tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18558497713947254642024-03-15T20:12:40.287-05:00Timothy McKeownTimothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.comBlogger414125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-47291770323916898352024-01-16T07:59:00.001-06:002024-01-16T07:59:10.112-06:00When we prevail in prayer...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvlkAubqL_XNIpGZHs9NcfgkzVJlBmwfRm_r-py9D2IuoJog7Xj-gDygBdyFK2_Ldp_Ybvzl015IEANQyX3t6lNJfkrO29DTOdK66BtptqiIw40w2g0YDOz9nalGqH7Qou2_FWkXox5CFxhRXhR-B0rmw5h5kIj7O85cvrnxH9aAKG9mV0AxJhetTwCpr/s474/jacob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="474" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvlkAubqL_XNIpGZHs9NcfgkzVJlBmwfRm_r-py9D2IuoJog7Xj-gDygBdyFK2_Ldp_Ybvzl015IEANQyX3t6lNJfkrO29DTOdK66BtptqiIw40w2g0YDOz9nalGqH7Qou2_FWkXox5CFxhRXhR-B0rmw5h5kIj7O85cvrnxH9aAKG9mV0AxJhetTwCpr/s320/jacob.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> <span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">On Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at GracePointe Church, we are going through the seven portraits of prayer. However, there is another portrait in prayer, perhaps the most famous prayer portrait of all, found in our Daily Audio Bible reading for today. </span></p><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">In Genesis 32 there is a fascinating story about Jacob wrestling with an angel, whom Jacob later identified as a bodily, human manifestation of God. </span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jacob was about to encounter someone whom he thought was his mortal enemy: his own brother, Esau. Jacob sent his wives, his children, all of his possessions and was left alone to wrestle with God. </span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jacob had been a deceiver. Jacob had also been deceived. However, it was time for Jacob to come home and face his past, but before he could face his past, God showed up so Jacob could face his God in prevailing prayer. </span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">First, notice prevailing prayer can come upon us in an instant. The man/Angel of the Lord came upon Jacob suddenly. Jacob was no stranger to visiting with angels or messengers from God. Look at verse 1 earlier in the chapter. Even before that, he had seen angels going up and down on a literal, spiritual stairway to heaven (see Genesis 28:12 and following verses). But here, in Genesis 32:24, there was no warning that this man/Angel of the Lord was going to come upon him.</span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">We need to be ready and prepared to be in prayer and even wrestle with God about our needs. Luke 21:36 says, “Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”</span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">We also need to be prepared not only in prayer but also in the Word. 2 Timothy 4:1 says to “be instant” to preach the word. Be prepared to patiently encourage, correct, and even rebuke with the right doctrine. </span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Secondly, we need to not only be prepared, but we need to be persistent in prayer. Jacob wrestled all night in his struggle. Don’t you sometime wish God would just instantly answer us? If we are to be instant in prayer, why can’t He be instant in answering? The truth is God’s delays are not God’s denials, but in fact God’s delays are God’s desires!</span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">God wants us to be persistent in prayer. Look at Luke 18 and the woman who kept coming to the unrighteous judge. How much more does God want us to come to Him, the righteous judge. </span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thirdly, God was us to prevail. Have you ever play-wrestled with your kids? Isn’t it funny we don’t see moms doing it as much as dads? I’ve seen some dads who pin their kids down again and again and pretty soon, the kids don’t want to “play wrestle” because they always lose. </span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">But what happens when dads let their kids pin the dads down? Nothing makes the kids squeal with delight than when that happens. And doesn’t that seem like what’s happening with Jacob and his all-night wrestling match? So much so that God changed the name of Jacob, the deceiver, to Israel, the Prevailer! “Prince of God”.</span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">There’s one last lesson to learn from prevailing prayer and that is the price. The Angel of the Lord touched Jacob’s hip and caused him to henceforth walk with the limp. There’s a cost to discipleship. There is a price we pay in prayer. Life’s greatest lessons we learn often cause us to limp as reminder of the price, the sacrifice we make to see God face to face. </span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jacob called the place Peniel, the Face of God. 2 Chronicles calls us to seek God’s face. “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.”</span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Psalm 27:8 cries out to us: When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”</span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">While Isaiah 59:2 states, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God;</span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear,” Jesus promises us that the pure in heart are blessed because they will see God (Matthew 5:8)</span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Be prepared to wrestle with God, persistent in prayer, and even “prevail” with God, because He WANTS you to win. But there is a price to pay: the cost of us being pure and separating from our sins. </span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">But don’t “let go” of God in prayer. If we hang on to Him, He’ll bless you with a new name, a new identity, and a testimony of us being forever changed.</span>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-53904215439038270892023-07-18T20:23:00.005-05:002023-07-18T20:24:43.228-05:00Jesus sees every act...and every inactivity...<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cKJYeldPdgMueEO7DEWw2qh9kYju9wOlPFwhPqO5VniMm0wvab4b3Vp2esq0_2YBme79ah4N6wmcbh2AtXX1DH_N52yAWZRDZCVt_cLZFqsacTA2Y7v1DTRTrw0X-id83oAVhinJtZH-LFomF7VrqDZ4PUro6W67opvplsHXuebr5RMwOd0-WRV0x4I/s431/Lucas-Avila.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: verdana; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="431" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cKJYeldPdgMueEO7DEWw2qh9kYju9wOlPFwhPqO5VniMm0wvab4b3Vp2esq0_2YBme79ah4N6wmcbh2AtXX1DH_N52yAWZRDZCVt_cLZFqsacTA2Y7v1DTRTrw0X-id83oAVhinJtZH-LFomF7VrqDZ4PUro6W67opvplsHXuebr5RMwOd0-WRV0x4I/w400-h180/Lucas-Avila.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I went to see "Sound of Freedom". Many people say they cannot go see it because of the emotional toll it would take on them. I ask, (emphasis on ask, not tell) "What about the emotional toll on the children who are sold into such slavery?"</span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />No compassionate person who sees the movie should ever be emotionally impervious to that truth. It was made to force your face into seeing just how SICK this world is. Hiding our heads in the sand will not make it go away. Ignoring it will only prolong it. "Trafficking" is too nice of a word for it and America is guilty yet again of slavery.<br /><br />Eric Metaxas wrote "Letter to the American Church", saying the American Church is WORSE than the churches in Germany in 1933 who put their heads in the sand. Why? Because the Germans had no idea what evil would come as a result of their silence.<br /><br />We need only look back a mere 90 years into the past to see our future, our future if we are silent.<br /><br />We saw what happened when the church refused to act when there was time to stop the millions who would later perish as a result of their inactivity. Yet again, on their hands, doth the church sit!<br /><br />The solution of the German church was to sing hymns louder so they would not hear the wails of the Jews on the boxcars going to gas chambers, to their deaths. Is your solution of not seeing this movie because of the emotional toll it would take on you any different? Sing louder, Americans. Watch Harrison Ford and Tom Cruise.<br /><br />Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin was meant to expose the evils of slavery in 1851. To provoke emotions. If you were living in the 1850s, would you have simply ignored her book and hope the atrocities of slavery would just go away.<br /><br />I ask you who say you cannot see it because it would evoke emotions, "Do you think we who have seen it are devoid of emotions?" It sickened me and so should it sicken every decent person. It should make us weep and wail. Perhaps seeing "Sound of Freedom" will provoke you pray, to act, to pull your head out of ignore-ance and to open your eyes to ghastly things against which these children cannot shut their eyes tightly enough.<br /><br />Explain to me Harriet Beecher Stowe's line, “Scenes of blood and cruelty are shocking to our ear and heart. What man has nerve to do, man has not nerve to hear.”<br /><br />Men (and women as the movie depicts) have the nerve to do these atrocities to children. Should we have the nerve to hear and see it, even though those portraying these things are mere actors. And yet their stories are true.<br /><br />Tim Ballard saw these things not with actors but in real life. It moved him to action, to give liberty to the captives. What if seeing this movie would move you to action? Please wait until the very end when Jim Caviezel speaks. You will be moved to action.<br /><br />Jesus sees every act but He also sees every inaction. “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,” (Luke 4:18). Can we not be like Christ?<br /><br />Someone prayed to God, "Why do you let these things happen?" Would it not be appropriate for God to reply, "I was just about to ask you the same thing!"</span>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-84396859276263380102023-01-13T08:34:00.102-06:002023-01-20T09:06:31.434-06:00Substance of Hope, Evidence of Unseen (Hebrews 11:1)<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2gZJaLEK5p19iKIEEn0IW78rdTtc8oJr8lEMEhS4AchJ3Oa49HERGlrd1bBwWUDbMzAxHXpeFTYbnf5Wyv8e-UWru0xvw2OLlydzX0nzfWXBu9D05hVWpDhcKyyDuQSWH45vGAMSNTeO2L-Jka7pbhsch0OKScL2IdzgU883Iu5ND0RvQxxHBEX0JA/s1376/heb11.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1376" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2gZJaLEK5p19iKIEEn0IW78rdTtc8oJr8lEMEhS4AchJ3Oa49HERGlrd1bBwWUDbMzAxHXpeFTYbnf5Wyv8e-UWru0xvw2OLlydzX0nzfWXBu9D05hVWpDhcKyyDuQSWH45vGAMSNTeO2L-Jka7pbhsch0OKScL2IdzgU883Iu5ND0RvQxxHBEX0JA/w400-h209/heb11.1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> A lot of people want to go to Heaven,
especially in comparison with the alternative of hell, but sadly many Christians
are more interested in laying up treasures on earth, even though Jesus said
that’s where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal
(Matthew 6:19). </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> An avid fisher-woman told me that she wasn’t too excited about going to Heaven, saying if Heaven was
better than her sitting by the water with her fishing rod, she just didn’t
think she could handle it. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Another Christian I know was defending his lifestyle of not glorifying the Lord. His response was he was saved by grace and didn't care anything about living for Christ now and laying up rewards in Heaven. "I don't care about a mansion in glory," he said. "As long as I have a tiny little shack on the
outskirts of Heaven, that would be fine with me." </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Such a low view of Heaven and
a high view of Earth is not Biblical, especially in light of Hebrews chapter 11. <span style="text-indent: 0in;">One way to keep our focus on Heaven is to first define what it
means to have faith and second to see what faith in action looks like. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> Hebrews
chapter 11 defines faith in verse 1 and demonstrates faith throughout the rest
of the chapter. </span>Hebrews 10 introduces chapter 11 with words
like “full assurance of faith” (10:22), “confidence” (10:19, 35), and “not shrink
back”. Since we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), the question of “What is faith?” is a good one. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> King James and New King James versions use the word "substance" to translate the word <i>hupostasis </i>of what is "hoped for". That word is similar in sound and spelling but in in sharp contrast with two similar words for “shrink back”: <i>hupostoles </i>and<i>
hupostello </i>in the previous two verses of chapter 10. Let's look at how the writer leads into the wonderful chapter 11, or what many call the "Hall of Faith".</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQ404ULIns62qhTHy6XvYi3BoOKx4r0Mx6-tcVlW5EEXywpSMFKMjBUxdzmS8NTYvTmTGyvnPbbX7KznUxmUQwX-stPF3thS2iLTraIVAqOrX3-m8MiJgM499oUDaGvVnCJOHiAh0fpI3Yi3QO2fK2Tm5KpwFEPIC9Zpa_VgRw-KwoWvc73PenAOCPw/s1024/heb%2010.3839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQ404ULIns62qhTHy6XvYi3BoOKx4r0Mx6-tcVlW5EEXywpSMFKMjBUxdzmS8NTYvTmTGyvnPbbX7KznUxmUQwX-stPF3thS2iLTraIVAqOrX3-m8MiJgM499oUDaGvVnCJOHiAh0fpI3Yi3QO2fK2Tm5KpwFEPIC9Zpa_VgRw-KwoWvc73PenAOCPw/w400-h300/heb%2010.3839.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> "Shrinking back" leads
to destruction, but the “certainty” and “assurance” of faith leads to the
testimonies in chapter 11.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
word "substance" in 11:1 is translated into English in several ways, including "substance" (KJV, NKJV), "confidence" (NIV11, YLT, NLT, TCNT), "assurance" (NASB95, ESV, LSB), "being sure" (NIV84, NET, NCV), "certainty" (NASB20, Adams), "reality" (CSB, HCSB,
CEB). All those words mean basically the same thing with a little different nuance. Those words describing and defining "faith" are the basis for our “hope”. Paul gives a great
explanation of unseen but eagerly anticipated “hope” in Romans 8:20-25.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><sup>20</sup><span style="line-height: 107%;"> For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but
because of Him who subjected it in <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">HOPE</span>; </span><sup>21</sup><span style="line-height: 107%;"> because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage
of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. </span><sup>22</sup><span style="line-height: 107%;"> For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth
pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the
firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly
waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. </span><sup>24</sup><span style="line-height: 107%;"> For we were saved in this <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">HOPE</span>, but <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">HOPE</span> that is seen is not <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">HOPE</span>; for why does one still <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">HOPE</span> for what he sees? </span><sup>25</sup><span style="line-height: 107%;"> But if we <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">HOPE</span> for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> After the certainty of things hoped for, we see that Faith is also the conviction of “things not seen”. This thought found also found in a similar passage in James 2:18, when the writer said he
would “show his faith by his works”. Faith is unseen, but the
proof of faith, seen in its actions, is undeniable.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-40097064459307756692023-01-12T11:38:00.005-06:002023-01-12T11:38:55.288-06:00Still in need of prayer<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I am so appreciative of people who have expressed their prayers for me in this endeavor of </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Seven Portraits of Prayer. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I am also amazed that this is taking so long, so please pray and read through these pages and send me an email (not a message here as I often do not see these messages) if you find any improvements I can make before this goes to print production.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Even if you have already gone through these devotionals, click on them again, as you will find these prayer devotionals have been updated, now going seven days a week, morning and evening, for seven weeks.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://7prayerportraits.blogspot.com/">Click here to discover "Portraits in Prayer" </a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://7prayerportraits.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1881" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCD8skd5nnBnawf6mF4Eh9U9cxdowky_IuK_Pskkw5h5InWmuLtQ9PUUPcmI6AR1ZdWADQZUfKAxCfECo_xS0Yw5i9PMBMbxcXJYKqtBuWho07WpyxP5BSGbrTvEZg2O_IWgLBr8d6fTq9mX4AR-16BHhNk7tnxVZ7v8vHFD0DSi-GwY--0KMt2F4Ug/w640-h286/7prayerportraits.png" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-35814047806606341622022-12-15T08:17:00.002-06:002022-12-15T08:17:18.487-06:00Revelation 14: The 144,000, 3 flying angels, 2 harvests<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cKNFA3liU5ZOaEWynO2T2Rtt4zGqD43mdJHQ07wwqvigYVjaRZYxHxGbuAzXD9NTB-SUt48RXCZCB4jbit2L0UIZJStVTZxm-N-95eyk5W1LhkfqfruN0Mjbzy2y028Sq48YQX5nM1o2Wk91mEjA_-RkW4rHq1FY8jxz1twGZjeKatxkucBD30QP5Q/s1200/image-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="1200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cKNFA3liU5ZOaEWynO2T2Rtt4zGqD43mdJHQ07wwqvigYVjaRZYxHxGbuAzXD9NTB-SUt48RXCZCB4jbit2L0UIZJStVTZxm-N-95eyk5W1LhkfqfruN0Mjbzy2y028Sq48YQX5nM1o2Wk91mEjA_-RkW4rHq1FY8jxz1twGZjeKatxkucBD30QP5Q/s320/image-4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> <span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;">Revelation’s Chapter 12 is an overview of the
spiritual war in heaven and the battle between the dragon and the woman and her
offspring. Chapter 13 is an overview of the <a href="https://timothymckeown.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-revelation-of-anti-christ.html" target="_blank">anti-Christ </a>(beast out of the sea)
and the <a href="https://timothymckeown.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-revelation-of-false-prophet.html" target="_blank">false prophet </a>(beast out of the earth). </span></p><p><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"> Chapter 14 is an overview of
the final half of the Tribulation, also called the 3 ½ year Great Tribulation. Its
three parts are about the 144,000’s victorious standing with the Lamb, the
three angelic proclamations, and the two sickle harvests. </span><i style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"> </i></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-size: 4.0pt; letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">1 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">Then I looked, and behold, a
Lamb standing on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mount</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Zion</st1:placename></st1:place>, and with Him one
hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their
foreheads. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">2 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">And I heard a
voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud
thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">3 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">They sang as it were a new
song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and
no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who
were redeemed from the earth. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">4 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">These are the ones who were not
defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the
Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to
God and to the Lamb. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">5 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">And in their
mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-size: 4.0pt; letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><u><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"><i>Is this the same 144,000 as in Chapter 7?</i></span></u><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"> Some have questioned whether these are the same
people mentioned in chapter seven (including Tim LaHaye). Others have
questioned whether these are in heaven or still on earth. Zion is the
hill just east of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and is first mentioned as a
stronghold taken by King David (2 Sam. 5:6-10). If this is the earthly Zion, then it must be a foreshadow as the Lamb of God will not come until the end of the Tribulation. When Christ returns, He will come and cause the Mount of Olives to split in two, falling to the north and south (Zechariah 14:4). </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;">However, in the New Testament, Mount Zion symbolizes heaven (Heb. <st1:time hour="12" minute="22" w:st="on">12:22</st1:time>),
and it appears that following the resurrection of the two witnesses (Revelation
11), the 144,000 are also taken to heaven either through death or Rapture. If through Rapture, this is the firstfruits of the Jewish to God and to the Lamb.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;">There is a similarity in these who are taken to heaven and those who are in heaven
in chapter 5. There is singing, harps, and redemption. The word “redeemed” means
to buy in a marketplace (See 1 Corinthians <st1:time hour="18" minute="20" w:st="on">6:20</st1:time>, <st1:time hour="19" minute="23" w:st="on">7:23</st1:time>,
and 2 Peter 2:1). Jesus bought us with the very price of His life, and it
especially is significant that these 144,000 were purchased out of the Great
Tribulation. They apparently did not believe until after the Rapture, but these
Jewish men were among the firstfruits of the Tribulation, and perhaps were
among the converts of the two witnesses, believed to be Elijah and Enoch. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;">They had been sealed during the first part of the
Tribulation, but not for the entirety of it. They and other believers who are
saved during the Tribulation will be blessed by coming out of the horrible
events to come. A singular voice out of heaven which sounds like many waters
has to be that of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:15). </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;">While many will be redeemed
out of the Tribulation (Revelation 7:9-14, a multitude no one could number),
these 144,000 have special privileges, including singing a song that no one
else could sing. While most commentators have said that these are not
necessarily virgins, but rather faithful men, a literal reading of the text
indicates just that, and even Paul attested to the fact that abstaining from
marital and sexual distractions is favorable with the Lord’s soon return (1 Corinthians
7:29). That they are without deceit, guile or fault does not mean they were
perfect, for they had apparently rejected Christ until the Rapture, but it
means that they were morally without reproach before men and even before God,
much like Job and Noah were deemed by God as morally impeccable. Obviously,
they were not without sin at all, for none of humanity is (Romans 3:23).<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">6 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">Then I saw another angel
flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those
who dwell on the earth--to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people-- </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">7 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">saying with a loud voice, “Fear
God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship
Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">8 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">And another angel followed,
saying, “<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Babylon</st1:city></st1:place>
is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink
of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">9 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">Then a third angel followed
them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image,
and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">10 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">he himself shall also drink
of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup
of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the
presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">11 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">And the smoke of their torment
ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the
beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">12 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">Here is the patience of the
saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
</span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">13 </span></sup></i></b><i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><b>Then I heard a
voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the
Lord from now on.</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4px;"><b>’”</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><b> “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their
labors, and their works follow them.” <o:p></o:p></b></span></i></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-size: 4.0pt; letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Another angel flying in heaven refers all the way
back to Revelation 8:13, when an angel proclaimed the three woes upon the
earth. This angel is the first of three angels proclaiming messages of
salvation, destruction, and ultimately damnation if the inhabitants take the
mark of the beast or worships him. If the 144,000 taken out of the earth leaves
a void, it’s possible that God, in His immeasurable love, will send an </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4px;">angelic messenger</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> to proclaim salvation and warnings. Others have theorized that the
angels (Gr: </span><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: -.3pt;">aggelos
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;">aggelos</span></i><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;">) are messengers, possibly satellite broadcasts,
sent around the world for all to receive. Either way, the earth is without
excuse for not receiving salvation. The first message is the everlasting gospel
or good news. The gospel has always been the same (Genesis 3:15; Romans 4:3).
