamental Christians” – So as Pastor Joe Focht said: “I wish we’d all just disappear and they can have it!” That day is not too far away!

As mentioned, the name Smyrna comes from the same root as Myrrh – which gives off a sweet smell when it is crushed, and it is used for embalming. What a sweet smell it must have been for the Lord as His servants chose Him even at the cost of their lives. I’ve heard it said that when you crush a lemon you get lemon juice; an apple, apple juice – so when you crush a Christian you should get Christ.

Rev 2:8

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

“Who became dead, and lived” has a real message for martyrs. Christ’s experience with death identified Him with the millions who were martyred during this period. (According to Fox’s Book of Martyrs, five million believers died for Christ during this period.) Christ was triumphant over death and can save to the uttermost those who are enduring persecution and martyrdom.

NB: There have been more Christians martyred in the last one hundred years than in the whole history of the church to that point. Those of us who are not being persecuted really should ‘make hay while the sun shines’, it may not last – and we should also pray for our brothers and sisters who are suffering around the world.

Rev 2:9

I know thy works… – labouring to the point of exhaustion …and tribulation,.

I know……….. “When answers aren’t enough, there is Jesus, He is more than just an answer to your prayers” (Scott Wesley Brown – Christian Recording Artist)

Pastor Joe Focht recalls a situation at his church (Calvary Chapel Philadelphia) of a Christian lady whose husband who died of cancer. Before he died her husband, although initially wanting nothing to do with the church, became a Christian; not through anyone preaching but simply by seeing the way the church rallied round and helped him an his wife – just Christian love in action. 1-year later another lady in the church lost her husband in the same way, Joe was there to try and console, but was lost for words – in walked the lady who had lost her husband the year before and simply put her arms around the other lady and said “I know”.

Jesus doesn’t promise to deliver us from trials and temptations, but in the midst of them He says ‘I know’. He knows the pain we experience. See John 11:35 “Jesus wept”

He understands the pain of loss. John 17:33 – “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”

…and poverty, (but thou art rich)

Their treasure was in heaven, where it will not decay but awaits them.

There are two words for poverty in the Greek. The one that is used here denotes abject poverty, they had lost everything on account of their faith in Jesus. They had been forced from their jobs, their homes repossessed – all because they would not bow the knee to Cesar.

Maybe they didn’t have enough faith(?)! So many of today’s TV evangelists would claim. In credibly TV evangelist Linda Roberts boldly stated:

“we can all be wealthy and prosperous! Jesus took all our poverty and sickness and buried them in hell – that’s why He had to go to hell for 3 days before rising – to dump all the rubbish! If we are sick or not prospering financially, it is because we have sinned and dragged back up from hell what Jesus intended us to get rid of!’

This is an abominable heresy, and yet, sadly many Christians watch this stuff and are deceived into thinking it’s true.

“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.” (1 Tim 6:3-5)

The Christians in Smyrna had lost everything because of their love for Jesus. We should never forget the people who have died for the faith; they are our brothers and sisters.

The question has to be asked again: Do we really love Him? Is He first in our lives? Above everything we have and own? Above our own plans and dreams? Are we prepared to give up absolutely everything for Him? It might not be too long before you really have to face that question.

Again, He says: “I know your works…” To the Church at Smyrna it was a great comfort, but do those words make us feel uncomfortable? Should we be doing more? Are we rich or poor – and in whose eyes?

There must have been great love in this church, they could have given in, but they stuck together.

…and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not,

There would seem to be two options as to what this verse means:

1) ‘Not everyone is a Jew who is a descendent of Abraham’

Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. (Luke 3:8)

But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. (Rom 9:6-9)

The idea here is that in God’s eyes, your family history didn’t make you a Jew – one of God’s chosen. It was for those who believe the promise, by faith, in the One who would come.

At this time there were some Jews boasting that they were ‘safe’ because they were related to Abraham.

This is a fairly common view, and it may be correct, but I strongly favour the 2^nd idea.

2) The second option is what is known as ‘Replacement theology’ – yet it also applies to Islam.

The suggestion here is (and we know from the book of Acts) there were those going around saying God had abandoned Israel and that now all of the promises given to Israel would fall on the church (and again, Islam believe the same – that they have now inherited the promises God had originally given to Israel). In the book of Romans Paul meets this head on:

I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew.” (Rom 11:1-2)

I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! Rom 11:11-12

And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Rom 11:17-22

For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Rom 11:25

See also Acts 15:12-17 where James talks about the future of Israel once all the Church has been gathered in. This was obviously in answer to the question: ‘What happens to Israel’?

What is blasphemy? Well, it can be defined as “the act of cursing, slandering, reviling or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God”.

The reason that ‘replacement theology’ in all its guises is blasphemy is because it is a slander against the nature of God because it makes Him to be a liar, suggesting that He has broken the unconditional promises given to Israel. See Deut 30:1-6, 2 Samuel & Jeremiah 31:35-37 to start with! See also Genesis 15 (God’s covenant with Abraham)

…but are the synagogue of Satan

Satan controls the hearts and minds of all those who do not believe.

But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (2 Tim 2:23-26)

Rev 2:10

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; – These warnings were to be future – prophetic – this was not necessarily going to happen immediately. Also, if the warning was just for the 1^st century church, why was only this church warned? Ephesus was just ‘down the road’ and yet no warning was given to it or the other ‘local’ churches. This again confirms that the churches are also to be viewed prophetically as ages of the church.

Notice that it is the devil who will cause for them to be cast into prison. This is in accord with Ephesians 6: “we wrestle not against flesh and blood….” Men may be the tools that the devil will use to perform his schemes, but the power behind them comes from the father of lies.

The procedure under Roman government was to put you in prison until the case came before the government officials, who would than decide your fate: usually either banishment (to somewhere like Patmos) or a date with the lions!

…and ye shall have tribulation ten days:

This time period may refer to ten literal days; but there is no historical record that this was the case. It is more likely to refer to ten distinct persecutions under the Roman emperors who preceded Constantine, this we do know from history;

Nero—64–68 (Paul was beheaded under his reign)

Domitian—95–96 (John was exiled during that period)

Trajan—104–117 (Ignatius was burned at the stake)

Marcus Aurelius—161–180 (Polycarp was martyred)

Severus—200–211

Maximinius—235–237

Decius—250–253

Valerian—257–260

Aurelian—270–275

Diocletian—303–313 (the worst emperor of all).

….be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

James 1:12 – Blessed is the man that endureth temptation (adversity): for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Crowns

Crown of Life James 1:12 / Crown of Incorruption / Perseverance 1 Cor 9:25 / Crown of Rejoicing 1 Thes 2:19 / Crown of Glory 1 Peter 5:4 / Crown of Righteousness 2 Tim 4:8 /

Rev 2:10

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

If you are born once you’ll die twice. If you are born twice, you’ll die once.

Next week we will continue our study in Revelation 2 & 3.

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post Ephesus & Smyrna – Lessons for today first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Prophetic History of the Church

Barry Forder — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 00:06:45 +0000

Have you ever read Second Ephesians? or First Laodica?

Most of us are familiar with Paul’s letters, or John’s Epistles, but we often don’t stop to consider, and seldom do we read, the 7 letters that Jesus sent to 7 Pastors of churches in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey), yet these are full of instruction for any that have ears to hear.

The letters are full of encouragement for the weary, but also correction for those who have allowed their walk to become compromised, or simply for those have inadvertently allowed other things to creep in to our lives that have caused us to abandon – of forget – the most important thing of all – our relationship with Jesus!

Over the next few weeks we will be studying these letters and seeing what the Holy Spirit has to say to us today.

Each letter opens with the phrase “unto the angel of the church”. The word translated ‘angel’ is the Greek word ‘Angelos’ which simply means ‘Messenger’. As we begin to study the letters it becomes clear that the recipient is an ‘angelic being’. It seems highly improbable that Jesus would pass a letter to John for him to then deliver it to an angelic being – and quite how you deliver a letter to an angel is unknown! Also, the encouragements and rebukes within these letters, the fact that the recipients need correcting at all, doesn’t make sense if being sent to an angelic being.

Back in chapter 1 the ‘angel’ mentioned in verse 1 is later in Revelation shown to be ‘of thy brethren the prophets’ and not an angelic being (see Rev 19:10 / Rev 22:9).

We saw in the previous chapter that these messengers/pastor’s were represented by seven stars that Jesus held in His hand. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:11 that the role of a pastor is not one that someone simply decides to do, nor is it a position that can be given by man, ‘ordination’ can only come from God. Paul is clear, the role of Pastor (‘Poimen’ in the Greek – which means shepherd), is given by God for the church “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). It is no surprise therefore that we see Jesus holding these pastors in His hand, and writing these letters of encouragement and correction to them.

However, the messages were not just intended for the Pastors, they were to be given to the whole congregation, for the Pastor is not above the congregation, he is just one part of the body, equal in rank and authority with all other believers. There is no hierarchy in the Kingdom of God, we are all to ‘d
o our share’ as part of the body with Christ as our head (Ephesians 4:16 / 1 Corinthians 12).

So we see in each of the letters that they were for the churches that existed at that time, but also for anyone who has ears to hear. So we can all learn and benefit from this instruction given by Jesus to His Church.

However, we were told in chapter 1 that this is a book of prophecy, so it should come as no surprise that these letters also have a prophetic message that reveals in advance the history of the Church from the time of its inception at Pentecost to the Rapture – the ‘blessed hope’ and ‘upward calling’ we are eagerly awaiting! The scope however goes even beyond the Rapture to revel the apostate church that will exist in the last days, that will go into tribulation and ultimately be destroyed (this is detailed in Revelation 17 & 18).

What may come as a surprise is that this ‘prophetic history’ of the church is revealed at least twice more in scripture. Once in the 7 parables given by Jesus in Matthew 13, and then dramatically seen in the history of the Nation of Israel. As we consider the 7 distinct ages of Israel’s history, and then when overlaid with the history of the Christian Church, we see that as Solomon said “That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

To find out more, see the PDF slides for the study below that show God’s foreknowledge and plan through the ages.

Revelation Chapter 2 – Introduction to the Seven Churches

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

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Jehovah Tsebaoth

Barry Forder — Sun, 24 Jan 2016 22:48:04 +0000

Jehovah Tsebaoth – The Lord of Hosts.

This amazing name shows us so much about our God and is a title that reveals Him as the One who is in control of all created things; the heavenly bodies we see at night, all bird and animal life, we human beings and even the satanic beings and of course the heavenly angelic beings, the host of Heaven. It appears often in scripture; in Isaiah and Jeremiah 60 – 70 times, in Haggai 14 times, in Malachi 24 times, in Zechariah 53 times. I could go on, but altogether this phrase, “the Lord of Hosts” occurs 260 times in the Old Testament.

This title is used in particular to the relation of God to His people when gathered together for service or worship. So it is a gathering title and so appropriate for we believers who gather together in His Name. Psalm 46:7 says, ‘The Lord of Hosts is with us!’

This is how Spurgeon describes this name of God;

‘The Lord rules the Angels, the stars, the elements and all the hosts of Heaven, and the Heaven of heavens is under His sway. The armies of men, though they know it not, are made to subserve His will. This Generalissimo of the forces of the land, and the Lord High Admiral of the seas, is on our side and our August ally; woe unto those who fight against Him, for they shall flee like smoke before the wind when He gives the word to scatter them.’

Jehovah Tsebaoth is the one eternal, self existent Being who created and controls all powers that be throughout the Universe, whether these powers be material or spiritual.

He controls the host of Heaven, the angelic beings.

There are several references in scripture to these angelic forces which fight on our behalf.

‘Then Hezekiah prayed to the Lord saying; “O Lord of Hosts , God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennecherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. Truly Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands – wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them. Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord, You alone.” Isaiah 37:15-20

When King Hezekiah (one of the few Godly kings of Judah) was threatened by the King of Assyria, Sennecherib, who mocked God openly, Isaiah told Hezekiah to pray. The above is his prayer. Hezekiah saw the Assyrian army encamped all around Jerusalem, a sight that put fear into any heart, but Hezekiah chose to trust God, and God heard his prayer and intervened. In one night, one single angel from the angelic host killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers and Hezekiah awoke, (you see he was at peace with God and able to sleep, despite the threatening forces surrounding the city,) to see them all lying there, dead! That must have been some clean up operation! If God could do that with one Angel, what could He not do with the whole host of angels.

‘Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, “Strike this people I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.’ 2 Kings 6:14-18

The Syrians came to Dothan and surrounded the city, seeking to capture Elisha, because he was giving the King all Syria’s movements beforehand, and they wanted to be rid of this man of God, who seemed to know all that they intended to do against Israel. Elisha’s servant was terrified by the sight of the huge army surrounding the city. ‘Do not fear for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ (v16). Elisha asked God to reveal the true situation to his servant and his eyes were opened spiritually to see the shining host of Heaven surrounding the Syrian army.

He is the Lord of the hosts of the heavens that we can see.

“Then God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light rule the night. He made the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth.” Genesis 1:16-17

‘Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished.’ Genesis 2:1

‘Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; not one is missing.’ Isaiah 40:26

He is Lord of the hosts of birds, animals and sea creatures.

‘So it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made. . Then he sent out a Raven, which kept going to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth. He also sent out from himself a dove, to see if the waters had receded from the face of the ground. But the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, and she returned into the ark to him, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her, and drew her into the ark to himself. And he waited yet another seven days, and again he sent the dove out from the ark. Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth.’ Genesis 8:6-12

‘So the King gave the command and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the King spoke, saying to Daniel “Your God whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the King sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. Now the King went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. Then the King arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The King spoke saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually , been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the King, “O King live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him, and also O King, I have done no wrong before you.” Now the King was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out if the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God. And the King gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions – them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.’ Daniel 6:16-24

God sent His angel to shut the lions mouths, and to rescue Daniel, but opened them again to devour the enemies of Daniel and his God.

Think too about Balaam’s donkey. God can even make a donkey speak. And there are many more instances in the Bible when animals do the Lord’s bidding.

He is the Lord of the hosts of humankind.

‘Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? Psalm 2:1

“He who sits in the heavens shall laugh: The Lord shall hold them in derision, then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure.” Psalm 2:1

‘Behold the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales.

“All nations before Him are as nothing. And they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.’ Isaiah 40 v 15 and 17

Think of Hitler, Napoleon, Mussolini and others like them. Men who exalted themselves and died dishonourable deaths, all their schemes and plans coming to nothing in the end, responsible for the deaths of millions; and they will have to answer before God for what they have done. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Our Jehovah Tsebaoth is the supreme God of history…… His story!

He is Lord of the satanic hosts.

‘For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.’ Ephesians 6:12

Satan was not able to test Job without God’s permission.

At Calvary Satan became a defeated foe. Jesus cried out, ‘It is finished!’ In His completed victory over Satan and his hosts.

Jesus whilst on earth cast out demons frequently and they knew who He was, the Lord of Hosts, Jehovah Tsebaoth, they knew He was Lord over them and their evil leader.

When we know all this, why should we be afraid? If God is for us then who can be against us.

Next time I will share a remarkable account from the word of God that aptly illustrates this fact.

Until then, may God continue to bless you.

Linda

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Seven Golden Lampstands

Barry Forder — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 21:35:00 +0000

This morning we continued our journey through the book of Revelation and looked at John’s vision of Jesus in chapter 1. There are eight characteristics given that help to reveal to us a little more of the Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer and judge of all things.

As John turns to see this One who speaks with the clarity and power of a trumpet he first notices seven golden lampstands. In preparing for this morning’s study I stumbled across the following article on the web. I hope this blesses and encourages you as you consider the privilege you have (if you are a Christian) of being part of the Church of Jesus Christ.

“And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And, being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks.” —Revelation 1:12.

John hears a voice—a great voice, a voice like a trumpet—behind him, not above, nor before. Dwelling, if tradition be correct, in the southern extremity of the island, on a steep cliff, and looking over the Aegean, he would have his back to the continent of Asia, and, of course, to the Churches there. The voice he heard makes him turn round, and look to the north-east, where the cluster of the seven Churches lay, the churches with which he was specially connected. The first thing meeting his eye is seven golden candlesticks, or lamp stands, as if just somewhere in the region where he might have expected to see the Churches. What a vision in that lonely, barren island! It would seem as if he had been transported back to Jerusalem, and brought into the sanctuary, or as if the golden relics of that now ruined sanctuary had been transported by some angel hand, and placed upon the desolate rock!

Let us seek to gather something from this vision. What did the Holy Spirit mean by it? What does it teach us? We are told that ‘the seven candlesticks are the seven churches’ (ch. 1:20). This much is plain. Seven Churches, which he knew well, had just been named to him, and he is told that these golden lamp stands are meant to represent or symbolize these churches.

With these ‘golden candlesticks’ we must connect the ‘seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God’ (ch. 4:5). Not that these two sets of lamps are the same. In the one case we read of ‘lamp stands,’ in the other of ‘lamps;’ in the one case it is the Churches that are described, in the other it is the Holy Spirit. Still, they are connected. The former get their light from the latter. It is by the Holy Spirit that the seven Churches are made ‘burning and shining lights.’

The ‘stars’ (verse 20) are not, as some have supposed, the flame of the lamp. They are quite different, as we shall see. Of the New Jerusalem, the Lamb is the light; but in His absence from this world just now, the Holy Spirit, in His sevenfold fullness, and with His sevenfold gifts and sevenfold illumination, gives light, by lighting up the churches. They owe all their light to Him. As He came down at Pentecost under the emblem of fire (Acts 2:3), so does He abide upon the Churches still. In the upper chamber this fire ‘sat upon each’ of the disciples, and so it sits still. It is the Pentecostal fire that kindles these seven lamps, and maintains their heavenly brightness; for that brightness is not human nor angelic—it is divine. It is light communicated by the Holy Spirit—a spark or flame from the Shekinah glory; the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Let us look at this more in detail.

I. The CANDLESTICKS. It is not so much to the light as to the utensil or stand for holding it that his attention is turned; for the light of these lamps is not from themselves, or from any earthly source, but from Him who is ‘the light of the world,’ and who said to His disciples as His representatives here, ‘You are the light of the world.’

‘Among whom you shine as lights in the world’ (Philippians 1:15), says Paul, adding, ‘holding forth the word of life.’ The individual saint is a ‘light;’ a Church is a ‘light holder’ or ‘lamp stand.’ The saint personally, and the Church or body of saints, is placed ‘in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,’ and, like ‘the word of prophecy’ (2 Peter 1:19), ‘shines as a light in a dark place, until the day dawn and the day-star arise.’

Israel, for ages, was the world’s only light—a light confined within narrow boundaries—not diffused over earth, nor set upon a hill. Of this the one seven-branched candlestick in the tabernacle and temple was the symbol. That lamp stand was doubly shut in—first, by the outer curtain, or wall of the house; and, secondly, by the inner curtain, or wall of the holy place. But these curtains have been torn in pieces, these walls thrown down; and now that lamp stands in uncurtained, unhidden splendor, shining out over all the world.

Take the lamp as meaning, in the first place, CHRIST Himself, the light of Israel, and of the world. This is true. He was ‘a light to enlighten the Gentiles;’ “His life was the light of men.’ Take it again as meaning ISRAEL, who was so long earth’s only light. This is true; for Israel, when her exclusive privileges passed away, gave forth her light around. Take it as meaning the CHURCH, or Churches, or saints of God. This is also true—they shine out as lights over all the world—not over Israel’s valleys and hills alone, or her cities and villages, but over all earth’s wide expanse, over all kindred’s, and nations, and tongues, and peoples.

Christ is the world’s light; the church is the world’s light; each saint is the light of the circle where he dwells and where he moves.

II. The MATERIALS of which the candlesticks are made. They are of GOLD. Generally in scripture gold symbolizes the holy, the perfect, the divine. ‘Be holy, for I am holy;’ ‘be perfect, as your Father who is in heaven is perfect; ‘partakers of the divine nature;’ ‘as we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly,’—these are some of the passages which help to illustrate the meaning of ‘gold.’ The Churches are ‘in God the Father, and in Christ Jesus, our Lord.’ They are not from beneath, but from above; they are not of the world, even as Christ is not of the world. They are composed of men born from above. With divine glory they shine; with divine beauty they stand forth before the world, ‘perfect with the loveliness which God has put upon them,’ and representing the surpassing and all-precious excellence of Him in whose beauty they are beautiful, and in whose perfection they are perfect.

How noble the lesson which we are thus taught! How holy and unworldly ought the Churches to be, and each saint in them! As gold cannot rust, so neither ought they to take on the world’s rust or defilement, but to stand in the midst of it as a witness against its evil; ‘holy, harmless, and undefiled, separate from sinners;’ ‘unspotted from the world.’ If the iron and clay cannot mingle, how much less the gold and the clay! What a rebuke to the Churches—’How is the fine gold become dim!’ Where is the church now that could claim the symbol, and say, ‘I am a golden candlestick?’

The furniture of Israel’s two inner sanctuaries was all of gold; the candlestick of the holy place was of gold—thus in all past ages foreshadowing the true character of a church and of a saint. Golden Churches! Golden men! Golden witnesses for Christ and His truth! How far the church of God in the past centuries, since John wrote, has fulfilled the description, ecclesiastical history can tell. The age of gold was not a long one; and then followed the silver, the brass, and the iron. How much of gold is to be seen in the churches of our day? It does cheer one to know that the Lord still counted such imperfect churches as Ephesus and Pergamos, or such backslidden ones as Sardis and Laodicea, as represented by gold. The grace of our Lord is exceeding abundant. He prefers to praise rather than to blame. His love and patience are boundless; His desire to discover the least ‘good thing’ in His people is sincere and earnest.

And this truth is of itself a gospel for the declining churches of the last days. While the sight of the golden candlesticks rebukes, it encourages amazingly. It humbles, yet it cheers. The love of Jesus cannot fail. The efficacy of the cross, as covering, with its atoning shelter, all who have consented to accept that shelter, cannot change; the backsliders shall be saved, but it will be ‘so as by fire.’ Lowest of all, it may be, will the ‘orthodox’ Churches of the last days be found, who had the name, and the form, and the profession—but not the love, or the holiness, or the power.

III. The NUMBER of the candlesticks. SEVEN. In the temple the candlestick was one, the branches seven. In this symbolic scene it would rather appear that the seven were quite separate form each other—possibly with the view of intimating that the Churches throughout the world, though all of gold, were to be separate; and if so, then there is here a most vivid protest against the pretended unity of Rome. The number seven is the number of—

(1) PERFECTION. As the one sunbeam is composed of seven parts, and thus perfected into whiteness—so seven is the divine number of perfection, or completeness.

(2) VARIETY. Not absolute uniformity, but variety; the variety which is needful for perfection—the manifold gifts of the one Spirit, sent from the one Christ.

(3) UNITY. Seven is oneness; oneness with diversity—one body, many members; one household, many members; one temple, many stones; one loaf, many crumbs; one sky, many stars.

(4) Covenant-CERTAINTY. Seven is the covenant number. The seven lambs at Beersheba were for covenant; and that place means ‘the well of the seven,’ or the ‘well of the oath’ (Genesis 21:31). The Churches are the Churches of the everlasting covenant—the covenant between the Father and the Son—’ordered in all things, and sure.’

1. What HONOR belongs to the Churches! They are made of heavenly gold, the gold of the sanctuary. All splendor is theirs; untarnished beauty and glory.

2. What RESPONSIBILITY rests upon them! It is special responsibility to the Son of man, who walks in the midst of them; the responsibility of being what He would have us to be, and what He represents us in this emblem as really being—’golden Churches;’ the responsibility of being holy and consistent—of reflecting the image of our Lord; of being lights in the world.

To the Churches, the Son of man is saying, ‘Let your light shine! Hide it not. Raise it aloft, that it may send its radiance wide and far. Let nothing dim it; let nothing intercept it. The world is dark. The night is gloomy. The light shines in the darkness. There is no other light but this for a dark world.’

The day is coming, the time when these lamps shall be needed no more. Until then, shine on, shine on, O church of the living God! And in proportion to the darkness of the last days, let your light blaze out in heavenly splendor!

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry

This article was taken from http://gracegems.org/19/r07.htm

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Revelation – new study begins today!

Barry Forder — Sun, 10 Jan 2016 18:29:07 +0000

This morning we began a verse-by-verse study through the Book of Revelation – which is particularly timely given the rapid changes in the world.

Back in October 2015 The Independant reported “Sweden ‘fast becoming world’s first cashless society’”[1]. In May last year the we read that the “UK moves towards cashless society” [2], and at the same time we read “Denmark is set to become the first country in the world to make cash payments obsolete”[3]. The World bank & IMF are moving us closer to a single financial system for buying and selling, and there is no secret that plans for a one world government are no longer just the on the lips of Bible prophecy students – these things are happening before our eyes. So too is the rise in lawlessness, and wars and rumors of wars are everyday headlines.

In addition, we now have a Pope who is effectively calling for a one world church – see the shocking ‘Pope’s Prayer request’ video released in the past week stating that Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists – and quite frankly anyone else – are all worshiping the same God![4] ) – and this is coming from a Pope who stated in a Mass before Christmas that atheists who do good are ‘redeemed’!

Now, on the surface this seems like the ultimate in acceptance and tolerance – all people of all faiths, religions and creeds working together for a common cause. This is seen as a good thing. But just stop and think about this for a moment: What kind of God would allow people to approach Him in any way they choose? What God would allow people to call Him by any name that suited them? What kind of God would establish a multitude of religions with contradictory beliefs and practices, see countless numbers of believers give their lives to maintain their religious freedoms and right to be different, and then reveal that actually they are all leading to the same place anyway!(?) Surely this would reveal a ruthless tyrant of a god on a par with the Roman Emperors who watched subjects in their empire fight to the death in the Coliseum?

Although those that promote the ‘all roads lead to God’ philosophy hail themselves as tolerant and accepting, they are in actual fact nothing of the sort. Consider what they are saying: ‘Regardless of what you believe, regardless of your heritage, we all have to go to the same place’; they are telling us that there is only one destination for all (whether you want to go or not!). That is more narrow-minded and dogmatic than anything Jesus ever said. Jesus said there are two destinations and we each get to choose: ‘smoking’ or ‘non-smoking’!

The world is spiraling out of control and just as Isaiah said would one day come, we are continually seeing that which is evil called good, and good evil (Isaiah 5:18-20), and as if that were not enough, these things are paraded through our streets and we are told we must accept or we are being intolerant! Er… excuse me, who is being intolerant? Who is showing hatred to who? [True] Christians, following Christ’s example, love all people, and desire that all people would come to know His forgiveness for their sin, and then experience the peace and lasting joy that comes from a relationship with God Himself.

But it seems to me that people are becoming more and more intolerant toward the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to say that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and that no one comes to the Father but by Him is now almost taboo! (John 14:6)

Paul said to Timothy, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, [ever heard of ‘selfies’?] covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, [have you seen TV recently or a movie? Home many times do that use Christ’s name, or God’s name – yet never Allah or Buddha etc.] disobedient to parents, [this is now just the accepted norm] unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, [if I were to comment on what this means I would probably be arrested for being intolerant of people who are themselves intolerant of my belief, which is actually the same belief held by Christians for 2000 years] trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Tim 3:1-4). We really are in the last days!

If you live in the Portsmouth area, please come and join us as we study through the Book of Revelation. If you don’t live close enough, we’d love for you to join us via the web and pray that you are blessed by our studies through this book – usually uploaded each Sunday evening. We also make available the Powerpoint slides used in the teaching (which saves writing notes as you listen!). As always, we urge you to be Bereans, who we read about in Acts 17:11, who received the Word with all readiness, but then searched the scriptures daily to see whether those things were so!

We would also ask for your prayers for this ministry, as we seek to remain always obedient to our LORD and Saviour.

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/sweden-fast-becoming-world-s-first-cashless-society-a6694001.html.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/uk-moves-towards-cashless-society-10267215.html
http://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/denmark-is-set-to-become-the-first-country-in-the-world-to-make-cash-payments-obsolete/news-story/a48b32a783ae4b4a00b1b4185969a396
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq7us5Lf5IU

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JEHOVAH TSIDKENU

Barry Forder — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 23:41:59 +0000

JEHOVAH TSIDKENU – THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

What does being righteous mean?

As we think about this word we probably picture someone who is honest and upright, full of integrity, virtuous, moral, good and kind. He or she doesn’t smoke or drink alcohol, doesn’t party or go clubbing, doesn’t cheat on taxes, doesn’t watch doubtful movies or use filthy or blasphemous language. This person is gentle and quietly spoken, doesn’t gossip or judge others and walks a good straight path of faith. A righteous person? A perfect person? We might indeed think so.

Let’s look at a few scenarios.

1) A little woman gave up everything she had to serve the poor. She gathered like minded people around her and ministered to those less fortunate. She washed their feet and bathed their weeping sores. She did this for years, giving her all for the sake of the poor. Was this a righteous woman?

2) A man who was already married, one day saw a beautiful woman and lusted after her. He took her and got her pregnant. So that he could marry her, he had her husband killed. Was this a righteous man?

3) a man who was highly regarded by his peers, who lived a righteous life according to their standards, keeping to the tenets of his faith and who was extremely clever and learned, believed that those who did not agree with what he believed should be hunted down, put in prison, and even killed. Was this a righteous man?

4) a man, just a rough ordinary sort of bloke, promised to follow the ways of another, and swore he would never let this man down. Soon after he declared in the hearing of others that he never knew his friend. He lied. Was this a righteous man?

1) Mother Theresa lived and worked in the slums in India for many years. She became an icon to many because of her lifestyle. Yet she received a Nobel prize and the praise of men, often. She, sadly, confessed in her later years that she had no certainty in her faith.

2) King David repented deeply of his sin with Bathsheba, and his murder of Uriah her husband. The baby of their illicit union died and David didn’t realise what he had done until it was pointed out to him by Nathan the priest, and then he deeply repented and cried out to God for mercy and forgiveness.

3) Paul the Pharisee of Pharisees, who colluded in Stephen’s death, was changed In an instant from being a legalistic, Orthodox Jew, to being a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ, when Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus. He became one of the apostles and totally devoted his remaining life to taking the gospel to a needy world.

4) Simon Peter betrayed Jesus, by denying that he knew Him, but was forgiven by Jesus, and went on to become a Holy Spirit filled believer who never betrayed his Saviour again, even dying upside down on a cross for refusing to deny Him.

By worldly standards the first person, Mother Theresa, appeared to be righteous, but was she righteous by God’s standard? On the other hand David, Paul and Peter were obviously unrighteous, but their hearts became right with God through faith and trust in Him. The difference between the world’s ideas of righteousness and God’s true righteousness is vast.

We all know good people who have no faith in God. They appear to be as good as Christians and indeed are better than some believers. They are kind and thoughtful, willing to do anything for anyone, but are they righteous in God’s eyes? There are many people who faithfully go to church every week, pray and read the Bible and do a huge amount of good works. But are they righteous in God’s eyes?

What about us?

It may be that we have been struggling for years to overcome a particular sin that refuses to go, however hard we pray. We just think we have got somewhere and then, Ooops! there we go again. It could be temper, lack of self control, criticism, or whatever becomes a habit, an idol in our life, that we just cannot give up and which takes our attention away from God. It could be an obsession or behaviour trait that is in control of our lives, no matter how hard we try, we cannot conquer it. What we need is a true understanding of God’s righteousness.

In Jeremiah 23:5-6 we read: “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgement and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. “

Understanding Jehovah Tsidkenu – The Lord our Righteousness, is absolutely crucial to the church’s survival in these last days. We talk about wearing the breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6), but do we really understand what it means to wear it? We are living in times of rapid moral decline, in fact it’s so fast we can hardly draw breath from gasping at one appalling item of news before we are hit by another. This Information Age has it’s good points, but it’s also riddled with evil. So we need to understand how to be truly righteous in these dark times.

Jeremiah, the prophet, lived during the reign of King Josiah. Josiah was a righteous king, a man who walked humbly before God. Israel. The Northern Kingdom, had already been taken into exile by the Assyrians. Judah however, failed to learn anything from this and was well on the way to becoming even worse that Israel.

2 Chronicles 36:16 states: ‘But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.’

Josiah tried to clean things up, he removed the idols, and the high places where people worshipped, and when the temple was being restored the books of the law were discovered, (2Chron 34). Josiah was shocked that they had been forgotten and worked hard to reinstate the law, even to having it read aloud to the people. Subsequently a sort of revival occurred, but the change of heart that was required for it to real work was not there in the people, there was no true repentance. As soon as Josiah was killed in battle the people of Judah went back to their old ways. Jeremiah was overwhelmed with grief at what he saw. Adultery and homosexuality were rampant.

‘For the land is full of adulterers; for because of a curse the land mourns. The pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up. Their course of life is evil, and their might is not right. For both prophet and priest are profane; yes in My house I have found their wickedness,” says the Lord. “Therefore their way shall be to them like slippery ways; in the darkness they shall be driven on and fall in them; for I will bring disaster on them. The year of their punishment,” says the Lord. “And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria: They prophesied by Baal and caused my people Israel to err, also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem: They commit adultery and walk in lies; they also strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns back from his wickedness. All of them are like Sodom to Me, and her inhabitants like Gomorrah.” Jeremiah 23:10-14

False teachers and false prophets were prolific and told the people what they wanted to hear. Poor Jeremiah could only weep as he saw the wickedness, evil and darkness all around him.

“Let my eyes flow with tears night and day, and let them not cease; for the virgin daughter of my people has been broken with a mighty stroke, with a very severe blow.” Jeremiah 14 v 17

The reign of Josiah could not make a long term difference unfortunately. The fate of Judah was already sealed, for God could not forgive the sins committed by former kings, especially by Manasseh, who was responsible for the shedding of the blood of his own people including children and babies. (2 Kings 24 v 3 – 4)

As it was then so it will be with us. God relented while Josiah reigned, but after he was gone God’s wrath fell. Jeremiah however, received a revelation from God which showed hope for the future. (Jeremiah 23 v 5 – 6)

This talks of Jesus Christ who would secure His people’s salvation by the shedding of His own blood. The Lord our righteousness – Jehovah TSIDKENU – Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

The law could not provide the righteousness that comes with Jesus. It was all a work of the flesh and could not succeed. We are so blessed to know that as believers, God sees us as righteous through the covering blood of Jesus. We have no righteousness of our own, whatever people in the world may think, we are clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. But do we really understand what that means? Is it real to us? Isaiah after prophesying and preaching faithfully received an incredible vision. (Isaiah 6 v 1 – 7)

This man, so used by God, was brought to a place of understanding how unclean he really was in the sight of God. He knew his human frailty, and until God purged his sin away with the live coal, he could not be free of his sin or acceptable to God. The point of this is that he could not make himself righteous, no matter how hard he tried, and neither can we.

It is God who purifies us, and only then after we come to the end of ourselves and confess our unrighteousness to Him. He makes us righteous, it is His gift to us, undeserved, unmerited and unearned. Be certain if this one thing – their is no good thing in us, all our righteousness is as filthy rags.

George Whitfield said, ‘Self righteousness is the last idol that is rooted out of the heart.’

