Blinded By Glory, Given Sight by Judgment

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.


In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4: 1-11

Revelations chapter four contains 11 verses of detail that are awe-inspiring and confound the mind. It is a chapter in which we can get lost in the details and forget where we have been and what might happen in the future. We are hypnotized by the images and can only grasp portions of what we have experienced when the glory is removed. I can hear John’s voice asking, “what just happened?” A revelatory experience with God can leave us feeling that way. However, the revelation revealed in this chapter is placed between Jesus’ clear evaluation and chastisement of local churches and the outpouring of impending judgment in chapters to follow.

God’s glory is never meant to leave us standing in our sandals like a pot smoking kid saying, “wow man… that was awesome” It is designed to remind us that we still live on earth, that we have work to do, and that the glory and awards in our future of incomprehensible.

In between the work and the glory stands a world under judgment. It is a world like our own. People are eating, drinking marrying, and living in the normal rhythms of life. At first glance their dance seems innocent, but with the passage of time it grows in its rejection of all that is plainly seen in the order of life, in creation, and the kindness of Christ. Sexuality becomes idolatry; the knowledge of man being made in the image of God is lost. The animal kingdom and humanity are equated with each other. Religion becomes violent, fanatical, and losses the rooting it has in love.

Heaven does not have to be seen to be apprehended. A person of wisdom can see that life is larger than brevity of each human’s sojourn. The wise person also knows that for a life to have meaning it must also have a judgment. Which brings us to a throne with 24 elders, who these elders are, we don’t know. What we do know is that they are worthy to be seated with God himself.

In their midst are living creators that worship God, one with the strength of a hunter, the lion, one with strength for domestic life, the ox, the third reflecting the character of mankind’s in a face. Truly you would see in that face awe at God’s mercy, and a worn and wearied countenance painfully aware of mankind’ failed attempts at personal holiness.

Together they recite the eternal truth of God’s nature. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come,” and add a simple and profound truth “by your will they were created and have their being.”

The creature must know that he has a creator. None of us gave birth to ourselves. We were created by God and for God. Those who reject this simple truth gradually grow from simple sinners to personify evil. They do, after all, give birth to themselves and become the children of their father, the devil. The thought is a chilling one. Those who have hearts of understanding will see justice in the severity of the judgments to come. They will soar like the flying eagle above the judgments of God dropping their crowns at his feet as they take flight

Jesus “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power.” Grant us mercy, wisdom and knowledge of your character.

Laodicea, A Place With No Amen

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelations 3: 14 – 21

The greetings that Jesus gives each of the churches of Revelations are very interesting to look at. To the Laodicea church is calls himself the ‘Amen’ meaning, the final word, the one in total agreement with the Father, the “I said it that settles it” kind of God. The he adds the “ruler of God’s creation.” Why would Jesus use this kind of greeting when speaking to a church that is lukewarm?

When a believer is placed under great pressure the spiritual insight of who Jesus is can get lost. This happened to John the Baptist. We see it in Matthew 11 when John asked the question, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” This is the same John the Baptist that said, “Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.” “He must increase and I must decrease” now he is asking in effect, “was I wrong”? What happened? He felt the pressure.

Now the Laodicea church had different form of pressure. They had the pressure of prosperity and political correctness. They were blessed and they knew it! They were religious and self reliant. The blueletterbible.org shares this interesting history of the city.

a. Laodicea was an important, wealthy city, with a significant Jewish population. Like other cities in the region, it was a center for Caesar worship and the worship of the healing god Asklepios. There was a famous temple of Asklepios in Laodicea, with a more famous medical school connected with the temple.

i. After an earthquake devastated the region in 60 A.D. Laodicea refused Imperial help in rebuilding the city, successfully relying on their own resources. They didn’t need outside help, they didn’t ask for it, and they didn’t want it. “Laodicea was too rich to accept help from anyone. Tacitus, the Roman historian, tells us: ‘Laodicea arose from the ruins by the strength of her own resources, and with no help from us.’” (Barclay)

In a pluralistic society such as Laodicea, or modern America, the desire for harmony can cause the believer to compromise their principles and beliefs. There is no “Amen” left in the culture. There is nothing that is settled and nothing that is true. So Jesus tells them, “I am the Amen.” He knows that he is dealing with a people who have compromised his truth. He therefore has to bring them back to the basics. He does that by stating I am, “the ruler of God’s creation”

When spiritual insight is lost it is wise to return to creation. Psalm 19 reads, “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.”

The Laadicea church substituted passion for Christ with the comforts of this world. Few American’s see with eyes focused toward a lost and dying word. The Occupy movement was about the 99%, but every American when compared to world’s income is part of the 1%. We just don’t see it. We are like the Laodicea church. We are comfortable. We view our rages as riches instead of our riches as rags.

Jesus real concern was not Laodicea’s material wealth but their spiritual health. They had no passion. Heat and coolness both can refresh the soul. Laodicea was neither. It was just living out the daily grind concerned with daily pleasures while to world around them did not know Jesus. Can consider these facts about the 10/40 window.

“The 10/40 Window is the rectangular area of North Africa, the Middle East and Asia approximately between 10 degrees north and 40 degrees north latitude. The 10/40 Window is often called "The Resistant Belt" and includes the majority of the world's Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists.” http://www.joshuaproject.net/10-40-window.php “There are 62 nations within the 10-40 window. 4.1 billion of the world's 5.6 billion people live in this area. 97% of unreached people groups are located here. It contains over 1 billion Muslims, nearly 1 billion Hindus and 600 million Buddhists… Many in the 10-40 window have never heard the name of Jesus-even one time.” http://www.10-40evangelism.org

When Jesus is referencing himself as the ruler of God’s creation he is stating that I am the God of all men. Those men may not know him, but that is not God’s fault. The fault lies with a lukewarm church that is not concerned about sharing the Gospel globally or in its own back yard. This blog is one of my efforts to do both. I hope you will share it.

The Changeling Church the Changeless Savior

“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:


These are the words of him who is holy and true who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Revelations 3:7-8

“To the messenger of the city of brother love, Jesus the son of King David” could be the rendering of the above passage.

In application brotherly love that is holy and true is rare. Yet the church of Philadelphia succeeded at it enough that Jesus has no words of rebuke for them. He identifies with this church in his humanity when he tells them he holds the key of David. David is an earthly authority not a heavenly one. Yet, Jesus says of earthly authority that what is open, remains open, and what is closed, remains closed.

Brotherly love can be an exhausting task. The church at Philadelphia was tired and they had little strength. When this happens opportunities for promotion can be lost. The Christian can long for times of security in the past. They come to desire something that no longer exist and often never existed. You see this with the children of Israel. In numbers 11:5 they state “We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic.” Slaves don’t get anything freely, but time can makes us forget the problems of the past. Jesus takes care of this by closing the door. Now if you have an open door in front of you and a closed door behind you what is left? You can remain in limbo, but the blessing is forward not behind!

