REVELATION 1:6 GOD'S POWER IN AND FOR YOU

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

A journey of Studying What’s Revealed to Me

Revelation 1: 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen....

Part II

Cont’d...from Part I

In Part I I addressed who this book of Revelation was written to: Christians (servants of God,) the Trinity and that we have been made kings! 

This, Part II will address the power we have in Christ in his “kingdom!”  I was going to talk about being priests unto God but felt led to discuss his power and authority!  He has preeminence! He is our head and he is our king.  We are in his kingdom now and have been completely and fully delivered from the kingdom of darkness.  If you see no earthy evidence, it is no less true! This is our fight and this is our battle! May we fight to see his kingdom come! He said , “May it come on earth as it is in heaven!”  There’s no throne over him and no devil can rule him. No earthly situation overcomes him. The truth is you are in his kingdom and you have an inheritance.  Your authority is to fight for your inheritance and his will in earth as it is in heaven! 

Col 1: 12  giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. ¹³ He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. ¹⁸ And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

It’s important for Christians to understand that being born again means you are translated into his kingdom!  You’ve been made a “king” serving a “King!”  He has endued YOU with power from on high.  One reason the body of Christ seems at times weak is we have no knowledge whatsoever that his power is not just for the apostles and prophets but his power is for us!

In some of the earlier verses, who this is written to and the blessings we can receive from both reading and hearing the book of Revelation are discussed.  This Word from God was given to John to be distributed unto God’s servants.  This is not a book that was meant to be only for the clergy. There is nothing in the word “servants” to suggest it is meant for clergy only.   On the other hand, being a king doesn’t mean we can take an authority that isn’t rightfully ours.  We are servant kings, serving under the King of Kings in the place of authority he gives us.  This power isn’t for usurping from man, but it’s for defeating the devil.  It’s for carrying out the will of THE KING! That will is to be carried out “on earth as it is in heaven!”

We “have been made,” kings and priests.  This indicates a past tense.  This is not something to come, but this is something that is!  Although we will all be given assignments in the millennium we all have assignments now!  A wonderful meditation in the Lord is to consider what heaven will look like for us.  What place will he give us in his earthly millennial rule.  However, I am on earth now.  I am not yet in the millennium.  Look around you!  Where has God placed you?  All around you is evil that you can pray against.  All around you are people who are sick that need your prayers! All around you are the lost that can be prayed into the Kingdom.  People need the Lord and they need your prayers.  At times God will give you opportunities to speak and when you know the Word, you know you can speak his truth.  When you have his Spirit inside, you know he will help you speak.  What good is it to know we have been made kings and priests without knowing what that means?

Do we sit on a throne?  Yes! We sit on his throne with and in him!  Again, we serve in what he has given us- not what he hasn’t!  Serving in the kingdom of God is different from the kingdoms of this world.  In the kingdoms of the world, men seek power and authority according to their own lust but in his kingdom, we serve with humility! Even Jesus said the greatest among you would be your servant!  Being a king in HIS kingdom is about faithfully serving him. It’s not a lust for authority but it’s knowing what he’s given you and how to live in the power of that truth!

Matthew 23:11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Ephesians 2:6  and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

THE POWER GIVEN US 

Being a king means you have been given both power and authority!  Glory to God! When Jesus rose from the dead, he descended into hell and there he took back they keys to death and hell!  He is King of Kings! He has all authority and he has all power!  Right now, he is currently gathering all things under him and while we still have battles to fight, the victory was won at the cross, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. On the day of Pentecost, he transferred his power to believers! Praise his wonderful name!

His is the kingdom, the power and the glory! 

Matthew 6:13 For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

The power to preach, heal the sick and cast out devils has been given!

Matthew 10:1  And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

This doesn’t say he gave only his apostles or only elders or the clergy the power to cast out devils. This is something God gave to disciples which means followers or students.  The power to cast out devils has not only been given to the clergy; it has been given to you!  This isn’t a license to go around where you aren’t authorized but when you know there is a devil influencing a situation, you can speak to it in Jesus name and cast that devil from its place!  When you have authority to pray over people and you know there is a devil involved, you can rebuke the devil in Jesus name.  Jesus has in fact given us the power to cast out devils but as I said in the last study, America has become sophisticated.  Can you speak to a person you don’t even know is there?  No!  When you know a thief enters your house, you have the authority to say, “Get out!”  If necessary, you can use a gun.  You have that same authority in Christ. 

Mark 3: 14b-15  He might send them out to preach, ¹⁵ and to have power to heal sicknesses and  to cast out demons:

Mark 6:7  And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.

