Head Knowledge vs Life Experience

from The Patmos Paper E-magazine


These are the words Jesus spoke to Nicodemus when he came to him at night and Jesus told him he must be born again. Nicodemus did not understand Him and Jesus chided him for being a Teacher (rabbi) of the people yet not understanding this simple concept. But Jesus points out here that there is a big difference in knowledge and experience.

Notice the four words: speak, know, testify and seen! They all are four different Greek words: Lets look at the first two:

SPEAK laleō lal-eh'-o
A verb meaning; to talk, that is, utter words: - preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter.

KNOWLEDGE eidō i'-do
A verb meaning; to know: - be aware, behold, consider, (have) known (-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand,

So it means we say or talk what we know.
Speak with knowledge or vocalize our understanding.

Now lets look at the other two connecting words:

TESTIFY martureō mar-too-reh'-o
to be a witness, that is, testify (literally or figuratively): - charge, give [evidence], bear record, have (obtain, of) good (honest) report, be well reported of, testify, give (have) testimony, (be, bear, give, obtain) witness.

SEEN horahō hor-ah’-o
Properly to stare at, that is, (by implication) to discern clearly (physically or mentally); to attend , to experience; passively to appear: - behold, perceive, see, take heed.

Speaking and testifying are different. Knowledge and seeing (or experiencing) are different.

There are many theologians who go to seminar and know the Bible but have yet to experience Christ or Salvation.

Jesus is saying we can not just talk about what we know but must give witness and testify to what we have experienced! This is not just head knowledge but real experience.

We need both knowledge and experience, this is spiritual maturity. A child or teenager has some knowledge but has yet to embark on life's experience. Knowledge of Christ's plan of salvation is meaningless without experience. Jesus was teaching Nicodemus that you must be born again, but that it was something he needed to experience

Some things need to be experienced before they are understood!) When I was 19 years old I was only two years in the Lord and I wanted to go out and preach the gospel in the streets but thought that I did not have enough understanding of the Bible to do so. The Lord spoke to me and said I did not need to be a Bible scholar , I just needed to testify as to what the Lord had done to me and what He could do for them! I certainly had enough biblical understanding of salvation so I could simply speak as to what I knew and testify to the experience that I had. I was quite successful leading many to the Lord and a year later ended up as a counselor at a Billy Graham crusade despite my youthfulness in the Lord!

Jesus said we must speak what we know and testify to what we have seen and experienced to be an effectual witness for him!

Jesus said you are MY witnesses to the ends of the earth. Many testified of His resurrection because they had seen (experienced his presence) Him.

Let us speak what we know and testify what we have seen and our light will be the witness to His truth and His glory!

Fringe Christianity

from The Patmos Paper E-magazine

Years ago, there was a TV series on called Fringe. It was wildly popular and based upon what is called fringe science. The premise of the show was about pseudo-science and delved into the paranormal, supernatural, duel dimensional and multi-universe worlds. Fringe science is defined in Wikipedia as: “an established field of study which departs significantly from mainstream theories in that field and is considered to be questionable by the mainstream.”

Today many Christians are dabbling into what I call Fringe Christianity! It also departs significantly from mainstream thinking and delves into theoretical and sometime unrealistic non-biblical fringe issues. Just as fringe science lives on the edge with elements of true science, mixed in with wild theories so does Fringe Christianity. It often mixes biblically based teachings with theoretical speculation. Unlike cults that oppose or distort biblical teachings and then substitutes them with false ones, Fringe Christianity holds to mainstream teachings but lives on an expanded or addendum world of speculation and theory. Many of these theorists are spirit filled Christians who expand upon biblical truth with speculative endtime suppositions.

Some of this fringe teachings that so many Christians are following include Nephilims, The Watchers, Alien (demonic) and Flying saucers deception, Archon and shadow people, Flat earth theory, Hollow earth theory, New World order and Illuminati conspiracies and other speculative teachings.