Jesus is always working to move his earthly church forward. He pushes us to a place where the name of Jesus is tested. He does not dishonor the past in doing so. David was dead and buried and yet Jesus is using his name in honor. The church can honor past generations but we have to walk through open doors of the future as individual believers and as a corporate body.

As you walk through the various denominations of the Body of Christ you can identify the dates and times of revelation God poured out. There are denominations with expression from the 14th, the 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th century. There are believers now 80 years of age who long for God to move like he did when they were 20 years of age. The son of David has shut the door. God wants to move in a new way. He wants to move in a new way in your life and my life.

Spiritual victory can only be obtained by pushing ahead. You may be weak, you may be tired, but as you endure you will get your victory and your vindications. The world is going to be tested by the name of Jesus. As God reveals his word through great teachers, as he reveals his supernatural nature through signs, wonders, and miracles denial or devotion will result.

I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. Revelations 3:9-10

Deliverance comes to the persistent that make themselves ready by consistently tending to what the Spirit is saying to the Church. They have a peace in their heart that comes from walking with a savior who never changes but is who is always calling his church to adapt to changing times.

Wake up and Smell the Savior

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write:  These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Wake up and Smell the Savior

Many of us do not wake up and function in our daily lives until we smell brewing coffee. It makes many of us feel a little more alive. Jesus is telling many of us that we are asleep maybe even sleep walking. In Mark 14 we have the story of a woman who is awake. She pours ointment of Jesus’ body that is worth a year’s wages. The ointment poured upon Jesus in this passage would have lingered through the last supper, Gethsemane, the Via Dolorosa or the Way of Grief, The Cross and the removal and perparation of his body for the tomb. The company of people with her were sleeping. Truly they were sleep walking, but she was awake..

3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial

Yes she was awake! Simon and the disciples were asleep. The woman recognizes the signs that were coming. She was awake when Jesus, 21 …began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Matthew 16. She was still awake when he said, “ The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.”

The scriptures tell us that at these words, “the disciples were filled with grief” but they were sleep walking. They were grieving for a kingdom of the earth that was passing away. They were not hearing that victory and salvation for men comes from a cross.

The church at Sardis had a reputation. It worship, its programs were in keeping with the times and were drawing people. They got people in the door, but the work was unfinished. They were not bringing themselves or their disciples to a cross.

Paul the Apostle could say, 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me, Galatians 2:20.

They were too alive to be dead, and too dead to be alive. Jesus says to them. Remember! Remember that you are to preach the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ! Wake Up! Paul’s words again brew the coffee that fills the air.

Romans 6 “5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin — 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

Sardis had believers who had not soiled their cloths. They had remained awake. They kept the smell of perfume and blood and the wood of a cross present with them in their being. If you have soiled your cloths there is time. Wake up! Remember that you have been saved, remember that you are save. Remember that you can be saved.

In order coffee to have its affect it must be drank and not just smelled. In order for the Christian to wake up he can not just point to a cross, he has to deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Jesus. Luke 9:23

If you are truly awake and you reach your destination you will grieve. The aroma of your life will remain on him, but the hands nailed to the cross and the blood poured out will be his. His punishment is for our sins not for his. Wake up and Smell the Savior.

Jesus Judges Jezebel

Revelations 2:18-29


18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

Jesus appears as the glorified and ascended savior. John is doing is best to describe in words what he is experiencing in reality. The Lord’s eyes burn like blazing fire are to prepare the listener for the rebuke to come. The burnished bronze of his feet communicate a quality of endurance and strength witnessed in the metal bronze and the character of Jesus.

Bronze is a mental that does not rust and has an enduring quality of beauty to it. Such are the feet of Jesus, beautiful, strong and enduring. Bronze is a mixed mental generally 80 percent copper and 5 to 20 percent tin. It is a mixture that makes it’s the quality of the copper and tin into something more useful. Jesus knows the difference between mixture and compromise. It is compromise that he judges when he addresses the Jezebel question below.

20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

The first thing that I want you to notice about the women Jezebel is that she is part of the church establishment. She calls herself a prophet and is tolerated as a prophet. Not accepted, not ordained but tolerated. A good definition of tolerate in this case is to; “withstand the unpleasant effects of something.” Even Jesus tolerated her for a short period of time, he says, “I have given her time to repent”

Idolatry and sexual immorality are serious sins in the eyes of the Lord. The Church at Thyatira was enduring the unpleasantness of the idolatry and sexual immorality this woman was promoting. However, Jesus knows that the wages of sin are death and therefore she is severely punished. Her punishment was weakness and the death of the fruit of her womb. She had grown strong through deception and she had perverted the gift of sex. The severity of her sin is based on her being part of the church not based on her being part of the world. She taught in the church not the temple of Zeus.

24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’

Her deception of the church builds around so called “revelation” or “deep secrets”, beware my friends of truth that has been hidden. God has made him his word plane enough. Jesus is talking to a church, about a women, he is not talking about an age or about a spirit in this passage. Yes, we can make application to ours and past generation through this passage and yes we can witness the work of a malevolent spirit through this woman, but don’t confuse application with theology. When you do so you miss both the application and the theology!

There is great damage done to the church when we fall into such traps. The damage done the Church at Thyatira was so great that Jesus gave no further assignment to them. He simple said “hold on until I come.” He did not say evangelize, advance, go into the uttermost parts of the earth, no he said just hold on. The position of this church was made totally defensive. Yet, even in a defensive position the Lord grants them the possibility great and eternal rewards.

26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations, 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Satan and a White Stone

“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. ¹³ I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.

¹⁴ Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. ¹⁵ Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. ¹⁶ Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

¹⁷ Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

Pergamum was a great political and cultural center in the Roman Empire.  It had a library of 200,000 books, and would have been filled with the arts, food, and all manner of entertainment.  It would have been a place much like our modern cities. David Guzik of the Blueletterbible.org states, “It had temples to the Greek and Roman gods Dionysus, Athena, Demeter, and Zeus. It also had three temples dedicated to the worship of the Roman Emperor.”    Satan liked the place so much that he set up a throne there.  Yet the people of Pergamum kept their faith. 

The faithfulness of the Pergamum church should slap Christian’s of our generation back to reality.  The church on the corner of this city was not that of a lukewarm Christian place of worship but an occult body filled with forms of worship that exalt the creation above the creator and make men gods. 

While the men of that city are making men gods, Jesus points to the faithfulness of one man, his name is Antipas. Church history knows nothing about the man, but God himself writes his name in the book that will never perish or fade away.

The Lord is always sitting choices before us.  They are not difficult choices.  They are the choices between right and wrong.  The sins of the flesh, like Balak, and Balaam’s, are obvious according the book of Galatians.  They are not hidden.  They do not have to be routed out.  They just have to stop. 

Mankind’s conscience is sufficient in and of itself to teach us not to kill, steal, and destroy.  God adds His Word to confirm what is already written on our hearts. From Adam to Mosses there was not written word, yet Noah and Abraham were righteous before God.