Luke 10: 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

THE POWER TO PREACH, HEAL THE SICK, CAST OUT DEVILS

Paul knew that when he spoke and preached, people did not come to the Lord because his speech was persuasive, but he knew there would be present the power of God to demonstrate the gospel.  When I got saved, my heart pounded inside of my chest for no reason.   The tug on my heart was stronger than the pull of the earth to the sun or any ship on the ropes!  The love in the pull was powerful and irresistible as the preaching of the Word was accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit!  Isn’t he wonderful that we don’t rely on the strength of man but on the power of God!

1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,  5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. How wonderful it is to know our confidence is not in the power of man but in the power of God!

THE RESURRECTION POWER AT WORK IN YOU

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead works in us!

Ephesians 1: 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power ²⁰ which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Jesus addressed the religious crowd that had no understanding of Christ’ resurrection power! 

Matthew 22:  ²⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.

 POWER AT PENTECOST GIVEN TO YOU

Some would say the power of God is only given to clergy yet there were 120 present at Pentecost.  In this passage Jesus told his disciples to go and wait for power.  It wasn’t only the top 12 disciples that waited for this power but there were others! There were 120 and after the power of the Spirit was poured out, Peter made the proclamation, “This promise is for all!”

Luke 24:49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Acts 1:8  But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Peter declares the power of the Spirit to be for all:

Acts 2: 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,  That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;  Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,  Your young men shall see visions,  Your old men shall dream dreams.  ¹⁸ And on My menservants and on  My maidservants  I will pour out My Spirit in those days;  And they shall prophesy.

Acts 2:32   This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. ³³ Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear....

Acts 2: 38, 39 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

The apostles had power:

Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

Acts 5:12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.

and so did Stephen, a lay minister.  Whether you are in full time ministry or whether you are a lay minister, the power of God is available to you.  Every believer is a minister!

Acts 6:8  And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

COMMUNICATING THE GOSPEL

Anyone communicating the gospel carries the power of God.  The power is in the gospel, not the person and when someone commits themselves to speak the gospel, they are backed up by the power of God.  God’s Spirit who is the Power of God, dwells in each believer.  Glory to God his power is not just for clergy! In fact there are many in the clergy who are trying to minister that are void in power not because of lack but because of denial!

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

1 Corinthians 1:18  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Only religion (rules & regulations without relationship) denies the power for the people! They are more concerned with position and authority over people than they are in turning believers loose in the power and glory of the kingdom!

2 Timothy 3: 5-7 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! ⁶ For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, ⁷ always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

It’s not my goal to do an entire study on kingly authority, the power of God or the priesthood but just know by his Word, he has made you a king; he has given you power and he has given you authority!  He has not made us to be cowards but to be humble servants, filled with great power, exercising his authority as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

STRENGTH & HOPE

Romans 15: 13  Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Dear friends, God has not only given power to the apostles. This promise of his Spirit is for all.  The power of God was brought to all believers on the Day of Pentecost.  Truly he has given you power over serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the devil.  Don’t be like the religious crowd, not understanding the power of God, but believe that he has given you his power.  You are seated with him in heavenly places and all things are under his feet!  Walk in the power and authority given you by Jesus Christ in his name.

Once again I say, We’ll pick this up next by studying what it means to be a Priest to God.

Joyreaper

5/27/2013

P.S.  If you’ve allowed me to tag you but you don’t want this to appear on your timeline, remember you can set your timeline so you must approve things to be placed on it.  If you no longer want me to tag you just let me know!  If I haven’t tagged you and you want me to, let me know!

Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for dynamis (Strong's 1411)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2013. 27 May 2013. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?
Strongs=G1411&t=KJV >

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.. “Bible Gateway. 2013. 11 May 2013. http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=power&version1=NKJV&searchtype=all&limit=none&wholewordsonly=no&startnumber=176

Revelation 1:6 We've Been Made Kings and Priests

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

A journey of Studying What’s Revealed to Me

Revelation 1: 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen....

After greeting us with grace and peace and after making clear who this Revelation was from and who it was coming to, one of the first things revealed is God has made us kings and priests?  Who?  The answer is his servants to whom the Revelation was coming. The Revelation was coming from Jesus, on behalf of the Father, to his servants, through his angel and John the apostle.  The Revelation was though as stated in the first few verses for his servants and for all who would read and hear the words of the book!  Who are we as kings and priests serving? We are serving God the father (to his God and Father,) and to whom is glory and dominion forever and ever. The kingdoms of this world may pass but the kingdom of God, of which we are kings and priests is forever and ever Amen!