In our own strength we can do nothing, we cannot please Him by our own efforts. We have to be in that place, like Isaiah, of giving up hope once and for all, of ever finding anything good in ourselves that we can bring to the Lord.

We can sing, ‘I surrender all’, but do we really mean it?

Righteousness is believing the promises of God.

Romans 4 v 3 and 20 – 22

V3 ‘For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’

V20 – 22. “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Unrighteousness is unbelief, doubting that He will do what He promised and trying to do it ourselves. Let us not judge righteousness by outward appearances and standards, but by God’s standards. The truth is that some who led lives of sacrifice remained sinful in God’s eyes, because they never fully trusted that He would be their righteousness. Instead they relied on their own works and goodness.

David, a righteous man? He had a repentant heart! He did great wrong, but he had a heart after God, and recognised his sin. (Psalm 51)

Peter a righteous man? He was weak, hasty, foolish, and God made hi a person useful in His Kingdom, confounding others who seemed to be wise and mighty, because he was totally sold out for his King.

Paul, a righteous man? A scholar, intellectual, legalistic and certain he was right until Jesus met him and changed him forever so that his gifts could be used for the Kingdom and for the glory of God.

All these men were broken before God could use them. Each one of them came to a place of realising that they could do nothing without the guidance and direction of God, that when they tried to do anything in their own strength it just would not work out right. That’s where we need to be too. We need to be patient, to rely on our Jehovah Tsidkenu, to wait upon Him and not rush ahead because nothing seems to be happening.

He is our righteousness, He only waits for us to realise what that means.

In His love,

Linda.

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JEHOVAH NISSI

Barry Forder — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 21:23:40 +0000

THE LORD OUR BANNER

“Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly block out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and called its name, The Lord is My Banner, for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn; the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” Exodus 17:8-16

Every four years at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games all the competing teams from around the world parade around the arena. Each country’s representatives march behind their nations flag or banner as a mark of loyalty and pride in the nation they are competing for. Historically flags or banners have been rallying points for armies at war. As long as their banner was still being held aloft, each side had hope that they would be the victors, but as soon as it fell at was captured, it was a sign of defeat.

During World War Two the Nazis would enter a country, march through the towns, tear down that nations flags and replace them with their own. The hated swastika was seen everywhere as a symbol of fear and domination to Germany’s enemies, but as a sign of triumph to the Nazis.

We can see from this how important flags are to us, and always have been as an expression of loyalty to a particular country or cause, with people prepared to defend them to their last breath because of what they represent.

It is interesting to note that another word for banner is standard, a word that is used to relate to morals. As believers God expects us to live to His standard, with His word ad our guide as to what that standard is. He doesn’t want us to lower that standard, because the lower the standard, the lower the living. We can see how in the world this is so true, as morals decline and anything goes.

Let’s look at this strange account in more detail.

Firstly we shall look at the origin of the Amalekites and why God said He would utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven, and also why He said that He would have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

Who was Amalek?

Gen 36 v 12 tells us that he was a grandson of Esau by Eliphaz, Esau’s son, and his concubine Timna. Amalek became the leader of the people who were born of that union who were called after him, the Amalekites. God obviously wanted them to be destroyed without trace. Why? Who were these people, what had they done to offend God so much?

Certainly they were long term enemies of Israel and a constant thorn in their flesh, inasmuch as they picked off the weakest of the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness. A nasty way of reducing their numbers. Like guerrilla fighters!

They came from Esau, as we see, Jacob’s brother. Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew, clearly showing how cheaply he valued his inheritance, and he worshipped idols, and had low standards in every way. He didn’t value God’s standard and lowered his own.

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the Lord. “Yet Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated, and laid waste his mountains and his heritage for the jackals of the wilderness.” Malachi 1 v 2 – 4

The Edomites were also descendants of Esau and were equally depraved in their behaviour.

It’s not that God had lost His mercy or His grace, His wrath was against these people because of their refusal to uphold Him as their God, their worshiping of idols and their pride in their own worth. Amalek was a type of Satan and his demonic power. Because the hand of the Amalekites was against the God, His wrath was against them. All through the history of Israel, right up to the time of Jesus’ birth, Satan put his hand against God by trying to destroy the lineage that would give birth to the promised Messiah. The enemy did everything he could to wipe out God’s people and he used the Amalekites to try to achieve that goal. Satan knew all that had happened in the past, he was there in the Garden of Eden and heard of the promise of the coming One who would crush him. He knew what God meant when He told Abraham that all humankind would be blessed through his seed. He knew what happened at Mount Moriah as Jacob offered up his only son Isaac. He knew how Jehovah Jireh had provided a ram, representative of Jesus, the Lamb of God and His sacrifice.

That’s why Satan declared war on God. He was determined to attempt to destroy the coming Messiah or any hope of His coming.

We know that he is still trying to destroy the Jews by any means he can, to prevent Jesus’ second coming. As he sees it, get rid of the Jews, destroy Gods land and there is nowhere for Jesus to return. His hand is against the true church, trying to destroy us too if he can. But we know that he cannot, and will not destroy the Jews, or the land, or us. Gods word will be fulfilled, and whatever plans Satan has, and whoever he uses to implement them, he will not get his way.

That doesn’t mean that terribly satanic things don’t happen. As long as Satan is the prince of this world, we will see troubles and tragedies. The things that are happening around us in the world today are a constant reminder of what Satan can do. So his warfare continues against Gods throne and the war that God declared against Amalek is an ongoing conflict.

Here in Exodus 17 the enemy was readying himself to attack the people of God. If Satan could cut off the Israelites before they entered Canaan, he would. He knew the prophecies, and he wasn’t about to let them enter the land where one day Jesus would be born So although we see here a physical battle against Israel, the true significance behind it was spiritual. It was a war between Heaven and Hell.

That is why in scripture we see Israel involved in war after war against Amalek, who were a Satan controlled nation of people. Of course they could never succeed, even when Saul, 400 years later, failed to destroy them all as God had commanded him, and though Samuel had to kill the Amalek king, Agag, still a remnant remained. It is not until the reign of King Hezekiah that the Amaleks were finally destroyed. But even generations later, a descendant of King Agag, an Agagite named Haman nearly managed to destroy the Jews in the Diaspora. You will that account in the book of Esther. A wonderful account of God’s faithfulness to His people.

So back to Rephidim, which means, Resting Place. Amalek came to attack the Israelites with the sole aim of annihilating them. Moses sent out men to fight them, headed up by Joshua, whose name in Hebrew is the same as Jesus in the Greek, that is Saviour.

The army Joshua gathered, must have been a sorry sight, and makeshift at best. These men were not trained soldiers, they had few weapons and little skill in fighting. The odds were totally against Israel. Remember that this huge crowd of people were constantly moaning and complaining, miserable and murmuring, ungrateful and wavering, unbelieving and faithless; indeed a weak army to be used by God to fight the forces of evil.

Moses, Aaron, meaning Light Bearer, and Hur, meaning White Linen, went up to the top of the hill. Light Bearer represents Truth, and White Linen represents Purity.

Moses held up his rod in his hands, and as long as his hands were upraised, Israel prevailed, against all belief, but when his arms dropped in fatigue, Amalek prevailed. Moses raised hands represented prayer and intercession. Aaron and Hur saw what was happening and held up Moses arms for him, so that Israel would again prevail.

What a beautiful picture we have here. Truth and Purity holding up the arms of intercession and prayer. What a wonderful illustration of Gods holiness opposing evil.

Also these two faithful men provided a stone for Moses to rest on so that he could prevail in his prayer. The stone represents judgement, Gods judgement on the works of evil.

Jesus is the Rock, He is the Judge of the whole world. I just love the truth that lies behind this amazing happening.

It can’t have been easy watching the fighting and bloodshed, Moses heart must have been in anguish as he cried out to God. The battle was very physical, very real, and Moses would not have fully understood the significance of it all. In a sense, Moses, though he didn’t realise it, was upholding the authority of Gods word.

Joshua and his rag tag army won the day and defeated Amalek, at least for the time being, and God spoke to Moses concerning his enemy Amalek. Moses built an altar there in commemoration of the victory and called it Jehovah Nissi, the Lord is my Banner. Moses was saying in effect, “We have won the battle here today, but we cannot forget that we were victorious because we serve Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our Banner. This victory had nothing to do with our strength or ability, or any great works we promised to do for God. We did nothing to earn Gods favour today, God Himself is our Banner and our victory is totally the work of His hands.”

There is a wonderful insight in this account for us as believers. As Moses interceded for the people, so Jesus interceded for us, now upholding us before the throne of God. The evil one who would seek to accuse us before that very throne, cannot succeed, because Jesus has covered our sin by His once and for all sacrifice on the cross.

Jesus Christ is our Banner!

However that does not mean that the battle is won for us still living on planet Earth. The eternal battle is won through the cross, but Satan still seeks to destroy us, and prowls around like a lion seeking his prey. We are therefore still engaged in spiritual warfare. We have to battle daily against the principalities and powers, because the devil wars against Christ in us. That is why Paul instructs us to put on our spiritual armour in Ephesians Chapter 6.

We are to fight the good fight of faith while we still remain on this earth and not fear the works of the devil We have Jesus Christ as our Banner to rely on, to trust. he is Truth, He is Purity, He is our Intercessor and nothing can separate us from His love.

In His love,

Linda

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JEHOVAH MAKKEH

Barry Forder — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 17:24:56 +0000

JEHOVAH MAKKEH – THE GOD WHO SMITES

Last time we saw how the Israelites had allowed bitterness to pervade their lives, and and how their subsequent behaviour was causing God to have to teach them and reveal to them how much He wanted to heal them and be their provider. He did provide, time after time, but their grumbling and moaning grew and grew until, having given them all they wanted, they came to a place where God could not condone their behaviour any longer.

They were now settled in the Land of Promise, they had all they needed and yet they disobeyed God again and again. God sent the prophets, and they largely ignored them and mistreated them. They followed their own ways, worshipped pagan gods, turned their backs on God and did their own thing. God gave them Judges who ruled the land, some good, some bad, and so the people swayed one way then another according to the leading of these men. The bible tells us that they all did what was right in their own eyes. Then came the Kings. Everything seemed to be okay at first, then Saul fell from grace, followed by David who was a man after God’s own heart and ruled in the wisdom of God. But after David everything went downhill and apart from a few Godly kings who led the nation well, the rest brought the country down to rock bottom and God was forgotten, put to one side, just remembered when desperation set in. By this time of course, the kingdom was divided into Israel in the north and Judah in the south. In Israel every one of the kings was corrupt, and Judah apart from the reigns of the kings who tried to rule according to God’s ways was just as bad.

God had warned them time and time again of the consequences of their foolish disobedience, yet still they carried on until God had to act and carry out the promises He had made if they failed to worship and follow Him.

This is what He warned through His prophet Ezekiel;

Ezekiel 7 :9

“My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; I will repay you according to your ways, And your abominations will be in your midst, Then you shall know that I am the Lord who strikes. I am the Lord who strikes, or I am the Lord who SMITES”.

JEHOVAH MAKKEH!

God doesn’t smite easily. His patience and long-suffering are unending, but His wrath is just and certainly we can see that Israel deserved all that came upon them.

But for all God’s fury, His heart was for His people and a faithful remnant remained.

Ezekiel 6:8-10

“Yet I will leave a remnant, so that you may have some who escape the sword among the nations, when you are scattered through the countries. Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations where they are carried captive, because I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me, and by their eyes which plays the harlot after their idols; they will loathe themselves for the evils which they committed in all their abominations.”

Even among all the wickedness there were those who remained faithful to God, and He saved them. When God strikes or smites, He always does so for a good reason, and He withholds His fury for as long as He can.

In the people of Israel we see the eventual decay and rot that comes from a deliberate refusal to deal with bitterness and resentment. They fester and grow and turn into pride, wickedness and Godlessness. But God will not allow it to continue, because it contaminates. Then He has to reveal Himself as the God who smites. It doesn’t seem very loving or gracious does it? But it is because of His love and grace that he acts in the way He does.

For instance we read in Proverbs, “Spare the rod and spoil the child!” That doesn’t mean don’t spank your child, just allow the child to do whatever he wants. We all know where that ends.

No, it means that children who are not properly disciplined, but allowed to have all they want, and to do what they want, will grow up, at the very least, as irresponsible adults. We discipline our children in love and grace because we care about how they grow up, and we know what can become of them if we don’t.

So it is with God, His discipline or smiting is part of His loving grace.

Jehovah Makkeh says, “I’ve got to discipline you in order to correct your ways, otherwise you are headed for trouble.”

So it was for Israel and Judah. God sent them into captivity into the nations whose gods the people were serving already. Israel was taken to Assyria and later Judah to Babylon. Why did God act so harshly? Why did He smite them so hard? All He wanted from them was repentance! All He wanted was to pardon and restore His people. He hit them hard to wake them up, to heal them, to bring them back to faith in Him; to peace and to joy instead of shame and confusion.

It is interesting to note that God began His judgement at the Sanctuary.

Ezekiel 9:3-6 “Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s ink horn at his side; and the Lord said to him, ” Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it. To the others He said in my hearing, “Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.”

But note that first a mark was placed on the foreheads of those who did not go along with the majority, and they were saved from God’s judgement. This reminds us of 1 Peter 4:17

“For the time has come for judgement to begin at the house of God, and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

Judgement always begins with the house of God, and rightly so, for the people of God should know better. We can see the same situation in the larger church today, things which are against the word of God, abominations and perversions being permitted in the very place where such things should never happen. We need to be so careful in our walk of faith, remembering that we are all sinners saved by grace, and remembering too that we can be deceived if we forget the word of God and go along with the world in the church.

Do not forget, only dead fish go with the flow!

We have to be so careful how we live our lives before God. We are living in dreadfully wicked and lawless days, and we see the evil around us more and more clearly as things get worse. We want to be those people of God who have His mark on our foreheads, working and living for Him in the midst of a depraved and Satan driven world.

Briefly turn your minds to Jonah. His disobedience to God’s command led him to run away. He went ‘down’ to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish and went ‘down’ into it, and when the storm broke Jonah went ‘down’ into the bottom of the ship to sleep. Three times Jonah went ‘down’ and the third time he was asleep to what God was saying to him. So God had to smite him by sending him ‘down’ once more into the depths of the sea where the great fish swallowed him. Jonah was bitter and resentful that God would choose to save the people of Nineveh who were pagan idol worshippers, so he chose to go down and down and down till God sent him down. In the belly of the fish, Jonah repented and did what God had told him to do and the people of Nineveh were saved from God’s judgement as they repented of their sins.

It is a great pity that Jonah, although he reluctantly did what God had asked of him and thereby saved the lives of thousands of people, still sulked and stamped his feet at what God had done, and even wanted to die believing that he was right to be angry with God.

Can you see how resentful and bitter Jonah had become? God had to judge him and deal harshly with him because he was only thinking of himself and not the thousands of people who might have died. We don’t know how Jonah responded to God ultimately because the Bible doesn’t say, but I hope he was chastened and repentant and obedient to God thereafter.

But you see why Judgement has to begin with the house of God? He will smite where He needs to in the desire to bring us back to Him, closer than before, like a loving father who smacks his child. He hates to do it, but if his child is repentant, grieves and learns respect for his father because of the punishment then it has served its purpose and the child can be received into his father’s loving embrace.

Hebrews chapter 12:5-11 tells us that we are not to despise His chastening, or smiting, or ignore it. It is for our own good, to help us to grow and learn. Everything we go through should bring us closer to Him, strengthening our faith always bearing in mind that Jehovah Makkeh is our loving Heavenly Father who did not spare the rod of correction from His own Son who was smitten by God for us.

Jesus took the punishment that we deserved. We have no excuse for bitterness, for complaining, for disobedience, for unlike the Israelites and Jonah, we know that Jesus is our Saviour and Lord, we have the completed truth in Him. So praise God in all circumstances, good, bad or indifferent, for every rebuke, every chastisement, every chastening brings us one step closer to Him as long as we are ready to change and be changed.

Blessings

Linda

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JEHOVAH ROPHI

Barry Forder — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 00:12:13 +0000

Read Exodus 15

This week we are thinking about the Israelites after their amazing and miraculous escape from Egypt across the Red Sea and God’s provision of a dry passage between walls of water on either side. The Egyptian army had floundered in the tumultuous waters as the sea returned to its place and they were safe. As they all congregated safely on the Arabian shore they began to sing and dance and rejoice in what the Lord had done for them. At the beginning of Exodus chapter 15 we can read the song that they sang to God, giving Him all the glory and all the praise for their incredible rescue from their slave drivers. How they celebrated, how they sang and danced; but it didn’t last long.

They began their journey through the desert toward the Promised Land. They travelled for three days and in all that time found no water. No doubt they expected to be able to replenish their water supplies en-route, but at this early stage of their journey they found none.

Out of interest, if they crossed the Red Sea at the foot of the Sinai Peninsula, as seems very likely, then where was Marah?

I put Marah, Saudi Arabia, into Google Earth, and up it popped. Amazingly it seems that there is still a place called Marah, same spelling too, in Saudi Arabia and it is North of where the people might have crossed over the Red Sea. To my inexperienced eye it seems likely that this is still the same Marah. It is on the coastal plain, not too far east of the sea and it could well take three days to walk there from the crossing point. Very interesting! Check it for yourselves. It’s all desert, brown and dry and boring and hot!

Anyhow, there they were, thirsty and tired, this great gathering of people, and already they had forgotten the rejoicing of a few days earlier and the reason for it.

We are so quick to forget good things, aren’t we? As I was thinking about this I realised that we are creatures of the moment. If we are tired and thirsty and in a hot, dry desert, desperate for sustenance to keep us going, very aware of our physical needs, watching for any sign of water, any that’s fit to drink, swallowing dust and sand, breathing it into our lungs, with red and itchy eyes from all the dirt that’s being stirred up by the feet of around two million people, then we are going to be pretty miserable. All the memories of what happened just three days before are going to fade pretty quickly in the present misery and discomfort. They were so miserable that they forgot about Jehovah Jireh and just wanted water and rest. So they complained and moaned against poor Moses. He must have been so irritated by this thankless mass of people. I would have been! But then again I probably would have been one of the moaners. I don’t do hardship too well!

However you do wonder how they could so easily have lost their joy at God’s miraculous intervention on their behalf.

The thing is that signs and wonders and miracles do pass, they don’t last. Even today so many Christians rush here and there, chasing after signs and wonders they have heard about, looking for healings and happenings. But that is not the way to know God and indeed very often these so called works and wonders are false and lead many into deception, then into disillusionment and sometimes into a loss of faith in God.

Paul had it right, ‘Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’ Romans 10:7

Faith never comes by witnessing supernatural works or miracles, and it never did even when Jesus walked the earth. Faith comes by meeting the Master and choosing to follow Him when He calls.

So back to the Israelites. Here they were, this massive crowd of people desperate for water.

Then they arrived at Marah and thought that there their thirst would be quenched. But Marah was the place of bitter water; Marah means bitter. It didn’t take long for the word to pass through the mass of people that the water was undrinkable. ‘What shall we drink?’ they cried.

What was God’s purpose in leading them there, why didn’t He provide another miracle and just give them the water they so needed? After all wasn’t He Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides? But He is also the Lord who sees, and He saw each individual heart as well as the huge crowd.

He brought them to Marah to deal with them, to teach them, to reveal more of His nature to them.

What did He want to teach them?

He wanted to show them the bitterness of their hearts; and they were a bitter people. Bitter against God because of their ill treatment in Egypt, reduced to making bricks out of mud, used as slaves for Pharoah’s building projects. They had lost sight of God, not believing in Him, and despite all God’s provision for them, despite seeing all the miracles performed through Moses, as God hardened Pharoah’s heart and rescued them, they were filled with resentment towards Moses and thus God.

Bitterness and resentment are terrible things and closely related to them is unforgiveness. They kill faith in God and bring with them an inability to worship and enjoy God. Bitterness always has it’s roots in a crisis in life of whatever kind and sometimes to a false belief that God doesn’t see, hear or understand.

I knew a lady who was wracked with bitterness towards another person, and she used to moan and complain about up this person frequently and whatever the other person’s behaviour, in the light of God’s grace, she behaved unjustly. There was no forgiveness whatsoever in her heart. She ended up with appalling arthritis which twisted her hands and feet terribly. It was as if the arthritis was a physical manifestation of her twisted bitterness and unforgiveness. So very sad!

So it was with these people, their background of suffering caused a root of bitterness to grow in them and God wanted it dealt with. But our amazing God did not show anger towards them, he treated them so gently. He wanted them to understand how life threatening bitterness was. It was destructive and poisonous just as the waters of Marah were. Being Jehovah Jireh He determined to reveal this further aspect of His nature to them to teach them a lesson. He showed Moses a tree, and told him to cut it down and throw it into the undrinkable water. As soon as Moses obeyed God’s command the water became sweet and drinkable.

As Jehovah Jireh provided for their need, He revealed Himself as Jehovah Rophi – the God Who Heals. He came to them in their time of crisis and need and healed the waters of bitterness and proclaimed to them, ‘If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.’ Verse 26 I AM Jehovah Rophi!

He wanted them to be healed of their bitterness just as the waters had been healed. He wanted to repair them completely, body, soul and spirit.

But they had to remain constant to Him, obey Him and hear Him.

It is lovely to see that after that experience God led them to a place of healing. He took them to Eliminate, the place of palms, an oasis of shade and provision, where they rested and were restored before they set out again.

Jehovah Rophi wants to bring healing to our lives too and He has promised wholeness for us through Jesus.

It’s interesting that the bitter waters of Marah were healed by a tree.

Jesus hung on a tree. 1Peter 2 v 24 and Isaiah 53 v 5 Jesus was the purchase price for our spiritual health.

Our salvation is our spiritual healing paid for by Jesus as He hung on that cross of wood.

Trees figure largely in scripture. It was the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that caused bitterness to come into the world.

At Marah God dealt with the bitterness of His people.

On the cross Jesus took away the bitterness of death.

In Revelation 22 we read of the tree of life whose leaves are for the healing of the nations.

God has been in the business of healing since the Fall and will continue to be until the time comes when all things are healed.

Our journey through life is not all sweetness and light, we are faced with trials, broken promises, wounds that hurt, words that sting, things that deeply affect us. Things go wrong, people we love are hurt, are lost, get ill and die and all the time bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness are lying in wait to catch us out. People who give in to those enemies lose their hope, their trust in God. It is so sad to see this happening to someone, as I have seen, and to see how fruitless and hopeless their lives can become.

This is not what God wants for us; He wants to be our Jehovah Rophi, to heal our hurts, to restore our faith and renew our hope in Him.

Sometimes people are bitter nape cause they are not healed physically. Yes, Jesus heals, we know that, but it is more important to be healed spiritually than to be healed physically. Oh it would be good to be physically whole, of course it would, but God knows what He is doing, and if He chose not to heal Paul and He chooses not to heal me, then glory be to His precious Name, because I am spiritually whole, healed from sin and death.

That’s the most important healing of all!

Richest blessings,

Linda

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The 430 Year Conundrum

Barry Forder — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 23:33:57 +0000

In our verse by verse study through Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians we find that Paul makes some almost throw-away-comments, yet they prove to be keys that unlock some Old Testament mysteries! It seems that the Holy Spirit has left us clues in the New Testament that reveal or help to explain things in the Old Testament. Once again, this is evidence of supernatural design from outside our time domain!

In Galatians chapter 3 Paul is contrasting the Gospel of Grace with the Law, and highlighting that God made Abraham a promise that was unconditional, all he had to do was believe it! He couldn’t earn it; it was a gift of God’s Grace. The promise was of blessing and an inheritance that was quite literally ‘out of this world’!

Hebrews 11:9-10 tells us that “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God”.

In verse 17 of Galatians ch.3 Paul makes the point that the Law of Moses which came after the promise to Abraham cannot annul the promise that Abraham had received by faith. But in telling us this Paul says something that would be easy for us to miss: “And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect”.

What is significant about this? Well, it helps to correct an error that seems to be made by many, including Bible commentators, and silences the critics of the Bible who immediately claim there is a contradiction in the text of the Old Testament.

The problem emanates from a misunderstanding of Exodus 12:40 and Genesis 15:13 (which is also quoted by Stephen in Acts 7:5). Exodus 12:40 seems on the surface to say that Israel spent 430 years in Egypt, but Genesis 15:13 & Acts 7:5 imply that this period is just 400 years! This has led to a number of ways to try to solve and unlock this conundrum, but without using the ‘key’ that Paul gives us in Galatians 3:17!

Let’s begin by looking at Acts 7:5, and God’s promise to Abraham regarding the land: “And [God} gave [Abraham] no inheritance in [the Land], no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child”.

In Hebrews we are told that “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (Heb 11:8-10)

It is clear from scripture that Abraham, Issac and Jacob all dwelt in a ‘strange land’, i.e. a land that was not their own (see Genesis 26:2-3 & 28:13). Now, when we go back to Genesis 15:13 we can read it with the knowledge that Canaan, as well as Egypt, was a ‘strange land’ to Abraham and his seed.

“And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years”. There is no question that Isaac and Jacob, as well as Joseph and the Children of Israel in Egypt were all afflicted, indicating that the 400 years were not spent entirely in Egypt as most assume. To remove any doubt, lets look at Joseph and the lineage of Moses:

Joseph

We are told that he was thirty when he stood before Pharaoh (Gen 41:46)
Joseph then administered in Egypt for the seven years of plenty.
It was two years into the famine that Jacob and the family moved down to Egypt (Gen 45:6)
.. based on this, Joseph was 39 at the time the family moved down to Egypt.

Now…

Jacob was 130 at the time of the move to Egypt (Gen 47:9)
Jacob lives until 147 (Gen 47:28)
Joseph would have been 56 when his father died, and evidently Joseph had remained in favour with Pharaoh through this time as can be seen from Pharaoh’s willingness to allow Joseph permission to bury Jacob in Canaan (Gen 50:4-6).
Joseph lives until 110 (Gen 50:26), seeing his great grandchildren

However…

No mention is made in Genesis of Joseph or his great grandchildren being brought into bondage at this time!
Joseph dies at the age of 110, and is embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt. As this is not something that his brethren would have done, it must have been done by the Egyptians as would be expected for someone in Joseph’s position. So bondage had not begun at this stage either.
In fact, the period of bondage did not begin until “there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph” (Exodus 1:8). It is impossible to imagine a new king coming to the throne who did not know Joseph all the time Joseph was alive – after all, he was number 2 in the land! Thus, this new king must have come to the throne at least 71 years after Israel had gone down to Egypt and after Joseph had died. (Joseph died aged 110, so if we take 39 to give us the number of years they spent together as a family in Egypt – the earliest possible point that a new Pharaoh could have come to power without Joseph being on the scene was 71 yrs into their time in Egypt).
Furthermore, Stephen tells us that it was not until the ‘time of the promise’ (i.e. the time that Israel would receive their own land), which coincided with the time when the Israelites began to multiply, that the Egyptian oppression began: “But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph”. (Acts 7:18-19)
This on its own negates the view that the 400 year sojourn began when the family moved to Egypt, preceded by 30 years of peace and prosperity.
Furthermore, the ‘traditional’ view, in fixing the beginning of the bondage 30 years after Israel’s decent into Egypt (inadvertently) assumes the Pharaoh of Exodus 1:8 to be the same person as the successor of ‘Joseph’s Pharaoh’ of Genesis 50:6. In reality there must have been a number of generations between the passing of Joseph (and his Pharaoh) and the new Pharaoh who knew not Joseph.
If we were to assume the bondage began 30 years into their stay in Egypt, it would necessitate the Pharaoh ‘who knew not Joseph’ and who began the bondage of Israel to have lived from shortly after the death of Joseph until Moses was 40+ – making this Pharaoh around 280 years old at the time Moses fled from him to Midian! This would be totally implausible and inconsistent with Egyptian history which testifies to relatively short life spans for its Pharaoh’s.
Also, scripture paints the picture that Israel did not cry out until the time of Moses. If the traditional view were true, why did not Israel cry out sooner? Why endure a few hundred years of bondage only to cry out at the last?
Moses was born during the time of bondage, was 40 when he left for Midian, and 80 when he returned. Thus, the time of bondage lasted for at least 80 years, but in all probability, not for much longer than this. (this is again supported by the short life span of the Pharaoh’s)
The conclusion has to be drawn that the actual period of bondage was only a portion of their time in Egypt, which itself was a portion of Israel’s total 400 year sojourn.

Moses

Another ‘proof’ that the 400 years of affliction in a ‘strange land’ could not have been entirely in Egypt can be seen in looking at the genealogy of Moses.
In Exodus 6:16-20 and 1^st Chronicles 6 we have recorded the family tree of Moses, starting with Jacob’s third son Levi:

From this we can see that Moses was the great grandson of Levi. This confirms what we find in Genesis 15:13-14,16: “And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs.[Canaan and then Egypt] And also that nation [Egypt], whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance….. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full” (Gen 15:13,16).

From the context, the four generations are to be counted from the time they begin dwelling in the nation whom they will serve, i.e. the time the family moves to Egypt.

The problem this information presents is as follows:

At the time of the move to Egypt, Levi already had his three sons; and as Merari appears to be the youngest of Levi’s sons, Kohath must have been at least one year old.
Kohath died aged 133 (cf Ex 6:18); so for arguments sake, let’s assume he fathered Amram the year he died.
Amram then lived for 137 years
We know that Moses was aged 80 at the time of the Exodus
Adding these numbers together to give us the maximum number of years possible gives us: 133+137+80 = 350, yet because the Exodus occurred when Moses was 80, we would have to find another 50 years, meaning that…
If the sojourn of 400 years began the year Israel moved down to Egypt (as is commonly assumed), and concluded with the exodus when Moses was aged 80, Moses would have to been born 50 years after his father died! (or if you count the 430 years as the total time in Egypt, there is an 80 year discrepancy!)

Either way, there is no way we can twist scripture to make the 400/430 years all occur in Egypt.

The 430 years

In regard to the 430 year sojourn (Ex 12:40), this could not have begun the year Israel moved down into Egypt – nor does scripture state that it did! All we are told in Exodus 12:40 is that “Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, [who at that time dwelt in Egypt], was four hundred and thirty years” (brackets mine) (Ex 12:40). This verse does not state that Israel (who did indeed dwell in Egypt, and were there at the conclusion of the 430 years) were there for the entirety of the 430 years. We have already noted that the sojourn in a ‘strange land’ included their time in Canaan as well as the time in Egypt.

Conclusion

The 430 sojourn was to do with Abraham and his seed not having a land of their own. But at the conclusion of the 430 years, in Exodus 6 we read: “And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers” (Exodus 6:2-4)

“And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD”. (Exodus 6:8)

Interestingly, the Samaritan Pentateuch renders Ex 12:40 as follows: “Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, and of their fathers, which they sojourned in the land of Canaan and in the land of Egypt, was 430 years.”

“And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt” (Ex 12:41). From this moment the title of the land of Canaan passed to Israel. It was now their land to go and possess by divine decree. Within 3 months the Law was given on Mt Sinai.

So now we come back to Galatians 3:17 and it is here that Paul unlocks the one piece we don’t have recorded in the Old Testament, and what has therefore led to so much conjecture and error – When did the 430 years begin? And where does the 400 years fit in?

We should remember that Paul had been a member of the Sanhedrin, and had been taught by Gamaliel, so knew his subject matter well! Paul states: “And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect” (Gal 3:17)

Here we are told that the starting point of the 430 years was the confirmation of the Abrahamic covenant. When was this covenant confirmed? Or to ask the question another way, when did Abraham’s sojourning begin? Both occur at the time Abraham was 75 and entered into Canaan. From that point it was 430 years to the day that Abraham’s descendants were set free, and the title of Canaan passed to Israel.

So what about the 400 years? The whole sojourn for Abraham and his seed without their own land was 430 years, beginning as noted above when Abraham was 75. At the age of 100, 25 years later, Isaac was born. But it was when Isaac was 5 years old and finally weaned that Abraham held a feast, we read: “And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking” (Gen 21:8-9). It is at this moment, 30 years after Abrahams sojourn had begun that his seed began to be afflicted. This affliction would last for the next 400 years culminating in the cruel Egyptian bondage.

Adam Clarke comments: from Abraham’s entry into Canaan to the birth of Isaac was 25 years, Gen 12:4; 17:1-21; Isaac was 60 years old at the birth of Jacob, Gen 25:26; and Jacob was 130 at his going down into Egypt, Gen 47:9; which three sums make 215 years. And then Jacob and his children having continued in Egypt 215 years more, the whole sum of 430 years is regularly completed.

Thus there are no contradictions, and thanks to Paul, all argument as to the beginning of the 430 years is settled!

Our verse by verse audio studies of Galatians and PDF Powerpoint slides are available for download. https://www.calvaryportsmouth.co.uk/sermon-series/sunday-morning-studies/

In the next post we’ll look at another hidden key that unlocks an Old Testament mystery!

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post The 430 Year Conundrum first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Gospel of Grace

Barry Forder — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 15:00:46 +0000

In our Sunday Morning studies, we are currently going through Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians. It is regarded by some as one of Paul’s greatest and most important letters. Dr Merrill Tenney said “Few books have had a more profound influence on the history of mankind… Christianity might have been just one more Jewish sect, and the thought of the Western world might have been entirely pagan had it never been written”.

William Ramsey, the respected historian comments: “It is a unique and marvelous letter, which embraces in its six short chapters such a variety of vehement and intense emotion as could probably not be paralleled in any other work.”

Galatians was Martin Luther’s favorite book, and it became the touchstone of the protestant reformation with the simple message of salvation by faith alone in Christ alone – in a word Grace.

Paul declares that the Gospel of the grace of God, which he preached, was not given to him by another man, nor did he invent it, but rather it was given by revelation from God. In these six chapters Paul will argue for the authenticity of the Gospel and for its superiority over the Law of Moses.

The trouble in Galatia at the time of Paul’s writing was that a number of people who had grown up under the Jewish Law were trying to merge Christianity and the Law together. Sadly, many of the Christians in Galatia were being drawn away by these Judaizes who were espousing this false gospel, and instead of the liberty and freedom the true Gospel promises, they were finding themselves once again under the bondage of the Law.

It has been a recurring theme down through the ages that people will try to add things to the simplicity of the Gospel, and the sad fact is that many people get draw in by them and deceived. This is essentially the root of most of the ism’s and cults.

Gospel means ‘good news’ and it is very good news to realise that salvation is through simply believing in Jesus! I don’t mean merely believing He exists, but believing He is God manifest in the flesh, He came to die for our sins and rose again to give us new life. The Gospel is all about what God has done through Christ, and not at all about what we can do. The moment we try to put a condition on salvation, it becomes an affront to God; what can we possibly do that will be of greater value to God than the shed blood of Jesus?

Our verse by verse audio studies and PDF PowerPoint slides are available for download.

https://www.calvaryportsmouth.co.uk/sermon-series/sunday-morning-studies/

In the next post we’ll look at one of two hidden keys that unlock some Old Testament mysteries!

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post The Gospel of Grace first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Jehovah Jireh

Barry Forder — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 22:21:55 +0000

This is another powerful name for God. Jehovah Jireh…….the Lord our Provider!