Men know they are not God and they are smart enough to know that something does not come from nothing.  If we persist in sin it is because the pleasure of sin has clouded the penalty of sin in our minds.  Jesus says of such people he will fight them himself, and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God.

To those who are faithful, he gives tokens of the rewards to come.  For this church it was a white stone.  “In the ancient world, the use of a white stone had many associations. A white stone could be a ticket to a banquet, a sign of friendship, evidence of having been counted, or as a sign of acquittal in a court of law. Jesus may have any one of these meanings in mind, but at the very least we know that it has the assurance of blessing.” (blueletterbible.org)

God wants to give us a new and great name in heaven.   I would recommend John Bevere, audio book Affabel, as a means for understanding this truth.  Antipas is described as a faithful martyr.  What a name that would be to carry for all of eternity.   The Lord is giving stones with names initially known to the one who receives it.  Listen to the Spirit, and ask the Lord what he is calling you today.  If you are not happy with it just remember others served him where Satan has his throne.  Let us be lights in a crooked and perverse generation, not reflections of the world around us.  The Church at Pergamum did it.  Jesus commended and rebuked this church. Let us learn from what he said to them.  

Smyrna’s Love

To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. ⁹ I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰ Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

¹¹ Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death

The Church at Smyrna was a great church.  It is one of two of the churches of Revelations that is not rebuked by the Lord.  The qualities that kept this church strong are personal and doctrinal.  Polycarp was the head of this church.  He was a direct disciple of the John the Apostle.  Being disciple by the apostle who wrote so much of love was a great advantage.  Polycarp had a devotion to him that extended throughout his life.  This devotion also led to an honoring of the Jewish roots of the faith including the keeping of the Sabbath and Passover.

When you do what is right there is generally a counterfeit that arises beside it.  Jesus the judge points his finger at those directly when he says, “I know about those who say they are Jews and are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan.”  Polycarp and the disciples of Smyrna must have taken great comfort in these words.  Obeying God can leave us feeling lonely, Elijah’s words, “I am the only one left” come to mind.  A modern way of feeling this same pain is to say; “maybe I really am the one who is crazy.”  Dear saint of God, you are not crazy and you are not alone.   

God is raising up in this day more than 7,000 who have not bent the knee to false relationships or false doctrine.  Polycarp fought the fight of faith until his martyrdom sometime between 150 and 170 AD.  Let us endure onto the end as he did and be provided the victors crown from the one who has earned our love and devotion through his incarnation, perfect life, and crucifixion.   

The Church at Ephesus Falls in Love

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Jesus writing to a local church as one that has authority over all local churches. His evaluation of this church is not based on words but deeds, work and perseverance. Sometimes work is in the resistance of something as much as the building of something. When the Royal Air Force was standing against Nazi fighters and bombers victory was not their goal but the defense of the British mainland. Winston Churchill could say of this group of young men “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”

The church at Ephesus stood a great battle against false apostles. These false apostles may have been of two different types and is reflected in Jesus words when he says, “you hate the practices of the Nicolaitans.” There is not clear commentary on who the Nicolaitans were and what their sins were. However, there are only two main schools of thoughts around this Biblical question and both are applicable to our lives as believers. The first school of thought is that the sect exalted clergy authority and position to an unbiblical level. The second is that they allowed for an increased indulgence of sexual practices in the church community. To stand against one or the other could make a group of believers weary, but the church at Ephesus stood strong.

The above sins are prolific in our modern church. He who walks among the modern lamp stands certainly has a charge to level against us. We love to be called Pastor and Father and Prophet and Apostle when Jesus clearly admonished to “call no man Rabbi… or Father… or…” What Jesus was working toward was the development of a Christian community that was entirely engaged. Certainly, there are offices that need to be respected and honored, but not to the exclusion of the saints being involved in the ministry. The Church at Ephesus fought this battle and they fought against a culture that had stretched sexual practices to the point of idolatry. This too is a modern sin.

In our battle for correct practice we can lose track of the relational nature of our love for Jesus. It is only in loving relationship that we can truly live like Christians. Hearing this message can be difficult in the course of a long Christian life. The Lord does not allow for excuses but calls the church to a change of mind (repentance) and reminds us of a victory to come. All the might of Hitler’s evil was arrayed against the RAF as all of Hell is lined up against the Church. Britain experienced its finest hour and the Church’s best days are in front of us. We will shine as lights in a generation that seeks self satisfaction through empty sexuality and esteem through meaningless titles. We will eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God as we fall in Love with a savior again.

Advocate or Adversary

“Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. Revelations 1:18-19

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power forever and ever! Amen Revelations 1:5-6

I have linked these two verses together, because they mark frail humanity with divine assignment. When man is face to face with the majesty of God he is afraid, undone and useless, but divine encounters are always connected to divine assignment. These assignments are kingdom establishing and intercessory in nature, I am referencing the words “he made us to be a kingdom and priest”. The kingdom we are establishing does not stand alone. It is a kingdom of light in the midst of darkness. It is not a kingdom that conquers and controls but it is a kingdom that advocates and intercedes. It is an asset and a benefactor to those living in the dark.

The monastic system of the middle ages was best when it served this purpose when it interceded and advocated for the surrounding community. The best of them served as lights and refuge for the pagan European community. The enduring fruit of their labor is our current university and hospital systems. Pastor Ed Brodrick of our ministry staff has pointed out that there are only two spiritual types in the kingdom, advocates and adversaries. “Which one are you?”

Intercession and advocacy are hard and unappreciated work. It is at times dangerous mission driven work. Everyone who has the light of the Gospel is a foreigner to those who do not. Those that walk in the dark are often hurt and wounded. A wounded animal is a dangerous animal. Even when you are trying to bring healing to a hurt dog it can bite you. Wounded people can be dangerous too. Patience is the virtue that will win them.

I have used darkness and light to describe the distinction between the two spiritual kingdoms but life and death are a better terms. Unbelievers are dead in their trespasses, but Jesus says I am the living one and he holds the keys to death. When we advocating and interceding we are trying to bring to life what is dead.

John is given instructions to write what is now and what will be. These are instructions we should follow as well. People everywhere are trying to understand the nature of suffering. They want to know why things are the way they are, they want to know where God is. The believer should be able to provide light and life to these questions. We should be ready to give a reason for the hope that we have within us. We should have hope because we know that God is working on our behalf, he is a 'now' God. However, he is also a “what will be” God.

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. said “the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice.” He knew that there is a God who makes things right in the end. We may suffer now, but we do not suffer alone. God is with us. He tarries so that none will be lost. He tarries so that life and light will prevail. He tarries so that we might advocate, and intercede and grow from fear to faith and establish his Kindom of earth.

