Revelation 22-What have you done?

12“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each person according to what he has done.

"Behold, I am coming quickly"...

Matthew 24:44 (NKJV) 

44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

"My reward is with Me, to give to each person according to what he has done."

James 2:20 (NKJV) 

20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Titus 3:8 (NKJV) 

8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

"Without delay", Jesus is coming back, therefore be ready. O foolish man, faith without works is dead!

That those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works.

May I ask, what are YOU doing for the Lord and His kingdom?

Without boasting, let me tell you what I am doing. I have found it difficult here to continue my chaplain work. Here in northern Michigan IFOC doesn't exist so I have focused my work for the Lord in our local church. 

I am on the stage design team, I provide support in the woodwork of the design. Right now our pastor is doing a series on the The Doors of Easter. I helped cut out the doors.

I am on the Serve Team which helps minister to other teams in the church. We helped the communion team with support of our pastor, change the method of serving communion. We are also planning law enforcement appreciation events for 2018.

I am considering joining our Security Team.

Cecilia became the Nursery Coordinator in January and I help her in a supporting role. I provide computer support, check-in support, help decorate and stock the rooms and assume her role if she is out due to illness. 

What have you done?

Blessings, David 

http://stanfordsancutaryscripturestudies.blogspot.com

Pre Paid Burial Plan. Genesis 47:27-41 NLT

The Pastor at my previous church use to say " The statistics on death are staggering, one out of every one person dies. "
Or how about this one I heard recently; "Studies show that people who celebrate more birthdays live longer." 

I am discovering I do not like death. When I think about it, I wonder what everyone is so afraid of. If you are saved, you know where you are going. If you don't know where your going, you better get believing! I look forward to the day I wake up and meet Jesus face to face! No, my death doesn't bother me. It's everyone I love dying around me I don't like. 

My  nephew and Dad died just two months apart in 2013. In 2014 my father in law died. Last Mothers Day, my dearest friend Sandy died. Seven months later her husband Ken died. Last Tuesday my 94 year old Aunt died. I've told myself all the cliches, she had a good long life, she's in a better place, she is no longer suffering but still, I will miss her. 

So I am clinging to the memories. Her cottage on the shore of Lake Huron and the summers I spent there with my cousins. The big black Lincoln she always drove. The box of toys that was always in the closet for us to play with when we came to visit. The big bowl of match books she had collected from all over the world on her travels. Her love of cats and her love for her nieces and nephews. 

Please pray for her husband Don who survives her and my Aunt Jeanette, her younger sister. And please pray for safe travels for David and I when we drive downstate next week for the funeral. Thanks. 

Genesis 47:27-41 NLT 

27 Meanwhile, the people of Israel settled in the region of Goshen in Egypt. There they acquired property, and they were fruitful, and their population grew rapidly.  28 Jacob lived for seventeen years after his arrival in Egypt, so he lived 147 years in all. 

29 As the time of his death drew near, Jacob called for his son Joseph and said to him, “Please do me this favor. Put your hand under my thigh and swear that you will treat me with unfailing love by honoring this last request: Do not bury me in Egypt.  30When I die, please take my body out of Egypt and bury me with my ancestors.” 

So Joseph promised, “I will do as you ask.” 

31 “Swear that you will do it,” Jacob insisted. So Joseph gave his oath, and Jacob bowed humbly at the head of his bed. 

Blessings, Cecilia 

Revelation 22-A warning ⚠️ sign!

10Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near. 11Let the unrighteous continue to be unrighteous, and the vile continue to be vile; let the righteous continue to practice righteousness, and the holy continue to be holy.”

Do not seal up the words......

Let this be a warning ⚠️ sign, repent!

“It is the hopelessness of the final state of the wicked which is here pictured. The states of both the evil and the good are now fixed forever. There is no word here about a ‘second chance’ hereafter.” (Robertson)

Let this verse sink in!

“11Let the unrighteous continue to be unrighteous, and the vile continue to be vile; let the righteous continue to practice righteousness, and the holy continue to be holy.”

Look around you, aren’t the wicked becoming more bold? 

“If the warnings of this book are not sufficient, there is no more that God has to say.” (Walvoord)

Which camp (group) do you belong to, the good or the evil?

Blessings, David 

Revelation 22-Worship God!

6Then the angel said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must soon take place.”

7“Behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book.”

8And I am John, the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. 9But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”

John is assured by the angel as the Book of Revelation comes to a close that these words are faithful and true.

