Revelations Chapter 1 (Part One)

Before I return to the conclusion of Daniel, I would like to go through the Book of Revelations.  I am going to go through Revelation, one chapter at a time.  It is not as hard to understand as people try to say it is.  It is not a book of misteries.  In fact it is a condensed version in places and expanded versions in other places, of scripture in the Old Testiment written by the prophets.  It is intermingled with new insight also.  I will reflect back to Old Testiment correlations as we go along.  The first thing to understand about the Book of Revelations is that is the Revelation of Jesus.  Jesus reveals, to His Apostle John, the things that will take place on the earth and in Heaven, just prior to His return and what that means.  The human mind can not understand the things that are written in scripture without the Spirit of God living in your soul.  In earlier bloggs I explain how that is possible and what that means.  You might want to read some of the bloggs about the new creation.

                                                              Chapter One

Chapter one starts off saying what I have just said about the revelation given to John by Jesus.  It says that it was given to His bond-servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.  I guess that is one of the reasons why Jesus trusted John with the revelation.  He new that he would not keep it quiet.  You have to put John into the right perspective.  He was an apostle of Jesus.  He was taught by Jesus about receiving Eternal Life.  He witnessed the thousands of miracles that Jesus did.  John even conlcuded his writting of the Gospel in Chapter 21, verse 25,

             " And there are so many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written in  
             detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain books which were written". 

John was one of the three apostles that witnessed Jesus transfigured in all His Glory.  He was at the foot of the cross when Jesus died.  John was with Peter when they discovered Jesus' tomb empty.  Jesus was with the disciples off and on for forty days after His ressurection.  John experienced the infilling of the Spirit of God, on the day of Pentecost.  Which is meant by, born of above.  After all of these experiences, John could not help but tell all who he saw about Jesus and all he knew to be true.  John was the perfect person to be intrusted with this revelation from Jesus.  This is the only book in the Bible that says what is written in verse 3.

            " Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed
            the things which are written in it; for the time is near".

 There is a special blessing that comes with reading and heeding the Book of Revelation.  It is not a book to fear, as many would think.  The truth shall make you free.

Song 3 -- Jesus Thank You

With a collective day of thanksgiving coming up, I only find it fitting to do the song, Jesus Thank You.  This song came about when I was considering just what people seem to give thanks for.  I noticed that people where always ready and wiiling to give thanks for all of the blessings.  That is good, the problem is that most of those blessings were things that were happening in peoples lives that were visably good.  What about the things that seem visably bad.  Are those a time to give thanks?  I say, more so.  One of my most favorite passages of scripture are found in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians chapters 4 and 5.  They explained what Jesus said and what he meant when he said "In this world you will have many trials, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." In Chapter 4, verses 8 -11, Paul writes, "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh".  Verses 16 -18, "Therefore we do not loose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.  For momentary, light affliction is creating for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen; for the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal".  Although the trials may not look like they are a good thing, they are being used to create, in a believer in Jesus, what they will be forever.  The hard times that you go though are like weights to a body builder,  as the weight increases your muscle grow and the more you can carry.  So I find it very important to give thanks in both the good things that happen in our lives and more so the things that seem to be not so good.  Good or bad, it's all good.  Paul wrote in his first letter to the Thessalonians, Chapter 5, verse 18, " In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus".  Peter wrote in his first letter, Chapter 1, verses 6 and 7, "......even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith is more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Have a great collective day of thanksgiving, but more importantly remember to give thanks everyday, whether good or bad, for it is all good.  Peace to you .

Song 2 -- Jesus is the Same

This song comes from Hebrews Chapter 13, verse 8, " Jesus is the same, yesterday and today, yes and forever."  If you live long enough, you will find that life is always changing.  There is not anything that stays the same.  Things in life are one minute going great and on a dime it can turn and become very challenging.  There is a place where it is possible to have an existence where a part of you is in an unchangeable place.  Jesus died to put a New Life inside the soul of anyone who would let Him.  That New Life is transformed into a realm that is not effected by what the body goes through in this life and all of the changes.  The only effect the changes and trials of this life, that the body has to experience, has on the New Life, is that it will determine what the New Life will be forever when it comes into the Heavenly Kingdom of God, when the body is shed off.  For a New Creation, the changes and trials that they go through are the building blocks that will determine what they will be forever.  For if you put yourself in Jesus you will be eternal for that's what He is.  To veiw the video, Google search Youtube, key Yeshuasfriend1. Peace to you.