God to Man, Man to Angels

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lamp stands, and among the lamp stands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. Revelations 1:12-16

The first thing that I want you to notice about John's encounter with the Lord is that it was a personal encounter. Each of us is called to a personal encounter with the Lord. Sometimes they are awe inspiring and magnificent other times they are ordinary and mundane. Your message may not seem profound to you, but it is profound to God, because to Him it is personal. I have a friend who had such an encounter, he was given one word, “sing” another was told “do my work.” God wants to speak to his people. I know some believers over use “God said” but I am more concerned for believers who never say, “God said” our God is a talking God.

In regards to the lamp stands and stars the Bible tells us what they mean. “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamp stands are the seven churches.” Revelations 1:20. John is writing letters dictated by God to angels and churches with specific geographic regions. There appears to be a mutually accountability between the angelic realm and the individual's role in establishing the Kingdom of God on earth. Daniel 10 is most informative about this issue.

An angel is speaking to Daniel, he says “Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.” Daniel 10: 12-13 The prince of Persia and Michael are both referencing angels in this passage.

This verse confirms angelic rank, and geographic assignment consistent with John’s writing. It tells us that some messages don’t get to us without a fight wrought in the ring of fasting and prayer. John Bunyan said, “pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God and a scourge to Satan. Martyn Lloyd Jones encourages us to always obey the impulse to pray. The message of John is birthed by such an impulse. What would God birth through us if we obeyed the impulse to pray? What limitations have we placed on ourselves by not shielding our souls and scourging Satan?

I pray that each one reading this blog will enter a new realm of praying, beginning with its writer. That we will see more, believe bigger and hear clearer. John message was personal. Ours is too. God wants us to know the height and width of his love. He does that by laboring beside us and speaking with us throughout the task. John's task was to take dictation in heaven. Do you really believe that God needs a secretary? No, he does not but the Son of man, a term associated with his total dominion over all things, condescends to fellowship with mankind. That fellowship is even shared in prayer. “our father, who art in heaven” Jesus says.

The Apostle Paul said in regards to his prayer “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19

The full measure involves relationship with the angelic realm that is overlooked in modern Christian experience 1 Corinthians 6:3, indicates that we will judge angels. Most commentators seem to limit that judgment to fallen angels only. The how and the why are not clear in this passage. As we continue in future blogs on the book of Revelations I am trying to understand why God wrote both to angels and churches in these passages, what is clear is they too receive assignments from a white haired, blazing eyed robed man, who just happens to be the Lord God Almighty

Not a Shelf but a Shout

I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” Revelations 1:9-11

Each of the Apostles writes from a personal perspective that invites us to fellowship with them, John describes himself as a brother and a companion. He does not see himself as a mystic or a guru or demigod. Beware of spiritual rankings; they are always attempts to make men more like gods than to acknowledge that God became a man. John paints himself as man in fellowship with God. He writes, “Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” but not until he first says, “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us” John is concerned with delivering a message that leads us to relationship with the Godhead and he wants the message of that fellowship to be based on truth. “If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.” The truth is that the life a Christian leads should be hard. We are only John companion if there is a measure of suffering within the kingdom that requires some patient endurance.

John is an old exiled man when he is writing to us. He must have concluded that he was done and put on a shelf until his passing into glory. Wearied with age biblepath.com states, “he had to be carried to the church in the arms of his disciples. At these meetings, he was accustomed to say no more than, "Little children, love one another!" After a time, the disciples wearied at always hearing the same words, asked, "Master, why do you always say this?" "It is the Lord's command," was his reply. "And if this alone be done, it is enough!" I do not know the veracity of this story I do know that it is keeping with the character of the man who laid upon the breast of his savior.

Patmos was the shelf in which the living epistle of John the beloved was to collect dust and grow silent. It becomes the setting of pen placed on scrolled parchment that would roll through the history of mankind and call us to awe at the majesty of the master.

John was worshipping on the Lord’s Day, the seventh or the first day of the week, when Jesus spoke to him and said write and send. They were messages for specific churches in John’s generation and the things that were written to them were written for our example. I am cautious of teaching that tries to divide the churches into ages and epochs. Numerous scholars share this caution, to quote only one;

“The Seven Churches are representative of all churches everywhere in all time. There is no sound reason to make these to represent 7 progressive historical periods of the church age. All attempts to do this are transparently artificial. There are churches having these kinds of problems in every generation." - Willard Ramsey, in "Zion's Glad Morning."

I want to find Jesus’ message to me and to you in each of comments these churches. I hope you will join me in patient endurance as we journey through the word of the Lord as recorded in the book of Revelations. Like John, we might believe that you have been put on a shelf, but the greatest illuminations of the Word of God are in front of you not behind you. Rise Up! Hear the Trumpet Blast of him whose voice is like rushing water. You may fall down as dead, but you will rise up with the Word of the Lord in your mouth.

The Nature, Reason, and Necessity of the Coming of the Lord

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelations 1:7-8

When we meditate on the coming of the Lord we are three things I would encourage the reader to consider. One is the nature of is coming, another is the reason for his coming, lastly we should think about the necessity of his coming. The nature of Christ coming is glorious and omnipresent. This is a Jesus that somehow fills the sky. Some have conjectured that we will all see him because of mass media. The same logic is used around the judgments later in this book around nuclear weapons. God does not need television or the internet to reveal himself to mankind and he does not need nuclear weapons to destroy portions of the earth. He is God all by himself and capable of accomplishing what he desires outside of human agency. However it is neither, glory or judgment that our savior is revealing, it is pierced hands and feet. Despite his glory and strength he purposes to remind us of his suffering. This suffering produces a mourning population.

I would like to suggest that there will be two types of mourners on that great day. There will be those that cry out in repentance for the lack of gratitude and acknowledgement of the savior, the second group will be those who despise his coming because it creates accountability for the unrighteousness that they so dearly love.

What is the reason for the coming of the savior? We know that it is not discontent with heaven. Heaven is our savior’s natural home. John 17:5 indicates his desire to be there when Jesus cries out, “now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began” The reason for his coming is that God might unite himself with mankind. His coming is associated with the resurrection of the righteous. There is debate about the timing of this resurrection but no one argues the promise of the resurrection who is a believing Christian. Paul the Apostle excitedly writes about the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15: 51-55,

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

The coming of the Lord is the consummation of the bringing together the family of God. The scriptures describe this family as a bride being prepared for its groom. I am filled with joy as I think about fellowship with men and women of old, from ancient times who served God obediently in their generations. I look forward to living in a land in that is Governed by the Lord himself, where justice and mercy are witnessed in every decision that is made by him. These are but a few of the reasons for his coming and they are marvelous to think about.

Finally I would like you to think about the necessity of his coming. One of those great resurrected saints Robert Robinson 1735- 1790 wrote “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love” If that is true of saints that love God how much truer for those that reject his love and goodness, Matthew 24:22 records the words of Jesus, “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” 2 Timothy 3 describes the nature of the last days. “There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”

The necessity of Jesus return is that we who believe do not come to imitate those who do not. It is so those who have the strength to endure temptation and awful persecution do not have to do so in vain. The necessity of Christ return is for the salvation of the human race that God himself has chosen to identify with permanently through his only son, the God man Jesus Christ. He also make all who believe God’s sons and daughters as well.