The word quickly in the Greek means “without any delay.”

We are to be expectant of Christ’s return as He May return at any moment. He will return without any delay!

What is prophesy?

“speak forth” or declare the divine will, to interpret the purposes of God, or to make known in any way the truth of God which is designed to influence people.”

https://www.gotquestions.org/gift-of-prophecy.html

John was overwhelmed and bowed down before the angel and the angel corrected John.

“If it was wrong to worship this glorious heavenly messenger, in and through whom came forth the very voice of Jesus, how can it be right to worship and pray to the Virgin Mary, to whom is assigned no such dignity or office? The impulse and intention may be devout and good; but it is a great mistake.” (Seiss)

Be careful whom you worship, there are no others gods before Him!

“Worship God!”

Blessings, David 

Revelation 22-Paradise Regained!

4They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.

Exodus 33:20–23 (NKJV)

20 But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. 22 So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. 23 Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall jnot be seen.”

If we saw God face to face we would surly die. But that will change, “4They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.”

“To look into the face of Christ signifies to be well acquainted with his person, his office, his character, his work. So the saints in heaven shall have more knowledge of Christ than the most advanced below. As one has said, the babe in Christ admitted to heaven discovers more of Christ in a single hour than is known by all the divines of the assemblies of the church on earth.” (Spurgeon)

“5There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.”

God Himself is light and in the presence of God there will be no more darkness. With sin, Adam and Eve lost paradise.

“As the Bible opens with the story of ‘Paradise Lost,’ so it here closes with the story of ‘Paradise Regained.’ ” (Erdman)

Blessings, David 

Revelation 22-The Curse!

3No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him.

The Curse;

Genesis 3:16–19 (NKJV)

16 To the woman He said:

“I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;

In pain you shall bring forth children;

Your desire shall be for your husband,

And he shall rule over you.”

17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten.

There will be no more curse in heaven but the aspects of the curse will be present in the millennium as stated in;

 Isaiah 65:20 (NKJV)

20 “No more shall an infant from there live but a few days,

Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days;

For the child shall die one hundred years old,

But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed.

While studying commentaries for today’s verses I noticed some commentaries were mixing in comments on the millennium with the New Heaven and Earth.

I think it’s important to clarify the difference between the two.

This video is the best visual explanation on this question!

What is the difference between the Millennium and the New Heaven and Earth?

It’s 13 minutes long and well worth the time!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Zpt_RuIrbGM&feature=youtu.be

Blessings, David 

Encouraged By God. Genesis 46:1-7 NLT

When David and I were called to adopt, we faithfully let God lead us every step of the way through the process. When I finally got the call we had been matched with a child, imagine my shock when I was told his name Jesus. God DOES have a sense of humor. 

Maybe Jacob needed some reassurance he was going where God wanted him. He had already started the journey but maybe he wasn't moving as surely as he should. If he was apprehensive, God would have known. Maybe that's why God came to him in a dream. 

Jacob wouldn't see Canaan again but he would see Joseph. He got the encouragement he needed from the God he trusted. 

Genesis 46:1-7 NLT 

Jacob's Journey to Egypt 

1 So Jacob set out for Egypt with all his possessions. And when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father, Isaac.  2 During the night God spoke to him in a vision. “Jacob! Jacob!” he called. 

“Here I am,” Jacob replied. 

3 “I am God, the God of your father,” the voice said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make your family into a great nation.  4 I will go with you down to Egypt, and I will bring you back again. You will die in Egypt, but Joseph will be with you to close your eyes.” 

5 So Jacob left Beersheba, and his sons took him to Egypt. They carried him and their little ones and their wives in the wagons Pharaoh had provided for them.  6 They also took all their livestock and all the personal belongings they had acquired in the land of Canaan. So Jacob and his entire family went to Egypt— 7 sons and grandsons, daughters and granddaughters—all his descendants. 

Blessings, Cecilia

Revelation 22-Tree of Life with heavenly fruit!

The River of Life

1Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, producing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Psalm 46:4–5 (NKJV)

4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,

The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.

5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;

God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.

You’ve heard the saying, “it is what it is”? 

Spurgeon alludes to it here.

“The picture presented to the mind’s eye would appear to be that of a wide street, with a river flowing down the center, like some of the broader canals of Holland, with trees growing on either side, all of them of the same kind, all called the tree of life. I do not know how we can make the figure out in any other way.” (Spurgeon)

“producing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month.” 

Can we eat in heaven? I believe we can as Jesus did after the resurrection and angels did with Abraham. 