We could say Yahweh Yireh, but somehow Jehovah Jireh trips more easily off the tongue. Y and J are interchangeable in Hebrew. Let us look at Genesis 22:1-19

“Now it came to pass……....that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am. Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” and he said, “Here I am my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, side you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The Lord Will Provide; as it is said to this day, ” In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said, “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son- “blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the sea-shore; and you descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.”

Abraham is at this time about 130 years of age and Isaac is about 30 years old. Abraham, in his old age, had the joy of seeing his son Isaac, grow and flourish; all seemed to be well and to be settled, all was at peace. Then out of the blue, as is usual with God, Abraham received a word from the Lord. God commanded him to take Isaac to the land of Moriah, which means, ‘chosen of Yahweh’ and there to offer him as a sacrifice. This was a call to Abraham to show the supreme act of faith and obedience.

Now you or I would immediately say, ‘No way!’ But not Abraham. How Sarah reacted to this command we can only imagine, if indeed she even knew.

Abraham immediately prepared for the journey, taking the wood he had cut and chopped for the altar of sacrifice and giving it to Isaac to carry. He, his two servants and Isaac set off. It was a three day journey to the mountain that God had chosen for the sacrifice. That’s a long time to think about what lies ahead. The amazing thing about this is that Abraham had learnt that when God said, “Go!” He went and when God said, “Do this!” He did it. No sign of questioning, no doubts. But all the same he must have been full of anguish as he faced this trial. What agonies did he go through on that journey? He knew in his heart that God had told him six times already that his descendants would be as the sand on the shores and as plentiful as the stars in the heavens, and he knew that this had to come through Isaac, and yet here was God commanding him to kill his only son of promise.

Did he believe that God would really carry it through? Did he wonder if Isaac would be supernaturally raised from the dead? We don’t know.

But whatever he was thinking the fact remains that he purposefully went on. His actions, whatever his thoughts and feelings, were based on his faith and trust in a god, and what he already knew about Him. Where did Abraham get such faith to obey such a hard command? It came directly from the revelation of God’s name. He must have been constantly reminding himself how God had told him that He was El Elyon and El Shaddai.

Yes, God could raise Isaac from the dead. Yes, God could provide a way of escape. Nothing was out of God’s control, He could do anything. He had seen God’s work firsthand, seen His provision, seen His power. Hebrews 11:17-19

So they arrived at the foot of Mount Moriah. This is the hill on which Solomon built the temple. David, his father, bought the threshing floor there from Araunah and built an altar on the site, fully intending to erect the temple there himself, but the duty was passed to Solomon because David had too much blood on his hands.

Having left the two servants at the foot of the mountain, after telling them that they would return, Abraham and Isaac began their climb up to the top. Isaac then asked his father where the lamb for the sacrifice was. ‘God will provide a lamb!’ was Abraham’s reply. Abraham’s faith was truly amazing.

Isaac the sacrificial, son carried the wood up the hill, just as God’s own Son Jesus would carry His cross of wood to the site of His sacrifice. Abraham offered his only son Isaac as a sacrifice just as God the Father would offer His only Son. It took three days to get to the place of sacrifice, three days of Abraham considering his son to be already dead and that God would raise him up. Jesus was dead for three days before He was raised from the dead. Indeed Isaac did, figuratively speaking, return from the dead. This narrative is an amazing type and shadow of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Why, you may ask, did God ask of Abraham what He did when it’s clear from the Old Testament that God hated human sacrifice. It was to show that animal sacrifice could never fully atone for sin. One day Someone would have to die to save the world from sin and death. Someone would have to willingly lay down His life, Someone who was pure, Someone who was holy and sinless, someone who would atone for all the sin that has ever been once and for all time.

Abraham was about to make a huge discovery about God. He was going to learn a new name of God.

As Abraham bound Isaac and laid him on the altar, it’s obvious that Isaac consented. After all he was around thirty years old, (the approximate age of Jesus at His crucifixion, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they were exactly the same age) an adult, and strong too. He must have been to carry all that wood for the altar. Abraham would never have forced Isaac to be bound and could never have forced him, he wasn’t strong enough. So it would seem that Isaac was acting in faith as well. He would have learnt about God from his father and he too had faith to believe that God could intervene and raise him up. He knew the promises of the covenant that God had made with Abraham of coming generations from himself. He was willing to be sacrificed just as Jesus would be in the future. Abraham prepared to kill his only son, he lifted the knife, ready to end the life of Isaac.

Suddenly a voice called out to him. The Angel of the Lord spoke out, “STOP!” What a cliffhanger! Have you noticed how God always does everything at the last possible minute?

The Angel of the Lord had to be Jesus Himself. He knew He would have to be the ultimate sacrifice eventually.

There tangled in a bush was a ram caught by the horns. A ready sacrifice suddenly seen, not spotted before. God provided! Isaac need not die! Abraham’s faith was tried, tested and proved. So Isaac was saved and the ram was sacrificed in his place. And Abraham called the place, ‘The Lord will provide!’ or, ‘The Lord Who sees!‘ In our language we could say, ‘The Lord will see to it!’ It’s interesting to note that the substitute sacrifice was a ram and not a lamb. In God’s agenda there can only be one Lamb of God, and that is Jesus Christ.

It was Abraham and Isaac’s willingness to do what God commanded that points forward to Jesus, and Jesus was the only One who could die for the sins of the world. It is also interesting to think that even as Abraham was preparing to plunge the knife into Isaac’s heart, his nephew Bethuel was bringing up his daughter Rebekah, the girl who was to become Isaac’s wife. God was seeing to things. He was preparing the way forward for Isaac. You see, even before we cry out to God, He answers. Long before we were even born, He was at work, forming and shaping the circumstances of our lives and He provides all we need to help and sustain us. All He requires is our faith, trust and obedience, and we will see His provision time after time in our lives.

Philippians 4:19

Psalm 9:10

Genesis 22:16-18

In these verses from Genesis God again states His promise to Abraham and in fact this is the seventh time God does this. Seven is the number of completion and rest.

In verse 19 we see that Abraham returns to the young men waiting at the foot of Mount Moriah, but there is no mention at this point of Isaac and we don’t hear of him again until God provides Rebekah for him as his wife. Isaac is not in the picture for a season, just as Jesus ascended to heaven and waits there for His bride the church. He is alive, but not seen. Rebekah the type of the bride of Christ is taken away to Isaac’s home and we will be taken away by Jesus to His heavenly home.

Wonderful, isn’t it to see how God completely provides? He sees the end from the beginning, not just for Abraham, Isaac and Rebekah but for each one of us.

Praise be to His holy Name, our Jehovah Jireh, our Provider.

May you be richly blessed and may you know His provision in your lives.

Linda

The post Jehovah Jireh first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

EL SHADDAI

Barry Forder — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 19:29:58 +0000

This time we are going to look at the name El Shaddai, which means Almighty God and again we shall look at this name in relation to Abram. El Shaddai, the Almighty, all sufficient God is a precious name showing the goodness and grace of our God. This name occurs 8 times in the Old Testament. It talks of the God of miracles for Whom nothing is impossible.

‘He who dwells in the secret place of El Elyon shall abide under the shadow of El Shaddai’ (Psalm 91). The whole Psalm bears testimony to El Elyon and El Shaddai.

Shaddai on its own means ‘Almighty’ and comes from the root SHAD which means breast. Those of us who are mothers know all about the usefulness of our breasts to produce milk to feed our babies and we know that no formula produced by man can come near to providing the goodness that breast milk can. This picture depicts the all sufficient, all bountiful nature of God. We can rest on His breast, we can feed from His goodness, we can receive spiritual nourishment for our satisfaction. It’s a lovely picture, and one that very meaningful to us as women. As I watched my daughter feeding her babies and remember feeding my children, I see contented and satisfied babies nestling close to Mummy, receiving all they need for their well being.

Now we return to Abram who began to doubt that God was ever going to fulfil His promises.

“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” The Abram said, “Look You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” The He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:1-6).

God reminded Abram of His promises and made a covenant with him to seal those promises. But as he got older Abram wavered in his faith that the promises would actually came to pass. The promised son had never arrived and now he was old, and Sarai, his wife, was past childbearing age, well past. We can understand why he began to doubt, we would too. So Ishmael was born to Hagar and we all know where that led. Abram was 86 at that time, but still God made him wait. He got to 99 years of age, and still he waited, and then after all those years, God gave Abram a fresh revelation of Himself. We shouldn’t get impatient with God. He will reveal His ways to us in His own time, not in ours. We can try to order our lives as Abram and Sarai did, and if we do then we shouldn’t be surprised when things go pear shaped. Ishmael brought trouble with him, which still survives to this day. No, it is much better to allow God to show us His way, for it’s always best. We say, we will do this, we will do that, we will plan this, we will plan that, but when will we learn to wait upon the Lord? Why do we always think that we know better?

Well so it was with Abram, but God had a better plan!

“When Abram was ninety nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I AM Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.The Abram fell on his face , and God talked with him, saying, “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.” And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you” (Genesis 17:1-11).

“Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name, and I will bless her and also give you a son by her, then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her. Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child? And Abraham said to God, ” Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” Then God said, ” No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year” (Genesis 17:15-21).

I AM El Shaddai – Almighty God – all powerful, all sufficient!

What an amazing revelation for Abram, can you imagine being spoken to like that by Almighty God? It’s as if God was saying to Abram, “I’ve already shown you that I am El Elyon, that I am in control of everything, now I am going to show you another aspect of My nature that you need to understand to help you continue in faith. I always keep My word and nothing can keep My promises from coming to pass. I AM Almighty God, nothing is impossible for Me. I AM All Powerful, All Sufficient, Keeper of My promises and Guarantor of My Word. I AM El Shaddai!”

Abram was being human! He only saw the impossibility within his knowledge of having a child at his age, and his past child bearing aged wife being able to give birth to a baby boy. He even found the idea of it all amusing, and laughed. But God showed Himself as the One who is control of life and death and can do anything. Abram would be the father of the child who was to be born to Sarai and he would be the father of many nations through his son Isaac. God would do all that He said He would. Abram believed, and God changed his name to Abraham, from ‘exalted father’, to ‘father of a multitude’, and Sarai became Sarah, from ‘dominant one’, to ‘princess’. Both had an ‘h’ added to their names, symbolic in Hebrew of the breath of the Holy Spirit.

As God revealed Himself to Abraham as El Shaddai so He wants reveal Himself to us. We can walk in faith with our God, not because we’ve got the faith thing all worked out and sewn up, not because we have will power, not because we are knowledgeable. No, we can walk in faith because we know that El Shaddai is our Almighty God, and know that He always keeps His promises and that there is nothing too difficult for Him.

Abraham live in a time of great cruelty and evil, his neighbours led wild, pagan and dissolute lives, God’s judgement was coming on them. The same is true for us today, all around we see society crumbling into dissolution and it is our faith in El Shaddai that keeps us going.

Don’t focus on your personal faults, failings and weaknesses, but keep your focus on Almighty God! Stop looking at the problems and turn your eyes on the One who can do anything. No problem is greater that El Shaddai! He is the One who holds you in His hands, He is the One who guides you, He is the One who leads you along the path of your life by the power of His Holy Spirit at work in you. Trust Him!

May God bless you,

Linda.

The post EL SHADDAI first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

El Elyon

Barry Forder — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 22:01:05 +0000

Last time we looked at how amazing our Great and Mighty God is. We discovered. How our Great ‘I Am’, Yahweh or Jehovah has myriad names throughout the Bible. We saw how the Creator of Heaven and Earth is God in three persons, working together to form the Universe and all there is in it, so much of which is beyond our capability to understand or to get our heads around.

We looked at some of the titles attributed in scripture to Elohim and the Bible references that mention them. I don’t know about you, but I had never known before some of these names or their meanings, and I only covered a few of many of those names.

This time we are going to look at the name El Elyon.

El Elyon means God Most High! This name occurs early on in the account of Abram, when God reveals Himself to Abram in a most remarkable way, a way which brought Abram into a closer relationship with his Lord. This title El Elyon, appears four times in Genesis and occurs frequently throughout the Old Testament…..Psalm 18, Numbers 24, Deuteronomy 32, 2 Samuel 22, and others. It is a name that also points forward to the Millennial reign of Christ as we shall see.

I will focus on one account which is a great illustration of this title and of the character of God.

“And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela went out and joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amarphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar – four kings against five.” (Genesis 14:8-9)

This is the first war ever recorded in history. This confederation of kings declared war on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and the two armies fought each other in the Valley of Siddim. The attackers won and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled to the mountains. The victors looted the two cities and took everything including the people and amongst them Lot, Abram’s nephew, who had foolishly chosen to live in a city called ‘Burning’, that is Sodom, ruled over by a king called ‘Son of Evil’ that is Bera.

– As an aside here, we recall that Lot through his daughters became the founder of two tribes of people, the Moabites, who became known for their sexual indulgence and who worshipped Baal and Ashteroth, and the Ammonites who worshipped Molech, and were known for their human sacrifices, not least of their own children. These two people became enemies of Israel and of God. Our choices make a difference. Lot was tempted by riches and from there on it was a downhill slide. He lacked wisdom and he lacked faith in El Elyon. –

So back to our account. Off went the victors with loads of loot. But someone who escaped the battle came to tell Abram what had taken place, and Abram, ever loyal, was determined to get Lot and his family back. I think most of us would have left Lot to stew in his own juice, but not Abram. Off he went with his household militia, 318 me trained to fight. In those days I guess that if you were wealthy and part of a large family group or tribe, then you needed protection and Abram had certainly made sure that he had that. They had to travel a long way, around 100 miles north to Dan, and those who chased the fugitives to Damascus had to go another 200 miles. But Abram’s army routed the enemy kings and rescued all the booty, the captives and Lot and were returning home when something very interesting happened. Remember here is Abram returning south with all the goods and people of Sodom and Gomorrah. We know the future awaiting those same people…..utter destruction by God because of their immoral ways. Why did God allow Abram to take them back? Why didn’t he just let them go north to whatever destiny awaited them there? Was it all for the sake of Lot? Or was God foiling Satan’s purposes and plans? Did Satan know God’s plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah? Did he try to get in the way of those plans?

Who knows…..we can only guess! Only God has the answers to these questions, but it does make you think. What we do know is that God had to put an end to the dreadful and obscene perversions being practiced in those cities.

Now we come to the most interesting part of the story. Abram is met by two kings: The King of Salem and the King of Sodom; the King of peace and the king of evil. What a contrast! The King of Salem (from which comes shalom), Salem becoming much later the city of Jerusalem, was named Melchizidek (v18). He brought out bread and wine. He was the priest of the Most High God, El Elyon. Carrying the symbols of the Last Supper and now our Communion, this priest and King was a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ Himself.

In the history of the people of God, from Abram onwards, there is never a priest who is king or a king who is priest. Some tried, like Saul, and paid the price for their temerity. Only Melchizidek and Jesus are known for their dual role of Priest and King. Jesus is the fulfilment of Melchizidek and more, for Jesus is the Great High Priest and He is also the King of Kings.

Melchizidek, in his role of priest served Abram with the bread and wine, pointing forward to The Passover meal, in turn pointing forward to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our High Priest and ultimately to the fulfilment of the words of Jesus when He said, “But I say to you, I will not during of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s Kingdom.” (Matt 26:29).

Then in his role as King, Melchizidek accepts a tithe from Abram. Melchizidek as a type of Christ accepted tribute from Abram, a type of the people of God who issued from him. (Hebrews 7:1-3 and Hebrews 7:17) Melchizidek vanishes from the continuing account as if he had never been. He is mentioned in Psalm 110 v 4, 1000 years later by David as he speaks prophetically of Jesus and of course in the letter to the Hebrews, 1000 years further on again. This ancient king’s continual priesthood does indeed represent Jesus’ priesthood which is everlasting and He will reign and rule as High Priest and King of kings throughout the Millennial reign and on for eternity.

Then the King of Sodom, who had fled from the conspiracy of attacking kings, approached Abram and offered him all the recovered booty from the battle that Abram had fought up north in Dan. A bit of a nerve, don’t you think?

He had had to see Abram succeed where he himself had failed and being evil in heart he wanted to tempt Abram. It seems that this black hearted king was jealous of Abram’s hard won success and so offered all the spoils to him, as long as all the people were returned to Sodom. These riches Abram was offered must have been huge, gold, silver, precious jewels, livestock, clothing, furnishings, etc. But Abram could see what lay behind this seemingly generous offer.

“But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High (El Elyon) the Possessor of Heaven and Earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’.” (Genesis 14:22-23)

All Abram wanted was Lot and his family safe and sound. Temptation always comes from the enemy and this is no less than that. Satan’s plans had been foiled and this was a last ditch attempt to catch Abram out and cause him to fall.

It is like that for us too. When we become believers the powers of Hell are defeated in our lives and Satan can no longer have his spoils in us. But along the way we meet two kings, one to tempt us away, the other to draw us closer to Him and show us His glory.

Abram did not get caught in the trap prepared for him, he resisted temptation, indeed he didn’t even have to think twice about it. He was faithful to God in every way and the foul king of Sodom was unable to boast that he had given Abram all the prizes in his abundant generosity, because there is no doubt that if Abram had accepted then that man would have held it over Abram and demanded some sort of recompense for the so called gift. Abram knew that El Elyon owned everything anyway and God had blessed him so much already with all, and more than he needed, but Abram didn’t want to be beholden to his enemy in any way so that evil King could brag about what he had done and how he had made Abram rich. Abram had been given a new revelation of God’s power through Melchizidek. (Genesis 14:19-20) El Elyon, God Most High, possessor of Heaven and Earth. What could tempt Abram? What can tempt us when we know that El Elyon is in control of everything?

He had known the God who called him out of Ur, but not then as El Elyon. Now he did, so why should he want anything else? El Elyon would meet all his needs. Have we discovered God as El Elyon? Have we begun to see Him with new eyes? Are we convinced that He holds our entire lives in His hands? There is no area of our lives that He is not interested in. All is in His more than capable hands.

Perhaps we need to take stock of our lives, review what we believe and maybe alter our perspectives and our ways of seeing our God Most High, El Elyon.

Blessings,

Linda.

Study Tip:

When preparing a study like these, one has to look for helpful resources, for guidance and instruction and I have found David Wilkerson’s book ‘Knowing God by Name’ to be a most useful tool in this respect and would recommend it for further insight.

http://www.eden.co.uk/shop/knowing-god-by-name-paperback-book-4279795.html

The post El Elyon first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

A Tragic End

Barry Forder — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 06:30:08 +0000

Over the last 8 months we have been studying through 1st and 2nd kings, we have seen the monarchy in Israel split in two as a result of the fear of man and an unwillingness to trust in God. As a result, each subsequent part of the divided kingdom fell yet further into apostasy to the point that God, as He forewarned (see Deuteronomy 28), brought judgment upon them with first the northern kingdom of Israel being taken by the Assyrians, and now finally the southern kingdom of Judah, being led away captive to Babylon.

Sadly there are many today who think they are getting away with their sin, because God doesn’t immediately bring judgment, yet as Paul reminds us “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Galatians 6:7-8).

For almost 400 years the kings of Judah had been sowing to the flesh, worshipping idols and provoking God to anger, now time had run out. At the close of the last session we saw Pharaoh Neco depose Jehoahaz and carry him away to Egypt after just three short months on the throne, and for the first time in their history, a foreign power appointed Judah’s next king, Eliakim, whom Pharaoh renamed Jehoiakim. Now, three years into his reign, in 606 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar came and lay siege to Jerusalem. Jerusalem fell and many of Israel’s finest were taken away to Babylon, including a young boy, around 14 years old, called Daniel.

Nebuchadnezzar allowed Jehoiakim to remain as king on the condition he would serve the king of Babylon, which he did for three years, but then he rebelled.

In 597 B.C. having now been subject to Babylonian oppression for 8 years*(See footnote), 18 year old Jehoiachin (also known as Jeconiah) succeeded his father, but only for 3 months and 10 days, for Nebuchadnezzar returned and once again besieged Jerusalem, this time deporting king Jehoiachin and 10,000 of the brightest, beast and skilled people of the land, including another young prophet by the name of Ezekiel.

Nebuchadnezzar then appointed Zedekiah as king. Not one good thing is spoken of any king after the time of Josiah, not one of these kings had the wisdom to recognise that the calamity that was befalling them was a result of their disobedience to God, and not one of them came repentantly (as Josiah) had done, seeking God’s mercy.

There are some dramatic prophecies given and prophecies fulfilled in this study, not least the prophecy given to Zedekiah (Ezekiel 12:13) that he would be taken to Babylon, but yet not get to see it! This sounds a contradictory statement, until you read 2 Kings 24:7 where we see that Zedekiah was taken captive and brought to Nebuchadnezzar, who then killed his sons before his eyes, and then ‘put out his eyes’. So he went to Babylon, yet never got to see it with his own eyes! – God is not mocked!

There have been many lessons we have learnt in our journey through 1st and 2nd kings, but one of the greatest is summed up in the words given to Israel’s first ever king: “to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22).

Doing things for God may impress other people, it may look as if you are on the right path, but God looks at the heart and is looking for those who will worship Him in Spirit and truth, serving with their whole heart.

May you learn from the failures of these kings, to see that there is nothing the world has the will prosper you in the long run, nothing of any value in a time of need, nothing that matters at all in the final analysis.

What will be written of you in God’s book? Will you be one who ‘did that which was right in the sight of the LORD’? Or will you seek to build your own kingdom, only to find you have lost everything? “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)

May God richly bless you as you continue to study His word!

Pastor Barry.

* Some think there is a contradiction between 2 Chronicles 36:9 and 2 Kings 24:8 where we are apparently given two different ages for Jehoiachin at the start of his reign. Please refer to the study of 2 Kings 24-25 for the simple resolution to this apparent problem. https://www.calvaryportsmouth.co.uk/sermons/second-kings-chapter-24-25/

The post A Tragic End first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Moving Shadows

Barry Forder — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 21:08:03 +0000

Second Kings 18-20 records the life of one of Israel’s greatest kings, Hezekiah. We are told of him that “He did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did” (2 Kings 18:3). This isn’t just a comment about the things he did, good as they were, but more importantly it tells us about his heart. It is said that David was a man after God’s own heart, and we see that Hezekiah, even when faced with the most trying of circumstances, remained true to God.

You know that sometimes things just seem to happen all at once?! Well this was certainly true for this Godly king. Jerusalem was surrounded by one of the most formidable armies the world up to that time had known, no nation had been able to stop the advance of the mighty kings of Assyria. But if threat of invasion, defeat and deportation were not enough, in chapter 20 we find that Hezekiah also falls sick! Do you remember that the Apostle James said we should consider it all joy when we face various trials? (James 1:2). You cannot possibly face a situation like Hezekiah was here and be joyful… unless of course you know and are living in the grace of God (2 Corinthians 12:9) and have the knowledge that God is working all things together for good! (Romans 8:28).

In the midst of all this, Isaiah the prophet comes to Hezekiah with some bad news! “You shall die and not live!” (Prophets are not usually known for their tact and diplomacy!) Yet one again this godly king doesn’t pout or blame God for being unfair, but turns his face toward his beloved Jerusalem (the Hebrew word translated ‘wall’ also means ‘town’), and looks toward the wall (of the city), no doubt wondering what will become of his people if he were to die? Would the Assyrians use this as their opportunity to strike? Would Jerusalem fall to these blaspheming heathens? As Hezekiah had done when faced with every other trial so far, once again he goes straight to the LORD!

Before Isaiah has even left the courtyard God sends him back to the king with a new message. “Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 20:5). Isaiah also tells the king that God will add 15 years to his life!

Probably somewhat confused by all this – he has now had two contrasting messages from Isaiah in the last 5 minutes! – Hezekiah asks for a sign, as confirmation that this is Isaiah’s (God’s) final word on the matter! The sign that is promised is for the shadow on the ‘dial of Ahaz’ to move backward! The ‘dial of Ahaz’ was obviously some sort of sun-dial, that could be used for telling the time of day. The is some conjecture as to what it actually was, but the most likely is that it was a series of 15 steps that Ahaz had built that, as the Sun moved across the middle-eastern sky, would cause a shadow to be cast on the steps that would move down the steps throughout the day.

There are books written about this phenomenon of the shadow that moved, with learned people both refuting the possibility of this, and others who try to make a case that this could actually have occurred as a result of refraction, or maybe due to a change in the Earth’s procession, possibly affected by external gravitational forces. Yet those who know anything about celestial mechanics will highlight the massive impact to the Earth if the Sun moved backward (causing the shadow to move), or if the Earth’s rotation changed, slowed or reversed.

But while that debate continues, it would pay us to go back to the text and see what the Bible actually says! For the Bible does not say that the Sun or the Earth moved, but rather we are simply told that it was the shadow that moved! Further confirmation that the Sun did not play any part in this is found in 2 Chronicles 32:31, where we are told that shortly after this incredible event, the Babylonians came “to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land”. If it were the Sun that moved, there would have been no need for the Babylonians to make the trip, as they would have been perfectly able to observe any effects caused by a change in the Sun (or Earth) from Babylon! Also, as an aside, the Sun was worshiped by a number of the other nations, so any sign in the Sun may have been interpreted as not the work of Yahweh, but of a pagan deity. In Isaiah 42:8 we read “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images”.

So if it was not the Sun that caused the shadow to move, what did? Or to ask the question another way, how do you move a shadow? Well, it is really rather easy; all you need is the presence of a greater light!

What is greater than the light of the Sun, and would bring the assurance to Hezekiah that God had answered his prayer? The Shekinah glory of God shining from the Temple!

If the Shekinah glory of God shone out of the Temple, which was higher up the hill than the king’s palace, Hezekiah could have gazed out of his window, looking toward the steps known as the ‘Dial of Ahaz’, and suddenly seen such a radiance and brightness that would totally obfuscate the shadow on the steps created by the Sun, literally causing the shadow on the ‘dial’ to move backward! All Jerusalem would have be lit up by God’s glory, and word would have spread far and wide; even as far as Babylon!

One commentator put it this way: “The whole scene, the Palace Gardens, the stairs themselves, the city wall and the Horse Gate far below, and the Mount of Olives on the opposite side of the valley, stand out in sharp relief vividly delineated in that blinding white light. If this is indeed what happened on that memorable day, what possible doubt could remain in Hezekiah’s mind? More convincing by far than any natural celestial phenomenon, this message from the sanctuary was as the appearance of God Himself”.

The Shekinah glory was literally the brilliance of the presence of God, seen as a cloud by day and fire by night in the wilderness, seen in the judgment of Nadab & Abihu in Leviticus 10:2, seen in the judgment of Korah in Numbers 16:42-50, and graphically witnessed by Solomon and all Israel at the dedication of the Temple as recorded in 2 Chronicles 7:1-3: “Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’s house. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever”.

But there is something else very interesting; and that is that the Shekinah glory came forth only for destruction or blessing. Clearly inside the city of Jerusalem there would have been blessing and rejoicing, but at the same time this was taking place we are reminded that outside the city lay that army of Assyria, defiantly looking for the opportunity to prove that the God of Hezekiah was no match for them! Suddenly they are struck by so great a light that it could consume them in an instant!

Surely it is no coincidence that we read that Jesus will consume by ‘the brightness of His coming’ (2 Thessalonians 2:8) the one who in the latter days will be set to destroy God’s people & Jerusalem and who has boasted of his own greatness!

Jesus is the ‘Light of the world’ (John 8:12). Jesus was there in the beginning when “God commanded the light to shine out of darkness” (2 Corinthians 4:6). In the New Jerusalem we read that “the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof”. (Revelation 21:23)

John tells us that Jesus is “the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9). But the pivotal question is, will Jesus be to you the Light of Life, or a Consuming Fire?

May God richly bless you as you continue to study His word!

Pastor Barry.

The post Moving Shadows first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

ELOHIM

Barry Forder — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 22:59:38 +0000

The first revelation in scripture of God’s character is the fourth word in the first book, Genesis. “In the beginning GOD…”! (Genesis 1:1)

The Hebrew for God here is Elohim. It is like a mark of authorship, ownership, His signature if you like.

For example… ‘Pride and Prejudice written by Jane Austen’.

‘The Bible written by God’!

Elohim is a plural form of El or Eloah and is understood to mean ‘a plurality of persons in the Divine nature’. (Adam Clarke).

‘El signifies the strong God; and what less than Almighty Strength could bring all things out of nothing?’ (Matthew Henry).

Elohim or Elohay (as it is sometimes translated) means ‘strength and power’. In the first two chapters of Genesis alone it is used 35 times in relation to God’s creative power. It is found frequently in the Psalms and in Deuteronomy, in fact in the whole of the Old Testament it is used over 2,300 times.

Right from the start, this plural form for the name of God is used to describe the One God, a mystery that is uncovered throughout the rest of the Bible.

Here in Genesis 1:1 the Trinity is first revealed. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, all one, yet separate, working together to form all there is. The first suggestion of the Trinity acting in unity. In Genesis 1:26 God said, ‘Let Us…’ etc. Almighty God spoke the heavens and the earth into existence by the Word (John 1:1-3). The Holy Spirit brooded over all till creation was complete (Genesis 1:2).

God in three persons, Elohim, created all that there is, and He created mankind so that He could be in relationship with us.

Elohim can be interpreted as ‘One who stands in a covenant relationship for the out working of His purposes’. His words to Abram show that relationship. Genesis 17:1-8 ‘I will be their Elohim!’ Throughout scripture Elohim is combined with other words to describe certain characteristics of God.

Elohay Kedem – Eternal God (Deuteronomy 33:27)

Here God reveals Himself as the God of the beginning. If He is eternal, then the refuge we can find in Him is eternal, His arms are constantly there to support us and are also there to protect us from the enemy.

Elohay Mishpat – God of Justice (Isaiah 30:18)

Our God is a God who is concerned with justice, in fact we could say that He is a Judge of justice, incorruptible, unlike the judges of this world. We may not see justice this side of Heaven, but this passage promises that He will bring justice to those who wait for Him.

Elohay Selichot – God of forgiveness (Nehemiah 9:17)

He is a God who is ready to pardon. Reading the previous verses we can see the stiff necked and stubborn people of Israel. They disobeyed God and we’re ready to return to their bondage and yet we see that God is still ready to forgive.

In her Christmas speech a few years ago the Queen said to the nation, ‘Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian Faith.’

In a sense she is right, it is at the heart if our faith because we have come to know the God of forgiveness. We have seen Him forgive our hard hearted rebellion. When we come to Him in repentance, He is ready to forgive. It is only because He has forgiven us that we have the power to forgive those who sin against us.

Elohay Marom – God of Heights (Micah 6:6)

He is the High God, far above us in holiness and righteousness. He is superior in every way and seems unapproachable for Micah says that there is no sacrifice that we can give Him in order to approach Him. It is good to be reminded of this truth for we at times over familiar with God and take for granted that we can approach Him at any time through Jesus. He is the High and Almighty One. It is only because of His great mercy that we can approach the God of Heights.

Elohay Mikarov – God who is near (Jeremiah 23:23)

God is also the One who is near. He sees us from close up. Unlike the song popularised by Bette Midler and Cliff Richard He is not watching us from a distance! He is close and involved and sees what His creation is doing in fine detail.

Elohay Mauzi – God of my strength (Psalm 43:2)

He is the source of our strength when all other sources have run dry. When we re weak, then He is strong!

Elohay Tehilati – God of my praise (Psalm 109:1)

Tehilati comes from the root ‘halal’ meaning praise. He is the reason for our praise, He is the theme of our praise, He is our song, our hymn.

Elohay Yishi – God of my salvation (Psalm 18:46)

He is the One who brought our salvation with His own arm because we cannot save ourselves (Isaiah 59:16).

Elohim Kedoshim – Holy God (Leviticus 19:2 / Joshua 24:19)

God is holy, the characteristic sung before His throne by the seraphim. Holy, holy, holy is the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit. Like Isaiah He alone can make us holy by cleansing us of all our sin, our lips, our hearts and minds through Jesus.

Elohim Chaiyim – Living God (Jeremiah 10:10)

He is alive! He is the source of all life! All idols are dumb and deaf and blind, but not our God. He sees and hears us and He speaks to us. He acts according to His own will, not ours. That is why we should at all times pray within His will, according to His word. He is listening, He wants to hear from us.

Elohay Elohim – God of gods (Deuteronomy 10:17)

He is above all other gods. There is no God like our God! There is no authority that can be compared with Him. He is the summit, the highest and He will no other god to be above Him. He will not share His glory with another.

What gods do we have in our lives that we need to destroy before Him. Self, money, ambition, family, reputation, pride, entertainment and many others.

What a wonder that the God above all gods would desire to be in fellowship with us. It is we who disappoint Him, never the other watch round.

Hopefully our response to Him will be as in Psalm 91, ‘My Elohim, in Him will I trust.’

In His glorious Name,

Linda.

Next time… El Elyon – God most high.

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What’s in a Name?

Barry Forder — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 22:45:51 +0000

What’s in a name? It’s a good question!

I am sure you will agree that a name is important, vital even. Some names are better known than others. Some are famous, some infamous!

If I mention Henry VIII for instance, what do you immediately think of? How about Hudson Taylor? Martin Luther? Jack the Ripper? Marilyn Munro? David Cameron? Winston Churchill? Gregory Peck? Judy Dench? Maggie Smith? Judas Iscariot?

Some names we know and others we don’t. Most people are remembered by name, only by their nearest and dearest, but we all need a name. I would hate to be known as ‘Hey you!’

My name Linda means ‘beautiful’ in Spanish! My married surname Bennett comes from the French for ‘blessing’ or ‘good’. When my husband and I went to California several years ago I discovered that many places had Linda as part of their name. It was merely attached to a place name to describe it. So I’m just an adjective! Seriously though, our names are how we are known . They are not simply appendages, they are expressions of who we are, our characters. There are lots of Lindas around, even Linda Bennetts, but each Linda Bennett is different from the others. Each one of us is known by the things we do and by the way we are, so our name is associated with the person people see, what they know of him, how he speaks, what kind of person he is.

As we know, in the Bible many of the names of characters very aptly describe the kind of people they were, some good, some bad. There is no doubt that God knows each one of us by name (Ex 33:12 / John 10:3), but do we know His?

Only by knowing His names (for He has many) can we come to that place of truly knowing who He is, for His names reveal His character. These studies which will take a few weeks are by no means exhaustive, God has more names than we can ever hope to cover in these teachings. Hopefully however, they will give you an appetite to discover for yourselves the myriad names of our amazing God.

Only once did God actually declare His name. That of course was to Moses at the place where God revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush, where he was told to take off his sandals because he was standing on holy ground.

“Then Moses said to God, ” Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me,’What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses , “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:13-14)

I AM WHO I AM! An incredible name. The all becoming One! Eternal, past, present and future! The One who was, who is and who is to be! That name is totally amazing and yet mystifying. It is the ineffable name of God! Ineffable means unutterable, too great for words, and indeed even to this day the Jewish people do not write the whole name of God but leave out a letter. There is power in the name of God!

That one name covers all the characteristics of God which we will learning about over the coming weeks. YHWH, Yahweh or Jehovah, the Tetragrammaton , the sacred name written in four letters.