John 1: 12-13 connect the Son of God with the sons and daughters of God for Jesus is “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

His coming is Glorious, His coming is has purpose and reason in the mind of God, His coming is necessary. Amen

Greeting from God and the Spirits in Sky

John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirit before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Revelations 1: 4-5

John starts by addressing seven churches. Seven is not the same as one. God never intended for all his churches to look, act and smell alike. They are geographic churches with weaknesses and strengths. They were churches that God knew would change with time and circumstance. He also knew that change causes stress he therefore blesses with peace and focuses on God who is the same yesterday today and forever. The second half of the greeting is very interesting; it is a greeting from the spirits before the throne. Speaking about angels is popular but I don’t think we meditate on their role in our lives enough.

The first thing that we should remember about angels, heavenly or hellish, is that they are old. They have been looking upon the condition of mankind for a long time. The angels around the throne, they are cheering the church on. They want us to succeed and are allowed at times to help us along. We don’t know them but they know us. I have grandchildren that I have never seen face to face. They don’t know me, but I know them. I love them as I do those who have been in my home many times. Our relationship with angels is like this. They are sending greeting to those whose lives they have observed and been a part of even as family separated by distance. My favorite verse to meditate on in regards to the topic of Angels is Matthew 18:10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” There is a security that comes from this verse that we should always experience. I am always a “little one” in my father’s eyes and I know that he is watching me.

The greeting does not end with angels however but with the man who is God, who is and will be King of kings and Lord of lords. Why men reject such a benevolent God is a great question but it is answered easily when we witness the hardness of men’s hearts. Jesus is the greatest of these witnesses and the one whose rule must prevail. William Booth founder of the Salvation Army said all people must be either be pardoned or punished.

The book of Revelation details many of the punishments to come. The prophet Zechariah wrote of Jesus’ Kingship on earth and of his throne in Jerusalem. “On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves “On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,” declares the LORD. “I will keep a watchful eye over Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations. Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘The people of Jerusalem are strong, because the LORD Almighty is their God.’ Zechariah 12”4-5

The severity of his judgment is proportional the generosity of his pardon. God became man!!!! The distance between God and man is greater than the distance between man and dog, but I no man would become a dog, especially for a dog that bites the hand that feeds it. Man has been a dog that has bit not just the hands of his master, but his creator. Jesus will show us his bite marks himself when he comes again and no one will be free from accusation. All sin is sin against God and God alone.
Revelations 1:5-8 brings us from creator to redeemer, and blest are those who read these words aloud!

“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power forever and ever! Amen. “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

When The Grace Runs Out

The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what, must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. Revelations 1: 1-3

I enter into a series of blogs on the book of Revelations with an eye for adventure. I have a specific theology around end times that I will keep disclosed for now. I approach each blog as an individual unit, unless otherwise designated. They are designed to be a meal for sheep looking for food in contrast the theology written in stone. That will be my approach to this book that sets off so much theological debate. Where it is appropriate and I see the necessity to do so I will address doctrinal issues. Theology is a starch and is necessary for our nutrition. Doctrine is the human energy it creates. I will try to give each appropriate attention.

We begin with a distinction without a difference in verse 1. What God gives Jesus belongs to Jesus as God. The purpose of the giving is that Jesus as man can share it with men as a man. Such is the Revelation from Jesus Christ that John the Apostle shares with humanity. The revelation is not a private one but global and impacts the reader when it is shared publicly. “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy.” Much of the imagery of the book of revelations is mysterious and frightening. It is designed to move us to a sense of awe in its reading.

Ravi Zacharias describes one type of knowledge as “a wash” It is the type of knowledge that you hear and don’t know what to do with it. It washes over you and overwhelms the senses. The book of Revelations is like that in it first readings. In order to “hear it and take to heart what is written in it” you need to hear again and again. What it does is create a sense of urgency in you about the coming of the Lord. This urgency has held firm in believers who embrace this book from the first century to the present.

John did not just hear the words of Jesus Christ but saw the revelation as being there. He saw the future conflicts between good and evil that would transpire at the end of time. The comfort that comes from this book is from Jesus himself. He begins his comfort with John and extends it to us. When John saw him, him fell at his feet as though dead. Then Jesus placed his right hand on him and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelations 1:18. The Lord uses the book of Revelations to catapult us to a future of dread yet one filled with hope.

The book of Revelations could be titled “when the grace runs out” that should create dread, but for the believer it is a time when the evils are men are judged by one who is impartial, fair, and merciful. The book closes with evil forever quarantined and in the personages of those who hate God, both angelic and human cursing the God who created them in love. They are without repentance and if they continued in their labors evil the elect would be deceived.

Daddy God Bakes the Bread

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5: 10-11

Peter knew a little bit about restoration, John 21 covers that restoration and Peter was aware of a personal invitation from the Lord to come to receive his forgiveness purchased for him, the angel said; “But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” Peter is writing us as an older man, one who has been strong firm and steadfast. His letters contain more duty than intimacy. When he references Father in 1 Peter it is in the context of judgment. “Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.” 1 Peter 1:17, when he references it in 2 Peter it is with Christ in mind. “He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 2 Peter 1:17.

Peter was faithful to feed his sheep. He continues to do so from the letter he shared with us. Peter is like many who are restored, strong, and steadfast. They know they can boldly access the throne of God, but the knock just the same. It is difficult for them to be free from fear and cry Abba Father or Daddy God. Romans chapter 8 tells us that we have received a Spirit of adoption, that we are sons, and children of God. It also makes reference to suffering and glory as Peter does.

Paul could write “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” He and Peter would but experience that in the martyrdom of Rome. It may be that Peter was strong and Paul was singing. If you have failed the Lord I would like to encourage you to sing a song to your Daddy. Yes be strong, be firm, and be steadfast. However, remember that “he who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it until the very end.” Do not be afraid the call your God, Dad and remember every though he is a judge he is a Father that cares for his children. Love and forgiveness can be hard to receive. I believe they were for Peter and maybe for you to. Go feed his sheep, but remember it is Daddy that baked the bread.

Where are your Wounds?

“We will go before God to be judged, and God will ask us, "Where are your wounds? And we will say, "We have not wounds." And God will ask, "Was nothing worth fighting for?" Rev. Allan Boesak, South Africa

This quote seems very appropriate as we round the bend to complete our blogging of 1 Peter. Our journey began on December 3, 2011 today is February 7, 2012. During that time we have visited numerous historic places. We spent a great deal of time with the pre flood generation; we were in a weeping Bethlehem, a liberated India with Gandhi. We contemplated the usefulness of his methods in the prison camps of Europe and came to the conclusion that we are more perpetrator than liberator. Our hearts sank and we called out for mercy. Submission was a reoccurring theme that demonstrated love is the prerequisite to its accomplishment. We quoted from Confucius, Simon and Garfunkel and met a young Aerosmith lyric writer who was feeling old. Plato, George Washington and John Huss helped us understand community and the courage it takes to build one.
The Apostle Peter was and is our guide. He is identified with us and tells us so in his letter.