In this verse we have 12 different kinds of heavenly fruit and a new crop monthly! 

I wonder what heavenly fruit tastes like?

Blessings, David 

Revelation 21-Where is your loyalty?

21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, with each gate consisting of a single pearl. The main street of the city was pure gold, as pure as transparent glass.

22But I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23And the city has no need for sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory.f 25Its gates will never be shut at the end of the day, because there will be no night there.

26And into the city will be brought the glory and honor of the nations. 27But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Today we are having the test, name the fourteen minerals, metals, gems, stones or variations used in the New City of Jerusalem.

If you fail you will be cast into the lake of fire. Not!

Isn’t is great our salvation isn’t based on anything but faith in Jesus Christ?

“The inhabitants need no place of worship or sacrifice, the object of all worship being present, and the great sacrifice Himself being there.” (Alford)

“The exhortation warns present readers that the only way to participate in the future city is to turn one’s loyalties to the Lamb now.” (Johnson)

Will you partake in the New City of Jerusalem? 

Your name must be in the book! 

“only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Don’t delay, be adopted into God’s family today!

Where is your loyalty?

Blessings, David 

Revelation 21-Earth Science Class!

18The wall was made of jasper, and the city itself of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone: The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

Today in Earth Science Class you are going to learn about the fourteen minerals, metals, gems, stones or variations used in the New City of Jerusalem. The test will be tomorrow!

Jasper: an opaque cryptocrystalline quartz of any of several colors; especially : green chalcedony.

Gold: a yellow precious metal, with deep lustrous yellow or yellow-brown color.

Glass: is a non-crystalline amorphous solid that is often transparent and has widespread practical, technological, and decorative usage.

Sapphire: a transparent precious stone, typically blue, that is a variety of corundum.

Chalcedony: is a cryptocrystalline form of silica, composed of very fine intergrowths of quartz and moganite.

Emerald: a bright green precious stone consisting of a chromium-rich variety of beryl.

Sardonyx: is a gem variety of reddish-brown colored sard with white or black banded chalcedony or onyx, used to make cameo with the raised black, red, or brown background.

Carnelian: is a brownish-red mineral commonly used as a semi-precious gemstone. 

Chrysolite: a yellowish-green or brownish variety of olivine, used as a gemstone.

Beryl: a transparent pale green, blue, or yellow mineral consisting of a silicate of beryllium and aluminum, sometimes used as a gemstone.

Topaz: a precious stone, typically colorless, yellow, or pale blue, consisting of a fluorine-containing aluminum silicate.

Chrysoprase, chrysophrase or chrysoprasus is a gemstone variety of chalcedony that contains small quantities of nickel. Its color is normally apple-green, but varies to deep green. The darker varieties of chrysoprase are also referred to as prase.

Jacinth: a reddish-orange gem variety of zircon.

Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz often used in jewelry. 

Got it? 

Don’t forget to study for the test!

Blessings, David 

The Father And The Son. Genesis 45:26-28 NLT

Jacob needed to see Joseph to believe. Thomas needed to see Jesus to believe.

John 20:29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

If Jacob had not been told Joseph was alive he would never have known. If we don't tell other's Jesus is alive, they may never know. 

Romans 10:14-15 NLT

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

Now go share the Good News He is alive!

Genesis 45:26-28 NLT

26 “Joseph is still alive!” they told him. “And he is governor of all the land of Egypt!” Jacob was stunned at the news—he couldn’t believe it.  27 But when they repeated to Jacob everything Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons Joseph had sent to carry him, their father’s spirits revived. 

28 Then Jacob exclaimed, “It must be true! My son Joseph is alive! I must go and see him before I die.” 

Blessings, Cecilia

Revelation 21-Lets do the math!

15The angel who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and its walls. 16The city lies foursquare, with its width the same as its length. And he measured the city with the rod, and all its dimensions were equal—twelve thousand stadia in length and width and height. 17And he measured its wall to be one hundred forty-four cubits,e by the human measure the angel was using.

Let’s do the math!

The Greek word “stadia”; an ancient Roman or Greek measure of length, about 185 meters.

The equivalent of 12,000 stadia

equals 2,220.000 meters, and is 1367.01662 miles.

1367 miles length,

1367 miles wide,

1367 miles height!

But is it a cube or pyramid?

I believe it’s a cube but we won’t know until it’s created by God!

“6The city lies foursquare”

foursquare: (adjective)

• (of a building or structure) having a square shape and solid appearance.