One of the big proponents of much of this fringe Christianity is a Rob Skiba. Now when I first started watching some of his videos on YouTube I thought it was quite fascinating. He had some interesting ideas on the genetics of the giants in the bible and he seemed like a real committed Christian with a real understanding of the scriptures but then I saw that he had some extreme beliefs. He believes in a flat earth (that it is not a globe but a circular disk with the arctic in the middle and Antarctica along the perimeter. He is a literalist and quotes Isaiah 40:22 22- “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth”. He also believes in shadow people, demons that appear to people in the form of a shadow? He believes a shadow person followed him from city to city and once took hold of him and spoke through his voice. He clearly says it was a demon but it wasn’t the name of Jesus that made it go away but his suicidal thoughts that made it give up. Skiba had an attraction to radio host Art Bell who’s nightly show focused on the paranormal!

Surprisingly, many Christians are starting to believe in this Flat earth theory. There is even a site that examines the “Flat earth theory from a Biblical World View!” These people throw out all Apollo spacecraft and satellite photos and declare that all the NASA photos are fake just like the moon landing! The flat earthers supplant literal belief for common sense. For instance they declare water always runs flat so therefore can not possibly encircle a globe. They however do not take in the account of gravitation effect on the oceans. They use fuzzy math to do strange computations to prove man isn't disappearing in long distances by the curvature of the earth and yet can’t fathom why a boat disappears over a horizon but does not fall off the edge of the world. They do not reckon with historic or modern records of ship and airplane circumnavigation or as I stated believe in photo evidence.

Recently Elon Musk sent a rocket into space and in the capsule he put his old Tesla Roadster car in it with cameras around it exposed to open space. The video came back with the background clearly showing a revolving earth with different angles of the continents which totally disproved the flat earthers but nevertheless they declared the images are fake.

One of the big fringe areas for many Christians, which has some merit yet is still speculation, is the Nephilim giant theories. People like L.A. Marzulli, Tom Horn, Gary Steadman, Rob Skiba and many others postulate that when Jesus said the end times would be like the Days of Noah that includes a return of the Nephilim. According to the theory, The Watchers were fallen angels that breed with earth women and bore children called the Nephilim (Gen. 6:1-4).

The bible says they were giants and that they existed before and after the flood. Giants are mentioned in the Bible in several places (e.g., Genesis 6:4; Joshua 12:4). Og, king of Bashan (Deuteronomy 3:11); the giant people in Canaan that Moses’ spies reported (Numbers 13:30–33); Goliath (2 Samuel 21:19); and the Anakites (Deuteronomy 9:1–2) are all examples of giants in Scripture.

Somehow according to these theorists, these Nephilim will return to earth in the last days. Many of these people are always on the hunt for evidence of the antediluvian man. They hunt for bones of giants with two rows of teeth and six fingers or six toes. They collect elongated heads and live like Indiana Jones looking for the lost ark (The book of revelation says that the ark of the covenant is in heaven (Revelation 11:19 )

They are also fascinated with flying saucers, believing that they are not aliens from other planets but demons impersonating aliens. I was a big flying saucer buff before I got saved, owning a huge library of UFO books including the government’s Project Blue Book! But I too now think that they are demons in the atmospheric heavens impersonating aliens. But many conspiratorial Christians think that the great deception will be when a UFO lands and the Anti-christ walks off a craft and declares world peace.

There are other Christians who are getting absorbed into conspiracy theories. They are big fans of Alex Jones and are into everything from the dark web, the deep state, Illuminati influence, Freemason and Templar secrets, bible codes, and much more.

Still others are getting into so called extra biblical and Apocrypha revelations. I certainly am a huge fan of Ken Johnson and his research on the dead sea scrolls and other books like the book of Enoch and Jasher, etc. But some have taken these books and overemphasized them or equated them with scripture or have used their contents to devise wild theories.

I was taught as an early Christian to major on what the bible majors and minor on what the bible minors on. In other words we should focus on what the bible speaks allot on and not focus on so much of what the bible speaks little on and to be silent were the bible is silent. I do not question these peoples faith or salvation. That's for God alone to do (Rom. 10:6,7). But I think it wise to center around what we do know from scripture and not base our ministry on speculation, theory and fringe doctrines.

“Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.” 2 Timothy 2:23

“...nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.” 1 Timothy 1:4

Rather than engaging in conjecture and speculation we should hold fast the word to destroy speculation and help men to walk in surety and truth.