“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 1 Peter 5: 1-3

Peter is not making wide the corners of his garments. He is telling us, “I am with you” more importantly he knew that Christ would be as well. He knew that a life of godliness, submission, and love or a life indentified with the person of Jesus would be a life filled with wounds. He knew that with “much wisdom would come much sorrow”. He knew that he was sending out his flock as sheep among wolves, he knew that they were fighting a malevolent invisible enemy who was seeking those he could devourer. He therefore told his leaders “watch out for them”. Watch out for those who are doing well because they well often grow weary in well doing. Watch out for those who are doing poorly because the cares of this life can become a snare to them. As you watch out for them, do it with your heart, living as they live, walking beside your folk and not in front of your flock. As you watch out for them also remember to watch out for yourself. Don’t let blessings become an entitlement and remember that pay day follows the cemetery and not the seminary.

Be a shepherd. Peter knew the admonishment contained in Ezekiel 33: 7-9. “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.”

Peter was interested in a lot more than just his own salvation. He would ultimately give his life in the service of Jesus, but not before he trained like minded leaders to be filled with a love for the sheep and the love of a good fight for souls and needs of men.

The Joyful Fire

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4 12-17

We as Christians need to be more discerning about how we define a fiery ordeal. The scriptures define it one way and one way only. It is persecution. A fiery ordeal is not our being in financial crises because we have spent more money than we made. A fiery ordeal is not our child drifting from the faith because we have been too lenient or too harsh with them. A fiery ordeal is not a health crisis that is directly traceable to poor diet and lack of exercise. A fiery ordeal is not a struggling marriage in which spouses refuse to submit to biblical precepts. These are not trials, these are consequences. Verse 14 of this passage defines the beginning fiery trial and promises a greater measure in blessing. The trial comes about “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ” the blessing is “for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you”. So here are two questions that we must ponder. When was the last time you were insulted for the Gospel’s sake? When was the last time you heard about the glory resting on someone because of persecution? We tend to define “glory resting on us” as something that happens when believers gather together to worship God. This passage seems to indicate that there is a higher glory when we stand alone and firm in our conviction of the truth of the Gospel.

Verse 17 says “For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household” That judgment that we need to contemplate is our perpetual desire for comfort and ease, when we are called to seek and save that which is lost. If our priorities were in keeping with the scriptures our fiery trials would follow as a natural consequence and we would be “overjoyed when his glory is revealed” is us.

If we spent our money responsibly on the extension of the Gospel we would owe no debts but that of love. If our enthusiasm and joy were extant in our living the Gospel our children would most often embrace a Godly lifestyle. If we recognized the importance of being physically strong and being prepared to “go” we would not abuse our bodies with junk food. If we saw our marriage as a reflection of Christ and his church we would serve our spouses as Christ served us, without complaint or accusation, esteeming them higher than ourselves. If we did these things glory would manifest in our giving, our families our bodies and our marriages. That glory would prepare us for whatever insult followed because we would be too blessed and too connected to Jesus to be bothered by it. In fact our response would be to pray for those who insult us and persecuted us. I pray the fires in your life that are blazing that are non-biblical would be snuffed out in Jesus name, and I pray that the fires that you are called to start would blaze brightly equip for every good work, especially those associated with persecution.

Deep Love meets Deep Prayer

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:7-9

The lack of attention to spiritual disciplines on a positive end and temptation on the negative gets in the way of our praying. That is why Peter calls us to be alert and sober, or serious minded. Now this is not a joyless mind because he next tells us to love deeply. It is deep love that drives us to deep prayer. A life that is filled with prayer is the same as a life filled with love. Love that is thoughtful, meditative, and considerate of the problems of others is conscience of the fact that it is powerless to heal and bring comfort to those who need love. Love that grows in wisdom understands that only a divine source or God himself interceded with and through, causes us to love and then love causes us to pray, and prayer causes us to love. However this work is not done on our knees only but in the mingled with the every day. Peter brings love to the kitchen table when he says, “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”

To live a life of love and prayer is to make yourself vulnerable to the temptation of complaint and grumbling, but “love covers a multitude of sins” even those we commit in the practice of loving others. Oh but if we would get the full meaning of our ability to cover sin with prayer. We would change the course of lives and nations. Is it possible that Steven’s last words and last prayer “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” was the catalyst for the conversion of a spiritual blind Paul? Was it not the love and prayer of the young man Daniel that went to King Nebuchadnezzar when he decreed that all the wise men in the kingdom would be executed if his dream were not interpreted? This dream contained the history of the human race and was unlocked because a young man was concerned with the life of others and prayed. 2 Timothy 2:2 makes the direct connection between the King’s table and our kitchen table when he commands. “Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.” Our lives are connected to those who are in authority. If we pray for them our loved ones we reap the benefit. It is a double blessing of love. Those who are in authority are only human and subject to human failures. Their failure is our failure because they represent us 1 Peter 2:17 “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”

We need to understand the “God makes men what they are” (Brave heart) and he has made you who you are, Peter understanding this facts and tells us that “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10 He elevates these gifts to divine representation, or as The Apostle Paul more clearly defines as ambassadors of Christ.

“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11

God is calling us to be done with earthly words and work. He is calling us to walk in the Spirit in a manner that is defined in Romans chapter 8. Proverbs 16:9 tells us “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” If we believe that the Lord is establishing our steps shouldn’t we believe that he is planning them for divine purpose? Do we dare to add faith to all the moments of our life and let love and joy and prayer fill them in such a way the divine character of Jesus Christ fills each day? I am growing desperate to live this way. The scriptures tell me that I can. So let it be written in my heart and lived out in my walk as it is written to the words of the scriptures.

Pray without Ceasing, Work without Easing, and Talk without Teasing

As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:2

The passage bears repeating before commenting, “they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but for the will of God.” Is this a message our generation can grasp or are we so dependent on grace and mercy that we have given up on righteousness and holiness? Verse 3 defines what we are not suppose to engage in “debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry” Webster defines debauchery as “extreme indulgence in sensuality” The list is inclusive of one thing, sin, the distinctions are simply made for emphasis. Peter admits that before we were born again many of us participated in these activities but he sets a pastoral limit when he declares “you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do” Meaning “don’t do that stuff anymore” A pastors.com survey indicated that 54% of pastors had viewed pornography within the last year. If half of the leadership in the church is participating in a form of debauchery no wonder we are not hearing messages that state we can live the rest of our lives free of earthly human desires.