People will be saved the same way in the Tribulation, through faith, but it
begins with the fear of God (verse 7). </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;">God created everything and is about to
bring creation to a closing hour of judgment. Secondly, another angel warns of
the fall of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Babylon</st1:city></st1:place>.
This is not “that great city” of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Babylon</st1:city></st1:place>
of old, for Isaiah 13:20 prophesies that that city will never be rebuilt again,
at least not to its former grandeur. It is interesting to note that Saddam
Hussein attempted to restore Babylon’s glory in the 1980s and he and the city’s
rebuilding was put to a halt in the Gulf War in the 1990s and again in the Iraq
war. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"><u><i>What is “<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Babylon</st1:city></st1:place>”?</i></u>
It is a religious and political (the Greek word of city is </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: -.3pt;">polis </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>polis</span></i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">) system with both worship and economical effects around the world.
There will be a one-world government, monetary system and religious system,
centering in an area or city known for its fornication, which does not
necessarily mean solely sexual immorality. It appears to be the fornication
which causes people to fall away from God spiritually. Spiritual adultery is a
far greater sin against God than marital infidelity, although today’s society
is seeing an increase in both. The third message declares the assured judgment
of God of those who worship the beast and his </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4px;">image,</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> and the phrase “wine of the
wrath” connects both God and the judgment of those who commit fornication with
Babylon. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">The wrath of God includes eternal fire and
brimstone punishment. Many people will say that hell is the absence of God. Not
true, as the Bible declares God is everywhere (Psalm 139:8), and even the Lamb
is present in the </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4px;">unbelievers’</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> punishment. Hell is only the absence of God’s </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4px;">love but</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> is the full presence of Him and His judgment. Heaven is the opposite.
It is the presence of God’s mercy, but the absence of His righteous punishment
of sin. However, the patient endurance of the saints to the end will result in
everlasting life and rewards.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">14 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">Then I looked, and behold, a white
cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a
golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">15 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">And another angel came out of
the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in
Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of
the earth is ripe.” </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">16 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">So He who sat
on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">17 </span></sup></i></b><i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><b>Then another angel came out
of the </b></span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4px;"><b>temple,</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><b> which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. </b></span></i><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">18 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">And another angel came out
from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him
who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the
clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">19 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">So the angel thrust his
sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the
great winepress of the wrath of God. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">20 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">And the winepress was trampled
outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’
bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;">Christ talked about the end times being a time of
harvest by the angels (Matthew 13:24-30). With Christ on the clouds with his
golden crown and a sharp sickle, He first has a harvest of those who have been
saved, a good and ripe harvest. The second harvest is one of judgment, filled
with wrath. The blood coming up to the horse’s bridles for one thousand six
hundred furlongs or about 180 miles refers likely symbolically to the massive distance in which tremendous
bloodshed will take place from Megiddo on the north (Zechariah 12:11; Revelation
16:16) to Edom and Petra in the country of Jordan on the south (Isaiah 34:5-6;
63:1). <o:p></o:p></span></p><i style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"></i><p></p>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-73402272196683951102022-12-12T10:08:00.001-06:002022-12-12T10:56:54.384-06:00The Revelation of the False Prophet (Revelation 13b)<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The first beast mentioned in <a href="https://timothymckeown.blogspot.com/2022/12/revelation-chapter-11-two-witnessess.html">Revelation 11:7</a> is
Satan. The second beast seen in Revelation 13:1 is the anti-Christ, described
by John F. Walvoord as a “world dictator”. In Revelation 13:11, we see the third
beast, the false prophet who, like the anti-Christ, is a human, and together
they will be thrown alive into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20), where Satan
will eventually also join them (Revelation 20:10). Walvoord says this regarding
that verse: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 17.3pt; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.25in 0in 17.3pt; tab-stops: 351.95pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 17.3pt; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.25in 0in 17.3pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">According to verse 7, the beast from the
bottomless pit, which is none other than Satan himself, makes war against them
and overcomes them and kills them. Of interest is the fact that this is the
first of thirty-six references in Revelation to the beast (Gr., <i>therion</i>)…
The beast out of the pit is Satan. The beast out of the sea is the world
dictator (13:1). The beast out of the land is the false religious leader of
that day (13:11). This unholy trinity is the satanic counterfeit of the divine
Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (For further discussion see exposition
of 13:1-4; 17:7-8.)</span></span></b><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 17.1pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Though humans, both the second and third beast
will personify the world’s political structure (the revived Roman Empire) and
the ungodly religious structure <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While the second beast, the anti-Christ, will have
a political and a military hue, the third beast out of the earth; that is, the
false prophet, will have a decidedly religious color. He will have spirits of
demons coming out of his mouth, deceiving the world, working miracles, and
causing the world to worship the anti-Christ and his image and even give animation
to the image of the anti-Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-size: 4pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 0in;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">11 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">Then I saw another beast
coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a
dragon. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">12</span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">And he
exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence and causes the
earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound
was healed. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">13 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">He performs
great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in
the sight of men. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">14 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">And he
deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do
in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image
to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">15 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">He was granted power to give
breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak
and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-size: 4pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here is the false prophet, coming out of the earth;
he is “another” beast, like the one which came up out of the sea. He will be a
religious leader, like Christ (“like a lamb”), yet have the voice and teachings
of Satan. He will be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Like the two true witnesses, the
false prophet will also have great powers, even calling down fire, so that
perhaps those deceived will falsely think they are worshipping the true God. Verse
12 states that the first beast (that is, the first beast mentioned in chapter 13, the anti-Christ) will have a deadly wound that will be healed. The word wound is also translated at plague (<i>plege</i>) in 9:20; 11:6; 15:1, 6, 8; 16:9, 21; 18:4, 8; 21:9; 22:19. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Verse 14 explains that such a wound will receive <i>pneuma</i> or also
translated as spirit or breath. The word “image”, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">eikon, </i>from which we get the word “icon” can also be translated as
“statue” or likeness. However, it will be different than a mere statue or
image. It will have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pneuma</i> and will
be able to speak and even cause people not worshipping the image to be killed. Several
verses state that both beast and image will be worshipped (14:9, 11, 16:2, <st1:time hour="19" minute="20" w:st="on">19:20</st1:time>, 20:4). <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-size: 4pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 0in;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">16 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">He causes all, both small and
great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or
on their foreheads, </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">17 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">and that no
one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or
the number of his name. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">18 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">Here is
wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it
is the number of a man: His number is 666.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-size: 4pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is a connection between the mark, the name
of the beast and the number of his name (verse 17). <i>“whoever receives the mark
of his name” </i>(<st1:time hour="14" minute="11" w:st="on">14:11</st1:time>), <i>“those
who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over
the number of his name” </i>(15:2).</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Initially,
the mark of the beast is economical, perhaps with an increasingly cashless society,
counterfeit money, international banking, and more identity thefts, this is one
sure way that people are correctly identified in regard to buying and selling. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Quickly however, the mark turns into something more religious. An angel warns
against worshipping the beast and receiving his mark (14:9, 11). Those
receiving the mark were likely to also worship him and were punished with sores
(16:2). Those who received the mark did so initially by deception (<st1:time hour="19" minute="20" w:st="on">19:20</st1:time>). And eventually, those who do
not receive the mark will be beheaded (20:4).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are far too many calculations of the number
to justify any further speculations. Since it was originally thought to be
Caesar (but even then, you have to misspell his name or spell it “<i>Neron Kaisar</i>”
in Hebrew), there are far too many ways to make any number of people’s names to
equal 666. Since we know that the anti-Christ will not be revealed until after
the Rapture, this wisdom and understanding is not for us to know but will be
made evident when those who are left behind need to know. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Should we be afraid of technologies that allow
chips to be implanted under our skin for identification? We should be aware
that such technology is coming, and it should heighten our awareness that time
is short. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) sounds remarkably similar to giving <i>pneuma </i>to an icon. If such systems as </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.4px; text-indent: 22.8px;">implanted </span><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;">chips, vaccines to heal the wound/"plague", and artificially intelligent machines becomes mandatory and there are no options, then
yes, it would be something that should be avoided. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;">Again, we as current Christians will not be on earth at this time, but there are indications that those who are saved during the Tribulation might be able to lose
our salvation, unlike now. Only those who "endure to the end", will be saved (Matthew 10:22, Mark 13:13). Revelation 2:10 encourages that being faithful until death will ensure the crown of life. </span><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;">However, the resistance of such technology
by Christians is likely just why the true mark of the beast cannot be administered
until the church is first “snatched away.”</span></p>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-40370378523649437632022-12-10T08:43:00.004-06:002022-12-12T10:57:58.143-06:00The Revelation of the anti-Christ (Revelation 13a)<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzuYzaGfK2jTXb-iH5gjT2h8U8XFhhf2hVMVkNOKgr8Q8pG628dmCw_qa0ksmbzfNXJf07JwOSMhcf9J_DWDvwJNYDcfS6peItkJQ6tSbxWO-ghgYrNFXf7IUxzPZtrz3bt0JWm2tWNAg6iBcpBY-hx0om12ZSpO14W1V2TcUyxkEboqgCEaegf-uuw/s1802/Screenshot%20(61).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="1802" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzuYzaGfK2jTXb-iH5gjT2h8U8XFhhf2hVMVkNOKgr8Q8pG628dmCw_qa0ksmbzfNXJf07JwOSMhcf9J_DWDvwJNYDcfS6peItkJQ6tSbxWO-ghgYrNFXf7IUxzPZtrz3bt0JWm2tWNAg6iBcpBY-hx0om12ZSpO14W1V2TcUyxkEboqgCEaegf-uuw/w400-h151/Screenshot%20(61).png" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In a <a href="https://timothymckeown.blogspot.com/2022/12/revelation-chapter-11-two-witnessess.html">previous chapter</a>, we have seen the first
beast in Revelation 11:7, who is the dragon/Satan. Here, in chapter 13, the
second and third beasts of the book of Revelation are presented (13:1-4 and 13:11).
Satan was the star that fell out of heaven in Revelation 9:1, who opened the
bottomless pit/abyss in 9:2, who is the king of the 200 million demons/locusts
in Revelation 9:11. The second beast appears, at least from the perspective of
John standing on the shore of the <st1:place w:st="on">Mediterranean</st1:place>,
to come up out of the sea. This “beast” is a human being, with a number of a
man, but receiving power, kingdom and authority from Satan. The third beast comes
from the earth or the land.<br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.1pt;"> </span></span></div><p></p>
<div style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 0in;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">1</span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;"> Then I stood
on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having
seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a
blasphemous name. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black;">2 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">Now the beast
which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his
mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and
great authority. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black;">3 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">And I saw one
of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was
healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Whether John, in his vision, is on <st1:place w:st="on">Patmos</st1:place> or on the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">shore</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Israel</st1:placename></st1:place>,
it is not clear, but a beast appears to arise from out of the sea. This could
mean that the beast will be Roman (see Revelation 17:9) or European, which is
implied in Daniel <st1:time hour="9" minute="26" w:st="on">9:26</st1:time> when
it says he will be of the people who destroy <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city></st1:place>. He even could be American, of
European descent, with the appearance of arising out of the sea. The “beast” of
the anti-Christ will be alive and likely an adult during the period just before
the Rapture, and possibly already a political leader, known to those in the
church. However, he will not be revealed until after the Rapture (2 Thess.
2:3), and even then, he will sign a covenant with many nations (Daniel <st1:time hour="9" minute="27" w:st="on">9:27</st1:time>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will be great in speech and appearance (Daniel
<st1:time hour="19" minute="20" w:st="on">7:20</st1:time>), cunningly deceitful
and outwardly peaceable (Daniel <st1:time hour="11" minute="21" w:st="on">11:21</st1:time>),
a world leader, controlling its economy (Revelation 13:7, 16-17). <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-variant: small-caps; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">What are the seven heads?</span></u></b><span style="font-variant: small-caps; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">The seven heads are seven earthly kingdoms, six are
in the past and the seventh (that of the anti-Christ) is coming during the
Tribulation. The seven heads and ten horns are identical to the dragon in
Revelation 12:3 (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“And another sign
appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and
ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads”</i>), and are also identical to the scarlet
beast (the false prophet/“the beast out of the earth”) ridden by a woman in
Revelation 17:3 (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“So he carried me away
in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast
which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns”</i>). <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">In Revelation 17:9-10, the seven heads are identified
as seven mountains on which the woman sits. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black;">9</span></sup></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads
are seven mountains on which the woman sits. </span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black;">10 </span></sup></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">There are
also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And
when he comes, he must continue a short time.” </span></i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Notice the angel said that the seven heads are
seven mountains <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and </i>in addition, there
are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">also </i>seven kings; therefore, the
seven heads/mountains are related to but distinct and separate from the seven
kings. In Revelation 12:3, the seven heads are also related to but distinct and
separate from the seven diadems/crowns. It can be safely assumed that the
heads/mountains are not literal mountains and are not individuals, but rather
are seven kingdoms of the seven kings. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Revelation 17:10 says that five of the kings and
their kingdoms had already fallen in John’s day. One king or kingdom was in
existence in John’s day, and another had not come. </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">Those five fallen kingdoms were enemies and
oppressors of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place>:
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
<st1:place w:st="on">Assyria</st1:place>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Babylon</st1:city></st1:place>,
Medes/Persia and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Greece</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
The sixth “head” in existence in John’s day was <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Rome</st1:city></st1:place>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Revelation 17:10 says the seventh head (the
revived <st1:place w:st="on">Roman empire</st1:place>) will only remain a short
time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">In Revelation 13:3, one of the heads appeared as
though it had been mortally wounded. Many have said that the anti-Christ will
appear to have been raised from the dead. However, a consistent reading of “heads”
as “kingdoms” will show that the kingdom (one of the heads of the beast) of the
anti-Christ will appear to be healed from its mortal wound. </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">A word-for-word translation of the Greek is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“as having been slain to death and the wound
of its death was healed.”</i> Read Revelation 13:3 along with Revelation 17:11
which says, <i>“</i></span><i><sup><span style="color: black;">11 </span></sup><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">And</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> the beast that was, and is not, is himself also
the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.”</span></i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> In other words, out of the slain kingdom (“head”)
will miraculously come an eighth king, the anti-Christ, who will be as bad as all
of the seven previous enemies of Israel combined. Thus the “eighth” will not be
a head at all, but the beast itself. He is the “little horn” that arises out of
Daniel’s fourth beast with ten horns (Daniel 7:8). <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-variant: small-caps; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">What are the ten horns?</span></u><span style="font-variant: small-caps; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span></b><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">The
ten horns are ten national leaders in the Tribulation, led by the anti-Christ. They
are the same as the ten crowns. In chapter 17, the seven kings (five of which
had already fallen) are not the same as the ten horns (kings), which the angel
says in 17:12 are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“ten kings who <u>have
received no kingdom as yet</u>, but they receive authority for one hour as
kings with the beast.” </i>In the same way, the seven crowns/diadems in
Revelation 12:3 are different than the ten crowns in chapters 13:1 and 17:3.