Song 1 -- Wandering Joe

For my regular readers wondering what this is about.  I just started a Youtube account to introduce songs that I have written.  The last song was written in 1999.  I have around 52 to introduce.  Hopefully, one a week for 52 weeks.  I am directing viewers of the videos to check my Blogg to get some history about the different songs.  Wandering Joe was first a poem I had written about a guy who was out wandering and wondering.  Like all of us, Joe was going through life avoiding the unknown.  When we avoid the unknow, we just wander through life relieing on everything we see to determine what we do.  Joe never realized that he had the opportunity to inherit possessions that his Dad had left Him.  He avoided reading a letter that told him about his inheritence.  He spent his life unsure of where he was going in his life, beiving that he had no worth, he would seek things that were just mirages and never really knew what he was thought of.  We all have worried about such things at one time or another in our lives.  Joe could have avoided all of that, if he had done more wondering about the unknown than wandering according to how he percieved things.  If Joe had read the letter he had gotten, which for him was the unknown, it would have answered all his questions he had had about his life.  The direction in his life would have changed, he would have know his worth, he would not have dangerously saught the things that fade away, and he would have know what he was thought of.  We all have that opportunity in our lives to avoid all the waisted time.  Jesus made the way for all of us and He provided us with a letter for Life, the Bible, that shows us the way to the inheritence and what He thinks of us all.  Read Jesus letter though the apostle John, in John's Gospel.  It shows the Way.  To see the videos, just Google search Yeshuasfriend1.  Peace to all of you.

Racing Toward The Beginning

Jesus said that He would rap up His work quickly.  I need to explain what I see happening, now in the world, that has definitely been speeding up.  I came to know Jesus, 34 years ago.  Although I was raised in a church that is based on a form of Christianity, I didn't know Jesus.  I believed  that Jesus came and knew about Him, but I didn't know Him.  I was taught that salvation was based on what I did and how good I could be.  Born with a sin nature, it was very frustrating, because it was impossible to do all that was required, having a nature that was contrary to how I was required to be.  Fortunately, I came across the Truth.  Man's righteousness is filthy rags in the sight of God.  All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  Sounds hopeless, but what I learned next transformed me from the kingdom of darkness and into the Kingdom of Light.  When I learned that, by Grace we are saved through faith and not of works, so that no man can boast, I was freed from the mindset that I had to earn salvation.  I learned that, God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten son, that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish but have Everlasting Life.  Also, If we confess with our mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, then we shall be saved.  In the book of Revelation, Jesus said that He stands outside the hearts door and knocks and if anyone opens the door and lets Him in, that He would come in.  That is how I went from knowing about Jesus, to actually knowing Him.  At that point I was freed from the deception of darkness and now know the Truth in the Light.  I read the Words of God.  I absorbed myself in the Prophets and their writtings and the Book of Revelations, which is the revelation of Jesus about the end of the age, that He revealed to the apostle John.  At the time I started learning about how it would be in the last days, there was a lot that had to happen to line up the events.  I learned, in the book of Revelation, about two witnesses that will come on the scene with much power and a sharpe word of prophecy to the world, for three and a half years.  Many who try to kill them will be devoured, until they are finally killed by the anti-christ when they go to Jerusalem.  The whole world at that time will celebrate like it was Christmas morning and they will exchange gifts to one another.  This is what was impossible at the time I first read this.  It says that they will lay in Jerusalem three days and on the third day they will raise from the dead and be caught up to the heavens and the whole world will see.(Revelation Chapter 11).  The part that looked far off to me, was how the whole world could witness this as it happened.  We know now, that today, with the new technology of the cell phones and other devices, that anyone, almost anywhere, in the world could see this all at the same time.  I told people that one day the world will be united economically, which sounded rediculous 34 years ago.  There was no euro, all Europe had their own currencies.  I also told them that one day the world will be united in their monetary currency.  This even sounded more rediculous.  Not even ever possible.  But, looking at things that have been happening, in recent weeks, throughout the world, with difficult economic situations in many countries, one of the solutions might be to unite currencies.  If not now, then it is quickly heading in that direction.  I wrote in earlier blogs that this is bigger than man.  Everything  is being orchestrated from the kingdom of darkness.  To the people involved in bringing this about, it seems to be a good solution and maybe the only one.  Getting to this point took very many unwize decisions by countries, that were either orchestrated or insane.  What made me believe that the world had to get to this point, was that the anti-Christ, in the second half of the seven year covenant, will require every man, woman, and child to need a mark on their hand and forehead to buy or sell. (Revelation Chapter 13, verses 16 &17).  This would require a connected or electronic monetary exchange.  Charge cards were just for individual stores and there was no debit cards when I first started reading about these things.  In finishing, I will close with warnings. First, if you get the mark, there will from that point be no way for you to obtain eternal life, it is an eternal death sentence.  Second, there is a possibility that people will be inticed to turn in Christians for credit to their accounts during that time, and you will probably need the mark to be credited the money.( Matthew Chapter 24, verse10, and Mark Chapter 13, verses 12 &13).  Many of the betrayed will be family members. Such a sad time, ultimate greed.  If you take the bait, you better spend it quick, for Jesus will soon be coming.  For some the beginning, for others the end.  The choice is yours.  Knock knock!  Peace to you.