Verse 1 of this chapter tells us that we can be “done with sin” and tells us how. It says to arm ourselves with the attitude of Christ. That may be too abstract to wrap our arms around so let me suggest three things to begin. Pray without ceasing, work without easing, and talk without teasing. If we continue to these three it will be God that we are pleasing.

Pray without ceasing.

Believers fail in this regard because they separate the normal routines of life from the spiritual life. A. Saphir’s work on the Lord ’s Prayer from the 1860’s states, “In the Lord Jesus Christ we see most clearly the union of prayer and life, the harmony and continual interpenetration of the two spheres of life – communion with God and work on earth.” Interpenetration is a new word for me. In theological terms it “refers to the mutual inter-penetration and indwelling within the threefold nature of the Trinity, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”. As implied generally it means a mutual penetration of two things. In reference to our topic it is prayer and work.

Work without ceasing.

Over time I have increasing defined my theology around Sabbath keeping, or resting on the 7 day. This sounds glorious and in fact is glorious, but if I dedicated myself to resting on the Sabbath I am obliged also to honor God and work for six days. Idle hands are indeed the devils workshop and extended leisure has been the demise of many believers. Many congregations would do well in encouraging their pastors to work and additional job. The sweat of the brow is often a better motivator to prayer than the inactivity of a pastor’s cell or office. I suspect a busy man, worn down with a day full of labor is strengthen in his spiritual resolve in comparison with a bored man who is thirsting for entertainment and finding it in illicit sin.

Talk without teasing.

Men and women work in closer proximity in this generation than in any other. That work is also more separated from home than it has been in many other generations. That being true the opportunity for sin and the difficulty of living the rest of our earthly lives free from evil human desire becomes more difficult. One of the keys to our success is how we talk with the opposite gender in the work place. Playful teasing, coarse joking, are often create cracks in spiritual armor that left unattended leave the Christian soldier vulnerable to attack. Such teasing also indicates a lack of prayerful consideration for our co-workers and means that we are stealing time from productive work that the Lord has assigned us to. This may sound harsh and exacting but it is the casualness of our attitudes that is causing the routine nature of our sin. Jesus armed himself with prayer and his attitude was that he would live all of his earthly life for the will of God. Our attitude is to be the same, the availability of mercies that are new every morning, should not be accompanied but the necessity of those mercies, especially as it relates to sins classified as debauchery.

Done With Sin

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 1 Peter 4:1

Christians thinking of Jesus often meditate on his divine nature without giving equal attention to his human nature, in doing so with resolve ourselves of the responsibility to be like him. His suffering in the body was not just the suffering of the cross. Jesus suffered through the temptations to sin the same way every human being does. “Tempted in all ways yet without sin” He did not have our sin nature, but he did have a will of his own. The human will can be an enemy or a friend of God. The direction of the will, Peter points out, is determined by the attitude of the mind, and the crucifying of the flesh. In reference to the mind and body Paul’s words in Romans 12 agree with Peter’s. He tells us to present our bodies as sacrifices, and then renew our minds. The consequence is that we will know God’s good pleasing and perfect will.

Many believers struggle a lifetime trying to know God’s will without finding it. This happens because they never allow the body to suffer through temptation. Jesus suffered to obey God with such intensity that he bled sweat. How much have you suffered in the body for Christ? Before you limit this application to martyrs, consider the nursery rhyme, “be careful little eyes what you see, little ears what you hear, little hands what you do and little feet where you go.” The truth of suffering of the body is not just child’s play it is related to adult action and divine destiny. The failure to manage the body has destroyed the lives of many great Christians.

In a conversation with my supervisor about the reasons for divorce he highlighted three A’s, abuse, adultery, and addictions. Physical and emotional abuses stem from words and deeds done in the body; adultery and addiction are both rooted in appetites that are destructive. Anyone who has ever tamed a temper, or arrested an adulterous urge has suffered in the body. Addiction by definition is a body submitted to the level of slavery. Slavery does not usually end without a war. Remember God destroyed the armies of Pharaoh, and the next generation did not receive a single promise until they fought. Peter therefore reminds us to “arm ourselves”. Even though the United States has been a nation at war recently we are a citizenry that is predominately living in peace. People at peace are not trained to suffer. When applied to sin the desire for peace can lead to appeasement of the flesh and sinful nature. The consequence is a body that is nourished on sin instead of one that is purified from sin. Peter tells us “whoever suffers in the body is done with sin”

Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus, who suffered in the flesh to destroy sin. We are called to be like him. “Righteousness is following the divine law; holiness is having a divine nature.” These are the words of Samuel Logan Brengle, Salvation Army office, who lived out God’s good and pleasing perfect will for his life. I pray you and I are willing the arm ourselves, to suffer some, that we might be “done with sin”.

Bad Men, Bad Angels, Same God

After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. 1 Peter 3:19-20

In my last blog I spoke about the disobedience of men in the pre flood generation. The possibility of angelic disobedience is also contained in this passage. My cross reference is 2 Peter 2:4-5 “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment..;” The course of interpretation of this passage debatable. I have stated that where there is controversy in the scripture a diligent preacher is obligated to teach the controversy. I will do my best to follow my own admonishment. Key to this passage is what happens in Genesis 6:1-2. “When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.” The debate centers on who are the “sons of God” Job 1:6, 2:1, 38.7 all use the term in regards to angelic beings, Peter’s reference to these angels being placed in “gloomy dungeons” reinforces the fact that they sinned. Some believe that the sin was an angelic/human hybrid that was abhorrent to God.

Jude 5 - 7 is another passage to consider “Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day, just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.”

http://www.scripturessay.com/article.php?cat=&id=303 breaks down this passage as follows. “Jude 7 speaks of the SEXUAL IMMORALITY of Sodom and Gomorrah. It adds “The little clause "in like manner" (KJV), "in a similar way" (NIV), "which likewise" (RSV), "they, in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh..." (NAS95), must be understood in it's proper context. Most credible scholars believe that Jude is referring to some event in which angels, in the same way as Sodom, went after strange flesh in a sexually immoral way. It seems likely that the context of Jude 6 considers the context of Genesis 6.”

The problem with the above interpretation is that Jesus explicitly said that "in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven." (Matthew 22:30) (See also Luke 20:34-36). Therefore in Jesus' own words, angels are asexual and do not procreate. Interpreters that believe the Genesis 6 is referencing human and not angelic offspring point out that “The phrase: "sons of God" should be understood as referring to the posterity of Seth, who from the times of Enos, were called by the name of the Lord, (Gen. 4:25) and had the title of the sons of God, in distinction from the children of men. Those in the line of Seth claimed the privilege of divine adoption, and professed to be born of God, and partakers of his grace, and claimed to worship him according to his will, so far as revealed to them, and to fear and serve and glorify him. http://www.scripturessay.com/article.

