Thursday, 24 October 2013

Interesting corelation of Bible Verses Regarding Creation

Genesis 1:1,31a “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth… And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” (KJV)
– See Genesis 1 & 2 for complete account of creation. 

Hebrews 11:3 “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” (KJV)

Psalm 104:10-14 “He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate-bringing forth food from the earth.” (NIV)

Psalm 104: 24-25 “How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number-living things both large and small.” (NIV)

Psalms 104:30 “Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.” (KJV)

Psalms 135:6 “Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.” (KJV)

Psalm 33:5-6 “He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth.” (NIV)

Psalm 145:9 “The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.” (KJV)

Psalms 8:3-4 “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (KJV)

Nehemiah 9:6 “You are the only Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, with all the stars. You made the earth and everything on it, the seas and everything in them; you give life to everything. The heavenly army worships you.” (NCV)

Job 26:7-9 “He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing. He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it.” (NIV)

Job 26:11- 14 “The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof. He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud. By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?” (KJV)

Colossians 1:15-17 (Speaking about Christ) “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (KJV)

Hebrews 1:2 “In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.” (NIV)

John 1:3,10 “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made….He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” (KJV)

Deuteronomy 10:14 “To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.” (NIV)

1 Chronicles 29:11 “Thine, O LORD is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.” (KJV)

Job 41: 11 “Everything under heaven belongs to me.” (NIV)

Psalm 24:1-2 “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.” (NIV)

Psalm 19: 1-4 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (NIV)

Psalm 95: 3-5 “For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.” (NIV)

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (KJV)

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (KJV)

Isaiah 55:12
“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” (NIV)

Job 12:7-10 “Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” (NIV)

Romans 1:20 “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” (KJV)

Psalm 96:11-13 “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad, let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord.” (NIV)

Psalm 148:1-10 “Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away.
Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds.” (NIV)

Psalm 65: 9-13 “You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.” (NIV)

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (NIV)

Isaiah 51:3 “For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.” (KJV)

Acts 3:21 “He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.” (NIV)

Romans 8:19-21 “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.” (NIV)

Isaiah 40:26, 28 “Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.” (KJV)

Psalms 136:5 “To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.” (KJV)

Isaiah 45:18 “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.” (KJV)

Psalms 145:10 “All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.” (KJV)

Psalms 124:8 “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” (KJV)

Psalms 146:5-6 “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever. ” (KJV)

Isaiah 65:17 “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” (KJV)

2 Peter 3:11, 13 “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness… Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (KJV)

Revelation 4:11
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (KJV)

Wednesday, 23 October 2013

Could the Apostle John, Be one of the two Witness mentioned in Revelation?



In Revelation there is a mention of two witness who will come before the final Judgment Day. A few candidates who probably pop up are Enoch form the pre flood era, Moses and Elijah. But no one thinks that John might be the candidate for that. Elijah never tasted death as he was taken to heaven in whirlwind. Jesus once quoted to Peter ‘If I want him alive until I return what is that to you?, (sighting John and he  was Jesus beloved disciple). This article discuss Percepts pertaining to the fact that John could be the other withness.

Apostle John may still be alive walking the earth

John 21:18-22) 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" 20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?" 22 Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."

There are 2 conclusions that can be drawn from this passage of the book of John in chapter 21. The first conclusion could be that Jesus' second coming has already taken place as John may have died and Jesus said he would not taste of death until Jesus' second coming 
 
The second conclusion is that Jesus' second coming has not yet taken place and that would mean that Apostle John still walks this earth, possibly guiding the church from the shadows, since Jesus again said that he should not taste of death until Jesus' second coming. 
  
So in regards to scripture it is entirely possible that John lives to this day, watching over us. Jesus holds the keys of death and hell, no one dies or goes to hell unless it is his will, hence "If i want him to remain until i return, what is that to you? You must follow me". Jesus was telling Peter that he had to be crucified, but he did not say that of John. This passage supports that if the second coming has not already taken place, that it is entirely possible John could be walking this earth 2000 years later, and we know that in the days of Adam men lived for centuries. Could John still be alive?


THE TWO WITNESSES -- Revelation Chapter 11

Who are the two witnesses of Revelation 11:3 ....... ? "
"And I [God] will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy 1,260 days."
We all know that the prophet Elijah is one of the two witnesses, for he is named specifically in Malachi 4: 5, 6...
God speaking:
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet BEFORE the coming of the Great and dreadful DAY OF THE LORD.
"And he [Elijah] shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." See also 1 John 2: 12--14.

Jesus also referred to Elijah's return in Matthew 17:11: "Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things."
  