“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:5

There is much in life that we do not know but even Paul was quick to make a distinction between what was his opinion and what was the word of God (1 Corinthians 7:10,25).

The fringe or outskirts of the camp is the most dangerous place to be. The lions go after the stray and fringe gazelles not the huddle of the herd. Fringe animals are the first to die. Lets be wise and be centrist Christians and live in the middle ground so we can avoid the false trails and ditches that have entrapped so many.

The biggest danger is if we deviate from the gospel and start focusing on fringe issues and theory more than truth we could be guilty of preaching another gospel which brings a curse. Let us focus on Jesus, salvation and preach on all that we know rather than what we suppose! Shalom!

Revealing the Father

from The Patmos Paper E-magazine

One of the great purposes of Jesus’ incarnation besides redemption was to reveal the nature of God, His heavenly Father to man. Jesus did it by pointing to God in his words, displaying Gods nature in His works and revealing His character by showing His own. Jesus is the express image of His Father in Heaven, that is, if you see the Son you see the Father (Heb. 1:3)! When asked to see the Father, Jesus pointed to himself. Not that He was God the Father but he represented the very nature and heart of God:

“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.” John 14:7-11

I saw a great meme recently and on a cell phone was written “Jesus is God's selfie!” Wow! How true! When we see Jesus we see God the Father who can't be seen. Colossians bears this out:

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” Col. 1:15

Much of the love, grace and tender mercies of God is often hidden in the Old testament because of the wickedness of man, judgment of that wickedness and strictness of the law. But God’s patience, long-suffering and grace is revealed throughout the Old Testament. Jesus came to heal, restore, deliver and show compassion on the wayward and sinners so people could see that this is the real nature of the Father. Jesus did more than anyone else to reveal the nature of God because He alone possessed the true divine nature of his Father. Jesus showed man Gods love, His nature, His heart, His purpose, His ways and His will.

He not only revealed Him as God but unveiled the Father-like nature of God. He taught us to pray by saying “OUR Father which art in Heaven” Jesus also revealed that we are not just his creation, but to those who believe, we are indeed his children (1 John 3:1). False religion points to a God as one who subjects his creation to himself. Christianity by virtue of Jesus shows God as relational, wanting intimate loving relationship with His creation. Even in Judaism God was hidden behind a veil. But Jesus ripped that veil in half at his resurrection to help us see beyond the veil and into the heavenlies. Let Jesus reveal the Father to you more and more each day!

APOSTASY – The Great falling Away

from The Patmos Paper E-magazine

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” 1 Timothy 4:1

Other versions say:

“abandon the faith” (NIV)

“fall away from the faith” NAS)

“turn away from the true faith” (NLT)

“turn from their faith” (CEV)

“desert the faith” (NET)

“shall apostatize from the faith” (Darby)

Greek word: ἀπαλλάσσω (Verb — apallasso) -signifying apostasy! Literally to draw away from, fall away, Refrain from and withdraw your beliefs.

The bible in many places talks about apostasy or falling away from the Lord. Israel fell away from God many times and got into idolatry. He would often cause calamity and many would repent and return to the Lord. The nation as a whole rejected God and was brought under the rule of Babylon, Assyria, Greece and finally Rome. During the first 300 years of the church many Christians were persecuted and martyred if they did not offer up incense to the emperor and worship him as God.

Many Christians apostatize and renounced Christ to save their lives. Later when Christianity was accepted under Constantine, there was a great debate in the church as to whether they would accept these apostates (called traitors to the faith) back into the church. Augustine urged forgiveness and toleration, but a African sect called the Donatists would not accept them back and this caused a great division in the church!

During the reformation, the Protestants declared that the Catholic church was in apostasy because they had become corrupt and departed from the scriptures in favor of tradition as well as entertaining certain pagan beliefs. This became known as the Great apostasy and thought to be the fulfillment of the great falling away declaration in Thessalonians. Many Protestant reformers, including Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, and Cotton Mather, felt the early church had been led into apostasy by the Papacy and identified it as the Antichrist.