David Pawson wanted to get his head around the depth of meaning in this name of God and so he prayed that the Lord would give him an English word that would help his understanding. The answer that came to him was, ‘always’! Think about that! The God who is always here, always trustworthy, always true, etc. But if someone was to ask us who God is and what He is like, if all we could answer would be to say that God is the great ‘I AM’ who is ruler of Heaven and Earth, then that wouldn’t satisfy the questioner because it doesn’t speak of His relationship with us and indicates that we don’t really know Him with heart knowledge.

We can only intimately know someone if we live with them and learn all there is to know about them and understand their character. But if we, even within family relationships, choose not to reveal our true selves, then the relationship cannot flourish as it should.

So it is with our amazing God. Our relationship cannot be one-sided, it must be reciprocal. God has generously revealed His character to us in the most intimate way, through His word, through His Son, but if we try to hide our true selves from Him (which is impossible, by the way) then our relationship with Him can never be what it should be. And that’s our fault, not His!

So He has revealed Himself to us as the I AM, Yahweh, Jehovah, our great and wonderful God.

Blessings,

Linda

Next time……..Elohim!

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I have learned in whatever state I am to be content.

Barry Forder — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 22:00:18 +0000

I expect some of you have heard of Saeed Abedini and are praying for him and his family. He is an Iranian convert from Islam to Christianity and he has been in prison in Iran for his faith for three years with no immediate or even long term hope of release. His home is in Idaho and he is an American citizen. His wife Nagmeh and his two children Rebekah and Jacob never cease to pray for his release. The conditions he exists in are appalling and he is a very sick man, suffering constant pain and regular beatings. He has just in these last two weeks been tasered every day. However during his imprisonment he has led many men to Christ, men who are staring death in the face and who realise that Islam has no answers for their eternal security.

Nagmeh travels widely to fight for her husband’s freedom and to bring an awareness of the persecuted church to people who do not realise how bad the persecution is for so many. She is an amazing lady upheld and enabled by God. She is often downcast, often weeping, often discouraged, but through it all the Lord is her strength and her shield. She has met many prestigious people, she has spoken at UN meetings, to Congressional gatherings, to churches, to the EU, and at every meeting she tells people about Jesus, without fear. Yes she is afraid in the flesh, but in the Lord she is strong.

This is what she wrote on Facebook some months ago while she was fasting and in prayer:

“Today as I found myself wanting to complain about having to do another twenty days of fasting (she was fasting from some of her favourite things each day), I could see Saeed and the tens of thousands of Christians who are imprisoned because of their love for Jesus. They have given up their basic rights and freedoms as human beings (food, water, home, family) for months and days and years, because of their love and passion for Jesus. Many have given their lives. Suddenly my fast did not seem difficult at all. My mind was on Saeed. In a cold dark cell with no believers to encourage him. With minimal food and water. With no bed. I could hear Paul writing from his prison cell, ‘I have learned in whatever state I am to be content.’ The word ‘learned’ caught my attention. Paul had learned to be content. It did not come to him naturally. But he had learned it, and how well he had learned it! To write such encouraging letters to those on the outside. For Saeed being content means, being content in his cell. For me it is learning to be content with having a husband who is suffering in prison. In being a single mum. In letting go of all timelines and expectations of Saeed’s release and praising God despite the circumstances and how long that might take or how things might turn out.”

Heartfelt words from a lady whose life has been turned upside down. She has found herself in a position she never, ever expected to be in. The life she knew as a wife and mother, happy at home bringing up her children, has been snatched away from her. Saeed’s life is not his own, his freedom, his health have been taken away by vindictive men, full of hatred towards him because he turned from Islam to Christ. He has been labelled traitor, enemy of the state of Iran. Yet both he and Nagmeh, in their separate worlds of suffering are learning to be content. Nagmeh is right, such contentment has to be learned.

Paul expressed that himself. His life was a roller coaster of ups and downs. He was tortured, he was beaten, he was imprisoned, he was ill, it is believed too, that he died and was restored to life. He had experienced more in his life as a believer than most of us ever will in our walk with Christ. Yet he could say that he had learned to be content whatever state he was in.

Do you recall the time he was in prison with Silas?

“And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptised, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.

But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place to the authorities. And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, ” These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tor,e off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, ” Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

And he brought them out and said, ” Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptised. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household”. (Acts 16:13-34)

Paul and Silas had made a nuisance of themselves by casting out the evil spirit from the slave girl who was pestering them, but speaking the truth about them. After that she was no more use to men who were using her to get money from fortune telling and they were angry, their source of income being gone. So they were beaten and thrown into prison.

Can you imagine it? These two men of God were beaten with rods. They must have been in agony, totally helpless after such a flogging and yet they were thrown in the most secure part of the prison and secured by their feet in stocks. Did those who threw them in prison really feel so threatened that they had to go that far? Do those who threw Saeed into the worst and most secure prison in Iran, wounded and in great pain from torture and beatings, feel so threatened that they had to go that far?

And yet, through all the pain and suffering, Paul and Silas sang hymns of praise. Now I think this is so interesting… the other prisoners listened! I would have thought that at midnight, most prisoners would have yelled out for them to shut up because they wanted to sleep. But no, they listened!

Then suddenly, the earthquake. Coincidence? No way! This was all God ordained. The prison doors flew open, everyone now had the opportunity to escape. But did they? No!

Wonder of wonders! When the keeper of the prison arrived, he was certain that the prisoners would have all escaped, in fact so sure was he, that he was about to kill himself, knowing that death would be the penalty anyway if it was true. Paul shouted out to him not to harm himself for all were present and correct. The poor jailer must have been awestruck… no wonder he was trembling.

He recognised that this had to be God at work in these remarkably unusual circumstances for he asked what he must do to be saved. How wonderful that he said those words. He could so easily have killed himself.

Paul and Silas gave him the good news of Jesus Christ as he tended to their wounds and he and his whole household gave their lives to Jesus and were baptised.

Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:6 “Now Godliness with contentment is great gain.” He had learned through all his experiences how to be content in any situation, even to being able to sing praises to God whilst in great pain and what a reward resulted from that situation?

Saeed and Nagmeh, and I am certain many other brothers and sisters in Christ, are learning that same lesson, and I believe that is what God wants us to learn too; that whatever our situation, whatever is happening in our lives, good, bad or indifferent, we should learn how to be content. There is nothing that can happen to each one of us that God has not allowed in each individual life for learning and for growth. If we can live out these situations, knowing that whatever happens, whatever the results we are in God’s more than capable hands, trusting Him, loving Him, praising Him, even when in adversity, then we will truly learn what it means to be content. He is the answer to everything. Remember this life is short, even though it doesn’t feel like it most of the time. This world is not our home; but while we are here let us ‘bloom where we are planted’, making the most of every opportunity that is placed before us. Seeking to serve the Lord wherever we can, however we can and whenever we can. As long as we remain within His will, He will be our strength, our enabler, our guide and direction.

We may not find ourselves in such extreme conditions as those we have been thinking about in this series, but having said that, none of us know what tomorrow may bring in the light of what is happening in the world around us today. So may we be like Esther, Daniel and Paul, who found themselves in unexpected and difficult circumstances, yet bloomed where they were planted by God, for they were all within His will and part of His plan that reaches forward to today. We don’t know how our lives may affect future generations, maybe they never will, but never forget, God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things for Him!

God bless you,

Linda.

The post I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

God can use you where you are!

Barry Forder — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 21:03:28 +0000

This week I want to take you back to the exile of Judah to Babylon. Imagine how it must have been for the families of those first noble young men like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, whose names were changed by king Nebuchadnezzar, in honour of the pagan gods he served, to Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These people knew that is was probable that they would never see their children again. They had no idea as to how they were going to be treated and they were being taken against their wills to Babylon, so very far away. How grief stricken those young men must have been, to be torn away from all they knew, everything they were familiar with, to live the rest of their lives in a land where God was not worshiped.

Daniel, because of his refusal to live as the Babylonians did, to worship their gods, to eat their food, and because he remained faithful all his days to the one true God, prospered. His faith and his integrity shone through. God anointed him and enabled him alone to know the king’s dream and its meaning. He was never passive, he was active, he bloomed where he was planted, despite his circumstances, despite, dare I say, his feelings. He had facts, faith and feelings in their right order. Like Esther, who lived after him, he found himself where he didn’t want to be, but because of his obedience and faith, God prospered him as He did Esther, and he was used mightily against all human expectations.

Sadly it was not so for many of the exiles. They could not , or would not, settle. They kept longing to go back to Jerusalem, they mourned for the temple where God’s presence dwelt; but of course the temple didn’t exist any more, Nebuchadnezzar pillaged it of all its treasures and razed it to the ground. How could they worship God in a strange land? (see Psalm 137).

The exiles were mocked and made a fool of, and their hearts were filled with a desire for the people of Babylon to suffer as they had. Of course eventually Babylon did fall and the people did suffer greatly. God used Nebuchadnezzar to fulfill His plan and purpose for disobedient Judah; but Babylon was judged by Him nevertheless for their cruel and harsh treatment of God’s chosen race and for the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.

All the time that the exiles kept looking back, they were standing still. Yes, there was a time for mourning over their loss, but life had to go on and they were getting nowhere. That is why, I believe, God prompted Jeremiah to write to them.

‘Thus says the Lord of hosts; the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters – that you may be increased there, and not diminished.’ (Jeremiah 29:4-6)

Make the best of it, was Jeremiah’s advice. Don’t stand still, move on, make lives for yourselves. Of course eventually they did just that, they had no choice. It took them a while, but in time they were dispersed throughout the Persian empire, firmly established where they found themselves, still yearning for Jerusalem, but not weeping and wailing as they once had done, and indeed finding that they could still worship God in a strange land. It was during this time that the synagogue system came in to being. Of course Mordecai and Esther were just two of those people.

Many of the Jews never returned to Jerusalem, because after seventy years there were settled, they had good lives. Some however did return and Psalm 137 was written after their return, as the psalmist remembered what it had been like in Babylon.

It is wonderful to think that after all the years since these events, in the main, the Jewish people still have Jerusalem in their hearts. Indeed the last words of their Passover feast each year are, ‘Next year in Jerusalem.’

Since 1948 they have been flocking back to Israel in their thousands from all over the world, and Israel, despite the harassment from the nations surrounding them, is blooming as it has never bloomed before. Beset on all sides, nevertheless Israel is the centre of technology, science, medical discoveries and education. Their fruit and vegetables can be bought in our supermarkets. We still see God’s hand upon His people and upon His land. His will is being fulfilled.

I am sure that you will agree that in our lifetime we have seen great changes in the world and not least in our own nation. No longer is Britain a Christian nation and in some instances Christians are being persecuted by the state system, losing jobs because they refuse to accept the promotion of homosexuality and other gender issues, being arrested for street preaching, being forced to teach evolution to junior school children, and the list goes on. Christians are ridiculed by the media, time and time again. Jesus is mocked and blasphemed openly. There is no fear of God.

Also we are seeing changes in the churches. Biblical knowledge and understanding had decreased even in churches that weren’t too biblically literate anyway; replacement theology is widespread even in some evangelical circles; emergent practices are becoming more and more popular. Many people are being led astray with no good teaching, just tickling of the ears, and we can clearly see the coming together of the one world church as Roman Catholic, Muslim, New Age and even emergent, evangelical leaders get together to supposedly bring about world peace and so solve the world’s problems.

Antisemitism is spreading rapidly and more and more Jews are going home to Israel.What is amazing is to see how God will use anti semitism to bring His people home. 25,000 Jews returned last year, many from France and Ukraine. You can see why! So that is where our focus should be, on Israel, for Israel is the centre of this world.

Now obviously none of us have any idea how things are going to work out for Israel outside of scripture and prophecy in the days to come; but it is certain that Jesus’ return is imminent and things definitely appear to be ‘hotting up’. Even those who do not believe as we do, can see what is happening and I believe that many people are going to get very worried, very soon, as they watch events unfold.

So our chance to bloom where we are planted is now. Our chance to talk to people about Jesus, our chance to stand up and be counted in the place we find ourselves right now. Give out tracts, have conversations with unbelievers when you can, love and serve the Lord and spread His precious word to those who are on the fast track to Hell. Who me? Yes you!

Casting Crowns, a well known Christian band, had an article on their web page a while ago. They have written a song about ordinary people just like you and me, who never wanted to be thought of as heroes, but who are serving the Lord right where they are. Sometimes we have big ideas of how we are going to serve God, sometimes not, and as the article says, David never set out to be a giant slayer, he was following God and a giant got in his way. Peter never planned on walking on water, that’s just where Jesus was. Nehemiah didn’t set out to build a huge wall, he just loved God and his heart was broken for his city.

If we love God so much then we do anything He says no matter how crazy it seems. The writer then cited several people from his church who do things for God right where they are, taking every opportunity to lead others to Christ because their hearts are breaking for them The article ended with these words, ‘Being a hero is blooming where you are planted and loving the people you are with.’

Jesus is coming soon, it won’t be long, time is getting very short.

Come Lord Jesus!

In His love,

Linda

The post God can use you where you are! first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Facts, Faith and Feeling

Barry Forder — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 06:30:25 +0000

Did you, like me, have dreams of what you were going to do for God, when you first became a believer? I was full of ideas of doing great things for Him. In retrospect I’m so glad that my dreams didn’t come true, because His ways and His thoughts are so much better than mine. I had this idea that God wanted me to find somewhere to set up as a retreat for those in need of rest and respite, just a small place where one or two could could find the peace they needed. My ever patient husband put up with my desire and we travelled to Dorset in search of ‘the right place’. We saw one or two lovely places, but they weren’t for us. You see, I was restless, discontented, unhappy in the church we attended at that time and, really in all honesty, I just wanted to run away. Of course it never happened, at least not in the way I expected. Some time later friends told us that when they had been praying for us, they felt that God wanted us to be parents. We kind of dismissed that idea, after all we had brought up four children and our fourth was almost into teenage by then, and certainly God had never laid it on our hearts to be foster parents. Then God showed us it was time at last to leave the church we were members of and to move to Calvary Chapel; and that’s when things began to happen.

We started by giving a temporary home to a young lady from Scotland who wanted to work at the church as an intern for a while, and that was just the beginning. We gave a home to several young people over the years, some for a few days, some for months. Sometimes things went well, sometimes they didn’t. We learnt a lot during those years. We became known as ‘the Bennett Hotel’.

It has been amazing the way God has used the home He provided for us, and it has been very well used over the years. So you see, my desire to help others did come about, but in the home we already had, not in pastures new. Our friends’ word from the Lord came about too, because in the main, our visitors were young people who looked on us as substitute parents while they were with us.

So I share this with you all, with some experience of what it means to ‘bloom where you’re planted’. Now I can only speak from my own experience, I cannot speak from yours. You each have your own individual experiences,, but perhaps you can relate to where I’m coming from. Perhaps you can more easily relate to Esther’s experience in that she found herself trapped in a situation not of her own making, or perhaps, because of choices made before you were a believer, you find yourself in a position that seems inescapable. Whatever your situation, every experience we have as believers becomes part of the learning curve of life. If we do not learn from those experiences, then something is wrong.

Maybe like I was, you are restless and feel dissatisfied with the way your life is going.

Maybe your life is full of difficulties and problems which sometimes you feel are too hard to cope with.

Maybe you are tired and drained because you feel that too much is expected of you.

Maybe you feel unfulfilled in your life.

Maybe you feel unworthy to be used by God.

Maybe your life is just fine, you feel happy with the way things are, change would be an inconvenience.

I could go on; but do you see that every example I’ve used depends on feelings?

Now let me emphasise that feelings in themselves are not wrong, but very often our feelings can lead us in the wrong direction. It’s when we depend on our feelings that we tend to go off on a tangent and do our own thing, or try to, instead of depending on God. Rushing ahead of God, trying to organise Him, trying to get Him to think the way we do, instead of the other way around. Then when things don’t work out as our feelings wanted them to our faith can falter and we can believe that God doesn’t care, when all we needed was to go to the facts, the Word of God, and seek His guidance, His direction, and follow His lead.

Here is a little rhyme that says it all: Three men were walking on a wall – Feeling, Faith and Fact; When Feeling took an awful fall and Faith was taken back; So close was Faith to Feeling, he stumbled and fell too, But Fact remained and pulled Faith back and Faith brought Feeling too. Feeling was leading the way with Faith close behind him and Fact at the rear. Feeling had nothing to focus on, so he stumbled and fell off the wall. Faith was following Feeling, hugely influenced by him and when Feeling fell, he fell too, because his focus was on Feeling. Fact only had his eyes on the goal and when he saw his friends fall, he rescued them. From then on Fact led the way with Faith behind and Feeling bringing up the rear, and all was well.

That’s how it is when we let our feelings take over, our faith is damaged too; but if we keep focussed on facts, on truth, on the Word of God, then faith and feelings fall into their proper place. We can only ‘bloom where we are planted’ when we get this sorted out in our hearts and in our minds.

The following scripture is one of those passages that stays with me and I turn to the words frequently for sustenance when I am in need;

‘You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH the Lord is everlasting strength.’ (Isaiah 26:3-4)

May God bless and keep you in His perfect peace.

In Him,

Linda

Next time, God can use you where you are.

The post Facts, Faith and Feeling first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Bloom Where You’re Planted!

Barry Forder — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 22:05:49 +0000

Have you ever asked yourself why you were born into the family you belong to, into the country you live in? Have you ever asked the question, ‘Why did you choose me Lord to be Your very own? Why out of all the people in this world rushing down the wide path to Hell, did You choose me?’

When I first presented this talk I asked this question; ‘Why are we gathered here today, ladies from different backgrounds, different experiences of life, meeting with those who, if we were not believers, we would normally never come across or befriend?” The answer is that we were gathered together in that place and at that time because God had ordained it from the beginning. In God’s agenda there is no such thing as coincidence, no such thing as happenstance. Make no mistake about it God intended for each one of to be present at that time and on that particular day. I think that is amazing.

Having said that however, nobody forced any of those ladies to be there, they chose to come, and there may have been ladies who were unable to be there for various reasons. Thank You Lord that we do have the freedom to choose. Life is all about choices, but sometimes it seems as if there is no choice and we are forced into things we don’t want to be a part of.

Think about Esther and the position she was forced into. Her freedom to choose was taken away. There is no way that she could ever have imagined the circumstances she suddenly found herself in.

“After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what had been decreed against her. Then the king’s servants who attended him said: ’Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king; and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan the citadel, into the women’s quarters, under the custody of Hegai the king’s eunuch, custodian of the women. And let beauty preparations be given them. Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.’ This thing pleased the king, and he did so.

In Shushan the citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamiite. Kish had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been captured with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. And Mordecai had had brought up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter. So it was when the king’s command and decree were heard, and when many young women were gathered at Shushan the citadel, under the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was taken to the king’s palace, into the care of Hegai the custodian of the women.

Now the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favour; so he readily gave beauty preparations to her, besides her allowance. Then seven choice maidservants were provided for her from the king’s palace, and he moved her and her maidservants to the best place in the house of the women.

Esther had not revealed her people or family, for Mordecai had charged her not to reveal it.

And every day Mordecai paced in front of the court of the women’s quarters, to learn of Esther’s welfare and what was happening to her.

Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months’ preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women. Thus prepared, each young woman went to the king, and she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the women’s quarters to the king’s palace. In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned to the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who kept the concubines. She would not go into the king again unless the king delighted in her and called for her by name.

Now when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go into the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all who saw her. So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.” (Esther 2:1-17)

The account you’ve just read hardly does justice to the sorrow and pain caused to all those young women rudely snatched away from their families and homes. All hopes of a future with a husband and family were denied them, albeit that most marriages would have been arranged. All of them, and it’s hard to imagine, would be used once and then relegated to the royal harem, rejected and ignored for the rest of their lives. Some, who knows how many, would have become pregnant as a result of their night with the king; at least they would have earned some prestige……if their child was a boy!

A life spent only with women and eunuchs. Can you imagine the bickering, the quarrels, the complaining? And Esther was one of them.

It seems, however, that she was held in high regard by those appointed to prepare her for her night with the king. I imagine her quietly and with dignity accepting her fate. It would seem that Esther was not only beautiful to behold but was beautiful inside too. She certainly won the king’s approval. We are told that Ahasuerus loved her, more than all the others. So she became his wife and queen, but still, it must be remembered, at the expense of her personal freedom and at the king’s beck and call. Not for her the excuse that she be left alone because she had a headache. He could use her or not as the fancy took him. The bible doesn’t tell us if she loved him. We just don’t know, but she did respect him.

Mordecai her cousin and guardian, who loved her and mourned her departure from their home, was able to get word to her of Haman’s plot to eradicate every Jew in the Persian empire. Thousands upon thousands of innocent people were destined to be murdered because of this sycophantic man, who had managed to wheedle his way into the king’s favour, and gained for himself the position of prime minister. He hated the Jews because he hated Mordecai the Jew. But there was more to than that simple fact. Haman was a type of antichrist in that he desired to do Satan’s work and wipe out the Jews so the Messiah could not come. He was descended from King Agag of the Amalekites whose life was spared by King Saul against God’s command and was then killed by Samuel. Saul was to have destroyed all the Amalekites and he did not. It would seem that children of King Agag survived and thus here we have Haman, one of his descendants, filled with bitterness and hatred towards the people who were responsible, as he saw it, for what had happened all those years before.

Samuel’s words to King Saul at the time say it all, ‘Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams, for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.’

Saul’s disobedience led to this horrible situation with Haman. Consider that if Haman’s plan had worked and all the Jews had been wiped out then the destiny of the world would have been vastly different, no Israel, no Messiah, a lost world. Every action has a consequence.

Esther, though she probably would never have realised it played a huge part in paving the way for the coming of Jesus. Mordecai pointed out to her that she was in her position, ‘for such a time as this!’ Esther ch 4

Her courage in coming into the presence of Ahasuerus the king, even though she was his wife and queen…..positions which actually held little status apart from the king’s permission, was huge. Even she had to be accepted and acknowledged by the king holding out his golden sceptre towards her. He hadn’t asked for her for thirty days.We don’t know why, but we do know that he could certainly call on other women to please him and possibly did. A man like him, indulged, fawned upon, having everything he wanted at a whim could certainly have rejected her as he had Vashti, the queen before Esther. No, there was no certainty that she would be accepted; but thankfully she was and her plan to expose Haman was successful. Remember she fasted and prayed for three days before she approached the king. She went prepared for whatever happened, to live or to die, for death was the penalty for anyone who came before the king without being acknowledged by him.

As a result of her actions the Jewish people were saved and the Feast of Purim is still celebrated by the Jews today in memory of Esther, Mordecai, Haman and Ahasuerus and how the lot, or pur, was cast to decide the fate of the Jews.Also because of Esther and Mordecai, who became the prime minister after Haman was executed, the way was paved for Ezra and Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem and begin the building of the temple and the city.

Can you see how despite being put in a position which was anything but what Esther would have chosen for herself, she was used by God in a way that saved her people from the works of the evil one and ensured her memory forever. She didn’t look for it, she simply, ‘bloomed where she was planted’.

God’s plan is so much better than ours. If we are faithful then He will use us wherever we find ourselves, whatever our circumstances happen to be.

God’s richest blessings,

Linda

Next time, Facts, Faith and Feelings

The post Bloom Where You’re Planted! first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Epitome Of Evil

Barry Forder — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 06:45:45 +0000

There is a woman from scripture who was the epitome of evil; her name was Jezebel.

“In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel; and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jereboam, the son of Nebat, the the took as his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshipped him. Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.” (1 Kings 16:29-33)

Jezebel brought her pagan worship to Israel and Ahab was enslaved, indeed her name means ‘Baal exalts’. She was responsible for the massacre of many of God’s prophets at that time. She was a wicked and manipulative and controlling woman, determined to get her own way. Ahab was king of Israel when Elijah set up an altar to God in opposition to the prophets of Baal. Fire fell from Heaven to consume the offering on Elijah’s altar even after it had been thoroughly soaked with water. The prophets of Baal called on their god to do the same with absolutely no result. Ahab ran home to tell Jezebel all that had happened and Jezebel was furious. She threatened Elijah and all the remaining prophets of God with death. Notice that it wasn’t Ahab who swore by the gods to destroy Elijah, it was his controlling wife. She was the power behind the throne. Ahab was weak and childish, and she took advantage of that.

I am sure you know the account of Naboth’s vineyard. Ahab wanted it for himself, because he wanted to plant a vegetable garden there, next to his palace. He made an offer to Naboth who immediately refused and so Ahab went home to bed, turned his face to the wall and sulked. So in stepped Jezebel and assured her husband that she would get the vineyard for him. Using her husband’s name she wrote to the elders of the city where Naboth lived, and basically commanded them to betray and kill Naboth.

I get the feeling the elders were terrified of this woman, because they did what she asked, and Naboth was stoned to death for doing nothing wrong other than being brave enough to stand up against the wimpish king and his wicked wife.

You can just imagine, after this wicked act, that Jezebel went to her husband and said, “Here you are sweetheart, I got it for you as I said I would. The vineyard is all yours and Naboth is dead. Go and plant your vegetables to your heart’s content and enjoy yourself, after all you are the king and you deserve it.”

“But there as no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up.” (1 Kings 21:25)

It is interesting to see that God held Ahab responsible for the death of Naboth, for it was he who should have controlled his wife and prevented this evil deed. To Ahab’s credit, he did repent in sackcloth and ashes and God’s wrath against him was allayed for a time. However, both Ahab and Jezebel died the deaths that God had foretold for them; Ahab in battle, and Jezebel thrown from her window. Ahab died some time before Jezebel and after his death she continued in her interfering and controlling ways, this time through her son. But her evil caught up with in the end and she met her grisly end.

She was not submissive to her husband, she took authority upon herself, she wanted her own way, in short she was the exact opposite of the way a Godly woman should be. Yes she was a pagan woman of the world and didn’t worship the God we know, but she is a good example of a wilful and controlling woman married to a man who allowed her to do what she wanted to.

She was not under authority!

See the contrast between Jezebel and Ruth, see the difference between her and the Proverbs woman?

The spirit of Jezebel is the spirit of control and witchcraft. In Rev 2 v 2-18 we see o type of Jezebel being mentioned by Jesus in His letter to the church at Thyatira: “Nevertheless I have a few things against you because you allow that woman Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation unless they repent of their deeds.” (Revelation 2:20)

Whether this was the true name of this controlling woman or not is a matter of debate, but whoever she was and whatever she represented, she seems to have had control over the city of Thyatira through the pagan worship of Apollo and she was successfully drawing people away from the Christian faith. Whatever the truth about her, it’s clear she was evil and Jesus was comparing her to the Jezebel of the Old Testament . It was the same spirit that controlled both of these women, and the same spirit is alive and well today, both out of the church and within it.

Although this letter is linked with the mediaeval period of history and the rising control of the Roman Catholic Church , it is also true for us today. These women wanted control, they wanted authority, and they gloried in their so called power. There is a sentence that has going through my mind whilst preparing this teaching, ‘A woman who is not under authority is dangerous!’

I have seen it again and again throughout my walk of faith. That’s why God has ordered things the way He has. He made us, He knows us, He knows our temptations and our weaknesses and also our strengths. We are different from men. God never intended us to be the same. He never intended for us to attempt to control others.

We all need to honestly look at ourselves in the light of God’s word.

Do we who are married truly abide under the arm of our husband and allow him to be our head? Do we truly, ultimately dwell under the authority of God?

“Wives submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is Saviour of the body. Therefore just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything” (Ephesians 5:22-24)

“Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so live his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” (Ephesians 5: 33)

For those without a husband, this is the way we should be towards Christ Jesus. A submissive woman, under the authority of her Saviour and Lord is a beautiful woman, inside and out.

Whatever our situation, whatever our lifestyle, each one of us needs wisdom. God desires us to have wisdom, it is His gift, it’s not earned, learned or merited. It is this wonderful gift that helps us to be what God wants us to be. Oh, we all fail. We can be bad tempered and moody, we can say damaging things, opening our mouths before we engage our brain, but in the end we all have a choice as to how we will respond in any given situation. We need the precious gift of wisdom to help us hold our tongues when we need to and not strike back in anger when someone upsets us. We need wisdom to see how feeling sorry for ourselves is not what God requires of us. We need God’s wisdom to show us how to deal with the difficult situations we all face in life from time to time.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)

God gives His wisdom liberally as a gift, but first we must ask for it.

A while back I saw a quote from Dave Hunt: “Many of the social, family, economic and spiritual problems that exist today, may be traced to the failure of women to properly understand and carry out their scriptural roles. Sadly, even many Christian women, deceived by the temporal and often illusory status that they may gain in the world, have forfeited fulfilment of their special and pivotal place in God’s plan. It’s so easy to exchange the truth for a lie.”

Let each of us pray for that special gift of wisdom from the Lord to help us understand our rightful place in our marriages, in the church and in the world, always looking to the word of God as our help and guide.

“And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone, I will make a help meet for him.” (Genesis 2:18)

God’s blessing be upon you all,

Linda

Next time: ‘Bloom where you’re planted!’

The post The Epitome Of Evil first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

A Virtuous Wife

Barry Forder — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 22:54:43 +0000

Last time we looked at the character of Ruth and her submissive and obedient behaviour, her hard working and uncomplaining nature, her love for others and God and where these qualities took her through the path of her life.

When I think of Ruth I naturally think too of the Proverbs 31 woman. Although the Proverbs woman seems to be too good to be true, she is the epitome of what it means to be a Godly woman and a submissive wife. She is a helpmeet to her husband, but that doesn’t mean that she isn’t capable, busy, productive and fulfilled. She blesses her husband and her family by being orderly, organised and thrifty. She does everything she can to take care of her husband, her children and her household.

‘Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain, she does him good and not evil all the days of her life.’ Proverbs 31 v 10 – 12

Faithful, constant, dependable, putting her husband’s needs above her own, seeking every way she can to bless him, in short, loving him and serving him with all her heart. We can all be like that, whatever our circumstances. It’s a choice!

She, however is no doormat, she is an absolute asset to her husband. Notice in verse 26 it says, ‘she opens her mouth with wisdom and on her tongue is the law of kindness.’ Look at Titus 2 v 1 – 5 again, and let us apply it to ourselves.

We who are older should be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things, that we should admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to our own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Can you see the link between this passage and the Proverbs woman?

Can you see how this biblical advice is totally opposite to the world’s view?

As women God calls us to be well equipped and able, otherwise we cannot pass these qualities on to the younger women. How can we be an example to others if we are not living a Godly life, if we are not practicing these qualities ourselves? Also young women, you will not be young forever and so it is your responsibility to take the admonition from the older women on board and prayerfully consider what they say.

If any of us are naggers, moaners and complainers, if we want to wear the trousers and take control of our husbands, or if we are lazy and indolent and expect our men to do everything for us, how can we possibly be in the right place to help other women? We cannot just be spiritual and know all the right words to say, we have to be able to demonstrate that we put these words into practice in our own lives.

We should be continually asking God for wisdom in all our relationships so that we might be kind to others. Otherwise we might just come over as bossy and controlling. We should be discreet and careful in our speech and actions. It is too easy to gossip or criticise and so cause untold damage thereby.

We should be chaste. That means dressing modestly and not as women of the world with their low slung tops and skirts around their thighs. If a top is too low wear it with a camisole, or throw it away, if a skirt is too short wear it over thick tights, or throw it away. Be modest, the world is watching. We don’t want to be accused of putting temptation before men, the Godly woman will never do that.

We should be thoughtful how we run our houses, keeping them clean and tidy, making them a place that our family is glad to live in, a home, a place of safety and sanctuary. We should be hospitable, always ready to welcome friends and family with a smile on our faces, always having cake in the tin, tea at the ready, arms ready to embrace and love.

Being a Godly woman means so much more than just knowing scripture and saying the right things. Godliness should be seen in every area of our lives. Being a woman after God’s own heart means making moment by moment choices, and doing everything as unto the Lord. We need to be aware that there is a warning attached to all this, did you notice it?

‘That the word of God may not be blasphemed.’

You see if we do not live up to these qualities, then we are guilty of blaspheming the word of God, that is, taking the word of God in vain, not living up to the standards He has set before us, and yet claiming to do so. In fact claiming to be something that we are not. That is the danger of preaching at people about how they should be, but not living that way ourselves. God takes the way we live very seriously, and we must be aware of this and practice what we preach, or be seen as being hypocrites like the Pharisees who accused Jesus of being from Satan, when in fact it was they who were whited sepulchres full of dead men’s bones, it was they who were being used by the enemy. Jesus was guiltless of their accusations. What about ourselves?

May God cause us to be honest with ourselves and the way we live our lives. May we humble ourselves before the cross and confess our sin, for He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Love and blessings,

Linda

Next time: Jezebel, the epitome of evil!

The post A Virtuous Wife first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Ruth: A woman after God’s own heart

Barry Forder — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 18:42:55 +0000

‘Wives submit to your own husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church and He is the Saviour of the body. Therefore just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything… Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.’ (Ephesians 5 v 22 – 24, 33)

Submission, respect; two very important words for us as women, and not just if we are married. These qualities are so denigrated in the world today, but for us as believers they should be the norm. Paul was speaking to believers, not to the world. What is acceptable in the world is not acceptable for believers; we are to be separated from the world, though we have to live in it. Our behaviour should be an example of Godliness to everyone we encounter, in particular to our loved ones, to our church family, but most of all to our husbands even if their behaviour towards us is not as it should be. Some of you may have husbands who do not follow Christ as you do, some of you may have husbands who do things that you know are not good or even sensible, but does that mean that you despise them and disrespect them? No! Despite the difficulty of your circumstances, unless your spouse is breaking the law of God or indeed of the nation, you are expected by the Lord to behave as His word tells you to.
This is a very emotive subject for all of us, but especially for those of you in difficult and unequal marriages. I believe that for some, this is one of the hardest tests of your faith in God and your trust in His word.

Let us look at the wonderful account of the life of Ruth. Her life is such an example of submission, respect and trust in God. I love the way that God can turn around bad circumstances and wrong choices to show His glory and that can be true for any one of us.

During the times of the judges, Moab was defeated by Israel and many of the Moabite men were killed.

‘And at that time they killed about ten thousand men of Moab, all stout men of valour; not a man escaped. So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years.’ (Judges 3 v 29 – 30)

Elimelech, which means, God is my King, Naomi, which means Pleasant, and their two sons, left Israel and went to live in Moab, which is called God’s wash pot (Psalm 60:6 / 108:9). They came from Bethlehem, which means the House of Bread. Now why would they ever think of leaving the House of Bread for God’s wash pot. They went because there was famine in Israel. Famine was not an uncommon thing in Israel, but nevertheless Elimelech decided that they would go to Moab because there they could be fed. I think it must have seemed to him that the grass was greener on the other side of the fence. Now of course we don’t know if Naomi totally went along with her husband’s ideas, but as a dutiful wife she followed his lead into this pagan land. One certainly has to wonder if Elimelech was living up to his given name of ‘God is my King’, because it seems that the whole family got caught up in the idol worship there, for good Jewish boys should never have married Gentile girls. That was decidedly against God’s law, though of course in the time of the judges anything seemed to be permissible. Mallon, which means ‘Unhealthy’ and Chilion, which means ‘Pining’, married Orpah and Ruth. Why their parents called their sons such awful names I do not know, but they certainly both seem to have been less than healthy for they both died, their father having already predeceased them.