We see then that Elijah ["Eliyahu" in Hebrew ] comes to the Israeli people BEFORE the Day of the LORD .

We interpret the meaning of "The day of the Lord" to mean the beginning of the Great Tribulation Period, the last 3 and 1/2 years of this age. 


THE OTHER WITNESS
 
Now, the other witness is also very easy to identify, for Scripture tells us plainly who he is.
Yes, in
Rev. 10:11 it clearly states (KJV Authorized Version):

"And He [God...God's Voice heard from heaven Rev.10:8 ] said unto me:
'Thou' [ meaning JOHN, writer of the Apocalypse/ Revelation ]
'must prophesy AGAIN before many peoples, and nations, and tongues and kings."
That's sounds pretty clear to us that God is referring to John the Revelator for a FUTURE mission.

So then, John the Apostle ("Boanerges, son of thunder"  Mark 3:17) is the other witness. 

We must remember that the Apostle John was on the isle of Patmos at the time of his writing of the Book of Revelation, and that he was about 90 years of age. 
  
There is no evidence or documentation anywhere that John ever had a traveling ministry again. So when God commanded John to prophesy AGAIN before many peoples, nations, tongues and kings, we realize that that command has yet to be fulfilled.
 
John will thus be the main witness to the Gentile nations (Hamitic and Japhetic)....to "many nations and kings" (the 'goyem'). 
 
Elijah will be the witness for the Israeli and World Wide Remnant Jews. That is how we see it. And of course there will be the 144,00 who will also witness in the end of days. Rev. 7:4 ............ Rev. 14:1- 5 and Dan. 11: 32b – 35
 
These two witnesses both come together at a time of war and peril, 
( Arab war, Magog War ?) for they are dressed in"sackcloth and ashes", denoting a time of great mourning.

These two prophets of God:
  • Will be greatly anointed for their work -- Rev.11:4 and Zechariah 4:14]
  • Will have deadly fiery power over their enemies -- Rev. 11:5
  • Will be able to withhold rain from those nations opposing God--  Rev. 11:6.
    Those who rebel during the Great Tribulation will thus cause economic disaster and famine for their own nations.
  • Will have power over lakes, rivers etc. wherein pollution already exists, which will wipe out all life within them, turning the waters into blood. Thus there will be no drinking water for some nations--especially those nations that fear not the Lord.
  • Will have power to smite the earth with plagues as often as they deem necessary. (for those rebelling against God) Rev. 11:6. "Plagues" means any evil disaster, especially fatal diseases.
(I would just like to note here, that even though the articles presented about the 144,000 being the witnesses was interesting and thought provoking, I do not see it as a possibility.  I still believe that the two witnesses will be two of the Lord’s chosen prophets that will literally be in the street of Jerusalem.)

I believe that God has these two witnesses preaching with one representing Israel and the other represents the Bride of Christ. One represents the Old Testament, and the other the New, and they both stand as one witness to the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus. These two witnesses define God’s purpose for all time.

Most will agree that Elijah is definitely one of the witnesses and will represent Israel and the Old Testament. These two witnesses are, namely, "the word of God" and "the testimony of Jesus Christ," or what we today would call the OT prophetic message and the NT apostolic witness.

The candlestick in Zechariah 4:2 represents the nation of Israel while the candlestick in Revelation 1:12-13, 20 represent the church of Jesus Christ. Both John and Zechariah receive the same answer regarding their question as to “what are the two olive trees”. The answer was that “these are the two anointed ones that strand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

The Olive Tree in the NT represents the en-grafted wild branches of the Gentiles into the natural Olive Tree.

Rom.11:17.If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,

Both the Olive tree and Candlesticks represent the Two Witnesses. The two "peoples of God" will be joined in one Olive Tree.

As for the witness that will represent the Church of Christ I believe it will be the Apostle John and here is why.

The introductory remarks to the Revelation make evident that in writing this book John bears witness "to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ" (1:2). In fact, his very exile on Patmos is also because of these two entities-"the word of God and the testimony of Jesus" (1:9).

The following are several more reasons why John was chosen by Jesus to be one of His Two Witnesses, in Jerusalem, during the first half of the Tribulation. He was a witness to every aspect of Christ’s life and ministry, on top of being a witnesses and recorder of end time events.

12 MORE REASONS WHY JOHN IS ONE OF THE TWO WITNESSES

1.    WAS A FOLLOWER OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

John is the perfect person from the New Testament to be one of the Two Witnesses in Jerusalem. He believed in Christ, via John the Baptist’s teachings, before he met Christ.  