Only Satan, the dragon, is described with having the seven diadems/crowns. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In other words, John’s description of the
anti-Christ is a culmination of Daniel’s four beasts all rolled up into
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recall what Daniel wrote in Daniel 7:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.25in 1pt; text-indent: -0.9pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black;">3 </span></sup></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">And four great beasts came up
from the sea, each different from the other. </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black;">4 </span></sup></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">The first was like a lion (<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Babylon</st1:city></st1:place>), and had eagle’s
wings... </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black;">5 </span></sup></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">And suddenly another beast, a
second, like a bear (Medo <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Persia</st1:country-region></st1:place>)...
</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black;">6 </span></sup></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard (Greece),
which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and
dominion was given to it. </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black;">7 </span></sup></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">After this I saw in the night
visions, and behold, a fourth beast (<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Rome</st1:city></st1:place>),
dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was
devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was
different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The beast of Revelation is described as a
combination of all four beasts or kingdoms of Daniel. This future beast will “like
a leopard,” that is, having the form and organization of noble and cultural
Greece (symbolized by Daniel as a leopard), the powerful and awful claws and
feet of the Medes and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Persia</st1:country-region></st1:place>
(bear), and the devouring mouth of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Babylon</st1:city></st1:place>
(lion), and the power of Satan himself (Daniel’s powerful fourth beast). All of
these are arch-enemies of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
and the anti-Christ will be worse than any enemy before. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><b style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><u><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">What are the seven diadems in Revelation 12:3?</span></u><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;">The ten crowns mentioned in Revelation 13 and 17
are ten end-times leaders who follow the anti-Christ and the false prophet in
the future. However, the seven diadems in chapter 12 are unique to the dragon.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">During the lead up to the Tribulation and even
during the first half, there will be world-wide kingdom power that oppresses
Israel. The kingdom power will be comprised of ten kings or nations, which give
their allegiance to the beast, the anti-Christ. But this man will then attempt
to assume the place of Christ and of God and seek worship, the worship which
ultimately go back to Satan, the dragon.<br /><br /></span></span></p>
<div style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 0in;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black;">4 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">So they worshiped the dragon
who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is
like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black;">5 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">And he was given a mouth
speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue
for forty-two months. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;">The calamities described in the first nine
chapters will give rise to a world leader, to whom the unbelievers will give
utmost allegiance to and even ascribe worship to. The world may even be
deceived to believe that the beast is truly Jesus Christ, and the dragon is
truly Jehovah God. The beast will not contradict them and will continue to rise
in power for 42 months, or the first three-and-a-half years. At that time, he
will cease all sacrifices, go into the temple in </span><st1:place style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;" w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city></st1:place><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;">, and declare himself to be God (2
Thess. 2:4).</span></p>
<div style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 0in;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black;">6 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">Then he opened his mouth in
blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who
dwell in heaven. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black;">7 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">It was granted
to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was
given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black;">8 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">All who dwell on the earth
will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the
Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black;">9 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">If anyone has an ear, let him
hear. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black;">10 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">He who leads
into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be
killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;">While the remnant of </span><st1:place style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;" w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"> was shown as the woman in
Chapter 12 as to escape from the wrath of the dragon, many will be overcome or
killed. Everyone who is not a believer in Christ will worship the anti-Christ. Verse
10 is an encouragement to those who are captured or killed, that they will be
redeemed. Such an encouragement will produce patience and faith of the
believers.</span></p>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-60067852063746850052022-12-09T17:15:00.004-06:002022-12-09T17:15:51.972-06:00The Stars and Scars of Christmas<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcez56OtcqTTvBYHVsCQ5O7ShJ1y97QuTVV_X7oWKIghV7amOU8JffpvOIWSMl-X5SFFPIo6yXeJKE0aCsMSSjNkFyW-Eraecf5RjGFS0-fU21Muo6MqTJGGvllUR_8Hib6blZtswkx30-fzUx7loNrO21vng3-Rll2ETVU41muSIoA9TEBruH6EhDA/s1116/Screenshot%20(60).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="1116" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcez56OtcqTTvBYHVsCQ5O7ShJ1y97QuTVV_X7oWKIghV7amOU8JffpvOIWSMl-X5SFFPIo6yXeJKE0aCsMSSjNkFyW-Eraecf5RjGFS0-fU21Muo6MqTJGGvllUR_8Hib6blZtswkx30-fzUx7loNrO21vng3-Rll2ETVU41muSIoA9TEBruH6EhDA/s320/Screenshot%20(60).png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">The late Adrian Rogers, who pastored Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, preached a sermon entitled "The Stars and Scars of Christmas." The star points to way to the Child, and the scars point the way to heaven. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span data-offset-key="fifo4-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbOduR2cnt5AfRqwOkdE8vM9lpnU0Mr3JUnlCFkI7TMSywJU9GpWFF2m-HtPva9Go9sRZiPwaAZtOaS4Yt7MjpkbsKnY-lfuX4_klu_a59-GZqQS4VUli8HUtYwgEBwQcA5rCLLleVubZme8aWXrdEeQm9V_hRzvuvj8uL_ccL4m9LonxFS-FM9o92Q/s2048/adrian%20rogers%20desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbOduR2cnt5AfRqwOkdE8vM9lpnU0Mr3JUnlCFkI7TMSywJU9GpWFF2m-HtPva9Go9sRZiPwaAZtOaS4Yt7MjpkbsKnY-lfuX4_klu_a59-GZqQS4VUli8HUtYwgEBwQcA5rCLLleVubZme8aWXrdEeQm9V_hRzvuvj8uL_ccL4m9LonxFS-FM9o92Q/s320/adrian%20rogers%20desk.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Desk of Pastor Adrian Rogers, <br />housed at Southwestern Baptist<br />Theological Seminary, Fort Worth</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
"You picture the baby in the manger, and you see those little, dimpled feet. Those little, dimpled feet would someday be pierced with a searing, cruel nail. Those little, chubby hands would one day bear scars, so important that He carried them with Him to heaven as a souvenir of His visit to earth. The only man-made things in heaven are the scars of Jesus Christ, telling thw world that Jesus suffered, He sympathizes, and He saves."
</span></span><span class=" xv78j7m" data-offset-key="fifo4-1-0" end="673" spellcheck="false" start="662" style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bob Billups</span><span data-offset-key="fifo4-2-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true">, publisher of GC2 Press, has graciously invited me to write again for the Bible Study material to come out in June of 2023. The first time was from my favorite book of the Bible, the Gospel of John, and this time on my favorite topic: heaven.
<a href="https://gc2press.org/the-beauty-of-restoration-john-digital-study-guide/" target="_blank">By the way, you can save shipping and get today a DIGITAL version of "The Beauty of Restoration," an in-depth study based on the final chapters of the gospel of John, leading right up to the beginning of Lent, which begins February 22, 2023.
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OVERVIEW: "Was there a time you were committed to Christ and actively served the Lord with gladness? Was there a time you met the Lord each day for a quiet time of prayer and study?
"But not now.
"Have you wandered away in your walk with Jesus? Here’s the good news. Jesus will restore you if you meet Him at the Cross. That’s what happened to the Apostle John. He ran away. He deserted the Lord, but he met Jesus back at the cross. And Jesus restored John…and Jesus also restored Peter…and Jesus can restore you too.
"Do you want to be restored? Like John, you may have known the Lord for a long time, but something caused you to slip away from the side of Jesus. It’s time for you to come back. The Bible says, 'Come near to God and He will come near to you.' (James 4:8 NIV)
"Come to the cross. It is only there that you can witness how wide and long and high and deep is the love that Christ has for you. And when you meet Him there, the first thing Jesus says to you is, “I’m glad you are back. I’ve missed you. I want to restore you to a place where you lean on me. Now, I have a job for you. Take care of my people. Serve me again. I have a cross for you. Take it up and follow me” and discover The Beauty of Restoration
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GC2001350-PDFSG</span></span></span>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-50031978484566871052022-11-30T10:43:00.004-06:002022-12-12T11:57:45.879-06:00Revelation Chapter 11: The Two Witnessess and the 7th Trumpet<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chapter 11 is a retracing of the first half of the
Tribulation. Before chapter 10, John was in heaven, but now on earth. This
indicates that John’s vision in chapters 10-15 is a review of things which he had
not seen in his vision so far from different perspectives. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The perspectives
are: chapters 4-9, and 16, heavenly; 10-11, humanly; 12, spiritually; 13, satanically;
14-15, redemptively; 17, religiously and governmentally; 18, economically;
19-22, triumphantly. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">John’s measurement of the temple on earth is at the
beginning of the seven-year tribulation. Also, the ministry of the two
witnesses is during seal and first six trumpet judgments, overlapping chapters 6,
7, 8 and 9. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two witnesses have been
commonly identified as Elijah and either Moses or Enoch and will bring
judgments and plagues. The beast (anti-Christ) will kill them, but 3 ½ days
later, they will be resurrected and taken to heaven. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chapter 11 also ushers in
the seventh trumpet, which is also the third woe, which inaugurates the final
three-and-a-half years of the Tribulation, also called the “Great Tribulation.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 4pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 0in;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">1</span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;"> Then I was
given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and
measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">2 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">But leave out
the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been
given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for
forty-two months. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 4pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><u><span style="font-variant: small-caps; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Measuring the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Temple</st1:city></st1:place> </span></u><span style="font-variant: small-caps; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">- </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">John is told, as Ezekiel was in Ezekiel 40-42, to
measure the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">temple</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place>, and also the
altar and the worshippers in it. Measuring the property, like surveys on
properties today, is a prerequisite of ownership. Ezekiel, in a vision of the
future, measured the “millennial” temple; that is, the temple which will be
used during the “thousand year” reign of Christ on earth after the Tribulation.
John, however, measured the temple to be built prior to the seven-year Tribulation.
The measuring of this temple by John shows that it will be approved by God for
the first 42 months. Later, in chapter 21, a golden reed is used to measure the
New Jerusalem. What a joy it must have been for John to see the temple rebuilt
in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city></st1:place>,
more than 25 years after it had been destroyed in 70 A.D.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><u><span style="font-variant: small-caps; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Four “Three-and-a-half
Year” References<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">“42
months”</span></i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">-</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">1) </span></sup></i></b><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">the time given to the Gentiles to tread the holy
city underfoot (Rev. 11:2) is presumably the first half of the Tribulation,
since the temple itself will not be defiled, nor will the sacrifices be
impeded, and since it is linked to the 1260 days in verse 3. </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">2) </span></sup></i></b><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">The time authority is given to beast who speaks
blasphemies against God, His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in
heaven (Rev. 13:5), presumably the last half of the Tribulation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">“1260
days”</span></i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">-</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">1) </span></sup></i></b><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">the
time given to the witnesses to have power (Rev. 11:3), presumably the first
half of the Tribulation. </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">2) </span></sup></i></b><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">The
time given to the woman to be fed in the wilderness (Rev. 12:6), presumably the
last half of the Tribulation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 4pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 0in;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">3</span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">And I will
give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred
and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">4</span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">These are the two olive trees
and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">5 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">And if anyone
wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies.
And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">6 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">These have
power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and
they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with
all plagues, as often as they desire. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">7 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">When they
finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will
make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">8 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">And their dead
bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sodom</st1:city></st1:place> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
where also our Lord was crucified. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">9 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">Then those
from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies
three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">10 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">And those who
dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another,
because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">11 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">Now after the
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. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">12 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">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. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">13</span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">In the same hour
there was a great earthquake and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake
seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to
the God of heaven. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-size: 4pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The olive tree and lampstand imagery were used in
Zechariah 4 in affirming the building of the temple; the lampstand represented
the eyes (i.e., presence) of the Lord, and the olive trees represented those
anointed by God. When the temple was restored in Zerubbabel’s day, the people
knew that the Lord of hosts had done it (<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4px; text-indent: 22.8px;">Zechariah </span>4:9). It was “not by might, nor
by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” (</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.4px; text-indent: 22.8px;">Zechariah</span><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"> 4:6b). The two
witnesses will also have God’s power and anointing and will emerge with the
emergence of the temple in </span><st1:place style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;" w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city></st1:place><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Why Elijah? </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">The Apostle John does not actually get to see the
two witnesses, but rather the angel tells him about them. Why are they thought
to be Elijah and Moses or possibly Elijah and Enoch? Elijah is easily
explained, since Malachi 4:5 says that Elijah will come before the “great and
dreadful day of the Lord.” Jesus also affirmed that “indeed, Elijah is coming
first and will restore all things” (Matthew <st1:time hour="17" minute="11" w:st="on">17:11</st1:time>, Mark <st1:time hour="9" minute="12" w:st="on">9:12</st1:time>).
Just as Jesus had two advents or comings, so also does Elijah precede Christ in
both of His appearances. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Why Moses? </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Just as Elijah prayed for there to be no rain for
3 ½ years and brought down fire to destroy enemies of God, Moses also brought
down plagues and turned water into blood. He also appeared with Elijah on the
mount of Transfiguration. Moses was linked with Elijah as was the phrase, “the
Law and the Prophets.” However arguments against Moses state that it is God who
causes the plagues, and not a person and He could easily use anyone, including
Enoch, to be a witness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Why Enoch? </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Those who doubt Moses would be one of the two
witnesses often cite Hebrews <st1:time hour="9" minute="27" w:st="on">9:27</st1:time>,
“as it is appointed for men to die <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">once</i>…”
with the emphasis that Moses could not die twice and his death is already
recorded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it appears that
Lazarus died twice. But also a more compelling of reason in favor of Enoch is
that Enoch never died but was translated directly to heaven (Genesis 5:24, Hebrews 11:5). Enoch was also a prominent figure in end-times prophecy in writings not
ascribed to the canonical Bible (see Jude 14). At any rate, John the Apostle
does not tell us, and likely even he did not know, who these two witnesses
would be, so neither can we know for certainty.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Who is the beast? </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Earlier we saw the “angel of the bottomless pit” ascend
up out of the abyss. He is Apollyon and Abaddon, the Destroyer, and undoubtedly
Satan. In Revelation 12:3, we see the dragon, who is clearly identified as Satan in Rev.
20:2, as having seven heads and ten horns. Later, in <a href="https://timothymckeown.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-revelation-of-anti-christ.html" target="_blank">Chapter 13,</a> we will see a
second beast arise out of the sea, also with seven heads and ten horns who will
make war with the saints (13:7). Like Christ, he will have been mortally
wounded, but yet alive. In Revelation 13:11, we see a third beast “coming up out of
the earth.” In these three beasts, we see the “unholy trinity.”</span></span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"> <br /><br /></span></p>
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<tbody><tr>
<td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 261pt;" valign="top" width="348">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><u><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Unholy
Trinity</span></u></i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 261pt;" valign="top" width="348">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><u><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Holy
Trinity<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">First Beast of the abyss<br />Dragon/Satan/devil/serpent of
old<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Father / <br /><span> </span>Ancient of Days<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><a href="https://timothymckeown.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-revelation-of-anti-christ.html" target="_blank">Second Beast of the sea</a><br />AntiChrist/lawless one<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 261pt;" valign="top" width="348">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">The Son /<br />Jesus Christ<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 261pt;" valign="top" width="348">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><a href="https://timothymckeown.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-revelation-of-false-prophet.html" target="_blank">Third Beast of the earth</a><br />False Prophet<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">The Holy Spirit<br />Seven Spirits (Revelation 1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;">So, who is this beast in Rev. 11 that makes war
with the two witnesses and kills them? It is Satan, working through and giving
power to a human being “with all power, signs, and lying wonders” (2 <span style="letter-spacing: -0.4px; text-indent: 22.8px;">Thessalonians</span> 2:9) whom we identify as the anti-Christ. Just as Jesus was God incarnate or
God in the flesh, this “man of sin” will literally be Satan incarnate or a man
possessed by the devil himself. So, when the second beast or the anti-Christ is
worshipped, so also is the dragon worshipped.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://timothymckeown.blogspot.com/2022/07/daniels-70th-week.html" target="_blank">Daniel </a>foresaw the beast in Revelation 11:7 as “the
prince who is to come” would make a covenant with many for one prophetic “week”
or seven years, but in the middle of the week, he would bring an end to daily
sacrifice and offerings in the temple (Daniel <st1:time hour="9" minute="27" w:st="on">9:27</st1:time>). The phrase “make war against them” is also
reminiscent of Daniel 7:21 “I beheld, and the same horn made war with the
saints, and prevailed against them.” Paul foresaw that at this point that “the
man of sin” would be revealed as “the son of perdition,” and exalt himself in
the temple as God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Why is <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city></st1:place> called spiritually “<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sodom</st1:city></st1:place> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place>”?