John Wycliffe who opposed the teaching of the organized Church, believed they had clearly deviated from the original teachings of the early church and thus had become a wholly unscriptural entity. He concluded that there was a great contrast between what the Church had become and what it ought to be, and saw the necessity for reform. Thus the reformation was in part a declaration of an apostasy of the Catholic church and a return to the practices and teachings of the early church.

The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches had developed from early on, the idea of infallibility of the Church but John Calvin and others saw them as an institution that had slowly turned away from the true teachings of Christ through corrupt popes, power hungry bishops and a carnal clergy who put the word of popes and the church over the word of God.

Though historically there have been great periods of personal and ecclesiastic backslidings, this is not the great apostasy in the bible. There are many who properly view the great apostasy as a future event, possibly before or when the Antichrist comes into power. Timothy said that the falling away or apostasy would occur in the “last” or “later days”. He viewed it not as just a condition but an end-time event. Paul wrote that the rapture would not come until there was a great falling away (the apostasy) first and the man of perdition (Anti-Christ) would be revealed. These are not just spiritual conditions but real time events:

“Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.” 2 Thess. 2:3

Just as there is a spirit of anti-Christ that is already in the world and a real person anti-Christ that is to come, so there is also much backsliding and turning away from the faith throughout history but there will come some deception that will cause many to depart from the faith. This is a strong warning by the Spirit from the early church to the end-time church to be strong, vigilant and well anchored in Christ and in his word!

There has been much speculation as to what could cause such a movement of “Christian departure”; everything from deception of space aliens, and arrival of Nephilim giants to an Islam takeover or the Antichrist persecution and martyrdom of Christians.

Whatever the event, there could be a combination of underlying conditions that could prepare the hearts of many Christians to depart from the faith and many of those conditions are present in the world now which could be an indicator that we are indeed in the last days. Some of those conditions are as follows:

Apostasy Because Of The Condition Of The Church

If it is true that the churches in Revelation represent the history of the ages then we are indeed living in the Laodicean end-time church age. We have become lukewarm rather than hot or cold and it is a taste that makes even Jesus vomit. Today many mega churches are involved in entertainment instead of true worship, a social gospel involving human causes rather than the cause of Christ; dead messages rather than the gospel, carnality rather than real spirituality and has become an institutional failure rather than in inspirational fellowship. The church in the 60's was so dead that Time declared on the front cover that God was Dead! Church attendance had dropped and denominational churches became lifeless institutions with no move of the spirit. God proved them wrong with the release of the global Jesus movement followed by the charismatic movement, faith movement, and other moves of God! It seems however that the church is headed back to a backsliding state as less Americans are religious than ever and attendance is starting to fall as spirituality is waning. In my 50 years of serving God I have never heard so many people complaining about how they are so frustrated with church. The sermons are dry and the youth groups have become little more than clubs, So many people are finding with few exceptions it harder and harder to find a good church. With the onslaught of mega churches, personal intimacy and deep fellowship has been replaced with a social community of “church involvement” rather than kingdom involvement or we have become a body of observers rather than doers. Some believe there will be one more great move of God! I certainly hope so but unfortunately the masses tend to eventually drift away, fall back or sadly even depart from the faith.

The other effect of the church that will cause many to depart is the corruption and compromise that many churches are embracing. It is becoming a frequent thing when you hear of some pastor that fell into adultery or absconded with the church funds. You will always have wolves in sheep clothing that put on a great show until their sins are found out. Unfortunately when you strike the shepherd the sheep will scatter. Many sheep have been wounded by church divisions and splits and after being stranded and wounded many have become disillusioned by church leadership.

Also many churches are compromising with the world and thus abandoning Gods word for social acceptance. Homosexuality has been accepted by many church denominations and brought abomination to the church. Some will depart out of disgust and others will be offended by their hypocrisy! Paul even in his day saw this tendency and said concerning his death:

“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.” Acts 20:29

Apostasy Because Of The Condition Of The World

Jesus described the conditions of the last days and it was not a pretty picture. There are physical signs that take a toll on faith such as wars, famines, earthquakes, etc. But there were also many spiritual conditions that effect the heart such as deception, the increase of wickedness and the love of many growing cold. Paul talks about the spiritual conditions of the endtimes in Second Timothy:

“But mark this: 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.” 2 Timothy 3:3-5 (NIV)

Apostasy Because Of False Teaching!