Another difficulty with the passage is the claim that the angels had illicit relations with women. Yet the text is very clear: "they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose" (Genesis 6:2b). The phrase "took wives for themselves" only, and always, means marriage. It never refers to casual, illicit or adulterous relationships. (See Genesis 11:29 & Ruth 1:4). To suggest otherwise is reading into the text that which is simply not there. http://globalchristiancenter.com/biblical-theology/nephilim-genesis-6.html

There is more information that could be added to support or detract from both positions. Let me state what we know. We know that men sinned greatly before the flood. We know that some of the fallen angels “abandoned their proper abode” and were judged for their sin by being caste into a dungeon for holding until greater judgment. Peter’s motivation for setting the example of the pre flood generation is not in illicit a theological argument but to remind us that God’s judgments can be severe. Peter is a person that experienced a great deal of God’s grace, but he is also the person who spoke God’s judging words on those the lied to the Holy Ghost in Acts 5. The occasion is one in which Ananias and Sapphira gave a large and substantial portion of the proceeds of selling their property for the benefit of the church. Their claim was that they gave all of the profit to the church. Their lie resulted in their immediate death. Peter simply wants us to remember that God is the same yesterday, today and forever; in this case everything else is literally commentary.

All of the Bible or None of the Bible (part II)

After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. 1 Peter 3: 19 - 22

Let’s continue our story with talking about Noah and his building of the Ark. An important verse in this discussion is Genesis 6:3 “Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.” This verse is often misinterpreted as a projection of normal human life span when it is actually the time Noah was given to build the Ark. Psalm 90:10 is the better gage of a human life span in this dispensation. “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures.” Time and human experience bear testimony to the accuracy of Psalm 90. However, Noah was operating in a time in which life spans were measured in centuries not decades.

Men grew in violence in an environment that was at peace. Animals had no fear of men in his dispensation and probably were not carnivorous. Truly, the lion would lay with a child and the child would be as safe as he would be in a crib. Genesis 9:2-3 is a historic moment that bears witness to the change in the physical nature of the planet and is reflected in the animal kingdom. “The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.” The answer to how did Noah gather the animals is easy. The animals were not afraid of people. I am also postulating that they were not afraid of each other. Men clearly did not eat meat. I am making the argument that animals did not either. Admittedly, my deduction is not clearly stated in scripture; however it is not an irrational either.

I should explain the word dispensation for readers that are unfamiliar with the concept. “In Christian terms ... it refers to a period in history whereby God dealt with man in a specific way. (Conscience, Law, Grace)” Noah’s pre-flood time would be the age of Conscience, Mosses a time of Law, our own time one of Grace. The flood and the change in the world that followed it are the direct consequence of men’s disobedience to God. Please don’t view these categories as hard lines; there is much carry over from one time to another. The most consistent of these carryovers is the system of sacrifice implemented with Adam that had its fulfillment in Christ.

It is the profound nature of man’s disobedience in the pre flood dispensation that creates the global judgment of God. The level of disobedience may have included a perversion involving angels. I will address that in the next blog. However, before I close I want to talk about the eight people for a few minutes. Noah we know was righteous. The late Samuel Logan Brengle makes a wonderful distinction between righteousness and holiness. He states that righteousness is keeping the God’s law, while holiness is living out God’s character. As this applies to Noah, he is called righteous by the Lord himself. Ezekiel 16: 19-20 makes reference to Noah, Daniel and Job and states that if a city were judged they would be saved but the city lost. The eight post flood citizens of the world include Noah his wife, his three sons and their wives. Acts 16:31 immediately comes to mind, “believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.” This application I believe holds true for Noah’s family.

They are called to repopulate the planet with sacrifice and obedience still being a standard practice. There is radical drop in what for I will describe as the “fumes of Eden”, by that I mean, long life and a peaceful animal kingdom among other things. Peter is using fallen angels and the pre flood generation as examples for us. He is pointed out the necessity of holiness. The foundation principle is, “he who endures to the end shall be saved. His pen will later write, “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others.” …2 Peter 2:4-5.. then you and I would be wise to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

All of the Bible or None of the Bible (part 1)

After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. 1 Peter 3: 19-22
The above passage in technically complicated and theologically important it also is another one of those passages that demand a reading of the Bible as a singular document and not just a grouping of literature tossed together. In the four verses quoted, we must deal with hell, angels, the pre-flood generation, baptism and the body resurrection of Jesus Christ and his ascension into heaven. Last blog I wrote on verse 19, today I will only set a foundation for verse 20. There is simply too much in these verses to gloss over. I will point the reader to references as necessary in order to maintain the brevity of the blog.

The flood is one of the great lines in the concrete that separates believers between believers and believers and non believers. Believing in a literal worldwide flood a literal Adam and Eve categorizes you as one of those “crazy creationist” and there is no way to get around that charge if you are an evangelical bible believer. As an evangelist and soul winner you have to be able to give intelligent answers to these questions. Ken Ham of answersingenesis.org is the best resource I know of in this area. His web site has a blog written by him called ‘Will pastors miss the millions of years point?’ It quotes extensively from a survey among pastors addressing the topic of this blog.

The question of the nature of the flood is of vital importance. Peter’s pen referenced only eight people being saved after the flood. If nine are saved the Bible is unreliable. It tells us the reason for the flood, disobedience, and immediately following the flood we have a radical change in the life span of men that is reported. If the account of the pre flood generation is mythological then the entire Bible is unreliable. Our faith is in vain and we are the most foolish of people.

If Jesus did not die to restore what Adam’s sin lost then the crucifixion is without redeeming merit; if the Bible is mythological about the flood then why not the resurrection? The Christian faith is routed in historic precedents that begin in Genesis. If there is death before Adam, then death is not the consequence of the sin. If death is the consequence of something other than sin then the scripture that says “without the shedding of blood there is not remission of sins” does not apply. If it does not apply then Jesus did not need to die for our sins. If Jesus did not need to die for our sins then everything he did and said has no foundation and he is only a man and not God. Then Christianity is a false religion. Therefore we better be able to justify why we believe what we believe.

The intellectual process for believing is God is easy. Creation itself is sufficient evidence to believe in God. The design and intricacies of nature demand a belief in a creator. Naming that creator Jesus and stating he is the designer is a much bigger leap. In order to that I have to believe in Bible. The intellectual process that makes me believe in the Bible starts with Jesus and then backs into evangelical truth and applies to things like the universal flood, a young earth and a literal Adam.

What are the things that are in the Bible that make me believe in Jesus? There are two I can start with, the first is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies related to Jesus. Simply search the topic and you will see a list of these scriptures. The second is the witness of the apostles. These are all men that went to great lengths to speak about their personal eye witness accounts of his resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15 tells us that 500 people saw Jesus alive. Luke 1, 1 John 1 opening lines speak with clarity about a desire to witness to a truth that was historic. The writers only give us the option of accepting or rejecting their words as actual truth. Their claims leave no room for mythological or metaphorical interpretation. Neither does the rest of the Bible. To be continued