So the three women all became widows and then Naomi heard that the famine in Israel was over and she decided to return to Bethlehem. We know that originally Orpah said that she would go with Naomi, but changed her mind and Ruth who had said she would go stuck to her decision and did go with Naomi. It can’t have been easy for her to stay faithful to Naomi and leave all her family behind. It would seem that the worship of God had not been entirely forgotten by Naomi, (indeed it may well be that she had quietly worshipped God all through those years in Moab),
Because of Ruth’s amazing words to her mother in law.

‘But Ruth said: Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.
Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more so, if anything but death parts you and me.’ (Ruth 1 v 16 – 17)

Beautiful words of faithful submission, which show that not only did she want to be with Naomi, but she desired to follow God. It is interesting to note that Naomi said to the women of Bethlehem, when she returned, that she had left for Moab full, but had returned empty. Yet she and her family had left Bethlehem empty, looking for food. It’s strange how our perspectives can change with our circumstances. Naomi was bitter because of all that had happened to her, and who did she blame? God!
It is so easy to blame God for the results of our own bad choices. Although Naomi obeyed her husband, did she really think that they were doing the right thing when they left Israel?

‘In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.’ (Judges 21 v 25)

But our gracious God can turn things around and I believe more for Ruth’s sake and her offspring than for Naomi’s although Naomi was ultimately blessed by Ruth’s right choices. Ruth chose to obey Naomi even though she was in a strange place. She gleaned in the field that God led her to, she obeyed Naomi’s instructions and went to lay herself down at the feet of Boaz, covering herself with the hem of his robe and thus signifying her acceptance of his authority over her. Boaz, which means strength, redeemed her and she became his wife. As a result of her humility and willing submission, Ruth found herself as wife to a Godly man. She became the mother of Obed, the father of Jesse whose youngest son was to become King David.

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of Christ’s relationship to the church. Boaz, a type of Christ, took Ruth, a Gentile bride after paying the price of redemption to the Jew who did not want her. Take time to read and study this amazing book.
Can you see how, through Ruth’s obedience and submission and faithfulness to her first husband, then to Naomi, and then to Boaz, she was blessed bountifully by God? She could have stayed with her family in Moab, God’s wash pot, but instead found her God given destiny in the House of Bread.

I’m so glad she chose to go with Naomi, for she has become a wonderful example of a woman who had a fulfilled life through submissive and obedient behaviour.

God bless you.
Linda

The post Ruth: A woman after God’s own heart first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

What About Eve?

Barry Forder — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 18:00:54 +0000

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. – Proverbs 31 v 10 – 12

So what about Eve? Did she fulfil the above criteria? What do we know about her?

She was the first woman, she was created by God from Adam’s rib, she was deceived by the serpent, she desired what she should not have.

Adam was created by God from the dust of the earth and was given a job. He was to look after the Garden of Eden, to tend it and to keep it. He was provided with all that he needed by God, food and drink and a beautiful place to live, with the proviso that he should not eat of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, lest he die. Adam was created to be in relationship with all that God had made, but the animals and birds could not provide the kind of relationship he needed.

I wonder how long he lived in the Garden on his own? Suffice it to say that he was there in the garden before Eve was created, and the commission that God gave Adam, and the commandment to avoid the fruit of the tree were given to him alone, before Eve was made. Then God made Eve from one of Adam’s ribs and she was presented to Adam by God as a helper comparable to him. I would love to have been there to see Adam’s face when he first set eyes on the ‘perfect woman’. She was innocent, beautiful to behold, perfect in every way, designed by God to be Adam’s wife, his helpmeet. This was the perfect relationship…..God and Adam and Eve!

William McDonald in the Believer’s Bible Commentary said this, ‘Woman was taken not from Adam’s head to dominate him, nor from his feet to be trodden down, but from under his arm to be protected and from near his heart to be loved.’

Isn’t that lovely? That’s how it’s supposed to be. How did it all go so wrong?

The serpent, the enemy, worked on the weakness of Eve. Note what he said to her, ‘Has God indeed said….’ and here’s the twist……..‘you shall not eat of EVERY tree of the garden?’

By asking her this the way he did, he focussed her thinking on that one tree. Very subtle! Eve replied, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it lest you die.’ Do you see what Eve did here? She added to God’s word. God did not say to Adam not to touch the fruit, only not to eat it. Why did she do that?

Of course it was Adam who told her what God had instructed him…….so who got it wrong? Adam or Eve? The serpent took advantage of Eve by casting doubt into her mind. He questioned God’s word and he revised it. Eve I think, longed for that forbidden fruit, was drawn to it and wanted it, even in her innocence. Satan took advantage of that weakness and played on her desire. You have to wonder if Adam had said to her NOT to touch the fruit BECAUSE she longed for it. She was driven by temptation which showed itself in three ways.

‘So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.’ (Genesis 3 v 5 – 6).

The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. The temptation trinity is still alive and well today.

Adam loved Eve, he didn’t want her to leave him, and he gave in to her craving and they both ate the forbidden fruit, and their innocence immediately left them. They died spiritually and their special link to God their Father was broken and they were cast out into the fallen world to fend for themselves. God had to make them leave the beautiful Garden of Eden and He also had to make sure that they wouldn’t try to get back in, and so He appointed cherubim and a flaming sword to prevent their return in case if they did happen to get back in, they might eat the fruit of the tree of life. This was a merciful act of God, because if they had eaten the fruit of the tree of life they would have lived forever in their sin…..there would have been no way back to God.

It’s a sad, sad happening, and we are the recipients of their fall from grace. I am so thankful that God has given us the way back to Him.

The point of all this is that it was the woman who was deceived, not the man. He knew, to a degree, what would happen, but she just blindly followed Satan’s lead, because she wanted something more than she already had and she wanted her man to be a part of if too. Satan knew that approaching Adam would not work, he targeted the weaker vessel. ‘For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.’ (1Timothy 2 v 13 – 14)

Eve was meant to be Adam’s helper, but she helped herself to spiritual knowledge and acted independently, becoming his downfall instead of his helper. At best she was naive and trusting and therefore ripe for deception.

The man was stronger and not so easy to deceive, he knew where he stood with God and was happy to remain there. It seems that in general men question first and believe later….that was certainly the case with my husband when he came to be saved. They are more objective and often less intuitive and sometimes seem to be less spiritual than women, who are generally speaking more sensitive.

Men are more mindful than we ladies, we are more controlled by our feelings. We ladies are made to stand alongside our husbands, covered by their protection, shielded by them. But when we leave the place we are supposed to be in then we are far more easily deceived and led astray. Why are we more sensitive and, dare I say it, vulnerable? Perhaps because we are the ones who bring our children into this world after carrying them within us for nine months, we are the ones who nurture and care for our children. But those very qualities which are such a great asset can also become our greatest weakness.

A woman, because of circumstances or even choices can become tough and hard, sceptical and cautious, just like a man. She can become guarded and cynical, and thus in danger of losing her femininity. Feminism teaches that women can be like men. It teaches that we should be independent of men, considered equal to them, in short totally the opposite of what the bible teaches and what God expects of us as women. This problem which sadly affects all of us in some way or another, needs to be biblically addressed. Really tragically the church in general has been infected with this plague. The damage that has been done by this anti-Christian philosophy is immense.

Now please don’t get me wrong here. Some of you are single, some of you are widowed and some are divorced. Am I saying that you should all have a husband? No I am not! God has a plan for each of you, but it’s His plan, His ways, His will, His word that each of us must be subject to, and not the ways of the world. Ask yourselves, why do so many lesbian women so often dress like men? Why do they and rampant feminists want to shed their womanly qualities and be like men? The enemy wants them to believe that they have every bit as much right to be treated the same as men. They lose their beauty and their charm and becomes very poor excuses of men, it’s so sad and not at all the way God meant it to be. Women find themselves in all sorts of places where they have to be alone and in difficult circumstances, but that doesn’t mean that they have to lose their femininity, that doesn’t mean that they have to be equal to men. Perhaps ladies, our motto should be, whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, ‘Be guided by the word of God!’

May God our Father lead us into all wisdom and discernment.

Linda

I recommend ‘Created to be His Helpmeet‘ by Debi Pearl.

I also acknowledge the help that this book has been to me in preparing this teaching.

The post What About Eve? first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Matthew 5:3

Barry Forder — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 07:28:18 +0000

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. Matthew 5:3

Jesus launched into the Sermon on the Mount with these powerful and humbling words. In the opening verse of this chapter we are told that He is speaking to His disciples. Straight away when we hear the words “disciples” we think of the Twelve but it seems likely that the disciples being mentioned here also encompass at least some of the multitude that had followed Him from Matt 4:25. Furthermore in Matthew 7:28 we are told that when Jesus had finished the teaching “the people were astonished at his doctrine”.

Before Jesus commences teaching we read that “he opened his mouth, and taught them”. It is easy to just gloss over these words but as Spurgeon points out, “It is not superfluous to say that “he opened his mouth, and taught them”, for he had taught them often with his mouth closed”. Every moment of Jesus’ life, whether in thought, word, deed or in silence, was lived out in perfect obedience to His Father’s will. Perhaps this is something for us to think about with regard to our own life, does the way we carry ourselves day to day bring glory to God?

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. This first Beatitude (the Blessings) is one of eight declarations of blessedness spoken by Jesus which show us the way we should be as citizens of God’s kingdom. They don’t tell us what we should do, they tell us how we should be. “poor in spirit”, the Greek word used here is Ptochos, it conveys the idea of being beggarly, poverty-stricken and destitute in terms of our own righteousness. In Isaiah 64:6 we are told that “we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags”, the very best that we can bring to God are rags. The only way we can enter God’s kingdom is by His grace through the shed blood of His Son – “nothing in my hands I bring, simply to the Cross I cling”. This is how we enter the kingdom of heaven but it is also how we are to be now, humble and acutely aware of our inability to serve God in our own strength. Oswald Chambers once prayed, “LORD, drench us in humility”! If we think we can live a life that is pleasing to God without an utter dependence on the Holy Spirit then we only delude ourselves. It is a great shame when we fail to allow the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit to fully take hold of us. An overestimation of our own strength and ability is often at the root of this problem. In James 4:6 we are told that “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble”.

Brothers and sisters let us let go of any trace of pride that may be lingering in our hearts. Scripture makes it clear that none of us have nothing to boast of save Christ; He who glories, let him glory in the LORD” (1 Cor 1:31). God is looking for humble souls who recognise their own hoplessness so that He can (without resistance) fill them with His Holy Spirit. Then and only then are we equipped to serve Him; My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9). The very virtues that Jesus exalts in the Sermon in the Mount – humility, meekness, mercy and righteousness are the very same virtues that the world of today seems to take delight in scoffing. Humility is seen as timidity, meekness as weakness, Godly righteousness as being self-righteous. But God’s ways are not the ways of the world (Isaiah 55:8). The next time you are feeling weak and overburdened by what life is throwing at you remember that it is at this time especially that God wants you to let go and let Him take the strain – our God can take the strain, He is mighty! (Psalm 147:5). Let us not lament the fact that we are weak but rather let us embrace it so that God’s power can made be made manifest in our life to His glory. “Blessed are the poor in spirit”…..“This beatitude is first because this is where we start with God. A ladder, if it is to be of any use, must have its first step near the ground, or feeble climbers will never be able to mount it. It would have been a grievous discouragement to struggling faith if the first blessing had been given to the pure in heart; to that excellence the young beginner makes no claim, while to poverty of spirit he can reach without going beyond this line”. (Spurgeon).

With every blessing,

The post Matthew 5:3 first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Never Satisfied

Barry Forder — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 21:00:29 +0000

Sin always wants more. Solomon said “All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full… the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing” (Ecclesiastes 1:7-8), and speaking of the destructive effects of lust, Job said: “it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase” (Job 31:12). The effect of sin for the man in Jesus’ parable in Matthew 18 was potentially crushing: “But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all” (Matt 18:25). The suggestion that this man could pay all his debt is of course preposterous – it amounted to around 150,000 years wages! It is the same with us. We could never pay for sin. That’s why we need a Saviour who will pay our debt. Islam’s Mohamed, Mormon’s Joseph Smith, Buddha, or all the gods of the Hindus’ cannot pay. Only Jesus died, paid for our sin and demonstrated his victory by rising again! (see “The Greatest Event In The History Of The World” )

In 1 Kings chapter 20 we see a dramatic example of the insatiable nature of sin, as Ahab, king of Israel, finds himself under threat, and Samaria besieged by Ben-Haded, king of Syria. Ben-Haded presumptuously declares “Your silver and your gold are mine; your most beautiful wives and children are also mine” (1 Kings 20:3). The typical response from any good king, especially when his wives and children are in danger, would be to put up a fight! Even an atheist might consider praying at a desperate time like this! But this is no ordinary king. This is Ahab, the worst king Israel had to endure. The king who not only rejected the God of his fathers, but defiantly went and worshiped other god’s to provoke the LORD to anger (see 1 Kings 16:33).

Incredibly, Ahab’s response is “Err… ok then. If you want it, it’s yours!”. You can picture his wives and children turning toward him in disbelief and saying “you said what?!!” with that ‘don’t we mean anything to you?’ expression!

Now this is where we see the parallel with us and Ahab, for too many people just give-in to sin (the real enemy who has besieged us) without a fight, even though it might cost us our wives and children. Just one example of this is with internet pornography. According to one survey 64% of Christian men and 15% of Christian women said they had viewed pornography at least once a month. This wrecks marriages and can cause untold damage to children. Did you know that 9 out of 10 boys and 6 out of 10 girls are exposed to pornography before the age of 18? Among young adults today, pornography use is not the exception. It is the norm. 71% of teens hide online behaviour from their parents, and 1 in 5 searches made on mobile phones are for pornography. (For more info click here).

But this is just one area where sin in today’s world is so easily ensnaring so many – including those who are of the household of God. We now live in a world that elevates self (and ‘selfies’) above all else. Recently there have been a spate of deaths around the world of people who tragically died after (or while) taking a ‘selfie’. In April 2015, a 17-year-old Russian girl fell around 40 feet to her death after climbing onto a railway bridge and getting electrocuted by live wires. The same month a 32-year-old woman in South Carolina, who was posting ‘selfies’ online as she drove, died when she crashed her car head-on into a truck. In another incident a 21-year-old man in Spain was killed by a 3,500 volt electric shock after climbing on top of a train. Russian police have even gone so far as releasing a safety brochure to try to combat this craze! The Apostle Paul spoke of these days when he said:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Tim 3:1-4).

So what happened to Ahab when he surrendered without a fight? (What happened should serve as a lesson to all of us!) “Then the messengers returned and said, “Thus says Ben-hadad, “Surely, I sent to you saying, “You shall give me your silver and your gold and your wives and your children,” but about this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you, and they will search your house and the houses of your servants; and whatever is desirable in your eyes, they will take in their hand and carry away” (1 Kings 20:5-6).

Seeing how easily Ahab had given in, Ben-Haded – just like sin – came back wanting more! Sin cannot be tamed, it cannot be satisfied. If you give it a little, it will ask for more, until eventually you are consumed. If you allow bitterness, jealousy, anger or hatred to take root, they will not stop until they have destroyed you and taken away your peace. If you become a ‘friend of the world’ (James 4:4) and try to justify the odd drink, or allow immorality into your house in the guise of a soap opera or movie (something that you would be ashamed of when standing before Jesus!), you are giving sin a foothold, and like Ben-Haded, that is all it asks for the first time!

As has been said before, sin will take you further than you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and cost you more than you wanted to pay!

How did Ahab escape? Read 1 Kings 20:15. Only God’s grace enabled Ahab to be victorious. And God’s great grace is sufficient for you and me.

Later in this chapter Ahab is told to kill Ben-Haded; but rather than obey God, he befriends him! This is the one who was going to take his wives and children, and now Ahab wants to become friends! Be careful of what you allow to live in your life if God has said it is to be put to death! Never allow yourself to be deceived that you can be friends with what God abhors.

“How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:2-3)

“For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:13-14)

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry.

The post Never Satisfied first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Above Rubies

Barry Forder — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 20:19:09 +0000

We are all on a journey, the journey of life in Christ, and we are all at different a stages on that journey. Some have had a personal relationship with Jesus since childhood, some much later in life. Whatever stage we are at, God expects us to keep travelling. He doesn’t expect us to sit down thinking that we are saved now so we are okay with God, and that’s as far as we need to go. No….He expects us to keep moving forward, growing stronger in Him and continuing to learn as we go. I think you will agree that this side of Heaven we will never learn it all, but He certainly expects us to try. My personal journey has been long and slow. Sometimes I think that I am the slowest learner about and looking back I am amazed at just how slow I have been.

When I first gave my life to Jesus and was born again, I didn’t have a clue about what being a believer really meant. I foolishly thought that my experience was commonly shared by people who went to church, as I had done all my life, that they had all come to a point of understanding the truth about Jesus and had given their lives to Jesus as I had done. Oh my! I had a lot to learn!

I was in a mainstream church at the time, and now it seems to me that it was a miracle that I was ever saved whilst in that church. I received no discipling whatsoever and after a while, because women preach in that church, I soon believed that God was calling me to do just that. After all public speaking was something I had been trained to do from a child. Elocution lessons, with recitations in competitions, amateur dramatics, pantomimes and the like had shown me that I could do it and I was on fire for the Lord and ready to offer the gifts God had given me. So I volunteered my services and off I went. I enjoyed it very much, at least to begin with, though it was very hard work studying with the needs of husband, children and home to cope with as well. Whilst training and preaching I encountered a type of persecution very quickly, which was utterly miserable to endure. Liberal ‘Christians’ who were tutors and the like ridiculed me for my ‘simplistic faith’, as they called it. They seemed surprised when I did well in my exams; I think they thought that I was academically challenged. Well, I refused to be beaten and I eventually made it, only to realise that God was telling me to give it up.

During those years I went with my husband to a talk by David Pawson entitled ‘Leadership is Male’. I hated what he said, it made me really angry. Who was he to tell me that I was in the wrong?

BUT he was right and I was wrong!

I just wasn’t ready to take on board what he was saying. He was coming from a totally biblical perspective and I was not. He was listening to what God was saying, I was listening to what the world and the church were saying and also listening to what I wanted. However I think in retrospect, that on that day a seed was sown, however much I tried to deny it…….and I did.

There are so many damaged people in the churches today because of bad teaching.

Eventually after years of more struggle, God led us to leave that church and He graciously brought us to Calvary Chapel. His timing was perfect. It was in 1996 that I first became aware of Calvary Chapel, funnily enough, through their Women’s ministry and in 1999 we began to attend regularly. Gradually I began to learn the truths of God’s precious word. I had always believed the word of God to be the truth since becoming a believer, but I had never been encouraged to study it in the right way. It soon became apparent to me that God had already been leading me to the understanding that leadership is male and that everything that David Pawson had said was right. Everything clicked into place at last. I had a lot of repenting to do, there were a lot of things I was sorry for, but I also realised that everything I had gone through, everything I had experienced had been allowed by God for my learning and my growth.

The next step was understanding what it meant to be a submissive wife to my husband. Like most women I liked to be in control, I liked having my own way; I thought I was okay.

One day, out of the blue, when my husband and I were praying together, I was compelled to kneel at his feet, to put his hand on my head and to repent to God before him of my lack of obedience towards him, my lack of submission to him as my husband and thus to Jesus as my Lord. I felt very silly, as you can imagine, but the compulsion was so strong that I knew I had to do it. That was a beautiful, tearful moment in my life. My husband was rather taken aback, but we both knew that it was of the Lord and necessary for our ongoing relationship with Jesus and with each other. Don’t think that everything has been perfect since then. Yes, it was a changing point, and yes, things in our marriage improved, but I still stumble and fall and get things all wrong, but the difference is that now I know, now I am aware, and now I can come before God and confess my failings and know that I am forgiven and restored. Before I no idea that I was in a wrong place!

It has been a long and slow learning process and it will never be finished this side of Heaven, but I love the gentle way the Lord leads us on, the way He instructs us and guides us through the pitfalls of this walk of faith.

Why have I told you all this? Because I don’t want you to think that I have it all sorted, that I am perfect or have all the answers. I am not, I do not!

What I do have is a burden to encourage other ladies, (whether they be young or older, whether they be married or single, widowed or divorced), to be Godly women according to the word of God.

‘ the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behaviour, not given to much wine, teachers of good things…..that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.’ Titus 2 v 3 – 5

Blessings to you all in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Next time……’What about Eve?’

The post Above Rubies first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Big Picture – The Mystery of God’s Will

Barry Forder — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 23:10:52 +0000

Have you ever wondered why we are here?

What is the real purpose – if any – for our existence? Are we here purely by chance, the result of an accident, or is there something more to this life? Scientists, philosophers and some of the greatest minds have pondered this question and many individual opinions and theories have been put forward.

However, standing out from the crowd in this ‘sea’ of theories and ideas is the Bible. Unlike all other philosophical and religious writings, it is not the result of just one man’s opinions and observations, but rather it was written by approximately 40 people covering many generations and from completely different backgrounds and situations. The Bible itself claims that these people wrote as God inspired them (Ex 34:27-28 / 2 Tim 3:16 / 2 Peter 1:20-21). Furthermore, the Bible declares that there is a reason, purpose and divine plan for all that has been, and all that will be in the future.

It is in this most amazing and unique book that we find a viable alternative to ‘man’s’ ideas about the meaning of life.

The opening words of the Bible start with a bold statement: “In the beginning God…..” No attempt is made to prove God’s existence, in fact the Bible itself states that only fools would presume to say ‘there is no God’. (Psalm 14:1)

The universe and everything in it provide sufficient proof for the hardest of skeptics, and if this is not enough, there is the Bible itself. It is a book that has, without question, stood the test of time; particularly in regard to the overwhelming number of detailed prophecies which make up one third of its contents. Time after time after time the Bible has been shown to be supernatural in origin by the exact fulfillment of prophecies given hundreds and even thousands of years before!

The constant theme running through the Bible is that God wants to have a relationship with His creation, in particular with mankind who the Bible states was created in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27). No other created being can claim the status that has been given to mankind, we are the ‘masterpiece’ of His creation and have been created to walk in perfect harmony with our Creator.

According to the Bible our history started with Adam and Eve, God told them to “be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it” (Gen 1:28) so that they, and their offspring, could rule and have dominion over all creation, walking with, and worshiping their God.

All was going well until Adam and Eve purposely went against God’s clear instruction (Gen 2:16-17) thereby introducing ‘sin’ into the human race.

The Bible reveals that the Devil, once a mighty angel who rebelled against God, tempted man into disobeying God in the hope that he could destroy God’s masterpiece, gain the control of the world for himself and ruin any plan God had of a relationship with His creation. On the surface it looked as though the Devil had succeeded, surely there was no way back for man, no possibility of God and man ‘walking’ together in harmony? God’s plan however was much bigger, and God had already allowed for this ‘twist’ in events.

God had told Adam: “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat of it you will surely die” (Gen 2:17). It is clear that the punishment for sin was to be death. However, by making death the punishment for Adam’s sin, God had ‘built in’ an incredible escape route. If someone could be found who would die in man’s place, one who would be a ‘substitute’, God’s judgement (that sin was to be punished by death) would be satisfied and a way out would be made available for anyone willing to accept the offer.

To illustrate this, consider someone who gets a parking ticket, the authorities are not concerned who pays the fine as long as the fine is paid. Once this is done the ‘law’ has been satisfied.

God knew that for this to work a substitute would need to be found who would die in man’s place. Any scheme based on man would fail because anyone from ‘inside’ the human race would have inherited sin from Adam (See Rom 3:10 & Psalm 51:5) and therefore would be unable to be a substitute; only someone without sin could pay.

So God, having already pre-planned it before creation (Rev 13:8), in His mercy and wisdom decided to send His only Son into this world. In this way, Jesus, by living a perfect and sinless life would be able to pay the price of sin on mankind’s behalf by dying in our place, and thus make a way back to God for anyone who accepts Jesus as their ‘substitute’.

This is told in the most famous verse in the Bible: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

So after the Garden of Eden God’s ‘master plan’ was not dead, in fact it was just beginning. God had known full well what the outcome of the ‘Garden of Eden’ experience would be. It was not a mistake but a necessary step toward the ultimate fulfillment of His plan!

The Devil, realising that he hadn’t ‘won’ by tempting Adam and Eve into sinning, tried again to destroy God’s plan, and mankind in the process! Genesis 6:1- 8 records how the Devil sent some of his angles to infiltrate the human race. The offspring of these ‘fallen angles’ were the giants of whom so much legend and folklore is told.

God in His mercy rescued a man called Noah and his family but destroyed these evil beings by sending the flood that destroyed all living things from that face of the earth (Gen 6:13 & Gen 7:4). Noah and his family were saved and then went on to repopulate the earth. In fact, all the nations in the world today can trace their ancestry back to Noah and his three sons!

Sometime after Noah, God chose one man by the name of Abraham and promised him that He would make his descendants into a great nation, and that eventually, all the nations of the world would end up being blessed because of him.

“Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen 12:1)

God made an everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants to be their God and for them to be His people. (Gen 17:1- 7). In the book of Exodus, God reiterated this to Moses and told him to tell the people of Israel (Abraham’s descendants): “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Ex 19:5-6)

And again: “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.” (Deut 7:6)

However, once again the Devil tried to thwart God’s plan by sending yet more fallen angles that, in turn, produced more giants, the intention being that these giants would annihilate Israel. The reason for this was that God had told Adam back in the Garden that He would send a Saviour, (Gen 3:15), now it was clear that the promised Saviour would be one of Abraham’s descendants. If the Devil could wipe out Israel, the Saviour could not be born, and humanity and God’s ultimate plan would be over. To this end these tribes of giants centred on the land that God had promised to Abraham – what we now know as Israel.

However, as one would expect, God engineered the circumstances to ensure Israel’s survival.

During the lifetime of Jacob (Abraham’s grandson), as recorded at the end of the book of Genesis, God took Jacob’s family (comprising just 75 people) out of the land of Canaan and brought them to the land of Egypt. Joseph, who became 2^nd in command of the land of Egypt, knew that all that had befallen him had been part of God’s plan. In replying to his brothers regarding the way they had treated him he said: “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” (Gen 50:20-21)

Israel were saved and although eventually made to work as slaves by the new Pharaoh, by the time they came out of Egypt four generations later, Israel had grown into a nation of approximately 2 million people – with an incredible amount of wealth! Now they were ready to take back the Promised Land from the giants! And this they did under the leadership of Joshua.

In the 40 years after leaving Egypt and before entering the ‘Promised Land’, God gave Israel his Law (including the 10 commandments). This was a very important step in God’s plan. In order to prove to mankind that we were sinners, God set a list of rules – rules that He knew in advance we could not keep!

“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Rom 3:19-20)

The apostle Paul said in the book of Galatians “But the Scripture has confined all under sin”, in other words, because no one is able to keep God’s law, everyone is in the same boat, everyone is a sinner.

Initially people may feel offended at the thought of being called a sinner, however we can soon see that there is no getting away from it. All of us have lied at some time – this makes us a liar. Probably all of us have at some time ‘borrowed’ something – regardless of the size this makes us a thief. And this is just looking at two of God’s commandments; there are about 600 different commands in all!

The Apostle James said, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.” (James 2:10-11)

When explaining the real purpose of the Law, Paul said “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ,” (Gal 3:24)

So Paul says in effect, that by giving us His law, God has enabled all mankind to see that we are guilty before Him – and the purpose of the law was to show that we needed a Saviour!

After the Law had been given, God said to Israel “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God” (Deut 28:1-2).

However if they did not obey His voice, they would be punished and scattered throughout the world: “If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, then………… the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known–wood and stone. And among those nations you shall find no rest, nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting place; but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul. Your life shall hang in doubt before you; you shall fear day and night, and have no assurance of life. In the morning you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were evening!’ And at evening you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were morning!’ because of the fear which terrifies your heart, and because of the sight which your eyes see”. (Deut 28:58-66)

This is one of the most remarkable prophecies in the Bible and has been fulfilled with amazing accuracy, the people of Israel have been scattered around the world and experienced persecution unlike any other nation. Their life has indeed ‘hung in doubt’!

The book of Judges records that Israel served God all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua (Judges 2:7), but when these people had died, ‘every man did what seemed right in their own eyes.’ (Judges 17:6).

The majority of the rest of the Old Testament is taken up with the stories of how Israel served God for a short time, soon forgot Him, became oppressed by their enemies, cried out to God for help, witnessed a mighty deliverance, and then repeated the above time and time again.

In between all of this is the story of king David, whom the Bible says was ‘a man after God’s own heart’ (1 Sam 13:14). God made various promises to David regarding his future including that his throne and kingdom would last forever: “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever… This referred to David’s son, Solomon, but the prophecy continued… And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” (2 Sam 7:12-16)

History confirms that Jesus was a descendant of king David (See Matt 1:1-17), and it was to be through Jesus that David’s throne would be established forever; although as we will see, God’s plan for David himself wasn’t finished yet either.

After David’s time, things in Israel started to get progressively worse with kings abandoning the worship of the one true God and following after idol gods. God allowed the nation to be split in two, the northern part being known as ‘Israel’, and the southern part being known as ‘Judah’.

Although Judah was not quite as bad as Israel, both ‘halves’ of the nation continued to disobey God. In response to this and in accord with prophecies that had been given, God allowed Israel and Judah to be oppressed by the surrounding nations and eventually to be taken captive. Israel was the first to be ‘carried away’ from their land in about 722 B.C. by the king of Assyria. Most of these people (and their descendants) have remained in exile to this day. Finally, after a siege at Jerusalem, the people of Judah were also taken away from their own land in 587 B.C. by king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

However, after 70 years of this captivity in Babylon, as prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 29:10), a ‘remnant’ of Judah returned to the land of Israel and rebuild the city of Jerusalem as recorded in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. It was from this time on that these returning Israelites became known as ‘Jews’.

The Jews remained in their land up until the time that Jesus came. However as we know, the Jews rejected Jesus, not believing Him to be their Messiah, and had Him crucified.

The book of John says, “He came to His own (i.e. the Jewish people), and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become sons of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11-13)

On the surface it looked as though things were not going too well. God’s ‘special treasure’ and ‘chosen nation’ were mostly scattered around the world, the few that had returned from exile had rejected Jesus and had Him crucified. To the casual observer, God’s promise that ”they (Israel) shall be My people, and I will be their God” (Jer 24:7) (Jer 32:38) (Ezek 11:20) (Zech 8:8) looked remarkably unlikely to happen any time soon!

However as we now move into New Testament times, the ‘pieces of the jigsaw’ start to fall into place and God’s complete plan starts to unfold.

When Jesus came He said that He would build His church – and that not even the counsel (gates) of hell would be able to prevail against it. The Devil had tried repeatedly throughout the Old Testament to destroy God’s plan and His people; indeed he has made further attempts throughout the history of the church and will continue trying until the end of the age, but he will not prevail.

The church that Jesus spoke of was to be a people of all nations, tribes and tongues, not just Jews. In fact Paul tells us that through Jesus, God has taken away the division between Jews and Gentiles, male and female, masters and servants, slaves and free men, all are equal. Romans 10:12-13 says: “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal 3:28-29)

The Apostle Paul was making it clear that any who put their trust in Jesus would be classed as Abraham’s offspring and now be a part of his family, not from a physical point of view (Christians don’t become Jews), but from a spiritual perspective. Christians are now ‘heirs of the promise’ given to Abraham.

Paul said to the gentile Christians at Ephesus that he wanted them to “understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel.” (Eph 3:1-6)

Israel had been chosen from all the nations of the world to be ‘God’s holy family’, now the offer was to go out to all people everywhere that they were invited to be a part of that family – through Jesus!

‘Membership’ of this new ‘combined’ family was not dependent on a direct ancestral line back to Abraham, but rather dependent on faith in Jesus Christ!

“For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed”. (Rom 9:6-9)

In this verse Paul was saying that just being born an Israelite was no longer a qualification to be part of God’s ‘holy nation’. John the Baptist had already preached this to the Pharisees and Sadducees when he said to them: “do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matt 3:7-10)

So through the Apostles God revealed that the church was to be God’s ultimate ‘special treasure’ and ‘chosen nation’, this had been His plan all along! The Apostle Peter confirmed this when he wrote to his fellow Christians: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Initially the Jewish Christians had reservations about welcoming non-Jews into their family. The ‘turning point’ came one day as recorded in the book of Acts: “Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again”. (Acts 10:9-16)

This passage goes on to say that the vision was explaining to Peter (and the church) that non-Jews (considered by the Jews to be ‘un-clean’) were to be welcomed in to God’s family.

“Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ–He is Lord of all” (Acts 10:34-36)

As the church grew, Peter carried on preaching to the Jews and Paul took the good news about salvation through Jesus, and that all were now invited to be part of God’s family, to the Gentiles.

However before long questions started arising in the church about Israel’s future. If the church was God’s holy nation and royal priesthood, what about all the promises regarding the nation of Israel itself? Was the church to supersede Israel? Could the prophecies regarding Israel be meant for the church?

In what is one of the most important few chapters in the Bible (Romans 9-11) particularly in regard to understanding God’s plan, the Apostle Paul asks the same question: “I say then, has God cast away His people?” Paul’s answer is emphatic! “Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew.” (Rom 11:1-2)

And again Paul asks: “I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles”.

By ‘their fall’ Paul is referring to their rejection of Jesus as the promised Messiah, and their disobedience to God’s laws.

“Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!” In other words, if the world has been blessed by their rejecting Jesus, how much more blessing will there be when Israel finally accept Him as their Messiah!

Paul concludes this passage by saying: “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” (Rom 11:11-33)

This is an amazing statement/prophecy that makes sense of so many other prophecies in the Bible. God has allowed Israel to carry on in their state of unbelief until all of the gentiles who will accept God’s offer of Salvation have ‘come in’. When this is done, the Jews’ eyes will be opened and they will finally believe, accepting that Jesus really is their promised Messiah.

So it is clear from the Bible that although the church was the holy nation that God had desired since before creation, Israel was not to be forgotten. Israel has remained up unto this day the nation that God chose. It had been to Israel that God had given His laws and through whom His holy prophets have spoken. Indeed it is through Israel that the word of God (the Bible) has been given to mankind. Most importantly, it was through Israel that the Messiah came into this world. The prophecies regarding the land of Canaan, (given as a permanent possession to Abraham and his descendants), are yet to be fulfilled, but when they are it will be by the ‘blood-descendants’ of Abraham known as the Jews. The unconditional promises made by God to Abraham will not be broken.

As we know, many Jews did put their trust in Jesus through the preaching of the Apostles and the early church, however history records that in AD70 the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the remaining Jews were scattered around the world in fulfillment of prophecy.

In the book of Matthew, Jesus, after talking to the disciples about the events that will take place at the end of this age, likened Israel to a fig tree and said: “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near–at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.” (Matt 24:32-34)

In 1948 – the very year as prophesied by Ezekiel! – the ‘fig tree’ put forth it’s leaves! Israel, despite overwhelming odds became a nation again and the Jews started returning in large numbers to their homeland!