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Notice that <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city></st1:place> becomes a seat of spiritual
wickedness during the Tribulation. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city></st1:place>
was called the “holy city” in verse 2, but is trampled on by the Gentiles for
42 months and spiritually becomes as wicked as <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sodom</st1:city></st1:place> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place>. John identifies it for
certain as <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city></st1:place>
when he says that it is where our Lord was crucified.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-size: 4pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 0in;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">14 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">The second woe
is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">15 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">Then the
seventh angel sounded: and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms
of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He
shall reign forever and ever!” </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">16 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">And the
twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and
worshiped God, </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">17
</span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord
God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have
taken Your great power and reigned. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">18</span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">The nations
were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should
be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the
saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those
who destroy the earth.” </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">19
</span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">Then the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">temple</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place>
was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And
there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-size: 4pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The third woe is about to come. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the two witnesses ascended up to heaven,
John also returns to heaven for a different perspective of his vision. In the
Greek, the word order in verse 19 is “was opened the temple of God in heaven,”
and stipulates clearly that John was not describing the earthly temple and the
ark which he saw was not the earthly ark of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the
</i>covenant, but rather the heavenly ark of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">His </i>covenant. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In verse 19, for the second of three times, John
records lightnings, noises (or voices, KJV), thunderings, an earthquake, and
hail which increasingly intensify (see also <a href="https://timothymckeown.blogspot.com/2021/01/Four-Trumpets.html" target="_blank">Revelation 8:5-7</a> at the conclusion of the
seven seals, here at the conclusion of the seven trumpets, and again in
16:18-21, at the conclusion of the seven vial judgments). </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-26465571322957265282022-11-14T11:03:00.005-06:002022-11-14T18:09:16.978-06:00Week 1, Power to Pray, Day 2 Evening: Partners<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <i>About a week ago, I asked people to pray for the publication of Seven Portraits In Prayer, One Day at a Time. It is a seven-week, morning and evening, daily devotional look at some events from the Bible that actually gives us pictures, or "portraits" in prayer. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Thursday, in answer to your prayers, God (and Southwestern Seminary) actually freed me up to do just that, and I am hoping to complete this book soon and submit it for publication. Please continue to join me in prayer and as an encouragement to you, here is another unedited page from my book, seeking again partners and intercessors in prayer. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNHQBPY_nTMHcZelODbEC2xdw02gPOMC_0oxOJo4aWYaNOMSKvg0R7NPV5xSI78hqXtCuvz_9WLMPqFPEqmJq0mspRyABns30NQtb29q2fkgoGLeZEEOCQrT0_gRHZTTCmQhYShuk3ezcKjEyY5tRYfxYiOQFuGW_X3kaffsrK4Rslg5kocj4_Dfr6w/s944/partnersinprayerevening.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="613" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNHQBPY_nTMHcZelODbEC2xdw02gPOMC_0oxOJo4aWYaNOMSKvg0R7NPV5xSI78hqXtCuvz_9WLMPqFPEqmJq0mspRyABns30NQtb29q2fkgoGLeZEEOCQrT0_gRHZTTCmQhYShuk3ezcKjEyY5tRYfxYiOQFuGW_X3kaffsrK4Rslg5kocj4_Dfr6w/w416-h640/partnersinprayerevening.png" width="416" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2pt; tab-stops: right lined 339.85pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;">Albert Barnes wrote</span></b><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;"> that when Moses raised the rod of God on the hill above where Joshua
was battling below, “The act represents the efficacy of intercessory
prayer—offered doubtless by Moses—a point of great moment to the Israelites at
that time and to the Church in all ages.” (<i>Barnes Notes, The Bible Commentary</i>,
page 47). </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt; line-height: 97%;">Joshua needed the intercession of Moses. Moses needed the help and support
of Aaron and Hur. And you and I need the prayers of others and they need ours.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt; line-height: 97%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Do you wonder what happened to Hur? The last time Hur is mentioned, he and
Aaron were called to watch over Israel while Moses and Joshua went to Sinai to
receive the Ten Commandments. Aaron participated in the idolatrous acts of
Israel in making the golden calf, sheepishly saying, <i>“I cast it (the gold)
into the fire, and this calf came out,” </i>(Exodus 24:13-15, 32:19-24).</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt; line-height: 97%;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But Hur is never heard from again in Scripture. The
Jewish Talmud claimed that Hur tried to stop the wickedness of the people and
they allegedly stoned him to death. If so, Hur died a sacrificial death, and
Aaron would live a sacrificial life (read Leviticus 10:1-7). The point is,
Aaron and Hur, in life and possibly death, were sacrificially partners with
Moses.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt; line-height: 97%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After the victory, Moses built an altar to God and called it <i>“Jehovah
Nissi”</i>, which means “God-is-my-banner”. A banner gave encouragement to the
warriors in battle. As Moses stood with his arms lifted and the rod of God in
his hands, it was a rallying banner which gave strength to the battle below.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoxQXtlPV6GkMY_G8t4FkjR2p8PgknOJN2z7kpHnc9OHXUs4FL-LxwAZAbbBoTHV9lEz4ghKi4-06pKx6rFZX4pDwhD9lB-5Gbqzoa0ewZManRTgSHY5xfamJIH58c8POwqqdEmTq1r9eOBWsi__yEF31xFI9ggMbd5JO1rPDNx29yA58OF_Rr32ubw/s659/Edwardsonprayer.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="659" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoxQXtlPV6GkMY_G8t4FkjR2p8PgknOJN2z7kpHnc9OHXUs4FL-LxwAZAbbBoTHV9lEz4ghKi4-06pKx6rFZX4pDwhD9lB-5Gbqzoa0ewZManRTgSHY5xfamJIH58c8POwqqdEmTq1r9eOBWsi__yEF31xFI9ggMbd5JO1rPDNx29yA58OF_Rr32ubw/w200-h181/Edwardsonprayer.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt; line-height: 97%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When we pray for others, especially those in a battle, we raise a banner
in the spiritual realm, giving encouragement, even if they do not know we are
praying for them. As partners in prayer, we need to sacrificially pray for
others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt; line-height: 97%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Prayer requires sacrifice. Prayer releases the power of God. Prayer
transports our requests to a spiritual realm in heaven, to the very throne of
Grace itself (Hebrews 4:16). Like Moses holding the rod of God, you hold the
presence of God in your prayers. When you uphold others in prayer, you are
Aaron and Hur to them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt; line-height: 97%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Do you want something extraordinary to happen for your loved ones, your
circumstances, your work, your ministry, your church, your country, your world?
It begins with extraordinary prayer and may require partners in prayer. Will
you join your heart together with mine in prayer? If so, we will see the power
of God unfold.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2pt; tab-stops: right lined 339.85pt; text-indent: 0.25in;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt; line-height: 97%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;">Pray this
prayer to God: </span></b><i style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;">“Thank you
God, for my partners in prayer. Some who have prayed for me are now in your
presence. Others who will pray for me, I do not even know, and may not even be
born yet. I need You, but I also need others to pray for me. Help me to be the
prayer partner I need to be. In Jesus’s name, Amen.”</span></i> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span><p></p><p><br /></p>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-91234969644250958732022-11-08T09:00:00.015-06:002022-11-14T18:09:38.793-06:00Week 1, Power to Pray, Day 2 Morning: Partners<span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Would you join your hearts together with mine in praying that I finish "Seven
Portraits in Prayer" to be published and that I would find a portrait artist to
paint? I felt convicted that I need prayer partners in this book effort, that it
would be anointed to bring people to pray.</i></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNL1PAGxyIUeKkPxfIzzspj0S_sjdnev6CjgfauKU9Bps9nfksx4ulAoKt75fM9lBNpmtQY-B43bQfI0371cfPgMQ3OKxsnPY5HU9QflAnqkikOQhL_xH3JG2tB2kJoapF0R-3PqqdLxw3sRLMnKAeyGc2XM3r7RniK_Dwu4oi_ctCF1PLmahf7-3vQ/s962/partnersinprayermorning.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="787" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNL1PAGxyIUeKkPxfIzzspj0S_sjdnev6CjgfauKU9Bps9nfksx4ulAoKt75fM9lBNpmtQY-B43bQfI0371cfPgMQ3OKxsnPY5HU9QflAnqkikOQhL_xH3JG2tB2kJoapF0R-3PqqdLxw3sRLMnKAeyGc2XM3r7RniK_Dwu4oi_ctCF1PLmahf7-3vQ/w328-h400/partnersinprayermorning.png" width="328" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2.0pt; tab-stops: right lined 384.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;">There is a</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;"> reason why I
frequently ask others to “join their hearts together with mine” in prayer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2.0pt; tab-stops: right lined 339.85pt; text-indent: .25in;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I need you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2.0pt; tab-stops: right lined 339.85pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When we look at the power of prayer in the battle of
Exodus 17, we see that partners in prayer are essential. Moses either knew or
was told by God beforehand that he would need Aaron and Hur. He didn’t go it
alone, and he specifically told Joshua to choose some men, undoubtedly his best
men who could defend and fight. He also said he would take the rod of God, the
essence of which we will discuss tomorrow. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2.0pt; tab-stops: right lined 339.85pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While Joshua fought below, Moses stood on the hill,
interceding by holding up the rod of God. When Moses’s hands became weary, he
had Aaron and Hur to uphold his hands. There is a spiritual participation in
prayer of which we all need to be a part. I need you to be my Aaron and Hur. I
need you to uphold me in prayer, to intercede when I become weak. To join your
hearts together with mine as we pray together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2.0pt; tab-stops: right lined 339.85pt; text-indent: .25in;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And you know what? You need me too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2.0pt; tab-stops: right lined 339.85pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When you strip away our pride and self-sufficiency, we need
each other and other believers to partner with us in prayer. That’s the power
of intercessory prayer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2.0pt; tab-stops: right lined 339.85pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The apostle Paul pleaded for it (Ephesians 6:18) and
promised it (1:16, 3:14ff; Philippians 1:4). James commanded us to pray for one
another, even confessing our sins as well as our requests, and to call upon the
elders of the church (James 5:13-18) and said that if we don’t ask in prayer,
we won’t receive (4:2). John wrote that we should pray especially for those who
are trapped in sin (1 John 5:16-17). <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2.0pt; tab-stops: right lined 339.85pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When Timothy was being instructed on how to be a pastor
and how to teach others to be ministers, Paul had to pull out his thesaurus to
convey how important prayer was, saying first of all, <b><i>first of all,</i></b>
“<i>let supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for
all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable
in the sight of God our Savior,”</i> (1 Timothy 2:1-3). <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2.0pt; tab-stops: right lined 339.85pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jesus knew and taught about the need for partnership in
prayer (Matthew 18:19) and practiced it (Mark 14:32ff). Right now in heaven
Jesus is standing at the right hand of God, interceding for you and for me and
for all who are praying (Romans 8:34). <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2.0pt; tab-stops: right lined 339.85pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And there in the temple and tabernacle of your heart,
when you bow your head or lift your eyes, when you kneel or when you walk in prayer,
when you stand praying lifting your hands or when you curl up in a fetal
position crying out with tears of pain, there in your innermost being is the
Holy Spirit, interceding for you (Romans 8:26-27).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2.0pt; tab-stops: right lined 339.85pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So I ask why do we not pray more? Why do we not ask
others to intercede for us?</span></span><b style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 97%; margin-bottom: 2.0pt; tab-stops: right lined 339.85pt; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;">Pray this prayer to God: </span></b><i><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt; line-height: 97%;">“Our Father, which art in heaven. Thank You that Jesus taught us to pray
‘our Father,’ reminding us that we are not only partners in prayer with each
other, but also with our Lord Jesus Christ. Teach us to pray. Amen.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-42500735251791791292022-10-20T09:40:00.008-05:002022-10-26T07:44:10.995-05:00How old will you be in five years?<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvj1qeGQqX4ZySGXB9WlIj8irQXa4IY03FnZdIVD9bvlUArW7I31jRE-wU3ZH3h-QX7L0CPxh_hCgCLBtxyFFWKTQO8DclvRpOnpLVUmr1JlhlTXmW_EsO6AQ0dYUyTdZ76-o8OwWyW7337sOcEd09uLkWC8Gs-e4aODhGWVb_rJv4OuI0XfW28pgKQ/s964/occupy%20till%20I%20come.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="964" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvj1qeGQqX4ZySGXB9WlIj8irQXa4IY03FnZdIVD9bvlUArW7I31jRE-wU3ZH3h-QX7L0CPxh_hCgCLBtxyFFWKTQO8DclvRpOnpLVUmr1JlhlTXmW_EsO6AQ0dYUyTdZ76-o8OwWyW7337sOcEd09uLkWC8Gs-e4aODhGWVb_rJv4OuI0XfW28pgKQ/w400-h291/occupy%20till%20I%20come.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's no secret that there are signs that the Lord is coming soon, but Christ Himself also said "Occupy until I come" which means stay busy in His service.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Before I enrolled
at Southwestern in 1985, I heard someone say, "If I knew that the Lord
would return in ten years, I would spend at least half that time at seminary
because I would be more productive with the remainder of time by my time spent
in seminary."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the same
principle found in the Bible: The Bible says, “If the iron be blunt, and he do
not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable
to direct.” – (Ecclesiastes 10:10).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another adage
comes from a woodsman who was asked, “What would you do if you had just five
minutes to chop down a tree?” He answered, “I would spend the first two and a
half minutes sharpening my axe.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPY6g71rhap1ry08sF5jFPkAIHaj28V0ZOSd1gvsBuN_Rg3oPmCEJlfPxcB6BPXJ1gNVNVR0ZIwuUZK3qBJGUyizZc0VH91l9ZOHS6BIoArsoPRzwgWL6t-IQrx2fO7oZKti5QG85M4xlLLhXHuy8EZWbPktKH5QPiNfpyBSL0JK976lzQhwBQepjsA/s2100/TC%20Kuykendall.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1499" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPY6g71rhap1ry08sF5jFPkAIHaj28V0ZOSd1gvsBuN_Rg3oPmCEJlfPxcB6BPXJ1gNVNVR0ZIwuUZK3qBJGUyizZc0VH91l9ZOHS6BIoArsoPRzwgWL6t-IQrx2fO7oZKti5QG85M4xlLLhXHuy8EZWbPktKH5QPiNfpyBSL0JK976lzQhwBQepjsA/s320/TC%20Kuykendall.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Thomas Calvin and <br />Laura Kuykendall</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My great
grandfather was Thomas Calvin Kuykendall, who came to Poolville in Parker County,
Texas, with his parents in 1882 from New Hope Arkansas when he was 16 years
old. He did not have a formal education beyond third grade. Born on a farm near
Arkadelphia, Arkansas, there was no free public education there and then.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He came to Christ
at the age of 21 and after reading the Bible for three days and nights he was
baptized. From then on, his life began to change. He was called to the ministry
and felt the need for an education more than ever. He enrolled in the THIRD
GRADE at Poolville schools, advancing rapidly and soon received his teaching
certificate. As my grandmother told it, he then taught some of the same kids
who first laughed at a grown man attending an elementary school.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He taught school
for many years in Wise and Parker Counties and eventually moved with his wife
and children to Waco where he attended Baylor University for theological
training. Unfortunately, his wife, pregnant with my grandmother, contracted
German measles and he was forced to return to Parker County in 1905, the same
year my grandmother, Murl Kurkendall, was born.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He became pastor
of Poolville Baptist Church and a year later, in 1906, he was elected
missionary of Parker, Palo Pinto, and Wise counties. During his ministry he
traveled rugged roads by buggy to little churches in the wildwoods. He was a
pioneer preacher and a home missionary. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Three years later, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary was birthed in Fort Worth. However, commuting to Fort Worth was obviously not as easy in those days, and with a full ministry and a full house, he was always an advocate for higher education, but unfortunately not a recipient.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was well known
for his faithfulness in visiting the sick and dying in an era when they were
cared for in their own homes instead of hospitals. He also comforted families
in troubled times and helped collect money and provisions to aid those in need.