When this verse says “to his God and to his Father,” we can again, along with many other passages in the bible see the Trinity established. Many reject the Trinity because they can’t grasp with their limited natural mind that God can be three in one.  While you can’t separate the Father from the Son or either from the Spirit, you can clearly see here that the Father is the God of Jesus. He is his God and Father.  Jesus is in relationship with the Father as both a separate person and they are indeed one... inseparable! This is not, God, taking the shape of three different ones, one at a time, but instead this is three separate persons in one! The Father is distinct from the Son and the Spirit is distinct from either. We see the Spirit before the throne that the Father is upon and we see the Son acknowledging the Father as his God.  Glory be to God that he is not limited to earthly understanding. This is what makes him different from all other religions and this is what makes him the real God rather than a list of rules and doctrines.  Many men have formed many religions, yet none have surpassed human wisdom.   Our God, he IS God and he is real.  There have been physicists who have accepted him because they saw a person that wrote about things like the three in one that seemed in our limited world to be impossible yet with God all things are possible.  All other religions write about things that are possible and imaginable yet only God through the Scriptures reveals things beyond our imagination.  In Ephesians he assures us there is more to come that is exceedingly and abundantly beyond all we can think or imagine. The author of the bible is supernatural and beyond earthly imaginations.   Outside of this world and outside of our limited understanding it is mathematically possible for three to be one.  There is a point to where they can all be one.  This knowledge wasn’t known by man when the Trinity was revealed.  For it to have been revealed before the Physicists knew it was possible reveals a source beyond the knowledge of the world’s greatest physicists. He is the one that knows it all and he is the one revealing it all to us! Praise his name!  With God all things are possible! 

Matthew 19:26b  “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

He says that he has made us kings and priest unto our God.  All through the Old Testament there were kings both in Israel, and Judea when the kingdom was divided and there were also king in the earth.  In the 1^st and 2^nd Kings and 1^st and 2^nd Chronicles, we read stories of the kings; each being either a good or bad king.  All of these kings exercised authority in their land.  They were the top authority yet Christ is King of Kings.  We too have been given authority in the kingdom of heaven.  We are ambassadors that stand in his name.  We are kings of God and his good, heavenly kingdom and we are in direct opposition to our enemy, the devil who is over the kingdom of darkness.  How we exercise our authority in the earth is important!  What does the bible say about our authority?

The bible says his kingdom is the power and the glory forever. We are not kings in a temporary kingdom. Although at times the picture may look bleak, we must remember we serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords whose power and authority are both established and are eternal. The kingdoms of this world will fail and many will even come against our God! The devil in the kingdom of darkness will fight God until the end and his demise but we can be rest assured the Kingdom of our God is both victorious and without end!

Matthew 6:13b For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

INFLUENCE

One Greek word for authority is also interpreted as power in the English.  It is “exousia.”  It is used to represent the power of authority and influence.  When Jesus spoke, men listened because of the “exousia” he walked in. As we speak the Words of God, God allows us to speak in his name and with his authority.  Remember the old saying, “When EF Hutton speaks, people listen.”  God has given us that same authority. As we speak, we speak with authority that comes from heaven. Sometimes people may not know exactly why they are listening but when they hear, they know they are hearing the truth and they know they are hearing a heavenly voice, even though God is using our voice.  As “kings” to our God and in his authority, we cannot take lightly the Great Commission to know and speak his Words in the earth!  When we speak, people listen and our words are influential because of the authority he gives us!  Yes, it’s supernatural. You can know when you speak the Words of God, you are backed up with a heavenly authority that he has given by making you a king.  Being a king, speaks of having authority.

POWER OVER THE DEVIL AND DARKNESS

This word, “exousia,” is also used in the passage in Matthew 10 where it speaks of Jesus giving his disciples power (authority) to cast out demons.