Jesus said in the last days there would be false prophets and false teachers, thus error would creep into the church. A departure from scripture will lead many into apostasy.

Because of intellectual error such as evolution we live in the most atheistic society ever because many no longer believe in a Creator because science tells them we have created ourselves through random evolution. Even many Christians have been caught up in the evolutionary lie and struggle reconciling the bible with so called science. Paul also told Timothy:

“O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and the oppositions of science falsely so called: which some professing have erred concerning the faith” 1 Timothy 6:20–21 (KJV).

This so called science falsely is “pseudo-science” or “pseudo knowledge” and has called many to question their beliefs.

Apostasy Because Of Persecution!

Finally Jesus said many Christians would fall away because of persecution.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other.” Matthew 24:9,10

The nations will at some point hate Christians! Will it be an Islamic takeover or a Anti-Christ eradication? We do not know! But something will cause many to depart from the faith and commit apostasy but he who endures to the end shall be saved. The Anti-Christ who is Satan in the flesh will come soon and pure evil will run rampant in the world. The scriptures indicate that the precursor for this event is a great falling away. It is hopeful that the Lord will deliver His people before that great and terrible day but we must draw nearer to the Lord as never before and remain faithful as He is faithful. Many have endured much suffering, hardship and even death for the Lord but the last generation must give witness to an enduring faith, a better hope and a willing commitment to remain true to the very end.

Maranatha!

Tarrying – The Art of Waiting on the Lord!

from The Patmos Paper E-magazine

In today's hustle and bustle society it is hard to wait for anything. We are living in an instantaneous world: instant coffee; microwaveable meals; instant entertainment via TV; and instant news and information via cell phone and tablet! Yet one of the first things the Lord did after His resurrection was tell the disciples to wait:

“And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me;” Acts 1:4

The disciples had to go to the upper room and wait. Of course they did more than waited, they prayed. But after ten days of waiting and praying, He sends the Holy Spirit and empowers them for the ministry.

God's timing is not like ours. He is never late. When Lazarus was sick, word was sent to Jesus. Jesus could of rushed to the city of Bethany and healed him but He had something greater in mind. He delayed in getting to Bethany and Lazarus had died. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” But Jesus wanted to allow Lazarus to die so He could raise him from the dead. Jesus performed may healings but few resurrections. Jesus delayed his trip to raise Lazarus from the dead. No doubt the sisters were expecting Jesus to rush to them but they needed to wait to see a greater miracle.

Waiting on the Lord is often difficult but the rewards are far greater when we do. In the holiness movements of the early 1900's William Branham and others believed in Tarrying for the Holy Spirit.

Tarrying in the dictionary is defined as “staying longer than intended; to linger in expectation ; to wait”

They did not just lay hands on people and move on to the next guy like we do today. They tarried as long as it took till the Holy Spirit fell; the person spoke in tongues or they fell under the power of God.

One of my favorite books is called “Remarkable Miracles” by G.C. Bevington. Bevington lived in late 1800s- early 1900s and he traveled around the Ohio Kentucky countryside and prayed for people. When he was invited to preach he would crawl into a hollow log and pray for hours till he got a release from the spirit then he would go pray and people would be totally healed.

He once crawled in a hollow log and prayed for 6 days. When he got hungry and did not feel a release yet, he would ask God to provide and God sent squirrels to feed him acorns and nuts three times a day. He spent nearly ten days in that tree when he left and had a mighty revival.

He once went to pray for a lady that had been a invalid for nine years but her unbelieving husband chased him away. Bevington crawled in a haystack and prayed for three days and then under the anointing he went and prayed for her and she was healed. Her husband was so astounded when he came in and she had prepared him dinner that he ran out to find Bevington and got saved.

He once was standing on a chair cleaning a stovepipe when he fell and passed out, then woke up in excruciating pain. He was in so much pain he could hardly pray. A local doctor gave him an xray and told him he had three broken ribs. They were going to send him to a hospital but when he found out it would cost five hundred dollars and it would take seven months to recover. He refused and went into his bedroom and layed on the floor and prayed for 32 hours and had a vision of him being a piece of wood on a lathe and God was trimming shavings from him. God was humbling and shaping him. He heard his ribs coming together and got up and was healed. The doctor did not believe it so Bevington started pounding himself in the ribs. The doctor took another xray and sure enough his ribs were normal.