This has led many to believe that within a generation, all of the events foretold by Jesus will come to pass, including His Second Coming!

Just a brief look at the events taking place on the world scene would strongly suggest that this is the case; with wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and famines in various places becoming everyday headlines.

Numerous passages in the Old Testament explain that God will “set His hand the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left, from Assyria and Egypt, from Pathros and Cush (Africa & Arabia), from Elam and Shinar (Iran, Iraq etc), from Hanath (Turkey etc) and all the islands of the sea. He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:11)

In addition to this, an event prophesied by Daniel over 2500 years ago is imminent and likely to take place any time now!

In the Book of Daniel we are told that a great world leader will arise who will confirm a 7-year peace treaty with Israel and the surrounding nations. (Given the current situation in the Middle-East this is of particular interest at this time). He will allow Israel to start their sacrifices again as detailed in the Old Testament. However half-way through this treaty, this man – who will be Antichrist – will break his covenant (agreement) with Israel and will turn against them.

The prophet Jeremiah said regarding the time to come: “Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it.” (Jer 30:7) This time of persecution will end with the infamous ‘battle of Armageddon’ when Jesus will return to deliver Israel and defeat the nations that have declared war on her.

Finally Israel will realise that Jesus is, and was, the Messiah. “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.” (Zech 12:10)

Once Jesus has returned He will set about judging the nations of the earth depending on how they have treated Israel.

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matt 25:31-46)

Hence those nations that have treated Jesus’ brethren well will be invited into Jesus ‘millennial’ kingdom. Those who have persecuted and shamefully treated the Jews will go away to everlasting punishment.

Before we look at the Millennium in more detail, we will turn our attention back to Jesus’ Church.

A Christian author by the name of Paul E Billheimer goes as far as saying that: “The sole reason for the universe and all therein, is to produce and prepare an eternal companion for Jesus who will reign with Him for all eternity.”

In the book of Ephesians we are told that Jesus loved the church – His bride – so much that ‘He gave Himself for her‘ in order that she might be with Him forever. Marriage itself is symbolic of this joining together of Jesus and His people that God planned before the creation of the world.

Ephesians 5:25-32 says “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”………..”For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”

One of the loveliest stories in the Old Testament is the story of how Abraham sent his faithful servant to find a wife for his son, Isaac, from amongst his relatives in order that Isaac would not have to marry a Canaanite wife. (Remember fallen angels had ‘infected’ the land with their offspring, so Isaac could not intermarry with these people).

In a story that amazingly mirrors what God has done, Abraham the father, sends his servant (just as God sent His Holy Spirit), to find and prepare a bride from his own family. This parallels the way the church was ‘born’ out of the nation of Israel, the Holy Spirit was given for the Church, to ‘prepare’ us for meeting our Bridegroom – Jesus. (Read the account in Genesis chapter 24!).

(NB: It assumed from this point that the person reading this is a Christian and therefore a part of the bride of Christ. If you are not a Christian and reading this, it should be stressed that you will not take part in the following events, (the good bits anyway!) unless of course you accept the free offer of salvation through Jesus! – If you want to know more, and we sincerely hope you do, see the contact details on the back cover of these notes.

The bride that Jesus will present to Himself will be an innumerable company of people from all ages that have put their trust in Jesus for their salvation. This will include all Christians throughout the ages as well as all the Old Testament people who had been looking forward to the coming Messiah.

Paul said to the Ephesian Christians: “God has told us his secret reason for sending Christ, a plan he decided on in mercy long ago; and this was his purpose: that when the time is ripe he will gather us all together from wherever we are-in heaven or on earth-to be with him in Christ forever.” (Eph 1:9-10 The Living Bible)

As the above explains, at some point in the future, Jesus will gather together all those in heaven, and all Christians on earth at that time, and we will then be with Jesus forever! 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 describes this event: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

The ‘Rapture’, as it is known, could occur at any time; suddenly we will be caught up in the air, our bodies will be changed into new bodies that will not grow weary or decay (See 1 Corinthians ch.15); and as Jesus promised His disciples in John 14: 2-3, He will take us back to the place that He has been preparing for us.

We will remain in heaven with our Lord for (at least) 7 years, during which time God’s wrath and judgement is poured out on this world (See Revelation ch. 6-18). In God’s mercy a great multitude of people ‘come out’ of this time of tribulation (Rev 7: 9-17). These will be people who eventually realise that Jesus Christ is the Lord of all, but they will be martyred for their faith and trust in Jesus and for refusing to receive the Mark of the beast.

From what we are told in the book of Ephesians, it is clear that the Church are the bride of Christ. However by studying Revelation 6-20 we discover that this great multitude are the wedding guests who are invited and given white wedding robes to wear (Rev 6:11 / Rev 7:13). Revelation 19:7 records their great shout of joy as they announce the wedding: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready”

In Revelation 19:9 John is told to write: “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” (Rev 19:9) (See Jesus’ parable about this in Matthew 22).

Note: although these are clothed in white robes, they do not receive resurrected bodies until after the Second Coming (Rev 20:4-5) thus clearly distinguishing them from the Church who receive their resurrected bodies at the time of the Rapture.

After the wedding supper, Jesus will return with His newly-wed Bride to set up His Kingdom on this earth – this is the Second Coming. This will occur at the end of the seven years of Tribulation when Antichrist will have deceived the nations of the world into marching against Jesus at the infamous battle of Armageddon (Rev 16:13-14 / Rev 19:19). Jesus will destroy his enemies, reclaim the ‘title’ to planet earth that was lost by Adam to Satan back in the Garden of Eden, and restore the earth to the way it was when it was created. (Acts 3:21/ Isaiah 65:17-25/ Isaiah 11:6-9).

Thus Jesus will begin His 1000 year reign on earth from ‘David’s throne’ in Jerusalem as prophesied in many places in the Bible, not least in Luke chapter 1:32 (spoken by the Angel Gabriel to Mary).

As we have already seen, one of Jesus’ first acts of government will be to gather all the nations of the world before Him and we read that He will separate them as a shepherd separates sheep and goats (See again Matt 25:31-46). Jesus will delegate authority in His government to those who have proven themselves faithful to Him and we read that once again king David will be appointed to rule over the house of Israel.

“For it shall come to pass in that day,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘That I will break his yoke from your neck, and will burst your bonds; foreigners shall no more enslave them. But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.” (Jer 30:8-9)

“Therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them–My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken.” (Ezek 34:22-24)

At that time God will also “give Israel one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgements and do them; and they shall be My people and I will be their God” (Ezek 11:16-20).

God said through Jeremiah “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (31:33) Hence the promises God gave to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will be fulfilled and they will be a ‘holy nation’ before Him for eternity.

King David however is not the only one to be given a position of authority in Jesus’ government, for authority is also given to His bride! Paul said to Timothy: “For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we endure, We shall also reign with Him.” (2 Tim 2:11-12) In the book of revelation John sees a vision of the saints (Christians) worshipping God in heaven saying to Jesus: “You have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” (Rev 5:9-10) Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:3 “Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?”

Jesus also told the parable of the talents, those who were faithful with what they had been given were given cities to rule over (Luke 19:12-27). There are many who believe this parable to be anticipating this time. Those who have been faithful in their walk with the Lord will be given the greater responsibility.

After this period of 1000 years will come ‘Judgement Day’. God will call before Him every life that has lived and require an account of every word, thought and deed. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire”. (Rev 20:11-15) NB: Jesus’ Bride will not be judged at this time because Jesus has paid completely for our sin, taking upon Himself the judgement that we deserved. (For more on this subject, see ‘Elementary Principles’ post on ‘Judgement’

www.calvaryportsmouth.co.uk/2015/06/what-the-bible-says-about-judgment

God will then create a new heaven and a new earth: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.” (Rev 21:1)

“Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13).

The Bible explains that God has already prepared an amazing capital city 1500 miles square x 1500 miles high from which Jesus will rule with his ‘Bride’ at His side! There will be no more sin, sickness or disease and therefore no more sorrow or crying. (Rev 21:4, 16-17)

John’s vision recorded in Revelation is breathtaking: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband”.

Next John witnesses the moment waited for since before creation, the time when God declares, “It is done”!

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. ” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” (Rev 21:1-7).

So finally God’s plan will be complete. All who accept Jesus as their ‘substitute’ (prior to the Rapture) will live eternally in the New Jerusalem as Jesus’ Bride. God’s perfect walk with man that began in the Garden of Eden will be resumed, but this time there will be no end!

“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on the earth, visible and invisible, weather thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Col 1:16)

This is the plan, this is the purpose for every single human life that has ever lived on this planet. The universe and all of creation exist to fulfill this one purpose. Jesus the Creator, mankind created in His image, together in perfect union, eternity is just beginning!

All are invited, not all will make it – Will we see you there?

All scripture quotations from The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 . Thomas Nelson: Nashville (unless otherwise stated)

The post The Big Picture – The Mystery of God’s Will first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Dead Works vs. an Active Ministry

Barry Forder — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 20:28:18 +0000

Hebrews 6 vs 1 speaks of ‘dead works’; that is work done by sincere people, often in the name of Christ, but without the Spirit of Christ. Put simply, an enthusiastic human effort to do things in a misguided attempt to appease God, aka religion. One of the great wonders of the Gospel of God’s Grace is the we can do nothing to earn our salvation! No amount of effort can improve your standing with God. Trying to do good things will not help. In fact, Isaiah tells us that our very best efforts are as ‘filthy rags’ before God (Isaiah 64:6). Our salvation is a free gift that we receive by faith, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). However, as James reminds us, the evidence that our faith is real is seen in our desire to serve God, not out of compulsion, but out of the love for Him that we now have in our hearts (Romans 5:5). Real love is not doing something for someone you love to get something in return, but doing simply because you love them and it is a joy to do so! Jesus spoke of following Him as not being a list of burdensome rules, but as being an effortlessly simple, peaceful and restful life (Matthew 11:28-30).

But this then opens the question as to how we are to serve God in a way that is pleasing to Him? These study notes are therefore designed to be a guide for those who have been called to follow Christ, and how ‘Christian ministry’ should look, whether it be washing up cups after the church service or travelling to China to preach the gospel! Much of the following will also be valuable for those already ‘in ministry’, especially those who have become run-down or weary by the pressures that are often experienced and that can sometimes make us feel like we are just going through the motions!

Whilst on the surface, we may think that the subject of ‘ministry’ affects those who have a particular ‘calling’, it will be seen that this is an area that affects (or should affect!) all those who would profess to serve and follow Jesus Christ.

What is ‘Ministry’?

Christians are particularly good at speaking in ‘Christianese’! We use words that no one in the world has a clue about in our attempts to successfully communicate the gospel. So before we look any further, it would be helpful to explain what we mean by the term ‘ministry’.

The dictionary defines ‘Minister’ as ‘someone who attends to people’s needs’, so therefore it follows that a ministry is the carrying-out of jobs that we do in order to attend to those needs. More specifically, ‘Christian ministry’ is the jobs that we do in, or for, the church in order to meet the needs of both those inside, and those outside the church.

What is the purpose of ministry?

The main purpose of all Christian ministries is to bring those ‘outside the church’ into a relationship with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Then, once this is achieved, the objective is to teach and equip these people to build and live their lives based on God’s Word – The Bible. As a result, we then nurture these people so that they too may get involved in ministry; and so it continues until the time when Jesus returns for His church.

This is summarised in the famous passage found at the end of Matthew’s gospel that has become known as the ‘great commission’. Jesus says: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matt 28:18-20)

We are to: 1) make disciples, 2) baptise them into the faith, and 3) teach them.

Who is eligible for ministry?

The following passage, also from Matthew, makes it clear that anyone who professes to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus, should be involved in some form of ministry. “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it”. (Matt 10:37-39)

The apostle Paul explained this yet further in his letter to the Ephesian church: “And He Himself (Jesus) gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, FOR THE… equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ – from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love”. (Eph 4:11-16) Emphasis added!

So it is clear, every part of the body of Christ, the church, should ‘do its share’.

At this point the objections start rolling in: ‘but I’m not able to stand up and preach, that’s not my gift!’ – ‘but I’m not musical, I can’t help with the worship!’ – ‘I don’t know enough yet, I’m not ready to lead others’, – ‘I’m not good with young people’, – ‘I can’t stay and help after the service because we’ve got friends coming to lunch’ etc, etc, etc! Again, Jesus said: “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me”.

A rich man once went up to Jesus and asked how he could inherit eternal life (Mark 10:17). Jesus answered him by saying that he should go and sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor. The man walked away. Jesus let him go. The point that Jesus made is that there is a sacrifice required when someone wants to become His disciple. It will cost us everything. You cannot serve two masters (Luke 16:13).

The rich young man had become entangled in the things of this life and was unwilling to lay them down for the sake of the kingdom of God. He did not want a ministry, just the reward that comes from it (see Matt 10:42 / 1 Cor 3:8 / 1 Cor 3:14 / Col 3:23-24 / 2 John 8).

Paul said to Timothy: “No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” (2 Tim 2:4-5)

Commenting on this verse the respected Bible scholar J Vernon McGee said:

Imagine a soldier in the midst of battle going to his sergeant or his lieutenant and saying, “Sir, I’m sorry to have to leave, but I have to go over into the city to see about some business; and then I have a date with a local girl, and I just won’t be able to be here for the battle tonight!” A great many Christians are trying to fight like that today! ¹

Jesus said there would be a cost if we want to be His disciples; we will not be able to carry on our ‘old lives’ alongside.

The good news is that when it comes to ministry there are many different ‘jobs’ to be done within the church, not everyone needs to preach or play an instrument.

The Apostle Paul elaborates in 1 Corinthians chapter 12:4 “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all”.

In the Bible, the church is represented as a body with Christ as our ‘head’. Each individual Christian makes up a part of the body and is therefore necessary if the body is to function properly. You will no doubt agree that if your arm chose not to work because it was too busy doing other things, you would not be very impressed!

“And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” (1 Cor 12:26-28)

“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.” (1 Cor 12:12)

So, in answer to the question, all Christians are not only eligible, but according to the Bible, are also expected to be involved in some form of ministry. Regardless of how mundane or glamorous a job may appear on the surface, all are vital and depend on each other in order to have a fully functional church.

It has been said many times that Christianity is not a spectator sport, and why should it be? The Bible tells us that we were bought at a price, we now belong to God, we owe Him everything. We are supposed to have died to our old lives, counting all the things that we once thought important as rubbish (see Phil 3:7-11). Let’s face it, in return we have not only been given a second chance, but eternal life as well – something that we could never have earned! (See 1 Cor 6:19-20 / Eph 2:8)

Having now dealt with the basic questions, let us consider what ministry entails, what our attitudes should be, how we should approach our ministries, and what the dangers and pitfalls are.

God First

Jesus said that the first and most important commandment is ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ (Matt 22:37-38). This cannot be over emphasised. So many ministries fall down because people take their eyes of God. He must be first in our thoughts, in our affections and in our entire life. Make sure that your ministry, the work you do, is a distant second. God must be number one on a list of one. Never let what you are doing for God come before your own personal relationship with Him; if you do, both will suffer.

Jesus Himself understood the necessity of relying on God in regard to His earthly ministry when He said: “I can of Myself do nothing.” (John 5:30), and again,

“Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself,” (John 5:19)

“I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.” (John 13:16)

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

“Seek First the kingdom of God and His righteousness”. (Matt 6:33)

So the foundation of all ministry is to continually abide in Jesus. Once again, following Christ should be the most beautifully simple thing in the world! (see again Matthew 11:28-30)

“ You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, “ (Isaiah 26:3)

Walk humbly with your God

Secondly, you must be humble. Far too many Christians adopt a worldly ‘muscle their way to the top’ approach. Jesus told the parable about the wedding guest who came in and sat at the top of the table. He was shamed and told to take the lowest place. “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)

Pride is the oldest sin in the Book! The attitude that ‘I’m better than this’ – ‘No one appreciates me’ – ‘I’ll show them’ – ‘Why do I always get the bad jobs’ – is straight from the Devil.

Pride has a tendency to make people want to have, what is in their eyes, the ‘best jobs’ and the most recognition. This has created no end of friction and problems throughout the history of the church. However, Paul’s teaching on this point is again very clear:

“If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary” (1 Cor 12:15-22).

Acts chapter 6:1-4 shows a practical example of how each part of the body is important. The apostles arranged for seven people to be appointed who would be able to take care of the daily distribution of food, so that the apostles could concentrate on preaching the Word of God. As a result, we read in verse 7: “Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly”. Without the willingness of the seven to take on, what we would call ‘menial tasks’ – waiting on tables etc, the apostles would not have been able to preach without hindrance, and the word of God would not have been able to spread, and hence the number of disciples would not have increased.

One objection that people sometimes have in regard to taking on so called ‘menial tasks’ is that they feel they will not be able to be as effective for the Lord. On this point just look at the impact that Stephen, one of the seven ‘table waiters’ had! (See Acts 6:8 – 7:60)

Without question, you will be most effective if you are where God wants you to be! Understand that your ways are not God’s ways and God’s ways are above your ways (see Isaiah 55:8-9).

The Psalmist, King David said that: “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness”. (Psalm 84:10) Unfortunately, so many Christians want to be seen and rewarded; doing what they do to impress men, and not in loving service to a God for whom we could never do enough.

“Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” (Matt 6:2-4)

If God chooses you to clean the toilets at church, then you have been given a position far higher than you deserve. We deserve God’s wrath and judgement, we deserve to go to hell for eternity. The last thing we should ask for is what we deserve! However, we have been given eternal life and blessings beyond compare! “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Cor 6:20)

Many times people have earnestly prayed ‘Oh Lord, please use me in any way You choose!’ – only to then find themselves putting the chairs out before the service and complain that they are just being used! If you feel that God has something more for you than your present ministry, follow the example of Joseph and keep serving God where He has placed you, until He chooses to exalt you. Be patient and allow God to engineer the circumstances for you. Better that, than to find yourself at the bottom of the table!

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6).

Oswald Chambers said: “If we learn to worship God in the trying circumstances, He will alter them in two seconds when He chooses”.²

We must learn from the King of kings who humbled Himself and became a servant, washed the feet of men He had created (John 13:5) – why? Because His heart’s desire was to do the will of His Father and bring glory to Him.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.” (Phil 2:5-9)

A servant is not greater than His master (John 13:16).

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you; but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

A servant’s heart

The third attribute that is a must, is a ‘servant’s heart’. By this we mean the humility and willingness to serve others, following Christ’s example. Time and time again Christians ‘leave it for someone else to do’! Galatians 6 verse 2 & 3 says: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself”

Jesus said: “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matt 23:11).

And again: “And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves”. (Luke 22:25-27)

Jesus said that a servant is not greater than his master, and yet so often in church environments we see people usurp authority and stamp their feet if they don’t get their own way – rather than submit to one another in the fear of the Lord (Eph 5:21)

You may be familiar with the TV science fiction programme ‘Star Trek’. On the feature film ‘First Contact’ there is a wonderful example of the way we should be: The captain makes a decision and then leaves the ‘bridge’. Although most of the crew disagree with the decision, when a by-stander asks the question “So what do we do now”, the reply from the crew is unanimous. “Once the Captain makes a decision it’s final!”

This is the way it should be for us. We should support, encourage and pray for our leaders, not criticise and undermine them! Most ministries in a church involve working under someone’s leadership; sometimes the Pastor or maybe a group leader etc. If we believe that God has anointed leaders and given them the ministries and positions they have, we must learn to be good servants and support them, even if at times we don’t agree.

Before your alarm bells start ringing and you say ‘I’m not sure that I like that idea’, take a look at the examples in Exodus (ch32 & ch33) and Numbers (ch12 & ch16) where the people disputed with Moses because they didn’t like his leadership or the decisions he made. Observe the way that God dealt with those who went against Moses’ God-given authority!

Incidentally, this doesn’t give those in authority a blank cheque to do what they want, they are still accountable to God, and James has this warning for them: “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgement” (James 3:1). And remember that in God’s Kingdom, he who rules should be as he who serves! Leadership in God’s book simply provides more opportunities to serve. (See also 1Peter 5:1-3).

Paul said in Philippians 2 verse 14, “Do all things without complaining and disputing”. James says: “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren” (James 4:11); and again: “Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned” (James 5:9). But ultimately, all of this can be summed up in the words of Paul found in Ephesians chapter 5:15-21: “Therefore do not be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is………submitting to one another in the fear of the Lord”. Sub-mitting means to get under one another’s missions or ministries and support each other.

“So continuing daily with one accord ………….. praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:46-47)

Be the head and not the tail

Much of what Christians do today is sub-standard. We have become the ‘tail’ looking to the world as the ‘head’; rather than leading the way we usually follow at a distance – usually a big distance.

In the book of Ecclesiastes King Solomon wrote: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might;” (Eccl 9:10).

The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:12, when talking about various ministries and gifts: “Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel”.

However, Christians often organise and arrange ‘evangelistic’ events that are quite frankly an embarrassment. In 1 Corinthians 4:10, Paul classed himself as a ‘fool for Christ’, but so often this has been used as justification for doing things badly and being laughed at by the world. Paul also said that: “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it” (1 Cor 9:22-24).

What we do, we should do to our absolute best – we should aim to win. Not in the worldly sense of putting others down in order to get to the top ourselves, but out of a desire to give God the best. The Bible tells us that we are created in the image of God, and we know from His word that when He had finished creating, He looked at what He had made “And God saw that is was good” (Gen 1:10, 12, 18, 21, 25, & 31). This was not just ‘OK’ or ‘the best I had time for’, but the very best that it could possibly be.

In the book of Deuteronomy God said the following to Israel “And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God” (Deut 28:13).

At the wedding in Cana, Jesus turned water into wine, not just average wine but the best! So much so that the master of the feast made a point of calling the bridegroom to say to him: “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” (John 2:10-11)

When Jesus fed the five thousand, He didn’t provide just enough to go around, but so much that 12 baskets full were collected at the end. Read Exodus Chapter 25 to chapter 30 and see the detailed instructions that God gave Moses for the building of the Tabernacle and for making the priestly garments and various utensils that were to be used for sacrifice and worship. God is, without any doubt, a God of perfection and doesn’t do things by halves. We have been created in the image of God, is it wrong therefore for His people to adopt the same standard?

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col 3:17).

“A grave defect in much work of today is that men do not follow Solomon’s admonition, ‘Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.’ The tendency is to argue, ‘It’s only for so short a time, why trouble?’ If it is only for five minutes, let it be well done.”³ Oswald Chambers

Making an enthusiastic start

At the start of something, we are very often full of enthusiasm and energy, ready to take on the world! This is very often the case with ministries; once we have become a Christian, the excitement and knowledge of our salvation often ‘propels’ us into ministry out of a desire to do something for God.

There are various examples of this in the Bible, but one of the most notable is recorded in the book of Matthew chapter 26:33-35, “Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.”

Simon Peter and the disciples had immense enthusiasm, so much so that he stated that he was prepared to die defending Jesus. As we know, Simon Peter’s natural enthusiasm and courage came to an abrupt end in a courtyard when challenged by a young girl! The rest of the disciples? They ran away scared.

History records that almost all the disciples did end up dying for their faith and commitment to Jesus, so what produced this change? After Jesus had risen from the dead He told the disciples, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.‘ (Luke 24:49)

And again: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Quite simply, they received the power of the Holy Spirit, no longer were they relying on their natural human abilities.

The reality is that many of us will go through the ‘Simon Peter experience’ where we will make bold statements of our intentions and commitment; we will start well, only to later ‘deny’ Jesus as we realise that we are just not able to make-good our promises. We will find out first hand that “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt 26:41)

Moses had a heart to set the people of Israel free from their Egyptian slavery. He started with all the enthusiasm that could be asked for when he killed the Egyptian. However, God made Moses wait for 40 years until he had learnt to rely on God’s strength alone. In fact, by the time God called Moses at the burning bush, Moses’ own enthusiasm and belief in his own abilities had all gone! (See Exodus chapter 3).

Abraham’s attempt to ‘help’ God (he was enthusiastic to see God’s promises fulfilled), resulted in Ishmael being born, the descendants of whom have been a constant problem to Isaac’s descendants to this day – as prophesied in Genesis 16:12.

Like Simon Peter, Moses and Abraham, many Christians have gone through a ‘time of trial’ at the start of their ministry, where they feel as though they have been ‘put through a furnace’. Peter, no doubt mindful of his own previous failings says: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;” (1 Peter 4:12).

James continues: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

God wants us to be perfect and complete, lacking nothing, but all too often we haven’t got the time; we know we need patience but we want it now! It has been said that nowadays many Christians spend just 3 years training for 30 years in ministry (rather than the other way round as Jesus did)! Even the Apostle Paul after his conversion waited for 14 years before his ministry began in earnest (see Gal 1:15 to 2:1). Moses waited 40 years, Abraham 25 years, Noah 100 years to see God’s promises fulfilled. David was anointed as Israel’s king many years before he sat on the throne, but he was prepared to wait for God to do things in His time.

Proverbs 17:3 says “The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts”. The problem is not enthusiasm, but obedience and trust. Not obedience to ‘our’ ministry, but to God, in His way, in His timing.

All the time that we are striving to fulfil our own agendas, seeking to serve God in our own way, we are of little use to Him. God wants to drive out of us any hint of self-reliance or confidence in our own abilities. Oswald Chambers said: ‘We have to get rid of this notion—“Am I of any use?” and make up our minds that we are not, and we may be near the truth. It is never a question of being of use, but of being of value to God Himself. When we are abandoned to God, He works through us all the time.’ ⁴

The idea with all forms of ministry ‘is not that we do work for God, but that we are so loyal to Him that He can do His work through us’.⁵ When we understand this we will be ready for whatever ministry the Lord calls us to.

Somewhere down the road – Where it can all go wrong

Very often at the start of a ministry ‘putting God first’ seems like the most natural thing. However, as the days go by, we can get complacent or simply forget that it is the Lord who has brought us this far. Like the children of Israel, our memories of God’s provision slip from our mind and we start to rely on our own strength again as if nothing had changed in our lives. Like Samson, we rise to meet the challenge without realising that God’s Spirit is no longer powering us (Judges 16:20). As we struggle we blame God for not being faithful and blessing our ministries; after all, HE called us to this ministry in the first place! We also start to become resentful of others who, on the surface, don’t appear to be doing as much as we are. We find ourselves in the Mary and Martha situation.

“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

This type of situation will probably ring true for many of us; we take our eyes off the Lord, things start to go wrong and all of sudden we start to notice others, who are apparently doing nothing! We cry out to God ‘It’s not fair’!

However, Paul raises and important point in Romans14:4: “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls”. In other words, it’s none of your business what others do before God. Jesus replied in a similar way when questioned by Peter about John’s relationship with Jesus; “Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” (John 21:22)

Jesus also told the parable (Matt 20:1-15) of the man who hired workers throughout the day. At the end of the day he chose to give the same wages to all of them. Those who had worked longest and therefore hardest complained feeling unjustly treated. But as the man in the parable points out, each man received exactly what had been agreed. So it is with us, each of us answers to our own Master, (“work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” Phil 2:12), we have received that which we were promised (i.e. the salvation of our souls), and therefore we have no grounds to complain.

NB: This is not suggesting that others will get away with doing nothing for the Kingdom, faith without works is dead (see Galatians 6:7 / Matthew 6:20-21 / 1 Cor. 3, for a start!).

The verse in Romans clearly states that ‘To his own master he stands or falls.” We can rest in the assurance that God is Just: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen 18:25) However if others are doing nothing, it is almost always because their walk with the Lord is not where it should be, and we probably need to pray for them rather than criticise them. At the end of the day, they are losing out while you continue to store up treasure in heaven that will be waiting for you! (Matt 6:19-21)

So, to summarise thus far, when we take our eyes off Jesus, we end up ‘sinking’.

“And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him.”

(Matt 14:28-31)

Oswald Chambers comments on this verse: ‘The wind was actually boisterous, the waves were actually high, but Peter did not see them at first. He did not reckon with them, he simply recognised his Lord, and stepped out in recognition of Him and walked on the water. Then he began to reckon with the actual things, and down he went instantly. Why could not our Lord have enabled him to walk at the bottom of the waves as well as on the top of them? Neither could be done except by recognition of the Lord Jesus’⁶

This is it in a nutshell. When we take our eyes off Jesus, even for a moment, and start to consider our circumstances, look at others, and start counting the cost, we will struggle.

“Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22)

“If we undertake work for God and get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility will be overwhelmingly crushing; but if we roll back on God that which He has put upon us, He takes away the sense of responsibility by bringing in the realisation of Himself.”⁷ – Oswald Chambers

Be filled with the Holy Spirit

As a river is continually refreshed from the source, so must we be if we are to continue bearing His light and bringing glory to our Saviour. In Christian ministry we will continually be ‘giving out’ and unless we make sure that we also ‘take in’, we will dry up, and our ministry, and more importantly, our own spiritual life will be affected. Daily Bible reading, prayer without ceasing, fellowship with other Christians; all of these are absolutely essential if we are to be pleasing to God and effective in our ministries for Him.

It will never cease to be a source of amazement, how many Christians know nothing of God’s Word and yet expect to have fruitful ministries. As we have already seen, Jesus said that we should make disciples and teach them. What will we teach them if we don’t know the Word of God? All we will have is our own ideas and opinions – again, we will end up sinking, and no doubt blaming God!

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint”. (Isaiah 40: 28-31)

Spending time waiting on God is the only way that you will find sufficient strength to do all that lays before you. As has been stated, God must be number one. Unless we spend time before Him, drinking and being nourished in His Word, we will not last the distance. “Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all you do.“ (1 Tim 4:8 The Living Bible)

Dr Paul Yonggi Cho, is the pastor of the Central Church in Seoul, Korea which now has over half a million members. In his book ‘Prayer – Key to revival’⁸ he explains that unless he got up early and spent time with the Lord before the start of each day, he would not be able to cope with all the demands that are placed upon him.

Keep the fire burning!

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Gal 6:9)

We have the hope of all that is before us to look forward to, this alone should give us the resolve and determination to keep pressing on.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

“Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:13-14)

“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ (Matt 25:21)

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Rom 8:18)

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Cor 4:16-18)

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:19-21)

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Col 3:2-4)

Finally to conclude:

“Jesus Christ says, in effect, ‘Don’t rejoice in successful service, but rejoice because you are rightly related to Me’. The snare in Christian work is to rejoice in successful service, to rejoice in the fact that God has used you. You never can measure what God will do through you if you are rightly related to Jesus Christ.

Keep your relationship right with Him, then whatever circumstances you are in, and whoever you meet day by day, He is pouring rivers of living water through you, and it is of His mercy that He does not let you know it.”⁹

“The idea is not that we do work for God, but that we are so loyal to Him that He can do His work through us – ‘I reckon on you for extreme service, with no complaining on your part and no explanation on mine’. God wants to use us as He used His own Son.”¹⁰– Oswald Chambers

All scripture quotations from The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Thomas Nelson: Nashville (unless otherwise stated)

1) McGee, J. V. 1997, c1981. Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) . Thomas Nelson: Nashville www.thruthebible.org

2) Chambers, Oswald, My Utmost for His Highest, – December 18th (United Kingdom: Marshall Morgan & Scott) c1927.

3) Chambers, Oswald, Abandoned to God, (United Kingdom: Marshall Morgan & Scott) c1993.

4) Chambers, Oswald, My Utmost for His Highest, – February 21st (United Kingdom: Marshall Morgan & Scott) c1927.

5) Chambers, Oswald, My Utmost for His Highest, – December 18th (United Kingdom: Marshall Morgan & Scott) c1927.

6) Chambers, Oswald, My Utmost for His Highest, – June 18th (United Kingdom: Marshall Morgan & Scott) c1927.

7) Chambers, Oswald, My Utmost for His Highest, – April 13th (United Kingdom: Marshall Morgan & Scott) c1927.

8) Paul Y Cho, with R. Whitney Manzano, Prayer: Key To Revival, (United Kingdom: Word Books) c1984

9) Chambers, Oswald, My Utmost for His Highest, – August 30th (United Kingdom: Marshall Morgan & Scott) c1927.

10) Chambers, Oswald, My Utmost for His Highest, – December 18th (United Kingdom: Marshall Morgan & Scott) c1927.

The post Dead Works vs. an Active Ministry first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Rapture of The Church

Barry Forder — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 15:06:19 +0000

The word ‘rapture’ is one that most Christians will have come across at some time or another. However it is a sad fact that the subject is rarely discussed or explained from the pulpit, leaving many confused and uncertain as to what, and who, to believe.

It would seem that many people prefer to ignore what they see as controversial subjects rather than search for the truth. However, Jesus Himself rebuked the Pharisees for not discerning the signs of the times (Matt 16:3); He also told His disciples not to be deceived. But unless we know what is true, how can we know if we are being led astray? The Apostle Paul, in his letters, urges Christians ‘not to be ignorant’. And time and time again we are warned in scripture that false teachers will come into the church, teaching the things that people want to hear (2 Tim 4:3), but not teaching the truth. Not surprisingly, we read that many will follow them (2 Peter 2:2).

These false teachers will sound convincing, and the message they bring will seem plausible. This is to be expected, because the mark of a good counterfeit is that it is so close to the original that it is hard to distinguish between the two. The difference is that one can be deadly. Renowned author and speaker Dave Hunt uses the analogy of Rat poison. Rat poison is 99.95% nutritious – that is why the rats like it! Only 0.05% is poison, but that is enough to kill them.

In John 16:13 we read that the Holy Spirit came to ‘guide us into all truth’, and in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 Paul quotes from the Old Testament saying: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love Him”. Most commentators stop at this point, but Paul continues: “BUT GOD HAS REVEALED THEM TO US THROUGH HIS SPIRIT”! We are told in Philippians 2:12 to “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling”; clearly the onus is on each of us to find out and understand – it is not an exaggeration to say that our eternity may depend on it! (see 1 Tim 4:16)

What does ‘rapture’ mean?

As we come to the subject of the Rapture, the first question we should address is, what does ‘rapture’ mean?, or rather, what do we mean by the word ‘rapture’? In order to answer this, it would be helpful to look at some Biblical examples.

In the book of Genesis we read of a man called Enoch. Enoch had a son and named him Methuselah; “After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three-hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” (Gen 5 22-24). In the book of 2 Kings ch.2 we read how God ‘carried’ Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind. In both of these accounts, men of God were ‘caught up’, ‘snatched away’ or, if you will, ‘raptured’. In the book of Revelation there is another example of this being ‘caught up’ to heaven. In chapter 11 we read of a time yet to come when two ‘witnesses’ (Moses & Elijah?) will stand in Jerusalem and prophesy for three and a half years. At the end of this time they will be killed but after three and a half days “the breath of life from God entered them and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.” Finally, probably the most well known example is recorded in the book of Acts, when Jesus Himself was taken up into a cloud as the disciples looked on (see Acts 1:9-11).