He conducted training sessions for Sunday school teachers, and church youth
leaders, and he held revival meetings under brush arbors dimly lit by little
more than the kerosene lamps he always carried.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a strong
advocate of education, serving on the board of trustees for Decatur Baptist
College, once housed in the county seat of Wise County and has now become
Dallas Baptist University. He often asked young men (and women, like my
grandmother and his other daughters), and especially those who were called into
ministry, two very wise questions:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"How old will
you be in five years?"<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless of
their answer, he would then ask,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"And how old
will you be in five years with an education and a degree? Wouldn't it be better
to get an education?" They inevitably got the point and enrolled in
school.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRip3M2_aMzjftdbg0ZUQAkrZuIQOJvxijieHkabLUa_AoaSVTPlHfkd7K3BiK2ppnAuJ8JFNxDb8vSFEBtwfEEQoTJeJjw5AzWlM0JQPftmhvEa3UB3Z1Y8-0dbXDK2v26oLPT6nQF-0qYgfqJlLPagF6zQoZxgUAWcfoY-BGPvNW3OqdH5BFYb_oFg/s960/four%20sisters.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="732" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRip3M2_aMzjftdbg0ZUQAkrZuIQOJvxijieHkabLUa_AoaSVTPlHfkd7K3BiK2ppnAuJ8JFNxDb8vSFEBtwfEEQoTJeJjw5AzWlM0JQPftmhvEa3UB3Z1Y8-0dbXDK2v26oLPT6nQF-0qYgfqJlLPagF6zQoZxgUAWcfoY-BGPvNW3OqdH5BFYb_oFg/s320/four%20sisters.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Article that appeared in<br />the 1987 edition of <br />the UMHB News</i></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just before the height of
the Great Depression, my grandmother and her three sisters were all enrolled in
the University of Mary Hardin Baylor as a freshman, sophomore, junior, and
senior, making the national news for such a priority by my great-grandparents, who
had ten children in all. All four went on to graduate, as did my great uncles
and so many of their children and grandchildren. For years the portrait of Thomas
and Laura Kuykendall hung in the halls of the University of Mary Hardin Baylor. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">(By the way, some of the verbiage above about TC Kuykendall was penned by Elva, who went on to be an accomplished author and journalist in an era when women were not readily received.)</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although my
great-grandfather died nearly three decades before I was born, my grandmother told me
that story after I graduated from Texas Tech University and had surrendered to
the gospel ministry. As a result, I enrolled in Southwestern Seminary in 1985,
young, married, and practically penniless, thanks in part to my grandmother who
allowed us to live with her in Weatherford.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I now have an
education and a degree and so thankful for the wisdom of my great-grandfather,
T.C., whose initials I bear, and for my grandmother who encouraged me to
"sharpen my axe."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-6560681366212893492022-09-19T12:11:00.009-05:002022-12-01T15:47:05.887-06:00I AM #7 -- He is Power over All.<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus</span><span data-offset-key="ete0n-1-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> said to them, “I AM” John 18:5</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgDqatnZiN3IrJNTxNDWj7NtMwBYb-fphQ-6K4-XGDU_mny0wiGSh9X4LDRGEisMPB33OZyFcek5WYsUsk6iEhVS4weJMhFORJO2x7Vh8RufJ-rAIXeb5m_F35R0mqGRBs8xU2IDfxttzxt9lFbXzIdp83DCqh0SM2wegbmapmGkr79-U8A5C5ZVp_Q/s2048/john%20in%20patmos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgDqatnZiN3IrJNTxNDWj7NtMwBYb-fphQ-6K4-XGDU_mny0wiGSh9X4LDRGEisMPB33OZyFcek5WYsUsk6iEhVS4weJMhFORJO2x7Vh8RufJ-rAIXeb5m_F35R0mqGRBs8xU2IDfxttzxt9lFbXzIdp83DCqh0SM2wegbmapmGkr79-U8A5C5ZVp_Q/s320/john%20in%20patmos.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2ele2" data-offset-key="5mtij-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5mtij-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5mtij-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the 3rd I AM statement, we see His judgment in relation to a lack of faith, but in this final, 7th I AM, we see His power in judgment relation to the literal presence of evil. Judas, as he led the soldiers, was not demon-possessed, he was devil-possessed. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2ele2" data-offset-key="9hpoj-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9hpoj-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="9hpoj-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2ele2" data-offset-key="aujus-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="aujus-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="aujus-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the 4th I AM statement, we see Jesus's power in salvation. But in this 7th I AM statement, we see His power over the saved and unsaved alike, power over all.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2ele2" data-offset-key="f9p27-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f9p27-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="f9p27-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2ele2" data-offset-key="ete9t-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ete9t-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="ete9t-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When we think of the PURE EVIL that is going on in our world, (Watch Tucker Carlson on September 19 for one of the most vile things I have seen going on today), we must remember that one day, Jesus will demonstrate His power over all unbelievers. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2ele2" data-offset-key="5v7nm-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5v7nm-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5v7nm-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2ele2" data-offset-key="8qf0u-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8qf0u-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8qf0u-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The final “I AM” declarative statement shows that Jesus is more powerful than man’s armies or soldiers, more powerful than betrayal and that through it all, the great “I AM” can cast any opposition onto their backs. That is power over all. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2ele2" data-offset-key="fbjpe-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fbjpe-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fbjpe-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2ele2" data-offset-key="8uiqn-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8uiqn-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8uiqn-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oliver B. Greene wrote "It is not hard to believe that when Jesus declared, 'I AM," the power of the Word flattened a multitude of armed men. For the last time before His crucifixion, Jesus exercised the divine power He had used on so many other occasions...If Jesus demonstrated such power when He was about to be judged, what power will He demonstrate when He comes to judge?" That is power over all. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6FX0H_HxQQsNHLQ1Z4lKzNGSWzgM_BYqlgQnqB_n54TLPAeJ6WARBVL7VjR2F-kYp0MHmr9wvTVCIMCTy2n3bscX4Ol8s9dh7AvxtjZsPvW8yMjfyzXm8lgutHWqmNbF9gheDW2cV6F8SJwWFDRAJw_LZO0CkenxY6KCeukhvJJjvWWDVDbO7gFdag/s2048/john%20patmos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6FX0H_HxQQsNHLQ1Z4lKzNGSWzgM_BYqlgQnqB_n54TLPAeJ6WARBVL7VjR2F-kYp0MHmr9wvTVCIMCTy2n3bscX4Ol8s9dh7AvxtjZsPvW8yMjfyzXm8lgutHWqmNbF9gheDW2cV6F8SJwWFDRAJw_LZO0CkenxY6KCeukhvJJjvWWDVDbO7gFdag/s320/john%20patmos.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2ele2" data-offset-key="4ccta-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4ccta-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="4ccta-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2ele2" data-offset-key="1lj4n-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1lj4n-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="1lj4n-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">God is sovereign and no one who opposes Him and be victorious. He could have called more than twelve legions of angels (Matthew 26:53). and yet He chose to go to the cross. He could have escaped when they were knocked to the ground, but He did not. That is power all.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2ele2" data-offset-key="s08-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="s08-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="s08-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2ele2" data-offset-key="785um-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="785um-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="785um-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">At the mere utterance of His “I AM” caused soldiers to fall. One day, just as Judas and the soldiers fell, every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess He is Lord. That is power over all.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2ele2" data-offset-key="alasj-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="alasj-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="alasj-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2ele2" data-offset-key="34ht3-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="34ht3-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="34ht3-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Two of the pictures shown are from on Isle of Patmos, where John received his revelation, or unveiling, of Jesus Christ. In the apocalyptic book, John included seven "I AM" statements. The third picture is from my bookshelf of Oliver Greene's books mentioned above, the wonderful book on the High Priestly Prayer of John 17, "Our Lord Prays for His Own" by the 19th Century Irish pastor, Marcus Rainsford, which was given to me by my wonderful friend Joyce Tuggle, and the two icons of John the Revelator, purchased on the Island of Patmos. The small Gospel of John book shown was a nice gift from Pastor Bud Olmstead, and you don't need to wonder about the orange book!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmH8p5z_51dECCft7Nz_3eHdHSQQyTmOvn9SR8ZPfJ0krI-o5aNMS2l0a7gBgrPUzMrrvhKwWF2SsNEFCndDwrUejkTrj75qvKwAfrvi4WBJg3o_F2N6zwX112wpoBSwalS3PZzrsaiGkx6kScVAbsELTaq4AK-wxssVXT8YxALvPn-pG6juxVHNPQPQ/s1572/john%20on%20shelf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="1572" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmH8p5z_51dECCft7Nz_3eHdHSQQyTmOvn9SR8ZPfJ0krI-o5aNMS2l0a7gBgrPUzMrrvhKwWF2SsNEFCndDwrUejkTrj75qvKwAfrvi4WBJg3o_F2N6zwX112wpoBSwalS3PZzrsaiGkx6kScVAbsELTaq4AK-wxssVXT8YxALvPn-pG6juxVHNPQPQ/w400-h163/john%20on%20shelf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></span></div></div>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-16096738606892366652022-09-18T12:00:00.006-05:002022-12-01T16:17:08.520-06:00I AM # 6 Prophecy fulfilled <p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> What encouragement is there for Christians in dark days? Two
forces are on a collision course. 1) “Unstoppable” force: A majority of
Americans will vote against those in power (mid-terms go in favor of the party
not of the Presidency, especially in times of economic turmoil) 2) Immovable
object: The party in power has demonstrated it will go to any lengths to keep
themselves in power.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Encouragement is in the sixth Intransitive I AM statement. I
AM #6: Jesus is Prophecy fulfilled.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> When we think of who Jesus said that He is, this "I
AM" statement regarding prophecy reminds us that God is in charge. Jesus
was prophecy fulfilled. In John 13:18-20, the context is faith in times of
doubt. The disciples were about to go through what would undoubtedly be the
darkest time in their lives—those hours between the betrayal and the
resurrection. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> When Judas Iscariot revealed himself as the traitor he was,
the disciples needed to know that this too was a part of God’s plan. They
trusted Jesus and what’s more, no one suspected Judas to be the betrayer. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> John 13 says this:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i></i></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have
chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has
lifted up his heel against Me.’ </i></span><i style="font-family: verdana;">19 Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to
pass, you may believe that I AM. </i><i style="font-family: verdana;">20 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I
send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Judas was not an obvious betrayer. He was entrusted with the
money of the disciples. He seemed genuinely interested in the poor (John
12:4–7; 13:29). When Jesus said a disciple would betray Him, no one pointed to
Judas (Matthew 26:22). Even when Jesus clearly indicated Judas, by giving him a
sop of bread, the disciples did not suspect him. Read John 13:25-29 to see how
blind-sided the disciples were by Judas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i></i></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>25 Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, John said to Jesus,
“Lord, who is it that will betray you?” </i></span><i style="font-family: verdana;">26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of
bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas
Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him.
Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” </i><i style="font-family: verdana;">28 BUT NO ONE AT THE TABLE KNEW FOR WHAT REASON HE SAID THIS
TO HIM. </i><i style="font-family: verdana;">29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that
Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he
should give something to the poor.</i><i style="font-family: verdana;"> </i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> The disciples had NO CLUE of the betrayal that was about to
take place. And neither do you know that something or someone at some point in
your future will truly shake your faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Not only did Jesus prophesy that he would be betrayed, but
1,000 years earlier, the Bible even predicted it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> In Psalm 41:9, God foreshadowed that a close friend who ate
bread with the Messiah would lift up his heel against Him. The act of betrayal
by a friend was especially bad if it was done after eating together. <i>“Even my
own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel
against me.”</i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Have you have been hurt by a close friend? By a Christian
friend? Have you ever been blind-sided? Have you heard of major Christian
leaders whom you trusted, falling into sin or doing things you would never have
thought? If not, be forewarned: If it happened to Jesus, if it happened to the
disciples, it will and does happen today and may happen to you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> How do you respond when those closest to you, even
believers, hurt you and betray your trust?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> When we have times that test our faith, in God, in church,
in our family, and yes even in our country, God wants us to know He knows the
future, He is in charge of the future, and He prepares us for it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Later on in the Apostle John’s life, he once again had to be
reminded of this lesson. He forgot that the focus of his faith should solely be
on God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He forgot that he should only
worship God. John fell at the feet of one of the 24 elders, someone who was his
brother in Christ and had a testimony of salvation in Jesus. So overwhelmed by
the majesty of this event, he fell at the feet of someone to worship him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i> “And I (John) fell at his feet to worship him (one of the 24
elders). But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow
servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For
the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” </i></span></blockquote><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><blockquote style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Revelation 19:10.<o:p></o:p></b></span></blockquote><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> The testimony, that is, the witness, of Jesus is the spirit
of prophecy.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The essence of Jesus is
that He fulfilled what was to happen, and also that He knows what will happen.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;">If God can use the greatest betrayal in history, Judas
Iscariot, and turn it into the greatest victory, OUR SALVATION, then seek God
to grant healing and strength in your hurt and pain. Those dark days you have
experienced, and these dark days ahead, are a part of God’s plan.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> There is a deceiver in the world. He was behind 9/11. He is
behind this recession. He is behind the approaching Great Reset (Rapture?). He
is behind all that is evil in the world. The lies that say, “The Border is
Secure”, “We are not in a Recession”, “Men can give birth to babies”,
"Children in the womb are not human persons", are all part of the
lies that stem from the first questioning of God, "Did God really say
...?" and the first lie, "You will not certainly die." (Genesis
3:1, 4)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> No, the deceiver was not and is not Osama nor Obama. It is
neither George Soros nor George Bush. It is not Donald Trump nor Joe Biden. It
is not Xi Jinping nor Vladimir Putin. It is not the Deep State nor the
semi-fascists, whatever that is. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> He who was a deceiver from the beginning is deceiving still.