But what is a cubit? Cubit is an ancient for of measure usually from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow. On average about 18 inches. 

“17And he measured its wall to be one hundred forty-four cubits”.

144 cubits x 18”= 2,592” / 12”= 216 feet tall!

A city that is 1367 miles square with a wall surrounding it 216 feet tall!

That’s one big city!

Blessings, David 

Publishers Clearinghouse. Genesis 45:16-25 NLT

You just won the Publisher's Clearinghouse! The presenters have arrived on your porch with the balloons, roses and gigantic check! Like the people in the commercial you jump up and down with your hands over your mouth screaming! 

That's the reaction Jacob will have to the news Joseph is alive. The arrival at his door of his other 11 sons, provisions, and wagons would be the award presenters, the neighborhood gathering around in excitement. 

In an instant, Jacob and his "woe is me" attitude became Israel and his "God has blessed me" refrain. 

Genesis 45:16-25 NLT

Pharaoh Invites Jacob to Egypt 

16 The news soon reached Pharaoh’s palace: “Joseph’s brothers have arrived!” Pharaoh and his officials were all delighted to hear this. 

17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘This is what you must do: Load your pack animals, and hurry back to the land of Canaan.  18 Then get your father and all of your families, and return here to me. I will give you the very best land in Egypt, and you will eat from the best that the land produces.’” 

19 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt to carry your little children and your wives, and bring your father here.  20 Don’t worry about your personal belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’” 

21 So the sons of Jacob did as they were told. Joseph provided them with wagons, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he gave them supplies for the journey.  22 And he gave each of them new clothes—but to Benjamin he gave five changes of clothes and 300 pieces of silver.  23 He also sent his father ten male donkeys loaded with the finest products of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other supplies he would need on his journey. 

24 So Joseph sent his brothers off, and as they left, he called after them, “Don’t quarrel about all this along the way!”  25 And they left Egypt and returned to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan. 

Blessings, Cecilia

Revelation 21-We can only imagine!

The New Jerusalem

9Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11shining with the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12The city had a great and high wall with twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve angels at the gates. 13There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west. 14The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Why is the New Jerusalem referred to as the bride, the wife of the Lamb? I believe because we will be in awe of the beauty of it. 

“the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11shining with the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.”

God is light, this description gives us a glimpse of it and His beauty!

Think of the biggest, most precious jewel in the whole world. Amplify it on a Godly scale, then shine His light through it!

The “great and high wall with twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve angels at the gates.”

The gates and the wall describe the unity and heritage the tribes of Israel have with God! 

Are you that proud of your heritage? If not, be proud of your spiritual heritage, you are a child of God!

“14The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”

Ephesians 2:20 (NKJV)

“20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,”.

A testimony to the apostles!

Johns description gives us a glimpse of the New Jerusalem, we can only imagine the glory of its beauty!

Blessings, David 

Revelation 21-It is Done!

6And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. 7The one who is victorious will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.

8But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”

It is done!

Ephesians 1:10 (NKJV)

10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,”

Alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.

Jesus as the beginning and end of all things is a reference to no one but the true God.

Isaiah 44:6 (ESV)

6  Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:

“I am the first and I am the last;

besides me there is no god.

https://www.gotquestions.org/alpha-and-omega.html

“To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life.”

“What does a thirsty man do to get rid of his thirst? He drinks. Perhaps there is no better representation of faith in all the Word of God than that. To drink is to receive-to take in the refreshing draught-and that is all. A man’s face may be unwashed, but yet he can drink; he may be a very unworthy character, but yet a draught of water will remove his thirst. Drinking is such a remarkably easy thing, it is even more simple than eating.” (Spurgeon)

“and I will be his God, and he will be My son.”

Jeremiah 24:7

'I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.

“8But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur.”

Cowardly, afraid to take the step in the faith of Jesus Christ.

Unbelieving, not believing in the One True God.

Abominable, moral revulsion, very bad.

Sexually immoral, “the “selling off” of sexual purity and involves any type of sexual expression outside the boundaries of a biblically defined marriage relationship”.

https://www.gotquestions.org/sexual-immorality.html

Sorcerers, a person who claims to have magic powers.  

Idolaters, a person who worships an idol or idols.

Liars, a person who tells lies or a person who doesn’t tell the truth.

And if you say, thank God I’m not one of these, remember the phrase, 

And the like.....

Galatians 5:21 and envy; drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God

“their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur.”

Where will your place be?

Blessings, David