Matthew 10:10 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

Just as he gave his disciples power over darkness and disease so he has given us that same authority by making us kings.  When he transferred that to his disciples, they now had the power to walk in his name.  To walk in authority you must know you have authority yet many do not know or understand the power that has been given them in Jesus name.  Should all Christians come to the place of understanding this power, we would see a mighty wave of deliverance and healing in the earth.  Jesus is still at work today through the lives of his servants, those who have been made kings unto their God! Wow! If we ever got a full revelation of this, the world would be changed!  You’ve heard it said we have sophisticated demons in America.  They hide behind all of our technical knowledge.  We just call sickness diseases with names and they are diseases, caused by the devil. To act in authority one must act in faith and in America we have come to rely on science more than faith!  One thing you don’t see much of in America is halls of hospitals clearing because an authority filled Christian has visited every room where inside the rooms, people filled with faith have put their trust in God and allowed the prayer of faith to come into their room.  You may see this from time to time but we are instead looked upon with disdain if we ask to pray for patients. There are other nations on the other hand in which hospitals welcome the prayers of authority filled Christians and many hospital rooms are emptied.  I have one particular friend who ministers in the continent of Africa who is allowed to enter hospital rooms to pray. The patients welcome him and very often they go home healed with no medical explanation.  To allow prayer is not to deny science but it is to recognize the Great Physician, Jesus Christ.  May we again see a wave of healing sweep through America once again as in days of old when preachers were sometimes arrested for practicing medicine because of people coming to a meeting sick but going home cured! We really need a great awakening of the authority and power of Christ in our nation again!  When Jesus returns and even before when the saints are swept away, we’ll enter that heavenly city where we will eat from the Tree of Life and sickness will be no more.  Just know though, you are not meant to wait for the New Jerusalem. You have been made a king now. You have an authority that has been given you from heaven.  Don’t wait to pray for the sick. Start today!

There are other ways the kingdom of darkness manifests.  In many other nations there are demon filled people who attempt to enter a Christian meeting.  If you are not filled with the Spirit and authority of Christ, you may not have the understanding it takes to deal with a situation like this.  We’ve become so sterilized in America, we do not even realize when we are dealing with a devil. That’s why a Holy Spirit gift of Discernment has been given, that we may know what spirit we are dealing with.  The authority Christ has given us as kings to him, is to silence and defeat devils yet if you speak on that subject in America, you are laughed at.  The world may laugh now but when the time of reckoning comes, they will wish they had listened.  For now we wrestle against the devil and his temporary authority but there will come a day when all other power and authority is wiped away and only the Kingdom of God will remain!

1 Corinthians 15:24, 25  24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.

P.S. I posted this as a note on Facebook and my minister friend whom I spoke about in this blog responded to the note saying the following:

Wow-i just finished it: Hospital Ministry. Everyday, even today, in my own home land-ZIMBABWE, I'm being warned, 'Be careful, U will never see the whole hospital being healed by your message'. But I'm daily witnessing the healing of multitudes in Hospitals, and clinics. I thank our GOD, I'm now mentoring a brother, and a sister in the hospital ministry. I believe by the end of the year, I will be mentoring disciples from every continent, until we are in every country. I'm not yet even where I'm supposed to be, in terms of substance-I travel in taxis, I'm renting a house and sometimes I trust GOD, for only $1 for the taxi...-please, please, I'm not asking for your hand, its just a testimony, and I'm not even manipulating u to fund my ministry work, GOD Himself is my Own Source-in ZIMBABWE, its just a miracle to be on the internet everyday, they actually term it, 'a luxury'. I'm using an average of $2-US, on the phone, everyday-wow!! Yes-in ZIMBABWE, but how??, because I'm not employed. The authority has been invested in u, so why are u not using it??? Most Christians, u cry, God is very faithful in honoring His Word, but in your acts, you are always warning us, be careful, it might not be GOD's will to heal every one at this hospital. So how are u going to demonstrate to the world, that HE IS ALIVE, but for me, through healing miracles... 5 people, this year are now free from the 'HIV & AIDS pandemic'. Its a very long testimony, I can continue, If u still want somemore......

To be cont’d...

We’ll pick this up next by studying what it means to be a Priest to God.

Joyreaper

5/25/2013

Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for exousia (Strong's 1849)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2013. 25 May 2013. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?
strongs=G1849&t=KJV&page=3 >

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.. “Bible Gateway. 2013. 11 May 2013. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=revelation%201:6&version=NKJV

REVELATION 1:5: From Jesus the Faithful King

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

A journey of Studying What’s Revealed to Me

Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood...

Wow! This is a jam packed verse! This Revelation is brought to you along with grace, peace and blessing from Jesus Christ himself.  He is a faithful witness and can be trusted. He is our brother and being the firstborn that has risen from the dead, he guarantees that we too will be raised both in newness of life and eternal life now and forevermore! He is the ruler of the kings of the earth. We will hear in this book, his name, King of Kings and Lord of Lords! This same Jesus, who is Ruler & King has loved us, chosen us and washed us! We were so important to him and we are so loved by him, he shed his own blood to seal our future!