And all is allowed by God and part of His plan. We are privileged to watch
Biblical prophecy unfold. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> If you have been hurt, if you are confused by the world’s
confusion, if you have been lied to, trust that God will take your grief, your
despair, your worries, and ask Him to use it to bring glory to Himself; in
spite of it all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-19609234596623452712022-09-14T11:44:00.001-05:002022-12-01T11:48:06.371-06:00I AM #5 Perpetual in existence<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiye0WakXF3QklWNJ2Ae2R2b22MolzMWcWG_olLhlHH1thORySHt2l0U6XiAPgkpp9KMB4FOonw2Ojuh5bn_I-7UwsTpyH-M-B3yUi5UioX0MIiOzuZRX4b1CoiIFvtXJMJ-B_HCkbO56qhZmWd5fReoXk6FjYHfSS9TDsqzQrNzsHAudcUZSHbeQf7cg/s960/sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="960" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiye0WakXF3QklWNJ2Ae2R2b22MolzMWcWG_olLhlHH1thORySHt2l0U6XiAPgkpp9KMB4FOonw2Ojuh5bn_I-7UwsTpyH-M-B3yUi5UioX0MIiOzuZRX4b1CoiIFvtXJMJ-B_HCkbO56qhZmWd5fReoXk6FjYHfSS9TDsqzQrNzsHAudcUZSHbeQf7cg/s320/sky.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The</span><span data-offset-key="1iivn-1-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> clouds looked amazing the other night. It reminded me of the verse, "Look up for your redemption draws near." Luke 21:28.</span></span></p><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="vj4q-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="vj4q-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="vj4q-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"He was taken up in the clouds...This same Jesus will return in like manner," Acts 1:11. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="fcth1-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fcth1-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fcth1-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Behold He is coming with clouds," Rev. 1:7. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="16vov-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="16vov-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="16vov-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds," Mark 13:26.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="27qal-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="27qal-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="27qal-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As we see signs of the end times in a world that makes very little sense, we need to "occupy, (or 'do business' as most translate it), until He comes," Luke 19:13. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="fh23v-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fh23v-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fh23v-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When the disciples were concerned about His COMING in His glory, He was more concerned about them GOING with the gospel! </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="cqkco-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cqkco-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="cqkco-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When we see the clouds, it should remind us of the cloud of witnesses, encouraging us to be a witness of our faith (Heb. 12:1).</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="64nj4-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="64nj4-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="64nj4-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="df236-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="df236-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="df236-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That ties into John 8:58 in which Jesus gave the fifth Intransitive I AM statement, “Before Abraham was, I AM”, which signifies that He is Perpetual in existence.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="974j0-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="974j0-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="974j0-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Who is Jesus? He is who He says that He is. He is. He is omnipresent, in every place and has been here for all time and will be here for all eternity.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="18vvo-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="18vvo-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="18vvo-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="gs47-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="gs47-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="gs47-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Us? Not so much. We are here for a moment, then pass. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="e0saf-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e0saf-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="e0saf-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="bj0i0-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bj0i0-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="bj0i0-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was the clearest Intransitive “I AM” statement of them all, as Jesus boldly stated that He existed before Abraham. God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" (Exodus 3:14).</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="ni8a-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ni8a-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="ni8a-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When Jesus said before Abraham was, "I AM", He was identifying Himself with Yahweh, existing before and was greater than the Jewish spiritual father Abraham. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="26edf-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="26edf-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="26edf-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As a result, the Jewish people picked up stones to hurl at this blasphemous “prophet” as they presumed Jesus to be. But that is not who He Is. He Is the I AM. All-Knowing. All-Powerful. All-Present. Before your problems and after their solutions, He IS. He orchestrates the times and the seasons for His purposes. Others may mean it for evil, but He uses it for good. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose," Romans 8:28.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="78otc-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="78otc-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="78otc-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="5cfjm-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5cfjm-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5cfjm-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">British Professor and Writer C.S. Lewis, author of the Chronicles of Narnia and numerous Christian classic books, put it perhaps the most succinctly: </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="23ep6-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="23ep6-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="23ep6-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jesus was either </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="dpu4f-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dpu4f-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="dpu4f-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">a liar,</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="9h4du-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9h4du-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="9h4du-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">a lunatic,</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1cj4n" data-offset-key="5nj8a-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5nj8a-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5nj8a-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">or the Lord He claimed to be.</span></span></div></div>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-31706858511215524292022-09-13T11:52:00.007-05:002022-12-01T16:16:42.755-06:00I AM #4. Provider of Salvation<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLoMtraDInlnYXFQyygUtTaJpWYHtrqXpddwMz54g14KyAHYXkTZTBBQQZ9RXC3Dg3ikREnDgi1mzv3HbnJTewE3k05sv-kXGzxiNXYnftjysRuA1GLguUYczLS28jnJpdmua9cRfXXzk3TmL6g3YN1rMgd0vwGAeK3XyHSWZnJD_xxLMY8u6AhA5xQ/s960/do%20not%20believe%20that%20I%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="837" data-original-width="960" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLoMtraDInlnYXFQyygUtTaJpWYHtrqXpddwMz54g14KyAHYXkTZTBBQQZ9RXC3Dg3ikREnDgi1mzv3HbnJTewE3k05sv-kXGzxiNXYnftjysRuA1GLguUYczLS28jnJpdmua9cRfXXzk3TmL6g3YN1rMgd0vwGAeK3XyHSWZnJD_xxLMY8u6AhA5xQ/s320/do%20not%20believe%20that%20I%20AM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">On my 45-minute drive in to work this morning, I saw a beautiful sunrise. Instead of complaining about the traffic or the drive or the work, I thought of how blessed I was to have been raised in a country that was imperfect but could be trusted to do what was right. To have a church that I knew could be trusted. To have a faith in God that I knew could be trusted. To have a family that I knew could be trusted. </span></span></p><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="f8u27-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f8u27-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="f8u27-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="94t24-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="94t24-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="94t24-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Not everyone had that and fewer have it today than when I was growing up. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="dtm5p-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dtm5p-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="dtm5p-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="52jta-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="52jta-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="52jta-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> If you did or do not have that, or even if you do have a trust in people and in God, read the following passage below from John 8 and know that if all else fail you, your country, your church, your family, friends, and even your trust in yourself, just know that God is there for you. That God is. That Jesus said, “I AM”. That the Father said, “I AM”. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="8c51s-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8c51s-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8c51s-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="ckpsd-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ckpsd-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><i><span data-offset-key="ckpsd-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">then you will know that I am, </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” 30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”</span></i></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="6hcdp-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6hcdp-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><br /></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="8bor6-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8bor6-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8bor6-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the Old Testament, Jehovah God revealed Himself and distinguish Himself from the other “so-called” gods by saying “I AM who I AM”. That Hebrew verb tense of I AM was like the name Jehovah or Yahweh. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="oc4a-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="oc4a-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="oc4a-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="dpurq-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dpurq-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="dpurq-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In speaking to the religious leaders in John 8, Jesus gives a series of three “I AM” statements, and today’s “then you will know that I am,” means that when He was lifted up on the cross, it was proof positive that God Is, that Jesus Is, the Provider of salvation.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="eep28-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="eep28-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="eep28-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The fourth “I AM” statement is a reference to the cross. When Jesus is lifted up on the cross, He was fulfilling the true Passover, bearing the sins of the world. Jesus said that on that day that He would be lifted up, all of the world would know in that day and will know for all eternity that He is who He said He is. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="5d798-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5d798-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5d798-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A previous "I AM" statement reminded us that He is omniscient and knows all and that includes all our thoughts. The next "I AM" statement will remind us that He is omnipresent, in every place and every time of our lives and the history of all of creation. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="78q8t-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="78q8t-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="78q8t-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But today, the I AM reminds us that in all of His omnipotence and power, in all that He could do, He gave all He could give. On that day that He died, He left it all, He gave it all, and He gave all power and might.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="3nk98-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3nk98-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3nk98-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For you.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="71mi0-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="71mi0-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="71mi0-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For me. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="c9t49-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c9t49-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="c9t49-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He did nothing for Himself. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="clbjg-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="clbjg-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="clbjg-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He IS Someone, the Only One, in whom we can trust.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="umk4-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="umk4-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="umk4-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="e3sgu-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e3sgu-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="e3sgu-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some may have come to salvation on that day, while others in full knowledge, rejected Him still. In this passage, Jesus was asked who He was, and as a result of this “I AM” statement, many placed their faith in Him (see John 8:30–31).</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="5hu6l-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5hu6l-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5hu6l-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jesus gave parables that said that that a king’s own son would come to receive a kingdom and people would reject him. Jesus is that Son. There is a song that says, </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="cq9gg-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cq9gg-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="cq9gg-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh, How He Loves You And Me,</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="a6mb4-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a6mb4-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="a6mb4-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh, How He Loves You And Me.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="91al7-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="91al7-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="91al7-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He Gave His Life, What More Could He Give;</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="6nksi-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6nksi-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="6nksi-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh, How He Loves You,</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="9n3bc-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9n3bc-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="9n3bc-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh, How He Loves Me,</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="6lqup-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6lqup-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="6lqup-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh, How He Loves You And Me.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="d9kgq-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d9kgq-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="d9kgq-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jesus To Calvary Did Go,</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="e7rm2-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e7rm2-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="e7rm2-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">His Love For Mankind To Show.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="82ec7-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="82ec7-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="82ec7-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What He Did There, Brought Hope From Despair.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="bmf7p-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bmf7p-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="bmf7p-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh, How He Loves You,</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="acqq9-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="acqq9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="acqq9-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh, How He Loves Me,</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="53khi-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="53khi-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="53khi-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh, How He Loves You And Me.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="e6mtq-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e6mtq-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="e6mtq-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh, How He Loves You And Me,</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="c53-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c53-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="c53-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh, How He Loves You And Me.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="fps8a-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fps8a-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fps8a-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He Gave His Life, What More Could He Give;</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="5g6l7-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g6l7-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5g6l7-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh, How He Loves You,</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="b18vs-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b18vs-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="b18vs-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh, How He Loves Me,</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="suqp" data-offset-key="2ia77-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2ia77-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2ia77-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh, How He Loves You And Me.</span></span></div></div>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-74707523315541308172022-09-12T11:49:00.002-05:002022-12-01T16:16:25.749-06:00 I AM #3 Preeminent in Judgment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBmzLdAti4Ha-3D9dIBRld5N2J96xlUxpLWcruUzaVRBBE6xibep2YdNA8FGz-Q_xW0hZ7I5YsGdO9GVwuVSupzi5-qSJAEZlsudJm-s6zm6SN6QAx7ONyld0MLA4HCYZDYlI9D0LkvdUV4j2PtTfmmm301E1mKyeOcBdOmxZayJn8DtOpznN0FpqSg/s480/catch%20me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="480" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBmzLdAti4Ha-3D9dIBRld5N2J96xlUxpLWcruUzaVRBBE6xibep2YdNA8FGz-Q_xW0hZ7I5YsGdO9GVwuVSupzi5-qSJAEZlsudJm-s6zm6SN6QAx7ONyld0MLA4HCYZDYlI9D0LkvdUV4j2PtTfmmm301E1mKyeOcBdOmxZayJn8DtOpznN0FpqSg/s320/catch%20me.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="e6efo-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e6efo-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="e6efo-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> In John 8 we see three intransitive I AM Statements in a singular chapter. Chapters 6 through 8 are some of the weightiest portions of the gospel and even the Bible. The chapters of John’s gospel average 42 verses each but John 6-8 average 61 verses. </span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="4a58d-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4a58d-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="4a58d-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="btfce-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="btfce-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="btfce-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> The third Intransitive I AM statement is a negative one statement </span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="1mq9b-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1mq9b-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="1mq9b-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do NOT believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="9np38-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9np38-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="9np38-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="6j2tj-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6j2tj-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="6j2tj-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> It’s not that a holy God will send someone to hell, but rather if Christ did not come or if we do not believe, we will die in our sins. The fact that Jesus is Personal and the Jesus is Perfect in love are great and wonderful, but what if we do NOT believe that? Then we reject His Preeminence in everything that He is and are only left with His preeminence in Judgment of our sins. No redemption. No forgiveness. </span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="459er-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="459er-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="459er-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="5pjsq-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5pjsq-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5pjsq-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> John reveals in the third, fourth, and fifth “I AM” statements an interrelationship of Jesus’s omniscience, His omnipotence and His omnipresence. He is the discerner of our thoughts and intentions (see Hebrews 4:12, which is rightly thought of as the “word of God”, that is, the Bible, but in the Greek it is “logos theos” is used there which does refer also to the “Word of God” that is, Jesus. See Revelation 2:23 also for the "I AM" Statement there of "I am He who searches the minds and hearts.") </span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="3ovos-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3ovos-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3ovos-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="9d7pn-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9d7pn-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="9d7pn-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> His preeminence in judgment is in the context of a lack of faith or unbelief that God through Jesus would forgive, that God through Jesus would redeem. Jesus’s statement in verse 24 made them respond with, “Who are You?” And that is the weightiest of all questions and the entire reason for the “I AM” Statements and the study of Christology in the context of systematic theology!</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="34uvd-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="34uvd-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="34uvd-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="2fsaf-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2fsaf-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2fsaf-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> Who Is Jesus? He is who He has been saying He was from the beginning (verse 25- 26). </span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="ehdpb-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ehdpb-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="ehdpb-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">25 “Then they said to Him, ‘Who are You?’</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="3vqlr-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3vqlr-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3vqlr-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">And Jesus said to them, ‘Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.’ “</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="343rp-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="343rp-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="343rp-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="34qt4-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="34qt4-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="34qt4-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">The doubters in John 8 were mocking Christ because they knew His mother became pregnant when she was not married. They did not know who His physical father was, not realizing that it was more important who His Heavenly Father was. The lack of faith that Jesus is the “I AM” is what causes God’s judgment of unbelievers. </span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="8d3j9-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8d3j9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8d3j9-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="9dk46-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9dk46-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="9dk46-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">By faith alone in Christ and His sacrifice, they could avoid the punishment. Jesus declares in their presence three times (8:24, 28, 58) in this one chapter that He is “I AM,” that is, “Yahweh God.” He declares that lack of faith will cause them to miss eternal life. </span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="4m562-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4m562-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="4m562-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="fkom6-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fkom6-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fkom6-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> In this I AM statement, He declares His Preeminence in Judgment, because He is All-Knowing, All-Seeing, All-Wise God that without faith, they would die in their sins. The next two related I AM statements (#4 and #5) will deal with Jesus being Omnipotent and Omnipresent.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="bk48i-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bk48i-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="bk48i-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="fpki" data-offset-key="8k937-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8k937-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8k937-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> We've been watching some "I AM" songs, but since this I AM statement is actually about Not Believing in the I AM, I wanted to show one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite groups, about "Who am I?"</span></div></div>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-23887642248689764742022-09-11T11:06:00.047-05:002022-12-01T15:57:39.000-06:00I AM #2 Perfect in Love <blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="1dn73-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1dn73-0-0" style="position: relative; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><sup><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">16</span></sup><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> And when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,<sup> 17 </sup>and having entered into the boat, they were going over the sea to Capernaum, and darkness had already come, and Jesus had not come to them,<sup> 18 </sup>the sea also—a great wind blowing—was being raised, <sup>19 </sup>having pushed onward, therefore, about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they behold Jesus walking on the sea, and coming near to the boat, and they were afraid;<sup> 20 </sup>and He says to them, “I AM; do not be afraid”; <sup>21 </sup>they were willing then to receive Him into the boat, and immediately
the boat came to the land to which they were going.</span></i></span></div></div></blockquote><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="33vsa-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="33vsa-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: right;"><span data-offset-key="33vsa-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>John 6:16-21 (Literal Standard Version)</b></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="33vsa-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: right;"><span data-offset-key="33vsa-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="a5bjb-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="position: relative; text-align: left;"><i><span data-offset-key="a5bjb-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b> It's getting dark. We are going down to get away from it all. The people, the work, the crowds, the fame, it was all going so good. We thought this is what God wanted. <br /></b></span><span data-offset-key="c1t4o-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div><div style="position: relative; text-align: left;"><i><span data-offset-key="c1t4o-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b> And then, it wasn't. <br /></b></span><span data-offset-key="c1t4o-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div><div style="position: relative; text-align: left;"><i><span data-offset-key="c1t4o-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b> In fact, it seems that Jesus left us. Alone. We're sailing to "The Village of Comfort," Capernaum, but we feel like we're in the sea of confusion. Didn't Jesus tell us to go to Bethsaida? What does God want? <br /></b></span><span data-offset-key="bu0dl-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div><div style="position: relative; text-align: left;"><i><span data-offset-key="bu0dl-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b> Now we're heading off without the Lord, rowing against the wind, and it looks like a spring-time storm is brewing. <br /></b></span><span data-offset-key="ep4pr-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div><div style="position: relative; text-align: left;"><i><span data-offset-key="ep4pr-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b> Did we miss something? <br /></b></span><span data-offset-key="b1t85-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div><div style="position: relative; text-align: left;"><i><span data-offset-key="b1t85-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b> I’m looking ahead but someone at the front of the boat is looking back and his terrified face looks like he's seen a ghost! I turn around and there is something, someone, walking on water. I know we are three, no four, miles away from shore, the waves are pounding, rolling, but with every flash of lightning, with every beam of moonlight between the clouds, there is an unmistakable figure of a man walking on the waves, drawing closer and coming directly towards us. <br /></b></span><span data-offset-key="4gvk4-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div><div style="position: relative; text-align: left;"><i><span data-offset-key="4gvk4-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b> Disappointment, confusion, sadness, loneliness, all now melt into a horrifying scream of fear, louder than the wind, echoed only by the pounding of the heartbeats from my chest.<br /></b></span><span data-offset-key="7l1tl-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div><div style="position: relative; text-align: left;"><i><span data-offset-key="7l1tl-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b> All that I have given up, all the acts of love and kindness we’ve all shown have only been returned with hatred, plots of murder against the man we’ve given our life for. They just killed The Baptizer, the prophet I loved and once followed. Now some want to place my new rabbi to be king and others want to place him on a cross, tearing him in two between a crown and crucifixion.<br /></b></span><span data-offset-key="b6e4h-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div><div style="position: relative; text-align: left;"><i><span data-offset-key="b6e4h-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b> He is close enough now to recognize clearly that it is He! He who went to a mountain to pray. He who told us to leave him. He who went to mourn for his friend, his cousin, his baptizer. <br /></b></span><span data-offset-key="ca1iu-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div><div style="position: relative; text-align: left;"><i><span data-offset-key="ca1iu-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b> Did he stumble and fall to his death, or even worse throw himself off and now this is his ghost, coming to take us with him?</b></span></i></div><div style="position: relative; text-align: left;"><i><span data-offset-key="ca1iu-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b> <br /></b></span><span data-offset-key="c964l-0-0" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b> Now so close I can hear him call.</b></span></i></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="elo6-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="elo6-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="elo6-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="5a84t-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5a84t-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5a84t-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">...."I AM. Do not be afraid."....</span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="4ka80-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4ka80-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="4ka80-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4ka80-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4lrKcGzDwHSTsXj5bCthx54KBZt-b5qGZfs-AFU1a_pykQw4QiESRzAg_ch5Cptqx2toVrYz4YbWzMoLxJoJPtFo816lmwPz61YhEWrIfwwPwSZZ82oBV6EVNOipQGmoTeNhuO2DRqictihPmJtqip8iBWrS8fIyDVQyAIEaFTqnxR1hOHL8bIcY7A/s1920/Screenshot%20(59).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4lrKcGzDwHSTsXj5bCthx54KBZt-b5qGZfs-AFU1a_pykQw4QiESRzAg_ch5Cptqx2toVrYz4YbWzMoLxJoJPtFo816lmwPz61YhEWrIfwwPwSZZ82oBV6EVNOipQGmoTeNhuO2DRqictihPmJtqip8iBWrS8fIyDVQyAIEaFTqnxR1hOHL8bIcY7A/s320/Screenshot%20(59).png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span data-offset-key="4ka80-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="f68ud-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f68ud-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="f68ud-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> Jesus next uses the “I AM” phrase (in Greek, Ego eime) in the context of fear. The disciples saw Jesus as He walked on the storm. His response to their fear was “I AM, do not be afraid” (Hebrew Names Version). </span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f68ud-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="f68ud-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="5f0ch-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5f0ch-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5f0ch-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> From the beginning, sinful humanity's response to a holy God is fear. Adam in Genesis hid himself from God because he was naked and afraid. </span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="456pj-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="456pj-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="456pj-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> Abram was afraid that he would have no heir. </span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="7r76g-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7r76g-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="7r76g-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> Sarai was afraid when she laughed at God. </span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="acfe3-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="acfe3-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="acfe3-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> Hagar was afraid that her crying son would starve?</span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="5ne67-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5ne67-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5ne67-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> Jacob was afraid to go to Egypt even though his long-lost son was there, along with his grandchildren he had never seen. </span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="6hsct-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6hsct-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="6hsct-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Elijah, even David had times of fear, and each were told "Fear not."</span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="cgpab-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cgpab-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="cgpab-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="f3j9-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f3j9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="f3j9-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> When life throws us in a storm, when God seems distant and even absent from our lives, when confusion seems to be our destination when we once thought we knew for sure where we were heading...</span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="bpo5s-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bpo5s-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="bpo5s-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bpo5s-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="bpo5s-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> Jesus will walk on the storms of life, and He will provide deliverance. </span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="4d485-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4d485-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="4d485-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4d485-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Years, decades, after the storm had passed, John would write these words, undoubtedly having faced down more fears than the younger version of himself had faced that dark and stormy night.</span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="233jc-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="233jc-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="233jc-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="a4iof-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a4iof-0-0" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="a4iof-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><i></i></span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: super;">17</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. </i><br /></span><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="a7jvq-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a7jvq-0-0" style="position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="a7jvq-0-0" style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: super;">18 </span><i>There is no fear in love; but PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. </i><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">19 </span></sup><i>We love Him because He first loved us.</i></span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="a7jvq-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a7jvq-0-0" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="a7jvq-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><i></i></span></div></div></blockquote><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="8i5gn-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8i5gn-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8i5gn-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="c0ui7-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c0ui7-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="c0ui7-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>His perfect love drives out all fear (1 John 4). </b></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="7p4hs" data-offset-key="fo9nh-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fo9nh-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><br /></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fo9nh-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzf-iL__bTs">Great I am (Lyrics) - YouTube</a></div></div>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-5254114973790870872022-09-10T10:59:00.004-05:002022-12-01T16:15:42.619-06:00 I AM #1 He is personal in our relationship.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TI7w1KxttLBqVvrZuU8K4P0t-E1XNJkCBPZz-18Vo-YMc7MUVfGyMYNngH4pYnybEoEDWHPL-fNRfquwejU5V-CYwgTgIPfaTg1bP470yK7x5SZdZl0Ku5wv0Q19IYT7sQcCL6DMYPAMlooNfUUcMxAZ5OBRYLEqQKTiimYAZ1QrpBsQF2eieV6Piw/s655/iam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="655" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TI7w1KxttLBqVvrZuU8K4P0t-E1XNJkCBPZz-18Vo-YMc7MUVfGyMYNngH4pYnybEoEDWHPL-fNRfquwejU5V-CYwgTgIPfaTg1bP470yK7x5SZdZl0Ku5wv0Q19IYT7sQcCL6DMYPAMlooNfUUcMxAZ5OBRYLEqQKTiimYAZ1QrpBsQF2eieV6Piw/s320/iam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
Have you asked Jesus to be your PERSONAL Lord and Savior?</span></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
That question used to be used a lot more than it is now, or perhaps I heard it so often that I almost became immune to its significance. That the God of the universe would come to us personally, in the form of a human in the Gospels and in the form of the Holy Spirit to us today, is unique from all of the other religions.