Most people have heard of Charles Finney who had great American revivals in the early 1800’s.

But few have heard of Daniel Nash. Daniel Nash was Charles Finneys personal intercessor. Nash would go into a city before Finney and bring one or two other intercessors and they would rent a a place and pray for days or weeks and wait on the Lord until they got a release in the Spirit. When they did, they called for Finney to come to that city and Finney would hold a revival. The move of God was so powerful because a few men waited on the Lord and prayed until they felt like they got the victory. They had cleared the atmosphere and prayed down the power in those revivals. Finney owes much of his success to this faithful Intercessor who knew how to wait on the Lord!

We not only wait in Prayer but sometimes we must wait for his promises. Abraham had to wait many years for a child in his old age to fulfill the promise of God for a promised prodigy.

David was anointed by Saul as king but had to wait many years before Saul died and he could rightly take the throne.

Finally we are to wait faithfully for the return of the Lord! He will come in His own time!

Perhaps we have gotten away from waiting on the Lord. Perhaps it time to tarry a bit until we sense the release of the spirit and the power of God to move. Lets find God's timing on all things and we will see a greater work in and through us.

Worship in the Book of Revelation

from The Patmos Paper E-magazine

The book of revelation can be a scary book! Some avoid it because it is very descriptive of the horrors of the Antichrist, unleashing of tormenting demons and the wrathful judgment of God upon a wicked earth. It is filled with war, destruction, wrath and ultimately eternal damnation for Satan and his followers, so many would rather read their daily devotional or drink a cup of coffee as they read the encouraging words of praise in psalms.

The book of Revelation however is one of the most worshipful books in the Bible! It is filled with worship and describes the constant praises of God by angels, elders and the redeemed of the Lord. Lets look closely at the last book of the bible, for even though it is filled with the anger and the just judgment of God, it also gives us a greater glimpse of His love, mercy and loving-kindness and reveals why He is to be eternally glorified by His creation.

In the first chapter of the book of Revelation written by the apostle John, we see that the revelation is not Johns but Jesus:

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John” Revelation 1:1 (ASV)

Gods last communication in the bible would the revelation of exactly how everything is going to end. He revealed it to Jesus so he could reveal it to an angel so he could reveal it to John so that John could reveal it to us. It starts out with praise for Jesus:

“...and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood; and he made us to be a kingdom, to be priests unto his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5-6

Jesus is describes as the faithful witness, the resurrected one and ruler of Kings. Because he loved us, set us free by his blood and exalted us to be priests unto God, John says He is to be eternally glorified and forever have dominion over all things. John worshiped Jesus for who he is (Faithful witness to the father on earth), what he has done (conquered death, and brought redemption to man) and what he will do (ultimately take dominion over the Satan, the earth and all creation)!

John heard a voice and saw the resurrected and glorified Christ as one having hair like wool, eyes like fire, feet like brass, and a booming voice like rushing waters. He held seven stars in his hand, His mouth was like a two edged sword and his face radiated like the sun. When John saw Jesus he paid homage to him and worshiped him by falling to his feet.

This first revelation in the book of Revelation is the revelation of Himself. We see a glorified Jesus. Not a meek and mild sacrificial lamb (a symbol that would prevail still in this book) but a exalted being glorious and beautiful and full of power and possessing the very keys to hell and death!

Jesus would touch him and have John stand to receive a message to the seven prominent churches of Asia minor.

The second revelation of Jesus was His love and concern for His church, His ecclesia, the called out ones. One by one He personally addresses each church and declares “I know thy works” and encourages them and corrects them when necessary! The great Alpha and Omega instructs His people and suddenly there is a shift. John is called up hither and the church is no longer mentioned until the end of the book. Many believe this is a sign of the rapture for just as God delivered Noah before the flood and Lot before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah now God has deliver his church and from here on we see the focus on the wrath of God and judgments upon the earth.