So, to put it simply, ‘rapture’ is the word commonly used to describe this being taken up alive into heaven from earth. It has often been asked if the word occurs in the Bible. The answer is yes, and no! In 1 Thessalonians 4:17 we find that the phrase ‘caught up’ comes from the Greek word ‘harpazo’ which means to snatch away, to lift, transport, pluck, carry away or rapture. However in the Latin Vulgate translation, which was translated about 400AD (Vulgate is the Latin word for ‘common’ or ‘popular’), the word ‘harpazo’ is actually translated as ‘rapturus’, from which we derive the word ‘rapture’. So whilst the word ‘rapture’ is not found in modern translations of the bible, it has been used in the past.

The big question

Clearly from scripture, we can see that people have been raptured in the past, and will be in the future. The big question is: does the Bible say that the Church will be raptured at some point in the future, and if so, when, and just as importantly, why? The purpose of this leaflet is to answer these questions.

Only one place to find the answer

As always, we must turn to the word of God if we are to find the answer to any of these questions. We must always be cautious of man’s opinion, unless it is firmly rooted in the word of God. Man is fallible, the word of God shows in many irrefutable ways that it is the infallible, inspired word of a Creator God who is outside of our time domain; a God who knows ‘the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done’ (Isaiah 46:10). Regardless of what church tradition, or popular opinion may have us believe, if it is not in accord with the word of God, then it is not in accord with the word of God! Paul said to Timothy: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15) We must be like the Bereans in Acts chapter 17, who ‘received the word with all readiness, and searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so’.

Will the Church be raptured?

So as we ponder this question, let us start by turning to the word of God. In Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians we find the following passage “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thess 4:13-18)

Paul starts this passage by stating his desire that Christians should not be ignorant regarding our Christian friends and families who have died. Unlike the world, we have a hope – and that hope is, that at some point in the future, Christ will bring with Him all those who have died ‘in the faith’ and we will see them again! We know from scripture that Jesus returned to heaven after His ascension and ‘sat down at the right hand of God’ (Heb 8:10 / Heb 10:12). We also know that when we die as Christians we will ‘be with the Lord’ – in Heaven (2 Cor 5:8). So all those who have died in the faith have gone to heaven and will come back with Jesus at this time.

Paul goes on to explain that when they return they will rise, and along with all the Christians still alive on Earth at that time, will be given new bodies fit for eternity. This is made clear in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian Christians: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15: 50-54)

So both, the Christians who are dead that will come back with Jesus, and those who are still alive on earth at that time, will receive new supernatural bodies that won’t decay! We will all then rise to meet the Lord in the air. All of this will happen “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” and Paul tells us that from that point on, we will always be with the Lord! This, he says, should be a great comfort to us.

In fact, in his letter to Titus, Paul referrers to this event as our blessed hope! “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ,” (Titus 2:13-14)

And to the Philippians, Paul said that this event was like a prize that should motivate us as we live the Christian life: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus“. (Phil 3:13-15)

A few verses further on Paul adds: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (Phil 3:20-21)

So as we can see, the scripture teaches us, that at some time in the future, the Church will be raptured and will receive new incorruptible bodies. The next question is, when will this happen?

The coming Tribulation

From prophecies in Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Matthew and Revelation, we know that the last years of this age will be a time of ‘tribulation’. This tribulation will be the outpouring of God’s wrath on an unbelieving world that has turned its back on God. Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, countless scriptures in the Old and New Testaments, and of course the book of Revelation make it clear; God will not remain silent, He will bring His judgement. ”The Lord is not slack concerning His promise (the promise of His coming), as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

Regarding the coming time of trouble, the prophet Isaiah said: “Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. Therefore all hands will be limp, every man’s heart will melt, and they will be afraid. Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; they will be in pain as a woman in childbirth; they will be amazed at one another; their faces will be like flames. Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He will destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine. “I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.” (Isaiah 13:6-11)

From the books of Daniel and Revelation we find that this tribulation period will last for 7 years – or to be more precise 2520 days, which is 7 years based on a 360-day year. (Rev 11:3 / Rev 12:6 / Daniel 9:27) The first three and a half years (1260 days) will be ‘the beginning of sorrows’ as foretold by Jesus in Matthew 24:8. The last three and a half years (or the second period of 1260 days) will be ‘the Great Tribulation’ (Matt 24:21) or ‘time of Jacob’s trouble’ (Jer 30:7), and will climax with the Second Coming of Jesus.

Timing

So, returning to our question, the two most popular views regarding the timing of the Rapture are that it will either occur at the end of the 7 years, and will be a ‘phase’ of the Second Coming, or it will take place before the 7 years begin. These two views are known as ‘post-tribulation’ and ‘pretribulation’. Obviously, only one of these views can be correct, and once again, scripture itself is the place where we must start.

As we look at the details surrounding the Second Coming we find that when Jesus returns, it will not be just a fleeting visit. Whereas, one of the main purposes of the Rapture is to take the Church back to heaven as we will see.

Daniel, in interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel ch2), makes it clear that when Jesus comes back at the Second Coming He will be like a Rock that crushes the governments of this world and establishes His own kingdom that will ‘fill the earth’. When the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was going to give birth to the Messiah, he told her that Jesus would sit on the ‘throne of His father David’ (Luke1:32). David’s throne was an earthly throne located in Jerusalem. However the throne of David did not exist when Jesus came the first time, the Romans were in charge. So unless Gabriel got it wrong, this has to refer to a time yet to come. Many other passages in both the Old and New Testaments make this absolutely clear, Jesus will return to judge and rule on the earth. So as we study these two events, we see that the Second Coming and the Rapture are distinct and separate events that therefore cannot occur at the same time.

At the Rapture, Jesus’ feet do not touch the ground. At the Second Coming, He puts His feet on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. At the rapture Jesus comes for His Bride (the Church); at the Second Coming He comes with her. This is made clear in Jude 14-15: “Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” At the Second Coming, Jesus returns from heaven to the earth with His saints following Him. Although it is stating the obvious, in order for the saints to come back with Him, they must have gone to be with Him first!

Another verse that confirms this is found in the book of Revelation. In chapter 19, as Jesus leaves heaven to come to earth for the Second Coming we read: “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the

nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” The armies in heaven, ‘clothed in fine linen, white and clean’, is a clear reference to the saints – the Church, the Bride of Christ, as is explained earlier in chapter 19: “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” (Rev 19:7-8) So, if heaven opens and Jesus leaves, followed by the saints, we must be in heaven. If we are in heaven we must have gone there, i.e been raptured, prior to this event!

Destination heaven!

The fact that the rapture would happen, and that the Church would return with Jesus to heaven was actually explained to the disciples be Jesus Himself. On the last night that Jesus and the disciples were together, He sat them down for His longest recorded talk. He explained that He had to go ‘away’ but that He would send His Holy Spirit to comfort them and lead them into all truth. The disciples were saddened and concerned that Jesus may be leaving them. So Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” (John 13:36)

We know from other verses latter in this passage that Jesus was talking about returning to His Father in heaven. Clearly He says to Simon Peter that although Peter couldn’t follow now, he would follow on eventually. But Jesus didn’t just leave it there; He went on to make it absolutely certain: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 13:36-14:4)

Not only did Jesus promise that He would go on ahead and ‘prepare a place’ for them in heaven, but He also explained that He would return and ‘receive them to Himself’, “that where I am, there you may be also”. Jesus continued: “You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe.” (John 14:28-29)

Jesus told the disciples that He was returning to His Father in heaven. At some point in the future He would return, ‘receive them to Himself’ and take them back to heaven to the place He had prepared. It is clear then, from the Bible, that the Rapture and Second Coming are two separate and distinct events, each for a particular purpose in God’s overall plan.

‘You are not in darkness’

In 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, Paul says “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.” In this verse Paul echoes Jesus’ words regarding ‘the day of the Lord’; however, Paul then goes on to say: “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day (the day of the Lord) should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”

In this passage, Paul explains that Christians are not in darkness, and that we will not be overtaken by the day of the Lord, and that God will not allow us to experience His wrath. Therefore the Rapture must occur before the day of the Lord begins in earnest. This is why it was such a comfort to the Thessalonian Christians. If the Rapture were not to occur until the Second Coming, it wouldn’t have been much of a comfort for them to have known they would have to endure earthquakes, famines, pestilences, wars and rumors of wars, and that is just the start!

The idea of escaping God’s wrath was not something just taught by Paul; it is found throughout scripture. For example, in Luke 21, after giving His disciples a briefing on the things that would happen prior to His Second Coming, Jesus said to them: “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-37)

The options that Jesus gives, are 1) to live being weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the cares of this life – and find that the day of the Lord has come on you ‘like a thief in the night’ OR, 2) live a life “worthy of the calling with which you were called” (Eph 4:1) and escape from the judgment that is coming.

Jesus promised His disciples that there would be a way of escaping the coming Tribulation. Again, this is amplified in 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 where Paul says that we are “to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” We even find Old Testament references to God protecting His people through this time: Psalm 27:4-6 says: “One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple. for in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. and now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.”

Now, skeptics may suggest that this verse has nothing to do with the Tribulation; but we do know that many Psalms are both applicable to the time the psalmist was living in, and also prophetic, looking forward to future events, as I believe this one is here. Regardless, it again underlines the fact that God will keep His people from a time of trouble.

Another even clearer reference to this is found in Isaiah 26:19-21. “Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew is like the dew of herbs, And the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter your chambers, And shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, Until the indignation is past. For behold, the LORD comes out of His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; The earth will also disclose her blood, And will no more cover her slain.”

The whole of this chapter is looking forward to God delivering Israel and judging the nations of the earth – something that we know will take place during the Tribulation. There is then this reference to those who have died, being resurrected – and singing! If you study the occasions in scripture where groups of people are resurrected and have cause to sing, there is really only one that fits, and that is at the time of the Rapture when ‘the dead in Christ will rise first….’ “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-24)

NB: Notice that even in this verse from 1st Corinthians, the resurrection of the saints is before ‘the end’ begins.

Our above passage in Isaiah then goes on to show God hiding His people in their chambers while His indignation is poured out on the inhabitants of Earth, to punish them for their iniquity. It doesn’t get clearer than this! In the book of Genesis we read the story of Lot who was living in Sodom. Before God could bring His judgment, He had to remove Lot; because God is just, He cannot judge the righteous with the wicked. (Gen 18:25)

Noah was shut safely in the ark before one drop of rain fell. Not only did God make sure Noah and his family were inside, God Himself actually shut the door! (See Gen 7:16) In Amos 3:7 we read: “Surely the Lord does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets”. As we have seen, God has indeed revealed this most incredible of secrets to His servants, and the prophet Zephaniah declared: “Seek the Lord all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger” (Zephaniah 2:3)

A major issue

For those who say that there will not be a rapture, or that the rapture is just a ‘phase’ of the second coming, the only option is to accept that the Church will go through the time of tribulation. i.e. the Church will be subject to God’s wrath along with the rest of the world. However, as Christians our sin was ‘judged’ at Calvary on the cross; so are we to be judged twice? Was Jesus’ death not sufficient? The issue of the Rapture is not about ‘differences in doctrine’, it is fundamental to the message of the cross. Either Jesus’ death was sufficient or it wasn’t. If, as we know, it was sufficient, then we have already been judged, and therefore have no need to go through the tribulation. Jesus will indeed ‘deliver us from the wrath to come’. All praise to His name!

Summary

The Rapture of the Church, as explained in scripture, could occur at any moment. The saints will be taken back to heaven and a time of tribulation will start on the earth.

Where are we now?

The day of the Lord is on the horizon. The world scene is almost set for the rise of the coming world leader who is generally referred to as Antichrist (Rev 13 / 2 Thes 2:8-10). The old Roman Empire – east and west – is being revived in fulfillment of the prophecies in Daniel and Revelation. It will not be long before Babylon in Iraq emerges as a centre for world government and trade (Rev 17 & 18). Just as the Bible predicted, “evil men and impostors are growing worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Tim 3:13)

2 Timothy 3:1-4 now reads like a column in a daily newspaper: “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lover of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”

God is long suffering, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). However, the clock is ticking and judgment is coming. The world is looking for, and talking about ‘peace and safety’, but ‘when they say peace and safety then sudden destruction will come upon them like a thief in the night’ (1 Thes 5:3). The Bible says that people will become so desperate that they will hide in rocks and caves to try to escape from the wrath of God (Rev 6:12-17). They will also try to commit suicide but God will not allow them (Rev 9:6) The earth will become a living nightmare for those who are left behind. It is no coincidence that there are so many disaster movies coming out in recent times that depict global catastrophes, invasions from space that threaten to end life as we know it, asteroids on a collision course with earth, and the list goes on. People are being conditioned and subconsciously trained to accept these things as the norm, so that when the things described in the book of Revelation (chapter 6 onwards) start to happen, people will try to explain it away rather than turn to God and repent. The picture is bleak; very bleak.

The only hope is that ‘you be ‘found worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man’. The Bible makes it clear that no one can be worthy by their own efforts; only by accepting Jesus’ death in your place, and starting a new life in Him will anyone be found worthy. If you are a Christian, then the picture is far from bleak. For if you are ready and waiting for Jesus to return, knowing that He will deliver us from the wrath to come, we have a great hope and are eagerly awaiting all He has prepared for those who love Him. Indeed the Rapture is our blessed hope.

Throughout the history of the Church, people have lived in expectation, being like the wise virgins in Matthew 25, ready to go at a moments notice. After the Holy Spirit filled Church is raptured, the world will enter this time of tribulation (2 Thes 2:7) that will last for 7 years and culminate in the infamous ‘Battle of Armageddon’ when the nations of the world will march against God’s chosen people – the Jews (Rev 16:12-16 / Zech 12 & 13). At this time, according to the prophet Hosea (Hosea 5:15), Israel will cry out to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – the God of the Bible, and acknowledge their sin. They will accept Jesus as their Messiah and He will then return with His Bride, to deliver Israel and set up His kingdom on earth for 1000 years, reigning from His capitol city, Jerusalem (Rev 19).

Arriving in Heaven

Let us turn our attention now to focus on the events that will take place in heaven, for all those who escape the wrath to come. From various scriptures we find that when ‘we’ arrive (it assumed that by now you don’t want to stay on the earth!), the first thing to happen is what can best be described as an award ceremony for God’s faithful servants.

Those who have ‘put their treasure in heaven’ (Matt 6:19-21) will receive rewards; those who have lived with one foot in the world and wasted opportunities, well, it’s best to let the word of God explain……

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Cor 5:10) “…….each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” (1Cor 3:13-15)

This ‘judgment seat of Christ’ has nothing to do with sin. Our sin was dealt with on the cross, once and for all – (NB: Obviously this only can apply to Christians who have repented and accepted Jesus as their own personal Saviour). The judgment seat of Christ is an assessment of how Christians have lived, whether they have been faithful with the ‘talents’ they have been given (see Matt 25:14-30).

It is clear from scripture that one of the rewards that will be given to those who have ‘taken up their cross’ and followed Jesus (Matt 16:24-27) will be crowns. These crowns are then given back to Jesus as a love gift. This is all detailed in Revelation chapter 4 and 5 from which comes the inspiration for the hymn ‘Crown Him with many crowns’. So many Christians have sung this hymn without realising that they are singing about this time!

As an interesting aside, the structure of the book of Revelation is very interesting. After the introduction in chapters 1 and 2, we have the letters to the 7 churches, which, as well as being letters that were sent to 7 literal churches in Asia Minor (Turkey), also map out the entire history of the Church throughout the centuries. After the letters to the churches, or church ages, we see an open door in heaven at the start of chapter 4, and a “voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here” (Again, spot the similarities with 1 Thes 4:16-17!).

Chapters 4 and 5 clearly show the Church in heaven wearing their crowns. However after this point the Church is only seen in heaven. The tribulation starts in chapter 6 and most of the book of Revelation is then taken up with the events that take place back on the earth as God pours out His wrath. The next time we really see the Church is in chapter 19 when we get ready to follow Jesus back down to earth for the Second Coming.

Coming, ready or not!

As we have already briefly mentioned, Jesus told a parable in Matthew 25 about some wise and foolish virgins: “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ “Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ “But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ “But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (Matt 25:1-13) As we read this, we find that the ‘kingdom of heaven is like….’ In a very real sense the kingdom of heaven can be viewed as the Church, and therefore, the Church viewed as the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven where Jesus is Lord and reigning at the moment is in the hearts of His people – the Church. “For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21)

“One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God begin?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God isn’t ushered in with visible signs. You won’t be able to say, ‘It has begun here in this place or there in that part of the country.’ For the Kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21 The Living Bible)

All of the parables in Matthew 13, for example, are in reference to the Church, not of course a religious group or denomination; but the true Church that Jesus came to build – It is important to understand that there are many in the so-called ‘church’ that are not really part of the body of Christ (see Matt 13’s parable of the wheat and tares). So, ‘the kingdom of heaven is like…..’ = ‘the true Church, the body of Christ is like….’

As we look at this example, we find that the Church is like two distinct groups, those who are ready and those who are not. Those who are ready and waiting have their lamps filled with oil. It is interesting to note that the Church is represented as a lamp in scripture (Matt 5:14-16 / Rev 1:12-13, 20 / Rev 2:1). The Church is not the light, in the same way that a lamp is not the light; the lamp simply bears the light as the oil burns within it. The Holy Spirit is often represented by oil, and Christians should bear the light of Jesus, who is the Light of the world, as the Holy Spirit burns within them. From the picture that Jesus gives we can see that the wise ones, with their lamps full of oil, resemble Christians who are full of the Holy Spirit, and are therefore ready and waiting for Jesus’ return (“The Spirit and the Bride say ‘Come’” – Rev 22:17).

God’s will for all of us is that we be ‘sanctified’ (1 Thes 4:3), set apart from this world (1 John 2:15). This is the only way that Christians can be truly full of the Holy Spirit, as they surrender all to Jesus and become empty of themselves; so much of the New Testament deals with this theme. The second group of virgins in Jesus’ example – those who were not ready – were complacent and not expecting the Bridegroom’s imminent return.

In scripture Jesus is seen as a Bridegroom; and when the bridegroom in the story eventually arrives, there is a great shout! (re-read 1 Thes 4:16!). The next thing we read is that the foolish ones realise that they have ‘missed the boat’ and cry out ‘Lord, Lord’, Jesus replies that He never knew them! (Does this sound familiar? See Matt 7:13-23). The wise ones are then taken with the Bridegroom to the wedding feast! It is no coincidence that this story is a model of what will happen at the time of the Rapture, and indeed “To those who eagerly wait for Him (The wise virgins – un-spotted by this world) He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” (Heb 9:28) 2 Tim 4:8 says “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” For those who have loved His appearing, those who eagerly await Him, they will be taken back to the place that Jesus has prepared for them – in His Father’s house. (John 14:2-3)

A Jewish wedding

Most of us in our western culture will know little or nothing about a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony. However, to Jesus and His disciples, the following would have been very familiar.

Kiddushin

typical Jewish wedding is separated into two parts, 1) the ‘Ketubah’ (Betrothal), and 2) the ‘Huppah’ (wedding ceremony), which is followed by the conclusion/wedding feast, ‘Nisuin’. This is very much like our engagement, which would be followed by the wedding day/Reception. The Ketubah to a Jew however, is a far more serious commitment than we tend to view an engagement. The Ketubah is in fact a marriage contract between the groom and his bride. After the groom has purchased his bride, he draws up a contract in which he undertakes to give all that he has in order to provide for every need of his bride, not only while he is alive, but also in the event of his death. This is exactly what Jesus has done for us. He has purchased us, and has written a new covenant in His blood to ensure His bride – the Church – has been given ‘exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think’ (Ephesians 3:20).

One part of the ritual includes removing all manmade things (such as jewellery and nail polish etc) and then being fully immersed in water while reciting a special prayer. She is supervised and assisted during the ritual to ensure it is done correctly. This is incredible! The Holy Spirit has been given for the Church to prepare us to meet our Bridegroom. We too should be fully immersed in the water of God’s word, so that we should be without spot or blemish (Eph 5:25- 32). We should purge ourselves of all that is in this world, “For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)

At the appointed time, the Jewish groom will then return with a shout and a blast of a ram’s horn to claim his bride and take her back to the ‘Huppah’, which is traditionally held at his father’s house. By entering the house, the woman is declaring her official independence from her family and accepting the protection of her husband. What a parallel this is to the Rapture when there will be a blast of a trumpet and a shout, and then we will rise to meet Jesus in the air. As with a Jewish wedding we will also go back to the Father’s house, thus forever severing our ties with this world. For a Jew, the wedding ceremony now begins and the couple say their ‘vows’ reciting ‘the seven blessings’ whilst holding a second cup of wine. These blessings begin with 1) praising God for His creation in general, then 2) praising Him for making man in His image, 3) then praising Him for making a “two part creature”, man and woman, 4) then acknowledging that only together can they be complete. 5) In the fifth blessing they pray for the restoration of Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. 6) The sixth blessing expresses the hope that the bride and groom will grow in love for each other, focusing their love as exclusively as Adam and Eve, when there was no one else in the world. 7) Then finally, the seventh blessing is a prayer for the Messiah to come and redeem the Jews from exile, so that peace and tranquility will reign over the world.

Conclusion

The Rapture really is far more than just a doctrinal issue. It is, or should be, the hope of the Church. “To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” (Heb 9:28)

We must lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, pressing toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.. For we are not of this world, our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also we should be eagerly awaiting our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! “For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counsellor?” For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be all the glory and all the praise, now and forever. Amen.

(Phil 3:13-14 / John 15:18 / Phil 3:20-21 /Rom 11:33-36 )

“He shall call to the heavens from above, And to the earth, that He may judge His people: “Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” Let the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is Judge.” (Ps 50:4-6)

See below:

Appendix A – Where is the Blessed Hope in today’s Church?

Appendix B – The 7 Blessings – A checklist for Christ’s Bride?

Appendix A: Where is the Blessed Hope in today’s Church?

In the last 100 years of church history we have seen a gradual eroding of the Word of God by supposedly Bible believing churches. At a conference some years ago a major denomination took the decision not to preach or discuss ‘end times’ issues in their churches. They are not alone. Many will not preach on the ‘end times’ because it is apparently divisive. Others see it as a distraction that takes us away from our task of ‘evangelizing the world’.

Maybe these people choose not to read their Bibles, because rather than a powerful revival-driven church that claims the world and converts the masses, the Bible actually says: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1 Tim 4:1) The Holy Spirit clearly wants to get this point across, that whilst we may see revivals – and let’s all pray that we do – the ‘norm’ is going to be the opposite. One of the reasons for this is the simple fact that Christians in general are not being taught about the “blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” (Titus 2:13). Seldom do we hear sermons about the Second Coming and the millennial reign of Christ on earth when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (1 Cor 15:24). Without this vital teaching we leave ourselves wide open to the deception that will come, and we deprive ourselves of understanding so much of the Bible which God has given in order that we might be ‘thoroughly equipped’ (see 2 Tim 3:16-17).

It is like having a film with a really exciting ending where the hero wins. Imagine showing it to your friends but then stopping it before it gets to the end. It wouldn’t make any sense to them and the plot would remain unresolved. It would be extremely hard for them to recommend it to anyone else.

This is what the modern church has done with the greatest story of all time; a story that was written in blood on a wooden cross erected in Judea almost 2000 years ago, a story that is about to reach its climax, and the most amazing discovery is that before the Hero wins convincingly, He marries His beloved Bride!

You and I can be that Bride and reign with our Hero forever. Now that’s a story, and that’s why we should live our lives ‘looking for the blessed hope’!

In Proverbs 29:18 we read “Where there is no vision, the people perish”. How sad it is today to see so many churches without that hope now in decline, so many ‘Christians’ falling away and giving up just as we are approaching the finish line, and so many that appear to have lost any real motivation, or vision for their faith.

What we do see are churches left, right and centre clamoring to get hold of the latest church growth course or programme in the hope that it might work for them. Whist they maintain an outward profession to believe the Word of God, it is apparently no longer sufficient. Gone are the days when “the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47), when it was “the Law of the Lord that converted the soul” (Psalm 19:7). Apparently it is now up to us to have the ‘right strategy’ or to make our churches ‘seeker friendly’; this is how we are being told the modern church is to grow.

One popular author and pastor, in his ‘church/personal growth manual’ that is taking the church by storm tells his readers: “When the disciples wanted to talk about prophecy, Jesus quickly switched the conversation to evangelism. He said in essence. “The details of my return are none of your business.””

Oh no, no, no He didn’t! Jesus said:

“Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” (Matt 24:5)

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. (Matt 24:25-26)

Now learn a parable of the fig tree…… (Matt 24:32)

So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near (Matt 24:33)

Therefore be ye also ready……… (Matt 24:44)

Watch therefore…….. (Matt 25:13)

Take heed lest any man deceive you: (Mark 13:5)

But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that reads understand,) Mark 13:14)

For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. (Mark 13:22-23)

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. (Mark 13:33)

Watch ye therefore (Mark 13:35)

And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch (Mark 13:37)

Take heed that ye be not deceived (Luke 21:8)

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (Luke 21:28)

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:34-36)

As Jesus clearly says, there is a way to escape the things that will come to pass on this earth; that is our blessed hope! Those who tell you that prophecy and understanding the ‘end times’ are unimportant have obviously not read the Bible, so I wouldn’t trust them or go to one of their churches – what you do is up to you, but remember: Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. (Matt 7:13-15)

If the path you are on is wide and there are many with you, you might just want to look up and see where it leads. Don’t be fooled because the majority of people think it’s ok. The majority are not always right – the majority drowned in the flood.

“But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matt 24:37)

Appendix B – The 7 Blessings: A checklist for Christ’s Bride?

It is interesting that the 7 blessings that are said at a Jewish wedding are designed to reflect the attitude and beliefs of the bride and groom. Having already seen how closely the Rapture seems to be modeled on a Jewish wedding, could it be that the 7 blessings would also reflect the beliefs of Christ’s bride at the time of the Rapture?

As we have already seen, these blessings begin with 1) praising God for His creation in general, then 2) praising Him for making man in His image, 3) then praising Him for making a “two part creature”, man and woman, 4) then acknowledging that only together can they be complete. 5) In the fifth blessing they pray for the restoration of Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. 6) The sixth blessing expresses the hope that the bride and groom will grow in love for each other, focusing their love as exclusively as Adam and Eve, when there was no one else in the world. 7) Then finally, the seventh blessing is a prayer for the Messiah to come and redeem the Jews from exile, so that peace and tranquility will reign over the world.

So if the beliefs of Christ’s Bride are to reflect this, it would suggest that 1) she acknowledges God as Creator of all things, (would this also imply a rejection of evolutionary ideas and propaganda?) 2) Acknowledge that we have been made in His image – Father, Son & Spirit = soul, body & spirit, and hence a belief in the Trinity. 3) Acknowledge that God’s intended union is between male and female, thus ruling out homosexual behavior or any acceptance of it. 4) Man and woman can only be complete as one unit – which in itself is symbolic of Christ and the Church, (see Eph 5:32) 5) Have a desire to see Jerusalem and the Jewish temple restored, hence a love for the Jewish people and an acknowledgment of Israel’s place in God’s plan. 6) A confident belief and hope that according to His word, God will create a new heavens and earth ‘wherein righteousness dwells’ – and in this new heavens and earth we will be His people and He will be our God, walking together with Him as Adam & Eve did before the fall (Rev 21:3 & Rev 22:4) – This rejects the dangerous amillennial view of the end times, 7) and finally, a desire to see the Jews accept their Messiah, and for Jesus to set up His kingdom on earth and reign from Jerusalem for 1000 years in fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.

This is conjecture and not doctrine, but If, as we know, Christ’s Bride is to be ‘washed by the water of God’s Word’ (Eph 5:26), and the 7 blessings, based on that Word are an indication as to her beliefs, it would confirm the view held by some scholars that there will be a move back to the Bible as the inspired, inerrant and infallible word of God by the (true) Church, prior to the Rapture.

The post The Rapture of The Church first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

What The Bible Says About Judgment

Barry Forder — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 12:39:04 +0000

Introduction

The word ‘judgment’ occurs almost 300 times in the Bible; over 100 of these references speak of a specific time or day of judgment for “all those who dwell on the earth” (Luke 21:35 / Isaiah 13:6-13 etc.) in other words, everyone! In the book of Matthew, we are told that for every idle word we speak, we must give account in the day of Judgment (Matthew 12:36).

In various other scriptures we find that for every action and deed we will be accountable to God (Ecclesiastes 11:9 / Hebrews 4:13 etc.), including all the things that are done in secret (Ecclesiastes 12:14 / Psalm 90:8). Although this may make us feel a little uneasy, it should really come as no surprise. After all, if we have been created by an all-powerful God, (and we can prove beyond any reasonable doubt that we have been), and if God has a purpose for every individual life, it follows that we will one day be accountable for all that we have, or have not done, and whether or not we have fulfilled that purpose.

The Bible gives ample teaching on this subject, and yet it is probably a subject that most people tend to avoid. Even to many Christians the subject is a bit ‘hazy’, and yet in the book of Hebrews, in the New Testament, the writer classes eternal judgment as one of the ‘elementary principles’ that Christians should have grasped in order to move onto maturity in the Christian faith (see Hebrews 6:1-2).

Entire books have been written on this subject and therefore a brief overview such as this can only really begin to scratch the surface. However our intention in preparing these study notes is that you will be prompted to embark on your own study from the Bible, which is the only book in the world that speaks with authority about where we came from, what we’re doing here, and where we are going when we die.

As always, we would encourage you to be like the Bereans in Acts chapter 17 verse 11, who ‘received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily [to see] whether [these things are] so’.

Various Judgments

One of the reasons that many may be uncertain about judgment and how it will affect us, is that the Bible actually speaks of various judgments, such as ‘the day of the Lord’, ‘the day of Christ’, ‘the Great White Throne judgment’, ‘the judgment of the nations’, as well as specific judgments for individuals, groups, places and nations; such as Israel, Babylon, the Church etc.

We will endeavour to give a brief overview of these, but our main emphasis will be on how these judgments do, or don’t affect us, why the Bible says that we will be judged anyway, and most importantly, the incredible way that God has provided for all those who want to ‘escape the wrath to come’ (Luke 21:36 / 1 Thessalonians 1:10)

Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Genesis 18:25

One thing that we do know for certain is that God is a just Judge (Psalm 7:11 / Psalm 9:8 / Psalm 98:9 / 2 Timothy 4:6 etc). In Psalm 119 king David said: “You are good, and do good” (Psalm119:68), and: “I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right, (Psalm 119:75). God’s very nature is good; He cannot go against His own character and be unjust or unfair. We often hear people say ‘If God was a God of love, then….. ….(fill in the blank)’. Statements such as this simply show that we have not understood God’s nature, His reasons, or His plan. God doesn’t become unloving or unfair simply because we don’t understand something. So confident was Job of God’s goodness and justice that, even after his world had fallen apart, he declared: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” (Job 13:15). God is outside of time, we are not. God can see the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10), we cannot. In fact, the Apostle Paul underlines the fact that: “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12). “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Common misconceptions

It is probably fair to say that the commonly held view of ‘judgment’ is that when we die we will be met at the ‘Pearly Gates’ by St. Peter, if we’ve been good we will be allowed into heaven, if not……well we’ve all been good haven’t we? The truth is somewhat different.

Firstly, nowhere in the Bible does it even suggest that the apostle Peter will meet us at the pearly gates and secondly, none of us have been good! Yes, you did read that right. According to the Bible no one is good enough to go to heaven! In the book of Romans the Apostle Paul, quoting from Psalms, said: “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10-12) A few verses further on Paul drives this home by adding: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God“ (Romans 3:23) You may be thinking ‘wait a minute’, and quite rightly so, because this is, at first glance, offensive to us. After all we’re not that bad, are we?

Well, God being God pre-empted our reaction and gave to a man called Moses a long list of rules, including the Ten Commandments. This was God’s standard, and if we are able to keep all of the law, we will be good enough for heaven. To start with this sounds OK, but the list contained over 300 ‘rules’. So let’s take a look at each one in turn and see how we’ve done. Maybe not! However, to illustrate the point it might be helpful to look at some of the ‘famous’ Ten Commandments and see how we measure up to these. (Remember, this is God’s standard and Jesus said that we should “be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48))

Is God no.1 in your life? More important than your house, car, clothes, CD collection or even than your family? God said “You shall have no other gods before Me” EVER! (Exodus 20:3) Have you ever taken God’s name in vain? i.e. used God’s name in the place of a swear word? Or what about the times when you have identified yourself with God’s name, like the times when you fill out forms that ask you what religion you are, and you put ‘Christian’ because you go to church sometimes? This also is ‘taking His name in vain’.

Have you always honored your father and mother? Have you ever hated someone in your heart? Jesus said that this is the same as murder, because all evil starts with the thoughts of the heart (Matthew 5:21-22).

Have you ever looked lustfully at someone? Again, Jesus said that this is as bad as actually committing adultery (Matthew 5:27-28).

As an aside, you may be thinking to yourself: “Surely eyeing someone up is not as bad as actually committing adultery” or: “There’s no way that getting mad at someone is as bad as murdering them”. Question: How much of the fruit did Eve have to eat before she was in big trouble? All of it? Just half? Maybe just a couple of bites? Now that you are thinking, you will probably answer that just one bite was enough to break God’s commandment.

Actually, the answer is no bites! The sin was committed the moment she decided in her heart to take the fruit off the tree and eat it. In Jeremiah 17:9 God says: “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” The ‘desperately’ in the original Hebrew actually means ‘incurably’ wicked. Jesus said: “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34-35) “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man” (Matthew 15:19-20)

Sin starts in the heart, the actions that follow are just the outworking of the rebellion that has taken place. Our problem lies in the fact that we ‘scale’ sin. In other words, we see some sins as worse than others and therefore deserving of greater punishment. In fact, it would probably be fair to say that we would happily just forget the little sins, as long as no one is harmed. However, as we will see, because God is just, He cannot overlook or ignore sin regardless of its ‘size’. God is righteous. The smallest, most insignificant act of rebellion (sin) is enough to drive a wedge between a holy God and man.

Back to our list..

Have you ever stolen anything? What about something small like a paper clip from work? If you have, do you know that this makes you a thief? The size and value are irrelevant; once the act is committed, there is no going back; you cannot undo it; and just because it may have been 15 years ago doesn’t change the fact that it happened. Sin does not decay with time and anyway God is eternal – outside of time. “God requires an account of what is past.” (Ecclesiastes 3:15)

Have you ever said something about someone else that was not true? The Bible calls this ‘bearing false witness’

OK, I think you get the point so we’ll stop there. The truth is, that we have all broken God’s rules – and we know it, our conscience tells us so! Con-science means ‘with knowledge’. In the book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul says that the whole reason that these laws were given was ‘to confine all under sin’ (Gal 3:22). In other words, the law was given to show us that we could not keep God’s laws or achieve His standard, even if we tried. The Apostle James backs this up by saying that: “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). Breaking even the smallest part of the law makes us a law-breaker.

We have already mentioned it, but a word that we often hear is ‘Sin’. Sin is an old English word that was used in archery, which simply meant ‘to miss the mark’. This is what we have all done; we have missed God’s ‘mark’. Even though God loves us, He cannot just ignore or forget about our sin because this would make Him unjust. Any court of justice demands that a crime be paid for; it cannot just be forgotten or ignored. If God is just, then He cannot ‘turn a blind eye’.