<br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> In the Gospel of John, there is never a mention of systematic theology or a study of God, neither is there a study of Christ in the educational sense. And yet the master teacher produces an exquisite way of teaching that reveals characteristics of Christ.
<br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> For instance, in the first Intransitive I Am Statement, Jesus said, “Jesus said to her, “I am He, the One speaking to you.”is speaking to the woman at the well. In my book, </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><a href="https://johnoneday.blogspot.com/">The Gospel of John One Day at a Time</a></i>, I described the encounter as follows
<br /></span></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>In the Old Testament, Jehovah God would reveal Himself and distinguish Himself from the other “so-called” gods who were made out of wood and did not speak or do anything. When Jesus came to the woman at the well, she was surprised that a Jewish man would speak to her, a woman with a questionable reputation. Today, many are surprised that the God of the universe would speak to them. As I write this, I am in awe that God forgave my sins and puts up with me. I love Him and He “walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own” (In the Garden, hymn published 1912). The idolatrous images made in the Biblical days did not have a personal relationship with those who worshipped them. We, on the other hand, have a God whose presence is with us always, who invites us to pray to Him, and responds when we do. </b></span></span></h3></div></blockquote><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> In the Old Testament, another woman, Hagar calls God “The God Who Sees”. “So she named Yahweh (I AM) who spoke to her: <i>“You are El-roi,” for she said, “In this place, have I actually seen the one who sees me?” </i>(Gen. 16:13)</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
God saw her and Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman in a personal encounter. The first stand-alone I AM Statement in John also precedes the first Transitive I AM Statement, showing that God not only sees, not only comes, but God through Jesus and now through His written word, the Bible, speaks to us. Several times in the Old Testament, God mocks the false idols for, <i>“They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see.” </i>Psalm 115:5, 135:16.
<br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Instead of His presence and his voice, we often forsake Him, the one true God, for idols that we have made and as we have made gods in our own image and likeness, they have mouths but cannot speak, ears but do not hear. Like them, we have no knowledge to speak of and no discernment with which to hear. We need to see God and His presence and His speaking to us.
<br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> There is an entire book in the Bible called “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” God wants to reveal, unveil, take away the hiddenness of Christ and become personal. I wrote a four-part study on the one word of “Revelation” you can read (see the link below).
<br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Yes, I believe God will speak to us in a personal relationship with us, primarily through the Bible, through prayer, through discernment of His spirit, through other believers, through nature, through studies with others, through sermons, through experiences. In fact, there are very few things that we experience in life that is not a revealing of God’s desire to be in relationship with us.
<br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> So, I ask again, "Have you asked Jesus to be your PERSONAL Lord and Savior?"</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></div>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-82186831058760470152022-07-26T17:17:00.001-05:002022-12-09T17:23:33.475-06:00 "Flee and pursue." <div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div class="" dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi x1l90r2v x1swvt13" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_2y3" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 4px 16px 16px;"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto" style="color: var(--primary-text); display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xdj266r x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0wNpjUXDCSR1vcxVjh2FnWA148xYct_Clb-JQyTulgplDri0lpnWU9AwcLVl9_LgK6294P-N7QEcKmV63-Sae6G6AGO408DkE3cXfzeHR5wm_2o-wi-ZaSF1yh0X8LeI3uooHQ0UT9vZcAxZgxIoaF4Qa1fQ_dsw-uqcP2NnoMnJMT7xy1TEHESUKA/s960/2%20tim%2022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0wNpjUXDCSR1vcxVjh2FnWA148xYct_Clb-JQyTulgplDri0lpnWU9AwcLVl9_LgK6294P-N7QEcKmV63-Sae6G6AGO408DkE3cXfzeHR5wm_2o-wi-ZaSF1yh0X8LeI3uooHQ0UT9vZcAxZgxIoaF4Qa1fQ_dsw-uqcP2NnoMnJMT7xy1TEHESUKA/s320/2%20tim%2022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">2 Timothy 2:22 could be translated as "Run away and run after!"</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Flee means to escape, like Mary and Joseph did in fleeing to Egypt (Matthew 2:13) or Moses did when he fled from Egypt after he killed an Egyptian (Acts 7:29).</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Pursue, on the other hand, means "to chase after in order to catch", says Dr. Rusty Womack of Rocky Hock Baptist Church (don't ya love that name of the church?). </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Pursue can also be translated as persecute. Persecute? Yeah, like hunt it <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>down, track it down, be on the prowl, but not for evil, but for good. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">You don't have to be a youth to be chased by youthful lusts. I met a guy almost my age the other day who is still living like he was a teenager, stuck in youthful sins. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And a person of any age can chase down righteousness, faith, love and peace. Not that we'll catch them but we can pursue them, can't we? </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">How? First, stop chasing youthful lusts, or middle age lusts, or old people lusts! Be brave enough to "run away"!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Second, call on the Lord. Ask Him to purify your heart. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But be warned: it's not a one and done deal. Paul had told Timothy something similar in his previous letter. "But as for your, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness." (1 Timothy 6:11).</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It's time. It's time to grow up, stop chasing the wrong things. Flee from them! Be a Man or Woman of God. Lace up your shoes and start chasing those things.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-48652367160249244592022-07-18T06:54:00.007-05:002022-07-18T09:19:30.523-05:00People get ready, Jesus is coming<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbD3B_a_Z_ofA3jWWL5igBLtjOT3bmYsoBlVbEswYL3jX6Y5xlNLDJ8jUkv-4gm_MDIpq58LKGo3qDCeI4YYtxtC7RQ43RhHX8kpZvCYgKVu2zavgddzW32yKf3Bke4vXo47CDgi_zjK8ZBf1jRwiDgV5lxIF31dHKrJyBL4aNHEvWcTH00pwWklHiA/s797/coming.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="797" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbD3B_a_Z_ofA3jWWL5igBLtjOT3bmYsoBlVbEswYL3jX6Y5xlNLDJ8jUkv-4gm_MDIpq58LKGo3qDCeI4YYtxtC7RQ43RhHX8kpZvCYgKVu2zavgddzW32yKf3Bke4vXo47CDgi_zjK8ZBf1jRwiDgV5lxIF31dHKrJyBL4aNHEvWcTH00pwWklHiA/w400-h385/coming.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p> I hate being pulled over by a police officer when I have
been speeding. But I breathe a sigh of relief when I get a warning. Being
pulled over is justice. Getting a warning is mercy (not receiving the punishment we deserve). Not being pulled over at all is grace (getting something good that we don't deserve). But if all we got were warnings, or not getting pulled over at all, there would be mercy and grace, but </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">ultimately</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">there would be no justice.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> The following was in response to someone asking me what to do in preparation to the End Times. We can pray for grace</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> You are asking the right questions, but unfortunately there
are very few right answers. Although the Bible teaches that the end times are
going to have famine, it does not say to stockpile food. The Bible talks about
violence, it doesn’t say to load up with guns. It talks about pestilences, but
the solution will not be vaccines or doctors. There will be meteors causing
world-wide calamity, but God does not say build bomb shelters, although he does
allude to people hiding in caves but their prayer is “fall on us.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> It definitely does not say to be alarmed about godless
people like the Hollywood elite, like those whom you mentioned. <b>(She had
mentioned some elite showing themselves eating bugs in times of famine).</b> No
you are not to “panic”, but the Bible says be prepared. So how? Not with
self-sufficiency but spiritually with God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Luke 18 has Jesus questioning on whether or not He will find
true believers trusting in Him before the Rapture: <i>“<sup>7</sup> And shall
God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears
long with them? <sup>8</sup> I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.
Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the
earth?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> In speaking of the Great Tribulation, Mark 13:20 states that
unless the Rapture comes for the elect, no one would be spared (the word saved
can mean spiritually “going to heaven” or as in this case “physically spared”).
<i>“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the
elect's sake those days will be shortened.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> So how do we prepare?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i>“pray that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that
will come to pass.”</i> That means to be living a life of repentance (I repent
every day, meaning I stop going the way that is against God), godliness (don’t
just stop doing wrong but start doing right. I try to do the things that are
with God and for God), faithfulness (not just having trust in my mind and heart,
but acting on my faith), moral purity (not because I have to but because I want
to), true worship with other Bible-based believers (it is REALLY HARD to find a
Bible believing church). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> The Bible says “Watch and pray”. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Luke 21:36 says, <i><sup><span style="display: none; mso-hide: all;">“<b>Watch</b> therefore, <b>and</b> <b>pray</b> always
that you may be counted worthy[fn] to escape all these things that will
come to pass, <b>and</b> to stand before the Son of Man.”<o:p></o:p></span></sup></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><sup><span style="display: none; mso-hide: all;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<b>Watch</b> therefore, <b>and</b> <b>pray</b> always
that you may be counted worthy[fn] to escape all these things that will
come to pass, <b>and</b> to stand before the Son of Man.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></sup></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><sup><span style="display: none; mso-hide: all;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<b>Watch</b> therefore, <b>and</b> <b>pray</b> always
that you may be counted worthy[fn] to escape all these things that will
come to pass, <b>and</b> to stand before the Son of Man.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></sup></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><sup><span style="display: none; mso-hide: all;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<b>Watch</b> therefore, <b>and</b> <b>pray</b> always
that you may be counted worthy[fn] to escape all these things that will
come to pass, <b>and</b> to stand before the Son of Man.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></sup></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><sup><span style="display: none; mso-hide: all;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<b>Watch</b> therefore, <b>and</b> <b>pray</b> always
that you may be counted worthy[fn] to escape all these things that will
come to pass, <b>and</b> to stand before the Son of Man.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></sup></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><sup>34</sup> “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. <sup>35</sup> For it
will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.<sup> 36</sup> 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.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><sup>36</sup> “But of that day and hour no one
knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.<sup> 37</sup> But
as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man
be.<sup> 38</sup> For as in the days before the flood, they were
eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah
entered the ark,<sup> 39 </sup>and did not know until the flood came
and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.<sup> 40</sup> Then
two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. <sup>41</sup> Two women
will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. <sup>42</sup> Watch
therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.<sup> 43 </sup>But
know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would
come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.<sup> 44</sup> Therefore
you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> For three years or more before I left Killeen,<a href="https://timothymckeown.blogspot.com/p/links-to-sermons.html"> every messageI preached was on Christ’s return</a>, in some form or another, except for the last
one. But very few churches do I see preaching on repentance, preaching on Christ’s
soon return. They are out there I am sure, but as I visit around, most are praising
and preaching but without much urgency or conviction. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> It’s not just having good worship, but good prophecy. Revelation
19:10 says, <i>“<span style="display: none; mso-hide: all;">And I fell at his feet
to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I
am your fellow servant, and <b>of</b> your brethren who have the
testimony <b>of</b> <b>Jesus</b>. Worship God! For the
testimony <b>of</b> <b>Jesus</b> is the <b>spirit</b> <b>of</b> <b>prophecy</b>.”And
I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do
that! I am your fellow servant, and <b>of</b> your brethren who
have the testimony <b>of</b> <b>Jesus</b>. Worship God! For the
testimony <b>of</b> <b>Jesus</b> is the <b>spirit</b> <b>of</b> <b>prophecy</b>.”“</span>Worship
God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” </i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> We should not be lulled to sleep. We should not be merely
preaching “peace and safety” (perhaps because of the Rapture). No, we should be
ready,<i><u> “watch”</u></i> and behave, <i><u>“be sober”</u></i>. Paul had
urgency when writing to the Thessalonians, chapter 5: <i><sup>1</sup> But
concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should
write to you.<sup> 2</sup> For you yourselves know perfectly that the
day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. <sup>3</sup> For
when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as
labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.<sup> 4 </sup>But
you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a
thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of
the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as
others do, but let us watch and be sober. <sup>7</sup> For
those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.<sup> 8</sup> 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. <sup>9</sup> For
God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus
Christ, <sup>10</sup> who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep,
we should live together with Him.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Christians are divided on whether or not believers will go
through the Tribulation. Perhaps Matthew 25 has an answer:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><sup>1</sup> “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be
likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the
bridegroom. <sup>2</sup> Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. <sup>3</sup> Those
who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, <sup>4</sup> but
the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. <sup>5</sup> But
while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold,
the bridegroom is coming;[fn] go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all
those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said
to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 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.’ 10 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.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying,
‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I
say to you, I do not know you.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day
nor the hour[fn] in which the Son of Man is coming.</span></i><i><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></i></p><p></p>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-85432389925253620222022-07-10T20:16:00.001-05:002022-07-13T20:57:48.598-05:00Daniel's 70th Week<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Revelation 11: </span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">John’s Revelation and Daniel’s 70<sup>th</sup> Week</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;">Many people teach that there will be a “Seven Year
Tribulation,” with the last three-and-a-half years being the “Great Tribulation.” </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;">Where does the teaching of a seven-year tribulation come from? </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;">Surprisingly,
nowhere in Revelation does it say that the time span from Rev. 4 through 19 is
seven years. However, since Revelation 11 - 13 mentions a three-and-a-half year time-frame of </span><i style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;">“one thousand two hundred and
sixty days” </i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;">twice (See Revelation 11:3 & 12:6 below):<br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 24px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; letter-spacing: -0.4px;"><i>“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy <u><b>one thousand two hundred and sixty days</b></u>, clothed in sackcloth.” <br /></i>(Revelation 11:3)</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 24px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; letter-spacing: -0.4px;"></span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 24px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; letter-spacing: -0.4px;"><i>Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there <u><b>one thousand two hundred and sixty days</b></u>.</i> (Revelation 12:6)</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 24px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0.25in;"> and </span><i style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">“42
months”</i><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0.25in;"> twice (See Revelation 11:2 & 13:5 below): </span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;"></span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 24px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; letter-spacing: -0.4px;"><i></i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 24px;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4px;">“But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for </span></span><b style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.4px;"><u>forty-two months</u></b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4px;">."</span></span></i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; letter-spacing: -0.4px;"><i><br /></i>(Revelation 11:2)</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 24px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; letter-spacing: -0.4px;"></span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 24px;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.4px;">And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for <b><u>forty-two months</u></b></i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; letter-spacing: -0.4px;"><i>.</i> <br />(Revelation 13:5)</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;">this is a good time to discuss “Daniel’s
70</span><sup style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;">th</sup><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;"> week.”</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Daniel
9:24-27<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 4.0pt; letter-spacing: -.3pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">24</span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;"> “Seventy
weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the
transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to
bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to
anoint the Most Holy. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">25
</span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Know therefore and understand, that from the
going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the
Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be
built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">26 </span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">“And after the
sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people
of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end
of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are
determined. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">27
</span></sup></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-font-kerning: 8.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">Then he shall confirm a covenant
with many for one week; but in the middle of the week, he shall bring an end to
sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes
desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on
the desolate.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; text-indent: 17.1pt;"><span style="font-size: 4.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In Daniel 9:24-27, the prophet wrote that <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><b>Israel</b></st1:country-region></st1:place>
had <i>“70 weeks”</i> to <i>“finish the transgression.”</i> What did Daniel mean by 70 weeks?