But before the judgments begin there is a momentary parenthetic pause as again the scene shifts. Some believe this pause is representative of the church in heaven during the seven year tribulation on earth for in the forth and fifth chapters we see what is often referred to as the Throne Room Visions. It all starts with these words:

“After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, a voice as of a trumpet speaking with me, one saying, Come up hither, and I will show thee the things which must come to pass hereafter. Straightway I was in the Spirit: and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting upon the throne.” Revelation 4:1-2 

The next great revelation is the throne room of God. It continues:

“...and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardius: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, like an emerald to look upon. And round about the throne were four and twenty thrones: and upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting, arrayed in white garments; and on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceed lightnings and voices and thunders. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; and before the throne, as it were a sea of glass like a crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. And the first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face as of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, having each one of them six wings, are full of eyes round about and within: and they have no rest day and night, saying,
'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come."” Revelation 4:3-8

The throne room describes the glorious throne of Christ with a arching rainbow over it, lightning proceeding from it with thundering voices, fiery lamp-stands and a sea of glass like crystal. There were 24 other thrones around Christ's throne with 24 crowned elders (perhaps the 12 disciples and 12 old testament patriarchs). But here we also see nonstop eternal worship by angelic creatures who cry day and night:

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

The thrice cried holiness speaks of the eternal nature of the triune God! He is the past (who was), the present (who is) and the future (who is to come). The everlasting God came to earth and became subject to the limitations of time but now he returns to the eternal state not hindered by time but encompassing it. He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning of all things and the end of all things so the seraphim cry holy three times for the past, the present and the future for he rules all three.

“And when the living creatures shall give glory and honor and thanks to him that sitteth on the throne, to him that liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders shall fall down before him that sitteth on the throne, and shall worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and shall cast their crowns before the throne, saying. Worthy art thou, our Lord and our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power: for thou didst create all things, and because of thy will they were, and were created.” Revelation 4:9-11

Now like the angels before them the twenty-four elders worship God and cast their crowns before the Lord saying that He is worthy to receive glory and honor and power because he created all things. Today many refuse to believe that God has created us and because of the lie of evolution we reject our Maker but there will be eternal praise to Him who sits on the throne as the greatest of men honor our creator forever. So we see the book of revelation is filled with worship because the Throne room is a place of worship by men and angels for all eternity.

In Chapter 5, we see the preparation for judgment as a book is seen with seven scrolls. No one is worthy to open the scroll but the sacrificial Lamb, Jesus! Judgment is terrible, yet it is a time for vindication and to bring an end to evil and the wicked who oppose God. Interestingly this chapter is the first indication of music and singing in heaven in revelation. Harps are brought out along with incense which are the prayers of the saints and the Seraphim and Twenty-four elders fall down before the lord and worship in song:

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.” Rev. 5:9-14

Here we see a heavenly worship service with harps and Seraphim and angels and the 24 elders and the redeemed and all creatures worshiping that would last forever. This worship is Christ centered, based not upon any man's merit but upon all He has done ascribing worthiness power, wisdom, honor, glory, blessing, forever and ever!

Jesus opens the seals, and judgment begins to fall upon the earth. War, Famine and death follow. Even the sun and moon and stars refuse to give the earth light and warmth.

“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Rev 6 15-17 

Only six of the seven seals have been opened but before the last seal is opened God anoints the 144 thousand Jewish believers that evangelize during the great tribulation. Then we read of the multitude of believers that came out of and endured the Tribulation.

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. “ Rev. 7:9-12

On earth the people are hiding in caves and crying out for the mountains to hide them from God. Though they are weeping and gnashing their teeth on earth, in heaven there is joy and celebration and the martyred and enduring tribulation saints are worshiping and rejoicing being in the presence of their Savior!

“And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Rev. 7:13-17

The seventh seal is opened and there is silence in heaven for a half hour. We often pause for a moment for the passing of loved ones. Perhaps this is a pause for the morning of those who are cast out and will never know the joy of the kingdom of God! Afterwards there are 7 trumpets releasing more of the wrath of God upon the earth! Physical judgment in the form of not natural disasters but supernatural disasters plague the earth! A third of the trees are burned up; a third of the sea is turned to blood; a third of the sea creatures are killed; a third of the rivers become poisoned and undrinkable; and a third of the light from the sun moon and stars is darkened.