Jesus says look to Daniel ( Part 5 )

At the end of Daniel's writings in chapter 9, Daniel is given a vision of the last seven years of this age.  In Chapter 9, verse 24 it talks about 70 weeks that are decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make a end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the holy place.  It says that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. From the time that the decree was made, until Jesus the Messiah was cut off, was seven and sixty-two weeks of years.  This equals sixty- nine weeks of years, or 483 years.  Daniel saw Jesus being cut off.  Daniel saw Jesus the Messiah on the cross.  By Jesus being cut off, on the cross, He was the atonement for iniquity, He made the end of sin, He forgives transgression, and He brought in everlasting righteousness, He anointed the Holy Place with His own blood.  This leaves one more week of years left, or seven years.  Daniel was shown the vision of those seven years.  If it is already accomplished, then why are there still seven years left of sacrifices.  The reason is because Israel's sacrifices were required for the atonement for sin and until the end of age, they can still try, under the law, to earn salvation.  The problem is, to be found righteous under the law, you have to be guiltless to every do and don't in accordance to the law.  This is impossible for man.  The only man to be able to acheive this was Jesus and this was because he was concieved by the Spirit of God.  He was born sinless.  Not like all the rest of us who were born from the seed of Adam, causing us to have a sin nature.  Jesus was the only man able to fullfill all righteousness and that is why we can now have eternal life and enter heaven.  If we except what Jesus did on the cross for us, then Jesus becomes our righteousness and we are able, because we are now in Him, to pass from death into life.  Jesus is the vehicle that takes us out of the kingdom of darkness and into the Kingdom of Light.  As long as Israel refuses to acknowledge that Jesus is their promised Messiah and chooses to continue to strive under the law, then they can still try until the end of the age.  Right now they need Jesus' protection more than ever. Calamity is about to befall them. The time of Jacob's trouble is going to begin half way through the seven year period that is soon to begin. It is very importent for all those in Israel to know, if Israel won't acknowledge Jesus as a nation, then the people there and throughout the world should acknowledge Him individually for their own Salvation.  The end of the age is drawing near.  This time of trouble will not just end in Israel, but it will begin in Israel and spred throughout the world.  So don't gloat over Israel's calamity, for your only hope is also in Jesus.  For when He comes to put an end to those who are destroying the earth, you want to be with Him.  To finish this up, in Chapter 9, verse 26 and 27, Daniel wrote,

                    (26)".....and the people of the prince who is to come (the anti-christ) will destroy
                    the city and sanctuary.  And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there
                    will be war; desolations are determined.(27) And he will make a firm covenent
                    with the many for one week (7 years) but in the middle of the week
                    (after 3 1/2 years) he will put a stop to the sacrifice and grain offering; and on the
                    wings of abominations (detestible things) will come one who makes desolate
                    (causes horor), even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured
                    out on the one who makes desolate." 

After Daniel saw these things, he wrote in Chapter 10, that he mourned for three weeks.  If you have not yet read any of the previous bloggs, you can read more about Gods plan to give you eternal life.

Peace to you.

Jesus says look to Daniel ( Part 4 )

Again looking to Daniel, as to the signs of the end of the age, as instructed by Jesus, in Mathew chapter 24.  In Daniel's writings, Chapter 9, Daniel is now in a supplication mode after seeing the visions that he was shown.  He now in verses 6 -16, confesses the short comings of Israel and acknowledges that he understands why this will befall Israel and cries out for forgiveness.  He then prays to God to take action for His own sake because of the City called by His name.  Verse 13 is telling, when Daniel says,

                    " As it is written in Moses, all this calamity has come on us; yet we have
                    not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquity and
                    giving attention to Thy truth."

Jesus is the Truth.  Remember, by now Daniel has seen in one of his visions the resurrected Lord on His throne and one like the Son of Man.  Daniel saw Jesus, and all that he had perceived in his religious mind,  had been transformed to understand that reality was way beyond what he could have perceived by his earthly religious practices.  He then knew the plan of God's salvation for Israel and overflowing to the gentiles,  was a sacrificed and risen Lord, that was rejected by Israel when He came.  He now understood that by their rejection and reluctance to acknowledge Jesus as their Lord, has lead to the calamity that Daniel saw befall Israel in the end times.  So whether you are of the line of Jacob or a gentile, please know that reality is way beyond what we may perceive by our earthly religious practices.  That the simplicity of the Truth may contain more wisdom than the confusion of man's attempt to please God by their religious practices.  When all is said and done, true religion is summed up in this: Jesus stands outside the hearts door and knocks, and if anyone hears His voice ( every time you hear this word it is His voice ) and lets Him in; He will come into your soul and make you a New Creation, born of above.  You can read previous blogs to get more detail on this.  Peace to you.