The word <i>“weeks”</i> was actually the word “sevens” and literally meant “70 sevens.” </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Most interpret this to mean 70 periods of seven prophetic </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.4px;">years consisting of exactly</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 360-days<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/94f8eaac81b10f00/ONEDRIVE%20FOLDER/Documents/revelation/Revelation20-dan9.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>. A week of prophetic years is seven 360-day years (or 2,520 days), so
seventy weeks would be 490 “prophetic years,” or more exactly, 176,400 days. This
can be seen this way:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipek4eMrub_2leUn4NXygIlcNd6QyDm41PdTypljafw1cULPOPPuMEw9gaG0cAn2qD2GB-i7hJy_lThdUSIKgyxEh86RfhvJDiKIZatCykRPFx5zi0Q6up1-ZZl1r6sLkgNsM8kAwaiAnf9uWYnFTXfz-_Luq-xoTo-rhtpmOGGo7NKPw36nmOsSYYlQ/s1838/Daniel%207%20timeline.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="1838" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipek4eMrub_2leUn4NXygIlcNd6QyDm41PdTypljafw1cULPOPPuMEw9gaG0cAn2qD2GB-i7hJy_lThdUSIKgyxEh86RfhvJDiKIZatCykRPFx5zi0Q6up1-ZZl1r6sLkgNsM8kAwaiAnf9uWYnFTXfz-_Luq-xoTo-rhtpmOGGo7NKPw36nmOsSYYlQ/w640-h138/Daniel%207%20timeline.png" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Daniel divides the first 69 “weeks” into two
sections: seven and 62 “weeks” (or a little more than 476 years on our calendar).
The first seven “weeks” was the time that it took for the city to be rebuilt
and for the Old Testament to be completed in the year 396 BC. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Following that
were 62 “weeks” to total exactly 69 “weeks” from the time that King Artaxerxes
gave the <i>“command to restore and build
Jerusalem,”</i> (Dan. 9:25a, fulfilled in Nehemiah 2:7-8) in the year 444 B.C. until
Jesus rode into Jerusalem in what is known as the Triumphal Entry (Matt. 21,
Mark 11, Luke 19:29) in the year 33 A.D. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many have gone so far as to say that
the prophecy was fulfilled to the very day, that being <st1:date day="30" month="3" w:st="on" year="1933">March 30, 33 A.D.</st1:date> (See <i>The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy</i>
by Tim LaHaye, pg. 358, article written by Randall Price and Thomas Ice). <u><o:p></o:p></u></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Because of His rejection, Jesus wept over <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city></st1:place>, saying <i>“If you had known, even you, <u>especially in
this your day</u>, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden
from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an
embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level
you, and your children within you, to the ground, and they will not leave in
you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your
visitation,” </i>(Luke 19:42-44). </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is interpreted as when <i>“Messiah shall be cut off,” </i>(Dan.
9:26a), followed by a time when <i>“the
people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations
are determined,” </i>(Dan. 9:26b). </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That destruction occurred by the Roman army
in 70 A.D.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Palm Sunday when Jesus arrived at Jerusalem, the “prophetic clock” stopped, and
the counting of the 69 weeks was completed. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.4px; text-indent: 0.25in;">“And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.</i></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; letter-spacing: -0.4px; text-indent: 0.25in;">(Luke 21:24)</span></div></span><p></p><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 24px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">Daniel’s 70</span><sup style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">th</sup><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"> week was postponed
until </span><i style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">“he (the prince who is to come;
i.e., the antiChrist) shall confirm a covenant with many for one week </i><i style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">(7 years)</i><i style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">; but in
the middle of the week, he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on
the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the
consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate,” </i><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">(Dan.
9:27).</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 24px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 24px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/94f8eaac81b10f00/ONEDRIVE%20FOLDER/Documents/revelation/Revelation20-dan9.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;">A
prophetic year=360 days; our calendar year=365.2485 days.</span></i></span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div><span><a name='more'></a></span>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-89973363388935132772022-06-05T18:06:00.005-05:002022-06-07T16:12:30.019-05:00John 3:8, Hebrews 11:8, and Joshua 3:13<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">For a fourth of my adult life, I
was in full-time communications and part-time ministry (at least vocationally).
Then for nearly the other three/fourths of my career, I have been in full-time ministry and part-time communications,
writing for fun and sometimes profit in the free-lance and self-publishing world.</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-family: verdana; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnvIWxtZGj7zpTLJhZpQU7QRTI7tO5Jamglre85Qjj4AXST1r--FnnYibGU--gBATk9vVaR_kddNUbXXNvwqBWBqYrl9CSCeCnH16KhIeF0OOktxw6ez7HdW0vZ5eRLaNMrvfI2hLECeDi7oq7s49jUuVkEUxGtVfsFLKSs-Innat5bWs5us5nIAHwg/s2693/swbtsring.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2693" data-original-width="1830" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnvIWxtZGj7zpTLJhZpQU7QRTI7tO5Jamglre85Qjj4AXST1r--FnnYibGU--gBATk9vVaR_kddNUbXXNvwqBWBqYrl9CSCeCnH16KhIeF0OOktxw6ez7HdW0vZ5eRLaNMrvfI2hLECeDi7oq7s49jUuVkEUxGtVfsFLKSs-Innat5bWs5us5nIAHwg/w136-h200/swbtsring.jpg" width="136" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: times;"><i>The circle is </i></b></div><span style="font-family: times;"><i><div style="text-align: center;"><b>now complete-</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">My SWBTS ring,</div><div style="text-align: center;">featuring the Dome<br />bought in 1991 by</div><div style="text-align: center;">Melissa's parents.</div></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;">As of June 6, 2022,
“the circle is now complete”, as some jedi warrior once said, but not nearly as
ominous as all that. I will resume my communications career, taking the role of
Associate Director of News and Information at my alma mater, Southwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary.</span><p></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pursued communications
for neither fame nor fortune (a good thing too), but rather because “I never
heard the Apostle Paul preach, but I read what he wrote”. The written word has
a legacy different and likely more lasting than the preached word. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am proud to be
back “home at the dome” in Fort Worth. Southwestern was a great and formative
experience for me. At the time of my enrollment, it was the largest Protestant
seminary in the world with more than 5,000 students on campus. I loved SWBTS so
much I spent six years getting a two-year degree in 1991. (Full disclosure, during
that time, Melissa and I alternated going to school, she got her bachelor’s
degree, we had two children, and I served in two churches as well as working most
of those years as full-time journalist.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My family asks me, “Are
you excited? Are you nervous?” to which I reply, “yes to both.” I enjoyed my years
as managing editor of two Texas newspapers and a writer at several others
including the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. After so many years in ministry, I
never left writing and I know also I will never leave ministry either. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I left First Baptist Church of Killeen more
than a month ago for a self-imposed Sabbatical. I officially accepted the Southwestern
position the first day of my unemployment. But when I announced my resignation,
I had absolutely no idea I would be going to where I am going. I intentionally preached my final sermon on the text of the waters parting only after putting their feet into the water. It truly was a
leap of faith in a lifetime of walking by faith. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> And as He always has been, God
continues to show Himself faithful.</span></p>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com62001 W Seminary Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76115, USA32.6806562 -97.3479214.7425127600982293 -132.50417100000004 60.618799639901773 -62.191670999999971tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-10813434741818098962022-05-25T12:06:00.000-05:002022-05-25T12:06:51.602-05:00Let Us Mourn<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2T8bv2QNpDIQ7jiYHEVXLRaCcJFQLDzG2bg-pK6vGnxVPMfz0EfL4oPCE9GGo9nTq5NUogyBnAJSyNbx_UtyqHvFsqd_rCZcw2EccDwig1ZjvAA2HDwnBZ3VS1pNP9ewTzxWZE9flvKWHKGQ8KqKzavok2IUZFhTuibbp26doMuAlv4jbLY9lt9t0Q/s1246/jesus%20also%20weeps.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1246" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2T8bv2QNpDIQ7jiYHEVXLRaCcJFQLDzG2bg-pK6vGnxVPMfz0EfL4oPCE9GGo9nTq5NUogyBnAJSyNbx_UtyqHvFsqd_rCZcw2EccDwig1ZjvAA2HDwnBZ3VS1pNP9ewTzxWZE9flvKWHKGQ8KqKzavok2IUZFhTuibbp26doMuAlv4jbLY9lt9t0Q/w400-h253/jesus%20also%20weeps.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">I know you are hurting. So am I.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, let me say, it’s okay to grieve, so let us grieve. We can
mourn, so let us do so. We can pray, so let us pray. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">I understand this tragedy erupts a flood of empathetic emotions in
many of you, like my friend, a 78-year-old father in my EMAW group, who expressed
deep mourning for the victims and their families last night. Understandably so,
as he lost his oldest son years ago in an automobile accident. His youngest
son, also in our group, just witnessed a tragic accident on Monday, bringing
back sorrow from losing his older brother. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> So, tell our Heavenly Father, that you are heartbroken. A
deranged teenager is to blame, but we want to be angry at someone, at some
people, even God, for letting this happen. We can turn away from, or turn off, the
reporting and the sadness lessens, but the families cannot. The injured cannot
turn off the pain. The witnesses cannot turn away from the trauma, they cannot silence the memories of the cries of
horror and fear. The medical personnel who treated and will continue to treat
the survivors cannot “turn it off”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">And God does not turn away. Some people will mock the “thoughts and prayers” we give, but God’s comfort is real so let them mock as we pray. God’s comforting Holy
Spirit can soothe even though it will not silence the pain. Nothing can, not
even time. The excitement of coming summer was replaced yesterday with a lifetime of terrible, horrendous memories which will fade, but it will not ease anytime soon.
It will never completely fade away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The bottle of tears God collects bulged even more yesterday and will grow even more tomorrow. This world is hurting, and it always has. But
the ultimate and eternal future is bright. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You are struck with sadness as I am, and maybe our tears are
from griefs that resonate from unrelated hurts but are now coming to the surface.
The cause of sorrows within us may be different, but we can share their griefs.
So can Christ. Billy Graham wrote this years ago:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>“May God give us the sensitivity to recognize these needs in
those around us. While grief can turn us inward, compassion for others should
turn us outward. Not only do we gladly bear one another’s burdens we also bear
(carry) the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ who is the ultimate burden
bearer, for Scripture tells us that He bears our griefs and carries our sorrows.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Isaiah 53:4-5 says, <i>“Surely, He has borne our griefs and
carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and
afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He
was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon
Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our burdens can broaden as others share them with us and we with them. But they will never disappear. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You and I must choose to look at the stable stars and not
the falling ones. I am so proud of the teachers who serve our children, day after
day. I love the parents who loved their children and thankful for those
children who were able to come home yesterday, and the day before, and those
who will come home today. We can beam and smile at children who are kind to
those who are different. I praise God for the border patrol and all of the </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">“</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">good guys</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">”</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> with guns to stop the evil, deranged, and demonized persons.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">No, thanking some people who are good will not take away
from the tragedy. But if you and I focus on things which are </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">“</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, of virtue, and are praiseworthy,</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">”</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> perhaps then the peace of God, which is beyond all understanding,</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7-8).</span></p><br />Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855849771394725464.post-78375890475357660082022-05-12T15:19:00.002-05:002022-05-12T15:19:20.281-05:00Be Careful What You Pray For...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDG2wv58j4JXHS77zWelTqmQXOVTDZDOi_DugLGlS4YiCq2T5oA-9YZHlnIuoSDPd76R5Z_koYFrfgJRNtyTGyxzwCdMMsT-q0XmP0JWyalhvjaSpIdDPg2m99OuEz3qoLfxhwxdpV0ydijJY7QWWa1SaXL-vH88FyF0jwTN94H6CMNBBcTcLQlUoMw/s960/1sam1223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDG2wv58j4JXHS77zWelTqmQXOVTDZDOi_DugLGlS4YiCq2T5oA-9YZHlnIuoSDPd76R5Z_koYFrfgJRNtyTGyxzwCdMMsT-q0XmP0JWyalhvjaSpIdDPg2m99OuEz3qoLfxhwxdpV0ydijJY7QWWa1SaXL-vH88FyF0jwTN94H6CMNBBcTcLQlUoMw/s320/1sam1223.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>1 Samuel 12-13</u></b></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>"You said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule over us’ – even though the Lord your God was your king. … the Lord has set a king over you.”<br /></i></span><i style="font-family: verdana;">… “We have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves.” </i><span style="font-family: verdana;">(12:12,13,19)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">God reigns over His people, regardless of whether a judge or a king is there. Election after election, it seems we have a choice of “the lesser of two evils” or as one stated it, “the evil of two ‘lessers’.” In a good and godly society, a democracy will elect good and godly leaders. However, societies are rarely, if ever, good and godly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The solution? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Samuel’s solution is found in 1 Samuel 12:23, “…far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and right way. Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A pattern emerges in the lives of believers who seek the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>1. </b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Recognize the sin. </b>The people had asked for a king, contrary to what the Lord said. We must remember that sometimes God will answer our prayers even if they are contrary to His perfect will. We must confess what we have done wrong. The Greek word for confess is “<i>homo-logeo</i>” which means “same words” or “same profession”. If you prayed for something and actually received your request from the Lord to your own regret, first of all recognize your sin. One of the jobs of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said in John 16:8, was to <i>"convict the world of sin"</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>2. </b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Remorse. </b>Truly grieve over what grieves the Lord. Worldly sorrow produces death. Godly sorrow leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-10). Learn from your mistakes. If God allows something to happen, like the anointing of a king, against His <i><b>perfect </b></i>will, it is part of His <i><b>permissive </b></i>will. Learn from what has happened, then pray that God will still be glorified in what has occurred. Peter was grieved when Jesus asked him three times <i>"do you love Me"</i>, the same number of times Peter had denied his Lord (John 21:17). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>3. </b></span></span></span><b>Repent. </b>For sins of commission, stop doing what is wrong; for sins of omission, start doing what is right. Proverbs 28:13 says we must confess and forsake our sins. Even if there are sins which have led you down the broken road, God always accomplishes His <b>purposeful </b>will. In the case of Israel, they needed to repent, but their sins did not thwart God's sovereignty. God's purpose is to reveal His glory, regardless of our actions. When we spot the error of our ways or even our prayers, admit it to God (recognize), express your sorry (remorse) and resolve to not do it again, or to not omit doing it again (repent). Jesus used the word <i>"repent" </i>eight times to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>4. </b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Restore. </b>Sins can never be undone. Only Jesus is the “Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets” (Isaiah 58:12). In some cases, though, we can make restitution. The sons of Israel could not undo the damage of selling Joseph to slavery, but they were given an opportunity to restore themselves in the eyes of Joseph (see Genesis 41-50). This is God's <b>prescribed </b>will. Zacchaeus restored fourfold what he had wrongfully taken (Luke 19:8, prescribed in 2 Samuel 12:6).</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>5. </b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Reconcile. </b>When we practice all five “R”s, we are exemplifying Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). We were enemies of God, but Christ brings us together; we are to do the same (Romans 5:10-12).Through Christ, we are reconciled with God, despite our sins. After wrongfully asking for a king and God grudgingly granting them a king, Israel needed to reconcile with God. When we and God are on the same side of obedience, we will discern God's <b>perceived </b>will. Proverbs 1:2 says that through prayerful study of His wisdom, instruction, and understanding, His Holy Spirit will allow us to perceive his will. <i>"</i></span><span style="font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To know wisdom and instruction, </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: -0.25in;"><i>To perceive the words of understanding." </i>That is why it is important to be reconciled to God, so that He can grant us a perception of what He is up to. <i>"</i></span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: -0.25in;"><i>And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may <b>prove </b>(ESV, CSB="discern", NIV="test and approve") what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." </i>The woman at the well perceived Jesus was a prophet (John 4:19).</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Seek God’s guidance today to follow this pattern.</span></p>Timothy McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913771220742117875noreply@blogger.com0