In a chaotic world, one needs to know where they can place their trust. Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, the Anointed One, our brother and faithful friend and the Ruler of the Earth is faithful and can be trusted. Those who have placed their trust and hope in him, although chaos is all around, will not be disappointed. No matter who scoffs and no matter who mocks; no matter what they say or what venom they spew, Jesus will not fail in what he has promised! His Word is true and forever settled in heaven.

This message, brought to John the Revelator has come directly from Jesus who is currently seated at the throne of God. It has come from the throne by messenger to John on earth for him and the church both then and now and for all who will read and hear the word he brings.  There is no distance between earth and heaven that God cannot reach through.  Here we see Heaven’s communication with Earth.  I don’t know about you but that gives me pause.  I stand in awe as I think of his majesty!  We can be thankful that God communicates his plans in advance. He is a faithful King to bring us his Word. He has not kept silent concerning his will! He is King of Kings and no earthly, nor any evil  king will be able to overthrow him!

He is faithful, and worthy of our trust.  When he brings his message, we know that we know, his Word endures forever. Although hell breathes its fury and at times may seem to have the upper hand, he is the faithful one. The message in the pages of this book can be trusted.  When one is faithful, it means he can be trusted.  It may seem like you’re walking on air at times but remember he stepped out on nothing and created something so if it means we walk on air or water, remember he can be trusted to hold our hand and hold us up or even pull us up as necessary!  A witness in legal terms is one with first hand knowledge. Heresy is not accepted –  but only firsthand.  In Christ, he has seen firsthand was and is and is to come!  He was there. He is there with a bird’s eye view and he has already been where we are going.  In Christ there is no time!  Jesus has firsthand knowledge as he has already seen the end of the battle and he wins.  He has spoken it in his Word which endures forever!  The world can’t understand how we can know the future- be we understand because we have faith in the faithful one!  When given the choice of where to place your trust, let your hand be in the hand of the faithful one!

Jesus is the firstborn from the dead.  Elijah was taken up in a chariot having never died an earthly death (2 Kings 2:11.)  Enoch was taken to heaven as he walked with God on earth and never died. The bible says “He walked with God and he was no more (Genesis 5:24.)”  Jesus was sent from heaven and born into earth as a baby by his mother Mary.  He lived, breathed, walked and lived as a man on earth, having never sinned and because sin had not tainted his being, he was supernaturally raised from the dead by the Spirit of God.  He became the first man to rise from the dead after dying a natural death.  Because he lives, we too will have our mortal bodies quickened and will be raised naturally! We already are raised spiritually and have by his Spirit been given newness of life!  Oh what a glorious miracle he has performed that could only have been accomplished by the sinless Son of Man!  He has astounded the onlookers in his accomplishment, the onlookers of angels, demons and the devil himself.  The devil himself has been sent into derision and Jesus has become the victorious King!  The devil knows he has lost and he knows his time is short.  His goal is to keep as many from joining Jesus in the resurrection as possible. His goal is to take as many as possible into the lake of fire! Jesus’ goal is to gather all things unto himself and to see many come to the father through him.  His goal is to be the firstborn among many brethren!  This book will be a Revelation of the battle between Jesus and the Devil and the way Jesus will defeat the devil once and for all. The devil will be thrown into the lake of fire and Jesus will wipe away the tears. Although the world may be thrown into chaos and confusion, and although the devil may mock and scorn, Jesus is not confused, nor is he afraid and neither does he have questions as to where this is all headed.  He will do all he has said. He is faithful and true and his is victorious!

At times it may not look like Jesus is the ruler of the kings of the earth.  There have been and even are at this time rulers of the earth that are less than Godly! What does the bible say?  It says in Romans 14:11 :

“As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”

and then again in Philippians 2:9,10:

⁹ Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

God has given Jesus the name above all names.  Not only should every tongue confess him as Lord and even knee bow before him, but they will.  As the Lord lives, he has promised all will bow before him.  Although we now live in a chaotic world, as things approach that day, he is the firsthand faithful and true witness who has declared the end from the beginning. We can place our trust in him as he carries us to the place and time will all tears will be wiped away! Amen! World without end!