Where it started and where it can all end

If you will pardon the pun, the root of the problem is to do with a tree that was found in the Garden of Eden. God created Adam and Eve ‘perfect’ (i.e. without sin) but with freedom of choice. He clearly told them: “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17) Ezekiel 18:20 says: “The soul who sins shall die”. This is reiterated in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death”. God put a clear choice before Adam and Eve, either to obey Him and live in perfect harmony with Him, with no disease, suffering or death; or they could disobey and face the consequences. We all know what happened next. As a result of their disobedience they, and all their offspring, and all creation with them was separated from God.

We see so much suffering and pain in the world, and it all goes to underline that there is something drastically wrong between God and His creation, this is not the way it was supposed to be, but rather evidence that we live in a fallen world that has rejected its Creator.

We read in the book of Romans that ‘the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Children of God’ (Romans 8:20-21) What does this mean? Basically, that although God passed the death sentence on mankind (and all creation suffered as a consequence of mankind’s sin), passing the death sentence on us was an act of love as much as an act of judgment. God was actually preparing a way for us to be ‘saved’ and brought back into a relationship with Him; and as a result all creation will be restored as well. As God’s plan started to unfold, we find in Gen 3:15 the first mention that God was planning to rescue mankind from their predicament through the ‘Seed of the woman’. God then made clothes for Adam and Eve from animal skins, which at first may not appear particularly significant, but in doing this God was teaching them how they would eventually be saved. You see, in order to clothe them, an innocent animal had to be killed. God had said that the penalty for sin is death; but because of His mercy, He accepted the death of an animal in their place to ‘atone’ for their sin. Hebrews 9:22 tells us that “without shedding of blood there is no remission (forgiveness)” of sins.

Throughout the Old Testament we see that animals were offered to God as a temporary substitute to atone for man’s sin. However, if someone ‘righteous’ (without sin) could be found, one who would be prepared to die in man’s place as a substitute, this would satisfy the judgment that had been passed once and for all. Anyone from within the human race would be unable to pay because they were already sinners (as the law clearly shows), so because God loved us so much, He sent His only Son to die in our place. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Jesus came, lived a sinless life, endured six illegal trials, was brutally beaten and whipped and then humiliatingly crucified. Whilst He was on the cross He had all the sin of humanity poured upon Himself, and as a result was separated from God in our place, instead of us, so we won’t have to be.

No longer would animals need to be sacrificed as a temporary measure, Jesus died once for all. In Hebrews we read: “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (Hebrews9:11-15)

The first covenant (The Law of Moses) showed that we were ‘transgressors’ (sinners), but Jesus established a new covenant (agreement with God), so that all who accept that His blood was shed in place of their own, will be washed clean and forgiven.

It was common practice for prisoners at the time of Jesus to have a list of their crimes posted on the door of the prison so that any passer-by could see what the prisoner was in jail for. However when they had served their sentence the list of crimes would be stamped ‘Paid in full’ and the prisoner would now be free to go. If someone then recognised and stopped the prisoner, they could simply show the list with the official stamp across it to prove that they were now free. In much the same way, each of us have a list of crimes (sins) that we have committed. The problem is that the list is so big that we would never be able to serve the sentence, we are as good as dead! However, the Apostle Paul in writing to the Colossian church said: “He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14)

As Jesus was dying on the cross He cried out “Tetelastai”, which means ‘paid in full’! Jesus, in effect, took the list of your crimes, crossed out your name and put His own name in it’s place. He then took the death sentence that you deserved. Your list has now been given back to you stamped ‘Paid in full’. You are free to go. In this way, the wrath of God was satisfied; the sins of the whole world have been paid for completely! In 1 John 2:2 we read: “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” All of humanity could now go free and once again live in perfect harmony with God.

The Choice

However, in all of this, God has not taken away our free choice. He will not force anyone to accept the offer, each individual must chose to accept, or reject Jesus’ sacrifice in his or her place. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12-13) “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.” (Romans 3:21-22)

For those who choose to reject God’s offer of ‘salvation’, there will be no other option than to stand before God with a debt (list) of sin that they will never be able to pay. They will have no choice but to accept His verdict as their ‘sentence is passed’ – “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation” (Hebrews 2:3), “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31) Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

There are not many paths to God, as some would have us believe; there is just one way, through one Man – Jesus Christ. Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius or any other religious, philosophical, or political leader cannot save you, for they were not able (nor willing) to die in your place and pay for your sin.

So what does this mean?

Anyone who chooses to put his or her trust in Jesus needs no longer to fearfully await God’s judgment because Jesus has paid for all of their sin on their behalf. However, anyone, who chooses not to accept God’s offer, will have to face God and be judged in regard to everything they have ever said, done and thought.

Two distinct groups

With the ‘history’ and reason for judgment covered, let us now look to the future and see what the Bible says lies in store for those who have accepted Jesus, and what lies in store for those who haven’t (and won’t).

By now it should be fairly clear to see, that God has no need to judge those accepting Jesus in the same way as He will those who don’t. This is why the Bible speaks of two distinct and separate judgments of individuals. The Bible reveals that there are in effect two ‘waiting rooms’ for people when they die. One called ‘Paradise’ for all who die as Christians; and one called ‘Hell’ for all who don’t.

For Christians, Paradise, as the name suggests will be wonderful. Christians will be with Jesus immediately when they die, and all the worries and hassles of this life will be over – for ever! On the other hand, for all those who go to ‘Hell’, they will experience an extremely unpleasant time as they fearfully await God’s final judgment and sentence. What makes this even worse is that there will be no possibility of parole, no way of escape, and no hope, as the realisation dawns that the time to accept God’s offer of salvation through Jesus, has gone forever.

A brief look at ‘Hell’

In the Bible the name ‘Hell’ is used to describe two distinctly different places. The first place is the ‘waiting room’ as described above; the second is also referred to as the ‘lake of fire’ and it is this place with which the name is usually associated. The ‘waiting room’ Hell (which is the one that we are dealing with here) is also called by three other names in the Bible these are: ‘Hades’ (Greek), ‘Sheol’ (Hebrew) and ‘The Pit’.

In the book of Luke, Jesus gives an account of what this place is like. “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us. ‘Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ “(Luke 16:19-31)

Paradise

The ‘temporary’ home of Christians and Old Testament believers until the judgment is called ‘Paradise’ and is located in heaven. Although very little is told of it, we know that it is a place of comfort and peace in God’s presence. One thing for certain is that paradise it is a much better place to ‘wait’ in than Hell!

Summary so far….

God made man, (i.e. Mr & Mrs Man), man sinned, God ‘sentenced’ them to death. Jesus came and died as a substitute for all who accept Him. Those who do will go to Paradise when they die. Those who don’t will go to Hell. Both groups will wait in their respective places until their respective judgments.

The Judgment Seat of Christ

“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God’ (1 Pet 4:17)

The Bible reveals that the first group to be judged is “the house of God”. This will include all those in Paradise (including the Old Testament believers) and Christians alive on earth at that time. 1 Thessalonians 4 explains that at some point in the future, Jesus will return, bringing with Him those in Paradise. They will then be given new bodies fit for Heaven (1 Corinthians 15:50-57). At the same time all the Christians alive on the earth at that time will also be given new heavenly bodies, and will rise to meet Jesus in the clouds. Both groups will then return to Heaven with Jesus.

This event is commonly known as the ‘Rapture’, and according to the Bible, could take place any day now. Upon arriving in Heaven, the ‘saints’ (the Biblical name for these people) will all stand before the ‘judgment seat of Christ’.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad”. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (John 5:24)

As is clear from this scripture from John’s gospel, the judgment that Christians will receive is not in regard to sin, because that was dealt with on our behalf at the cross, nor is salvation the issue, the Bible says that salvation is guaranteed the moment you accept Jesus. This judgment is best explained as an ‘award ceremony’ for those who have done well as Christians.

According to the Bible, we will be given rewards depending on how we have lived as Christians. 1 Corinthians 3 explains that what we have done in our lives as Christians will be tested to see where we have put our ‘treasure’, i.e what has been important to us. Our work will be ‘put through a fire to test it’. Other passages help explain further that gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and straw are symbolic of the type of things that we do with our lives. If we ‘sow to the Spirit’ (Galatians 6:8) – i.e. live lives set apart for God, putting Him first, we will build up treasure in heaven (See Matthew 6:20). This is building with gold, silver and precious stones; when these pass through a fire they are purified; if this is our type of treasure we will receive a reward.

If on the other hand we have ‘sown to the flesh’ i.e. lived for our own pleasure and satisfaction, putting the things of God second, our treasure will be as wood, hay or straw which, when put through a fire, are completely burned up leaving nothing. This passage says that Christians who have lived in this way will still be saved – because salvation is not based upon their ‘work’, but upon Jesus’ sacrifice – but they will “be saved, yet so as through fire”. In other words they will get into heaven but by the skin of their teeth!

The Bible says that when we become Christians we belong to God 1 Corinthians 6:19-20), therefore God expects to see some return from His investment. Among the ‘rewards’ that will be given to those who have built with gold, silver and precious stones will be crowns. Throughout the New Testament there are various crowns promised to those who faithfully serve God in specific areas. The book of Revelation (Chapter 4) explains that the crowns that we ‘earn’ will be presented back to Jesus. Those who have worked hardest for the kingdom will receive more crowns and will therefore have more to give. These crowns are then worn by Jesus at His Second Coming (Revelation 19). Those who have built with ‘wood, hay and straw’ will see their work ‘burned up’ and therefore will have no reward and nothing to give. The passage says that they will suffer loss although it does not explain what this loss will be.

The Apostle Paul spoke of the ‘terror of the Lord’ (2 Corinthians 5:11). He dreaded the possibility of standing before God with a wasted life that did not reflect gratitude for all that Jesus has done. Another Apostle, John, also realised the danger of standing before Jesus with nothing and said: “Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward” (2 John 8). The Apostle Peter said that we should be diligent so that we would have an ‘abundant entrance’ into God’s kingdom (2 Peter 1:11). In I Corinthians 3:8, Paul said “each one will receive his own reward according to his own labour”. You cannot rely on someone else’s work. It is not enough to attend a ‘lively’ evangelistic church or show support for others efforts. Each individual will be accountable. “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). This is the only opportunity recorded in the Bible for the ‘saints’ to give something to Jesus, something that is not His already. Our sense of gratitude for all He has done for us should make us want to give our utmost for Him, including every moment of every day whilst we are still on this earth.

“He shall call to the heavens from above, And to the earth, that He may judge His people: “Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” (Psalm 50:4-5)

After this time of ‘judgment’ the saints will then celebrate ‘the marriage supper of the Lamb’ as foretold in Rev 19. This will be a time of great rejoicing and celebration. From this point on, the saints will be with Jesus for eternity.

Meanwhile, back on earth………..

Many people have wondered why God doesn’t intervene and stop all the injustice, wars, and crime that destroy so many lives. The Apostle Peter explains: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

However, after God has removed the Christians from the world (at the time of the Rapture) the ‘day of the Lord’ will begin in earnest.

“Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. Therefore all hands will be limp, every man’s heart will melt, and they will be afraid. Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; they will be in pain as a woman in childbirth; they will be amazed at one another; their faces will be like flames. Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He will destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine.” (Isaiah 13:6-10)

“The earth quakes before them, the heavens tremble; the sun and moon grow dark, and the stars diminish their brightness. The LORD gives voice before His army, for His camp is very great; for strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; who can endure it?” (Joel 2:10-11)

This time of judgment will last for 7 years according to the books of Daniel and Revelation. It will be a time when God will pour out His wrath upon this Christ rejecting world. Jesus, in the Gospels and the book of Revelation talk of famines, diseases, earthquakes and wars that will take place during the first 3½ years, and this is just ‘the beginning of sorrows’. “….then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved’(Matthew 24:21-22).

Revelation chapters 6-19 detail this ‘Great Tribulation’ that God brings upon the earth, including His judgment of the ‘one world church’ (Babylon the Great) which, according to a prophecy in Zechariah 5:1-11, will, before this time, relocate back to its original base in the land of Shinar (i.e. the now-being-rebuilt city of Babylon in modern day Iraq).

Babylon was the fountainhead of all false religion and idolatry starting with the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11), which, from various historical records, we understand was built under the influence of Cush, Noah’s Grandson. This attempt to unite the world spiritually and economically was thwarted by God and the Tower destroyed.

However, Cush had a son called Nimrod who we read about in Genesis 10:8-11 “[Nimrod] was a mighty hunter [in defiance of] the Lord”. According to tradition, Shem (another of Noah’s sons) was so enraged by Nimrod’s rebellion against God that he had him killed. This put Nimrod’s pregnant wife in a difficult position; should she now give up the throne and the position she so enjoyed? The answer is a resounding NO! Instead she propagated a story that her deceased husband was to be reincarnated as her baby, and so began the worship of the ‘Mother and Child’ – thousands of years before it was embraced by the Roman Catholic Church. Legends of this, secret priesthoods, the initiated few, purgatory, the mass and many other things all had their origin in Babylon and have permeated almost all cultures to one extent or another and can be traced back to Babylon. Semiramis gave herself the title ‘Queen of Heaven’, a title that is today misapplied to Mary.

Countless visions and apparitions have been appearing around the world in recent years where this ‘Queen of Heaven’ has declared that she will usher in world peace if all religions will unite under her name. The Roman Catholic Church is leading the charge to draw all faiths under their/her umbrella and complete what was started in Babylon 4500 years ago. This false religious system that has deceived multitudes God will judge. (See Isaiah 13 & 14 / Jeremiah 50 & 51 / Revelation 17 & 18).

At the end of this seven year tribulation, even after the horrific judgments of the Tribulation, the united armies of the world, under the control of the coming world leader (commonly referred to as Antichrist), will still be ‘hell-bent’ on rejecting Christ’s right to rule and they will march against Israel, intent both on its destruction and more importantly, trying to stop Jesus Christ setting up His kingdom on earth. (See Rev 19:19)

However as Israel cry out to God (Hosea 5:15), Jesus will return (this will be the Second Coming) and the infamous battle of Armageddon will commence. Jesus will destroy his enemies and reclaim the ‘title’ to planet earth that was lost by Adam to Satan back in the Garden of Eden. Jesus will then begin a 1000 year reign on earth, in Jerusalem on ‘David’s throne’. This is prophesied in many places in the Bible, not least in Luke chapter 1:32 (spoken by the Angel Gabriel to Mary). All the nations of the world will then be gathered before Him and we read that He will separate them as a shepherd separates sheep and goats. These nations will be judged depending on how they have treated His brethren – Israel (see Matthew 25:31-46). Those nations who have supported and defended Israel throughout the centuries will enter into the Millennium (the period of 1000 years). The nations who have persecuted Israel will be thrown into Hell (the waiting room that we have already looked at), and there they will wait until the Great White Throne Judgment that will not occur until after the 1000 years.

Another important event to take place at Jesus’ Second Coming (i.e. before the 1000 years), is that the ‘Beast’ (Antichrist), and the ‘False Prophet’, will be cast into the Lake of Fire. This is, if you like, the real Hell that will be eternal. It is the place that we are told was made only for the devil and his angels. God does not want any human to go there which is why He has gone to such lengths, sending His own Son to die in our place. But again, God has given us all free choice; it’s up to us.

During the Millennium the devil will be bound, cast into the bottomless pit and not allowed to interfere with the events on earth. Some scholars think that this bottomless pit is ‘Tarterus’ (mentioned in 2 Peter 2:4) which is a place the Greeks believed was below the-waiting-room-Hell in the centre of the earth (hence has no bottom because any direction from there would be up). This is a point worth mentioning, because many people seem to think that the Devil rules Hell as God rules Heaven. This is not the case. The Devil is a created being who has rebelled against God and will be judged for his sin. The Devil does not want to go to Hell any more than you or I.

After the 1000 years, the Devil will be released from his chains and will once again deceive the nations of the earth and turn them against Jesus. Once again the Devil will lead an army against Jerusalem but the Bible makes it clear that he will not be victorious. He will then also be thrown into the Lake of Fire (where the Antichrist and the False Prophet already are – Rev 20:10).

NB: This verse from the Bible reveals a terrifying reality. Even after 1000 years of being in the Lake of Fire, Antichrist and the False Prophet are still there in torment, i.e. they do not die but suffer eternally.

The Great White Throne Judgment

“Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.” (1 Corinthians 15:24-26)

In 2 Peter we read that “the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10)

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15)

This passage from the book of Revelation records the vision that was seen by the apostle John regarding the final Judgment; this, if any, is the real ‘Judgment Day’. Every single person* that has been born since the beginning of time will be judged ‘according to their works’.

* The only exception will be the ‘saints’ (Christians and Old Testament believers) who have already had their ‘judgment’ as previously explained.

However , for everyone else, every word, thought and action will be assessed and compared to God’s ‘righteous’ standard. As we have already seen from various passages in the Bible, “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Anyone whose name is not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity. People have tried to say that this is not the action of a loving God but as has been explained, God is also a just God and cannot ‘overlook’ sin. Again, God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9); and we know that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God is fair and He is just. He has done everything possible to stop people from going to Hell for eternity, the cost was Jesus’ death on the cross, a price far higher than we have any capacity to imagine. The choice is now up to each individual.

There is not one single human soul who has yet experienced the pain Jesus did on the cross. Even those who have died without accepting Christ have not yet been totally separated from God; for even in Hades (the ‘waiting room’) the presence of God can be felt (see Psalm 139:78). However Jesus was totally cut off from God on account of our sin, that is why He cried out “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46)

We cannot even begin to comprehend what eternity without God will be like; even those who go through their lives without giving God a thought, experience so many of His blessings each day. The pain and suffering, sickness and disease that we experience during this lifetime are evidence of a fallen world, that something isn’t right. But this is what Jesus came to fix. There was no sickness or death before man rebelled against God. There will be no sickness, crying or sorrow in the new heaven and earth that God is going to create.

The only way to be sure that you will be there is for your name to be written in God’s ‘Book of Life’. The only way to be certain that it is, is to accept Jesus as your ‘substitute’, give your life wholeheartedly to Him, choosing to live for Him each moment of each day, and then rest in the absolute assurance that He has paid the price for your sin. If you haven’t already done it, get on your knees now. Repent and ask Jesus to be your Saviour and Lord. The moment you die it’s too late, and you might die tonight.

Now that you have read this, you will not be able to plead ignorance! – not that that would help anyway – see Romans 1! God has offered everyone a way of escaping eternity in Hell. The choice, as they say, is yours.

“Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell in it; Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before the LORD, For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity.” Psalm 98:7-9

All scripture quotations from The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 . Thomas Nelson: Nashville (unless otherwise stated)

The post What The Bible Says About Judgment first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Ordinary man. Extraordinary God.

Barry Forder — Sun, 03 May 2015 12:00:17 +0000

The book of James tells us that Elijah was a man ‘just like us’. Really?! “he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months” (James 5:17). I don’t know about you, but this doesn’t sound like the experience of an ordinary man! There are approximately 330 million cubic miles of ocean on Earth, and due to the heat of the Sun and the process of evaporation this leads to 1.5 trillion tones of rain per day falling on the earth. Elijah steps onto the pages of history, waltzes up to king Ahab and delivers the news that God is going to stop this process, certainly as far as Israel is concerned. Have any of you had the audacity to pray a prayer like that? Or the courage to walk up to a head of state and tell them that because of their disobedience toward God, they have incurred His wrath, and their whole realm will now suffer as a result!

Without doubt, this is one of the most remarkable events in the Bible, but how much faith did Elijah need? How can James say he was an ordinary man?

Three and a half years after giving Ahab this message, Elijah challenges the king to a showdown on top of Mt Carmel in north-west Israel. Elijah is the sole representative of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but he goes head-to-head with 450 prophets of the pagan god Baal.

“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you waiver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” So all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.”” (1 Kings 18:21-24)

Baal’s prophets try from morning to noon, and then on to the evening, even cutting their flesh in the hope their god will answer. Elijah even mocks and asks if their god is away on a trip, or sleeping, or maybe even in the bathroom! Then Elijah repairs the alter of God which was lying in ruins, soaks his offering three times in water, and this ordinary man then calls down fire from heaven that consumes the sacrifice. The people were left in no doubt that God is the true God, He is the LORD.

Once again we return to our question: how can James say Elijah was just like you and me, and how much faith did Elijah need?

The answer is found in 1 Kings 18:36, where we read “LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word“.

You see, it wasn’t that Elijah had great faith, but a great God. It is not about how much faith you have, but rather whom your faith is in! Jesus said that if we have just a little faith we could move a mountain. To the natural mind this seems impossible, but we need to understand that faith is not about overcoming a reluctance in God to do something we want, but believing God to do something He has already decreed. It is not about wishful thinking on our part, or really hoping that something might happen, but about trusting the promises of God! When we know the promises of God, and God’s unchanging character, and when this is the basis of our faith, we only need a little faith, but in a big God.

To illustrate this, one of my daughters recently got stuck up a child’s climbing frame and couldn’t get down, so I simply said to her to jump and I would catch her. How much faith did she need? A little, it is true, but her faith was in the character and love that she knew of her daddy. She still had to take a step of faith – as did Elijah going before Ahab – but there was never really any doubt that her daddy would fail her, and so with Elijah.

Regarding the basis of faith, Dave Hunt comments “Either we trust in the power of a firmly held belief activating some mysterious psychic power of the mind, or else we trust in God and His infinite power, which is obviously demonstrated everywhere in the universe. Only a fool would choose the power of the mind over the power of God. True faith looks to God to do that which neither one’s mind (conscious or unconscious) nor talents nor efforts could accomplish”.

To understand this better we need to go back to Deuteronomy and see what it was that had stirred Elijah and given him the courage to go before the king, and the desire to pray his incredible prayer.

In Deuteronomy 11:16-17 where God warned the children of Israel: “Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; And then the LORD’s wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.”

Elijah knew that God had promised that if the people went astray and served other gods, He would withhold the rain. It was simply a case of…

“God has said it. I believe it. That settles it!”

Yes, God had stirred Elijah’s heart to pray, but Elijah’s faith was then based in the promises of God, something that he know was a certainty.

At the end of the three and a half years God tells Elijah the rain would come, but once again, Elijah knew for this ‘curse’ to be turned away, there had to be restoration. Before the rain could come, the hearts of the people would have to be turned back to God (Deut 30:10), and this would therefore require atonement through the shed blood of an innocent substitute. Hebrews tells us that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. This is why Elijah offered a sacrifice on top of Mt Carmel. God had already told him that the rain would come, so Elijah knew that God would therefore first accept the sacrifice, and as God had already done on many occasions in the past, by sending his fire.

So Elijah was just like us; he had a little bit of faith in a very big God! God will always be faithful to that which He has promised in His word. Our prayers, if in accord with His world are not merely wishful thinking, but are faithful declarations of the promises of God Himself!

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry

The post Ordinary man. Extraordinary God. first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

Are You Being Used?

Barry Forder — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 10:30:25 +0000

Have you ever prayed ‘God please use me!’, only then a short time later to have this felling that you are just being used! Exactly what is fair for God to ask us to do? After all, surely God knows that although our spirit’s might be willing, our flesh is often week. It’s quite ok for God to ask us to pray for the lost, but if He actually asks us to speak to them, I mean face to face, well, we are quick to remind Him, like Moses did, that we have a stammering tongue and couldn’t possibly do it! I know He is the potter and we are the clay, but shouldn’t we get a say in what we are being moulded into? (cf. Romans 9:21).

A Calvary pastor recently felt the LORD calling him to move his family hundreds of miles to take over a fellowship with just 6 people. This would also mean looking for full-time employment in the area of the new fellowship. He prayed and asked God is it was His will to move there for just 6 people? God then asked him, “Would you do it if I asked you to go for just 1?”.

“How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?” (Matthew 18:12).

Abandon is never reckless when it is in response to God’s call!

Enter Elijah: “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word”. (1 Kings 17:1).

Elijah just steps onto the pages of history, we know nothing about him, nothing of his background, except to note that this man was a passionate individual who was “very jealous for the LORD God of hosts” (1 Kings 19:10). Even when others had abandoned God and bowed the knee to false God’s, Elijah had stood firm.

But can one person really make a difference? King Ahab had 450 prophets of Baal, and a queen Jezebel further 400 for Ashtoreth, how could he possibly be expected to just waltz up to the king, give him a long-range weather forecast and expect to see any good come of it?

Consider the following:

Edward Kimball had a burden for one of his Sunday school students to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour. He went to see him at the shoe store where he worked and led him to Christ in the shoe store. His name? Dwight L. Moody.

That young man, Dwight L. Moody, went on to become an evangelist whose ministry rocked two continents. While preaching in the British Isles, Moody spoke in a small chapel pastored by Federick Brotherton Meyer. In his sermon Moody told an emotionally charged story of a Sunday School teacher he knew who personally went to every student in his class and won them to Christ. The message changed Pastor Meyer’s entire ministry, inspiring him to become an evangelist.

Over the years, Meyer came to America several times to preach. Once in Northfield, Massachusetts a confused young preacher sitting in the back row heard Meyer say, “If you are not willing to give everything to God, are you willing to be made willing?” That remark led J. Wilbur Chapman to accept the call of God on his life. Chapman went on to become one of the most effective evangelists of his time. A volunteer helped set up Chapman’s crusades and learned to preach by watching him. His name: Billy Sunday.

Sunday eventually took over Chapman’s ministry, becoming one of the most effective evangelists of the 20th century. In the great arenas of America, Billy Sunday’s preaching turned thousands to Christ. Inspired by a 1924 Billy Sunday crusade in Charlotte, North Carolina (USA), a committee of Christians committed themselves to reaching that city for Christ. They invited Mordecai Ham to hold a series of evangelistic meetings in 1932. A lanky 16 year old sat in the huge crowd one evening. Spellbound by the message of the white haired preacher who seemed to be shouting and waving his long finger directly at him. Night after night the youth attended and finally went forward and gave his life to Christ. That teenager’s name: Billy Graham.

Billy Graham has doubtlessly communicated the gospel of Jesus Christ to more people than anyone else in the history of the world.

Remember how this sequence of events started: a nobody name Kimball, concerned for one of his students visited him at his shoe store. In doing that Kimball changed the world! Millions upon millions have been affected by his decision to go to that shoe store and millions more will continue to feel the impact.

At some point earlier in Elijah’s life God had called him to pray earnestly, in accordance with God’s Word. In simple obedience Elijah had prayed; maybe not even knowing what God would ask of him later, and probably not even dreaming it possible that the whole nation could be turned back to God as a result!

What is God calling you to do right now? Would you then be willing to step out in faith for God, even if the odds are stacked against you and ‘common sense’ would try to hold you back. God still works through an individual, just like you and me. “For the eyes of the LROD look to and fro throughout the whole earth to strongly support those whose hearts are completely His” (2 Chronicles 16:9 – Paraphrase).

One closing comment; before Elijah would come back to Ahab at the end of the three and a half years, he would spend time in two places: The Brook Cherith, which means ‘whittleing’ and Zaraphath, which means ‘Crucible. Are you ready for God to do a work of whittleing in your life and then put you through a crucible so that all that remains in you is the reflection of His glory?

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”. James 1:2-4 (NAS)

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry

The post Are You Being Used? first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

To obey or not to obey – that is the question.

Barry Forder — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:26 +0000

How would you summarise your life?

Recently a very dear friend and brother in Christ went home to be with the LORD, and, as is common, at his funeral service a eulogy will be given, presenting a brief summary of his life. My lasting memory is that he was a man who loved God’s word, a man of faith and a man of prayer; he was a man who sought to obey God regardless of the eternal circumstance. Nothing else matters now. Grades at school, career achievements, material possessions, all is meaningless once you cross the border from this life into eternity.

In our study through the book of 1st Kings we have seen a number of ‘eulogies’. 1 Kings 15:7 tells us “Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam” – that is, in his three years as king of Judah, everything else he did is reduced to this single sentence in the Bible, telling us that those things, however many, however great, are all recorded in a book long since lost in the sands of time, but notably they are not recorded in God’s book!

For 24 years Baasha ruled the northern kingdom of Israel; we are given a summary of his relationship with God in 1st Kings chapter 16, as given by the prophet Jehu. In short, he disobeyed God and brought judgment upon himself. Then we are told: “Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?” (1 Kings 16:5). That is , 24 years as a king, and all we really know is that he disobeyed God. He had been given such a great opportunity to make a difference to an entire nation; what great things he could have accomplished that could have been recorded on eternity’s pages forever! But alas we are simply pointed elsewhere to read of all he did in 24 years on the throne, yet none of those things are recorded by God. All we are told about Baasha in 1 Kings 15:16-21 is that, like Jeroboam before him, he tried to stop the people of the northern kingdom making the annual pilgrimages to the temple in Jerusalem by fortifying the principle city on the route to Jerusalem, fearful that if the people attended the feasts in Judah, they might reject him as their king. Ironically, in trying to save his kingdom he ultimately lost it! (see Matthew 16:25).

In the final analysis what matters is our obedience to God. After trying every which way, Solomon concluded Ecclesiastes by saying: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

All of your accomplishments, however much wealth you accumulate, however successful you are in your career, family or community, all this may be recorded elsewhere, on certificates maybe, but it will be lost and forgotten in the light of eternity. What really matters is what is recorded in God’s book. (Revelation 20:15).

This is not to say we shouldn’t try or work hard, in fact Christians are mandated to be the best employees (1 Timothy 6:1), and as Solomon said “Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with thy might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10), but all that we do should be done in the light of Colossians 3:17:“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him”.

It is obedience not success that should be the measure of our lives. It is not about ‘what we have done and the might we have’ but rather, did we do it in obedience to Christ?

“By [Jesus] we have received grace… for obedience to the faith among all nations, for His name” (Romans 1:5).

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry

The post To obey or not to obey – that is the question. first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

The Ahijah Effect

Barry Forder — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 10:30:52 +0000

Chapter 14 of 1st Kings opens with Jeroboam sending his wife to enquire of the prophet Ahijah what will become of their son who had fallen sick. Ahijah had been the prophet who had spoken to Jeroboam when Jeroboam was just a humble servant of Solomon, and prophesied that God had ordained him to become king over 10 tribes of Israel on account of Solomon’s idolatry. Ahijah had also said “if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David” (1 Kings 11:38). Now with his son sick, Jeroboam is no doubt concerned about his future dynasty, so wants to know from Ahijah if this offer of a ‘sure house’ still stands.

Jeroboam, mindful of his own idolatry, doesn’t have the courage to go directly to God, but in an act of spiritual cowardice, sends his wife to God’s man, in disguise, and with gifts, as if that might solicit a favourable response from the aging prophet!

Isn’t it interesting how people can be bold and defiant in their attitude toward God… right up until a crisis comes! When a situation occurs that is bigger that we are, that we cannot resolve, and particularly one that reminds us of our mortality, how quickly then people reach out – directly or indirectly – to God.

So now, confronted with the prospect of the death of his son, the realisation dawns that none of Jeroboam’s idols can offer any comfort or hope; his golden calves can give him no assurance for the future, so he sends his wife off seeking an answer. But why send her in disguise? Was it to hide her identity from other people? We have already seen that Jeroboam was afraid of losing control, and what would people think if they saw him or his wife ‘going to church’? Proverbs tells us “The fear of man brings a snare” (Proverbs 29:25); and Matthew tells us that we should not fear man or anything in this life, but rather fear God in whose hands is our eternal destiny (Matthew 10:28).

From the context, it would seem that the real reason for this disguise was so that Ahijah wouldn’t recognise Jeroboam’s wife, and just assume this was a casual enquirer who had heard about the sick child and was curious about his welfare. After all what would Ahijah think of Jeroboam – this man who had been ordained by God to be king, a man who had been given such a great opportunity, and yet in return had demonstrated such contempt for God? If Ahijah knew that it was Jeroboam enquiring would he even be willing to answer?

There are a number of lessons we can learn from this passage. Firstly, what about you and I? When we go to church, do we ‘go in disguise’, not wanting to be seen as we really are. Do we try to pretend we are another person, maybe a ‘better person’ than we actually are? Are we secretly ashamed of what we have become, particularly given the calling of God upon our lives? Like Jeroboam’s wife, do we think that by keeping up a façade we are more likely to be accepted by other believers, and even by God Himself? Yet no disguise can hide us from the face of Him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13). There is nothing God does not know, nothing hidden from His eyes, nothing that will surprise Him about us! If you have been wearing a disguise let me remind you that it was while we were yet sinners that Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). You don’t have to be worthy to come to God, but humble. If we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9). Christ died and the wrath of God was placed upon him so that you can be declared ‘righteous’ When we come before God, we do not have to wear a poor disguise, but we can come clothed in the righteousness of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21) .

But let’s now think for a moment about Ahijah. It’s interesting to note that Ahijah tells Jeroboam’s wife that (even though she had made the journey) he had actually been sent to her! Just a reminder that God knows the end from the beginning, and as we are told in Psalm 139:1-6

“O LORD, You have searched me and known me.

You know my sitting down and my rising up;

You understand my thought afar off.

You comprehend my path and my lying down,

And are acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word on my tongue,

But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.

You have hedged me behind and before,

And laid Your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

It is high, I cannot attain it”.

Doesn’t the disguise now seem a little pointless?(!).

But there is another lesson we can learn here, and a challenge for you, if you are a Christian: Do you have the ‘Ahijah effect’ on others? Can you detect that people feel a little uncomfortable around you because you awaken their conscience? Do others see you as a ‘righteous’ person (simply someone who is right-with-God), and as such change their behaviour around you? In other words, do people put on a disguise – trying to justify to you (and themselves) that they’re not that bad? Do people try to stop sinning around you? Do others change their vocabulary when you walk in the room? Do people stop taking the LORD’s name in vain when you are in ear-shot? In short, have you become the very fragrance of Christ? (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). Are you being the salt and light we are called to be? (Matthew 5:13). We are told that as Christians we should shine as lights in this world (Philippians 2:15). We know that the light reveals things as they really are (Ephesians 5:13). The daylight allows us to see things that are concealed during the night. Unless people see themselves as sinners who have fallen short of God’s righteous standard, and are therefore deserving of his wrath, they will never cry out for a Saviour. This is why Jesus said he came to call the sinners and not the (self) righteous to repentance (Matthew 9:13). It is those who recognise their spiritual poverty who are on the right path ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’ (Matthew 5:3). Hebrews 12:14 tells us that unless we are holy, people will not come to know the LORD.

So, pray that this week you have the ‘Ahijah Effect’ on someone!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry.

Notes for further study:

Ahijah’s response to Jeroboam’s wife is actually a very significant moment in Israel’s history, for although God had warned of the punishment for disobedience (see Deuteronomy 28), this is the first time God actually states that Israel will now be taken from their land as a result of their sin, and specifically because of one man’s sin who’s life could have been so different if only he had not feared man and trusted and obeyed God!

We then see a continually changing dynasty in the northern kingdom – with a legacy of failure.

Kings records the key details of the events of the Northern kingdom, and gives just a cursory overview of the events of in the Southern kingdom. In contrast, Chronicles focuses primarily on the kings of Judah.

The post The Ahijah Effect first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.