Demons are now released from the earth core. Locust/Scorpion like creatures who sting and torment the living. Strange demonic creatures riding Horses with lion heads and snakes tails kill one third of mankind. Yet with all this it says that the other two-thirds refuse to repent from their wickedness.

“And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.” Rev. 9:20-21

God in His mercy, even in judgment seeks redemption. He even sends two witnesses to preach and prophesy for forty-two months. Afterwards they are killed but instead of repenting, the people celebrate and give gifts to one another. God raises them up from the dead and raptures them to heaven and now after seven trumpets of judgements and three woes, the hearts of man are so hardened and wicked that they fear not God but continue in their wickedness. Yet the righteous worship Jesus for his righteousness:

“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.” Rev.11:15-17

Then the warfare goes to the heavenlies! Michael and the angels fight Satan (the Dragon) and his demons and prevail. Satan and his demons are cast down to the earth. This is cause for more heavenly rejoicing:

“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Rev. 12:10-12

After the final reign of the Antichrist, Jesus returns to the earth and comes down to Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.” Rev. 14:1-3

“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. Rev. 15:2-4

After this the seven bowls of wrath were poured upon the earth! Men were plagued with boils and sores, more oceans and rivers were turned to blood and people were scorched from the heat of the sun and yet in heaven more praises:

“And I heard the angel of the waters saying, Righteous art thou, who art and who wast, thou Holy One, because thou didst thus judge: for they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, and blood hast thou given them to drink: they are worthy. And I heard the altar saying, Yea, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.” Rev. 16:5-7

For all this wrath instead of crying out to God for mercy:

“They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they repented not of their works.” Revelation 16:1

Then comes the battle of Armageddon and the final war on earth and in the spirit!

“These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they also shall overcome that are with him, called and chosen and faithful.” Revelation 17:14

God judges mystery Babylon and the whole earth weeps yet in heaven:

“After these things I heard as it were a great voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, Hallelujah; Salvation, and glory, and power, belong to our God: for true and righteous are his judgments; for he hath judged the great harlot, her that corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And a second time they say, Hallelujah. And her smoke goeth up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God that sitteth on the throne, saying, Amen; Hallelujah. And a voice came forth from the throne, saying, Give praise to our God, all ye his servants, ye that fear him, the small and the great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunders, saying, Hallelujah: for the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigneth. Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Revelation 19:1-8

We know there is a great wedding feast in heaven. Jewish weddings last 7 days and many think that during the 7 year tribulation on earth there will be a 7 year celebration and bridal feast of the Lamb and his bride, the redeemed of the Lord! These 3 Hallelujahs are by a great multitude; the church and blood washed believers. Worship is continual in heaven even as judgment falls on the earth. Now we see the details of King Jesus coming to earth on a white horse. The Beast and False Prophet are throne alive into the Lake of Fire along with those who had worshiped the beast. Satan is now bound for a thousand years in the bottomless pit during the thousand (millennial ) year reign of Christ on the earth. After the thousand years are over Satan is loosed for awhile to see if he can get men to follow him but he is finally cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity.

Then comes the great white throne judgment of God when all men will stand before God and the Book of life will be opened to see if their names are written inside. Finally all the wicked in hell will be cast into the Lake of Fire with Satan, and the ant-Christ and all the fallen angels that warred against God.

John finally sees the new Heaven and new earth and the city of God, the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven.

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. ”Rev. 21:3-7

John sees the city of God, the river of life that proceeds from the throne room; the trees of life along the river and heavenly fruit!

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Rev 22:12-13

Jesus declares in the end as he did in the beginning that he encompasses Past, Present and Future and embodies all time.

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Rev 22:17 

The last two verse of the bible says:

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen”. Rev 22:20-21

So as you can see, the book of Revelation though filled with terror and judgment is also filled with praise and worship. We will forever be resounding the praises of our Redeemer. He will take away all tears and create a new habitation with His people forever. So even as Jesus said when he walked among us:

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28