Blue Letter Bible. "Revelation of Jesus Christ 1 - (NKJV - New King James Version)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2013. 17 May 2013. < http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Rev&c=1&t=NKJV >

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.. “Bible Gateway. 2013. 11 May 2013. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025&version=NKJV

Revelation 1:4b The Seven Spirits of God

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

A journey of Studying What’s Revealed to Me

 

^..., and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,

Revelation 1:4b

The seven Spirits before his throne?  There is only one Spirit. That’s very true but just as God can be a three in one Trinity so he can be a seven in one Spirit because he’s God so he can be seven Spirits in one!  Rather than seven distinct persons as in the Trinity, this is the multifaceted manifestation of God.  The number seven in scripture represents perfection.  In God, there is nothing lacking and nothing missing.  Just as there were seven churches being addressed just prior to this statement (Rev 1:4a,) so there are seven manifestations of the Spirit that cover every need of man in being the church which is the Bride of Christ.   The Greek Word “pneuma,” used here for Spirit, is never used as a depersonalized force.  The Holy Spirit is a person, the third person of the triune Godhead and is seen or known in seven different manifestations.

The Spirit of God is and is before the throne of God.  He is God and he is before God. As he is the power of God, he stands before the throne waiting to manifest the Word of God. He is the demonstration, the power, the might & the wisdom. He’s the one who gives understanding. He’s the comforter, and friend. He’s the one who walks alongside, the helper, the counsel and the knowledge of God. He is the Spirit of the living God and hovers over the Word to perform it!  The Spirit of God is before the throne of God.

The light of God in the temple of God in the Old Testament was just a mere shadow of what we see here revealed in the book of Revelation.  The candle of the Lord, ever burned before the mercy seat. The Spirit of the Lord, ever burns in reality in the true and real presence of God!  The seven Spirits burn before the presence of God.  In the Old Testament, in both the tabernacles and temples, a seven branched menorah burned.  Daily it was cleaned and filled with fresh oil.  We, the church are not to live off of stale experiences with the Lord but are to be daily lit and daily burning with fresh oil and fresh fire. Just as the menorah burned in the night, we are to burn through the night seasons of our life with the fresh fire of the Holy Ghost!  We as the body of Christ are seated at the right hand of God, in heavenly places in Christ. Just as the Spirit of God stands before God so we stand before God with the Spirit inside, cleaned and sanctified daily, filled with fresh oil, having our wicks trimmed and ready to carry out the Word of the Lord.

The bible says there were ten virgins; five wise and five foolish. The foolish had no oil in their lamp. They were not ready for the coming of the bridegroom. May we ever stand before his presence having our hearts cleansed, our wicks trimmed, our oil filled and our flames lit, as we look and wait for his appearance!

You might say, “How can I do that?” “How can I be filled with my wick trimmed?”  The answer is found in being found before him.  We must seek him and press into his presence.  If we go about each day without seeking and acknowledging the Lord, and without seeking his face, guidance, comfort, counsel, wisdom, understanding, presence, power and might, we will not be filled.  On the other hand, if we approach him to be our all, asking him to fill our emptiness and to cleanse us on the inside daily, we’ll have him, not only in the day, but also in the night seasons.  We’ll be ready should he suddenly appear!

Matthew 25:1  “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.  6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; 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.

Just as the Holy Spirit is ready to carry out the Word of God, may we be the lamps and vessels that are filled with him. Let us be the vessels that are used by him. Let us be the lights of the world as Jesus said we were. Let us be part of the army of God that stands before him ready to carry out his Word!  The bible says of those who are ready to carry out his word:

Joel 2:11

The Lord gives voice before His army,
For His camp is very great;
For strong is the One who executes His word.
For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible;
Who can endure it?

When we are filled with the Spirit we are filled with all he is.  Only in being filled with his presence and filled with his Spirit will we have the ability to carry out his Word!  God is multifaceted and can manifest in many ways, according to the Word of God, the commands of God and according to the needs of the body of Christ.  Here in the book of Isaiah is given insight into the seven Spirits before the throne of God :

Isaiah 11: 1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,
And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
2 The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

1. The Spirit of the Lord- He must be upon us!
2. The Spirit of Wisdom- He is our wisdom and confounds the wisdom of the world!
3. The Spirit of Understanding- He opens our understanding into the things of God!
4. The Spirit of Counsel- He instructs us both day and night. He guides our paths.
5. The Spirit of Might- He gives us strength.
6. The Spirit of Knowledge- He is all knowing.
7. The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord- The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom!

When the Spirit of the Lord is upon you, you will have supernatural ability to carry things out you can’t do in the natural.  God’s will isn’t carried out naturally but it’s carried out only with the help of the Spirit.  With God’s Spirit, you’ll have all you need to do whatever he needs!  He is the equipping you need to get the job done!  Even Jesus needed the Spirit of God.  If Jesus needed him, how much more do we.  As long as we are on earth, we are to be filled with the Spirit, a part of God’s army and doing all we can to lead others to him.  As that day approaches, may we also be ensured we are personally ready as a bride who is prepared for her bridegroom!  Amen!