2.    PRESENT AT THE OLIVET DISCOURSE

Matt. 24:3 “And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”

3.    WAS A WITNESS AT CHRIST’S TRANSFIGURATION

Mark 9:2 “And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.”

4.    WAS WITH CHRIST IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE 
Matt. 26:37 “And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.”

5.    MOST BELOVED OF CHRIST’S APOSTLES

John 13:23 “There was at the table reclining in Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.”

6.    WAS THE ONLY ONE OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES TO WITNESS THE CRUCIFIXION

John 19:26 “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said unto his mother, Woman, behold your son!”

7.    HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST, OF THE TWELVE, TO SEE THE EMPTY TOMB

John 20:1-2 “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

8.    WAS A WITNESS AT CHRIST ASCENSION

Matthew 17:1-2 ”And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.”

9. WAS CAUGHT UP TO HEAVEN

Rev. 4:1 “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.”

10. WAS TOLD HE WOULD WITNESS AGAIN DURING THE TRIBULATION 

Rev.10:11 “And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”

11. THE ONLY APOSTLE THAT WAS NOT MARTYRED.

12. LIVED THE LONGEST OF ALL THE APOSTLES AND HIS DEATH IS NEVER RECORDED

*The Orthodox Church has always believed that John never died. John returned to Ephesus and stayed in the house of Domnus. He converted many and performed miracles. One morning, before dawn, he took some of his followers to a place to pray. Then he ordered them to dig a grave as deep as his height in the form of a cross. He had them cover him with earth to the neck. They kissed him for the last time and placed a napkin over his face, wept bitterly and then covered him entirely. Others soon after, on hearing about this, dug up his grave and found nothing.

 
The legend is found in "The Great Collection of The Lives of the Saints," translated from the Slavonic edition published by the Christian Print Shop of the Transfiguration Alms House in Moscow in 1914. It was translated into English by the Chrysostom Press, P.O. Box 536, House Springs, Mo. 63051 in 1994. P.441.

############

Upon learning that the two witnesses represent both the Old and New Testaments;the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus, led me to see what was so obvious to begin with.  John is totally the most likely candidate to represent the Church,having been a witness to Christ's life and ministry in all aspects of it, the author of the Book of Revelation, and was even told, by the Lord, that he would testify again.  For me, another important puzzle piece has been fit into place. I would be interested to hear feedback on this concept, if anyone is so inclined.

Sources


Tuesday, 22 October 2013

How to get Unlimited Bountiful Blessings from Our Lord?



There are actually two things you have to do before you can get a bountiful from the LORD. Luke 5:1-11 tells us how Jesus chose his first disciples. Unlike the other two gospels viz Mathew and Mark, which tells that Jesus just asked his disciples to follow him, Luke gives a detailed narrative of what happened before they started to follow Jesus.

The Verse starts with Jesus asking Simon to push his boat a little bit inside so that he could preach to the masses gathered there. 

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
                                                                                                                                                              Luke 5:1-3

After teaching the people, he asked Simon who later came to be known as peter, to let down the net in the deep for a catch.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
                                                                                                                                                                  Luke 5:4

Now here is something interesting. Simon also called Peter was a fisherman by trade and Jesus was a carpenter by trade. But now he was a missionary, preaching the good news and doing what his father and send him to do. We all know that fish swim near the surface at night for it is cooler and they dive to the depths after morning to escape the heat. Now to get a catch is really out of the equation. When we are in such a situation the next thing we probably do, is to argue and tell what right and what’s not. But look what Simon also called Peter did.

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
                                                                                                                                                                  Luke 5:5

Now that’s what is called obedience. Mark the words “But because you say so”. He didn’t even argue or tell anything. In 2 Kings 5 there is a story of Naaman, who was a commander of the Aram army, and it so happened that he was cured of Leprosy by Elisha the prophet. He was asked to dip in the Jordan seven times by Elisha but since he didn’t say it to his face he felt enraged and left after which his servants persuaded he did it.  Interestingly it was not the Jordan water that cured him but it was the obedience to the word. And here to we see what happened after Simon also called Peter obeyed the LORD.

Another interesting thing that surfaces before obedience is submission. Not the words we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything”

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
                                                                                                                                                              Luke 5:6:7

Now after obeying the LORDs word see the abundant blessing. The catch was so much that the net began to tear and the boats began to sink. Even beyond this if you read Peter confess that he is sinner and now Jesus rewards him with apostle crown.
From this story you can conclude three things.
1    1)      Submission
2    2)      Obedience
3    3)      And the product of the two is “Unlimited and Abundant Blessing”

       Source
       Our Pastor's Sunday sermon