Luke 4:18  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

I pray that each person reading this study will not be found sleeping or out of oil at the coming of the bridegroom who is Jesus and who is coming soon. I pray that each person will be standing before the Mercy Seat of God with their wicks trimmed and lamps filled with oil.  I pray every person reading this study will be ready for the coming of the Lord and not see the doors closed before being made ready!

Blue Letter Bible. "Revelation of Jesus Christ 1 - (NKJV - New King James Version)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2013. 17 May 2013. < http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Rev&c=1&t=NKJV >

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.. “Bible Gateway. 2013. 11 May 2013. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025&version=NKJV

REVELATION FROM WHO WAS IS AND IS TO COME

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

A Journey of Studying What's Revealed to Me

 

Revelation 1:4

⁴ John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:  Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,

This verse is about history in the making. This is how the Word of God spread.  The writer, inspired by God wrote and then distributed what was written under the Inspiration of the Spirit. Over the course of time, God protected his Word!

At the time of distribution there were seven distinct churches in Asia and these were who this book was originally written for.  

In the seven churches, John addresses problems which are found “in the church” at that time.  These problems appear today among the body of Christ.  Many say these seven churches represent seven eras.  I have no knowledge of that but I do know I, on a personal level can read the seven things written to the seven churches and I can learn the seven lessons and apply them to my life. If I am a leader or pastor, I can teach the seven lessons which will be distributed to various people living with various heart conditions (not physical heart problems, but spiritual problems, having to do with purity in heart!)

John was an apostle and the Word of God says, the body of Christ has been built on the foundation of the apostles.  Jesus is the one that called the original apostles and sent them out with authority. Because he had died didn’t mean the assignment of being sent into the world to establish the gospel of Jesus Christ was over. In fact it had just begun.  Not only the life and death of Jesus was the gospel but the resurrection and the gift of eternal life.  John’s message was part of the establishing and founding of the body of Christ. 

Luke 6:13

And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:

The very opening message of John establishes the fact this is written, not just for the seven churches in Asia but would be for the times to come as well.  He makes the emphatic statement that Jesus was, Jesus is and Jesus is to come!

The name John means “gracious giver.”  John’s message to be delivered is one of grace and peace, not destruction and misery.  However, as John’s name states gracious giver, it signifies the gift of grace which must be accepted.  For those accepting the gift of Christ, their names will be found “in” the “Lamb’s Book of Life,” but for those who do not receive the free gift, it will not be so. Their end will be the same destruction as Satan and his angels, the antichrist and false prophet receive which will be discussed later.

As stated in earlier verses, “Blessed are those who read and hear” the words of this book.  Reading, hearing and heeding will be the determining factor of which end each person comes to.  The intent is clear: Read, hear, welcome, do and receive the free gift of grace!  What a good God we serve that gives us choice of our own free will but lays out clearly the truth of the results of either choice.  How often are we faced with choices, not knowing what the end will be but God so graciously gives us the choice but also gives us knowledge of the result so we can make the right choice.  Will your choice be “grace and peace,” offered by the “giver of grace,” or will you choose the destination of the other father, the devil? The choice is clear. Choose life that you may live eternally in heaven with the “giver of grace!”

Jesus was!  Jesus, the Son and Word of God, manifested in earth as a baby in the womb of a virgin!  He eternally existed with God the father prior to his earthly entrance.  This same Word of God, was not only with God, but he Was God!  This can only be true IN God as with God all things are possible, yet we live in an earthly, limited realm.  We must not accept him only on earthly terms but on heavenly terms.  He Was with God; He Is God; and through him we have been given the right to be the sons of God!  Just as he came and many did not comprehend what was happening, so today many do not comprehend the truth.  It’s not that the truth hasn’t been given nor has the truth not been well established but in spite of the truth being made plain and details given before their eyes, they choose to remain in darkness.  One has only to read the history of the recording of ancient prophecies and the fulfillment of the same to know the Word of God is true.  The Word of God, above all other books on the earth has been protected and preserved.  Its’ truthfulness has been proven time and again, yet many choose to stay in their sin and question its’ authority.  An honest study of the historical documenting, the fulfillment, the preserving as well as the authenticating and agreement of the God (author) behind the writers and the absolute agreement of all leaves one in awe that such powerful agreement could happen over thousands of years. Throughout the books of the bible runs a common personality, a common original author and a common theme.  Details only possible with Deity are found within the pages of the world’s best seller and an honest study will leave one worshiping the Author and Finisher of our Faith! 

The plan of salvation was “in the beginning,” God having full knowledge that man would be flawed and would fall short of his glory!  He made the way for mankind to be “made holy,” and live eternally, yet he did give the freedom to choose.  Jesus was before the foundation of the world.  We know he has existed eternally and clearly is established in our minds as God himself!

John 1: 1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it......

John 1:10-16 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’” 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

Revelation 13:8 All who dwell on 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.

Because of his resurrection he is. Because of his promise he is to come. Because he is eternal, he was and is and is to come.  May we choose the life of grace and peace found in his promises. May we be blessed by reading and hearing his book. May we welcome him with open arms as he has welcomed us. May we choose the paths of life! Amen!

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.. “Bible Gateway. 2013. 11 May 2013. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%201:4&version=NKJV

REVELATION 1:3 - THE BOOK THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

A journey of Studying What’s Revealed to Me

Revelation 1:3

Verse 3  Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

John the Apostle, the author of the book of Revelation speaks both a blessing and a condition over not only the readers but the hearers of the book.

One of the things people most often in life want is to be happy.  To be blessed is to be happy but it’s not the happiness the world brings but a specific happiness that comes from God.  When a life is blessed it is because God has invoked a blessing upon that life.  It means he has declared the blessing through his mouth which can’t lie.  Blessings are also the result of obedience.  While grace comes to an undeserving life, there is a correlation between obedience and blessing.  To read the book of Revelation with an understanding and receptive heart, with ears that are willing to hear what God says to his church (in all ages,) will bring the blessing of knowledge and understanding!  Reading and understanding the book of Revelation brings a blessing which can only be gained by carrying out the action.  The blessing is a direct result of the action.  

There will be happiness that comes from understanding the book!

Most people avoid this book because of the intensity of the prophecies.  They have erroneously believed the book will instill fear and uncertainty in their heart.  The contrary is true.  

The book of Revelation is a book of hope. It is a book of victory and a book of good news. 

While at times Revelation is sobering, it also contains the promises of victory, reward and the final making of things right on the earth. Reading and understanding revelation will make the lover of Christ happy!  

Understanding the book of Revelation will also fill you with important information in your witness.  Your knowledge and the confidence you gain in knowing the things which must shortly come to pass will help you in your witness of Christ.  Your knowledge and ability to communicate that knowledge could lead a person to the choice they make to place their hopes in the victorious King rather than the defeated deceiver!  Take courage as you read the book and be prepared to be made happy!

Understanding in the heart of a person prepares that person for life.  Understanding will bring you to a more fulfilled life and guide you in decision making.  Understanding dispels confusion.  Understanding helps you to judge situations more clearly.  As this world grows darker and the time for Christ’s return draws nigh, understanding will give you light. There is truly a blessing in reading AND hearing with an understanding ear the book of Revelation. 

God has revealed these things by his Spirit and not left them secret.  Many people avoid the book but God says to read it and hear it. You will be blessed if you do!

My recommendation would be to go through the book with the help of the Spirit of God. Only he can open the ears of your understanding. Ask him to give you wisdom and understanding in knowing him.  Let the Words of God take root in your heart understanding and growing from  what God reveals to you. 

God’s desire is not that we know times as in the day nor hour but that we understand seasons and grow in the knowledge of him.

There are things that are for babes in Christ and things that are for the more mature. Don’t worry about the things you can’t grasp but grasp the things you can, as the Holy Spirit helps! There’s no shame in being a babe in Christ but if you aren’t growing, it’s time to change!

Hebrews 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

Hebrews 5:13  For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

1 Peter 2:2  as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

May we walk through this book gaining the growth, wisdom, knowledge and understanding God will open our ears to hear!

Revelation is a book of prophecy.  That doesn’t mean everything is for the future. Take for example the letters written to the churches.  There are seven churches mentioned that address several issues.  These churches existed at the time of writing but are applicable both today and in the future.

Prophecy is the revealed will and Word of God. It may be true today, come to pass tomorrow or come to pass at some disclosed or undisclosed time in the future.  No matter when it comes to pass, it is the Word of God and we can glean from it now!  

No matter when the ultimate fulfillment, we can glean knowledge and understanding applicable for today! Through the Bible, we can know God. We can know his ways and we can know his plans. We can know his character, his attributes and his desires for mankind.  We will undoubtedly be blessed as he opens our understanding of the book of Revelation!

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.. “Bible Gateway. 2013. 11 May 2013. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=revelation%201:3&version=NKJV