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Ephesians, Lesson 6.

Lesson 6.

Ephesians 2:11-22, One new man in Christ

VV 11-13, 11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands, 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

We were once Gentiles, uncircumcised, without a Jewish pedigree, without the promise of the covenant, without Christ, without hope, and without God. All these had been reversed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

VV 14-18, 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace united Jews and Gentiles by demolishing the wall of separation between the Jews and the Gentiles. Uniting the Jews and Gentiles, He created “one new man in Christ”, a new entity called the Church. Jesus Christ reconciled Jews and Gentiles to God and each other through the cross. Both Jews and Gentiles could experience peace with God, peace from God, and peace of God. Through Jesus Christ, Jews and Gentiles had access to the Holy Spirit and the Father.

Romans 5: 1-2, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”.

Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.

Galatians 5: 22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness’’.

VV 19-20, 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

Through Jesus Christ, we, the Gentiles, had become citizens and members of God’s family. The foundation of our faith is the apostles and the prophets but the chief cornerstone is Jesus Christ. The chief cornerstone is one special stone that stabilized an entire stone building. The whole weight of a stone building is supported by the chief cornerstone. Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone of our faith. He is the only way to God.

John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me”.

Isaiah 28:16, “Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily”.

V 21-22, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

The whole building with the apostles and the prophets as the foundation and Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone is the Church, the one new man in Christ. The temple of God is our body where the Holy Spirit resides.

1 Cor 6:19, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”

1 Cor 3:16, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

1 Peter 2:5, “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”.

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Ephesians, Lesson 5.

Lesson 5

Ephesians 2: 4-10, salvation by grace through faith

VV 4-5, 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Because of God’s abundant mercy and great love, he saved us by grace through faith in Jesus Christ’s substitutionary atonement.on the cross. God justified us even when we were still sinners.

Romans 5:8, ”But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”.

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

Because of God’s abundant mercy, great love, and saving grace, He will resurrect and seat us together in God’s heavenly throne in Christ’s millennial kingdom.

VV 8-9, 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9 is a memory verse. Greek for grace is “charis”, which means unmerited favour given as a gift to someone who does not deserve it. Grace is getting what we do not deserve. Salvation is a gift from God that is not earned by doing good work. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Greek for faith is “pistis”, which means believe or trust.

Galatians 3:6-7, “just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness, therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham”.

Romans 3:28, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law”.

Romans 4:5, “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness’’.

Romans 5:1, Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

V 10, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Greek for workmanship is “poima”, which means poetry. We are God”s poetry in action. God predestined, prepared us beforehand, created us, and saved us for good works, not by good work. Good works come after only salvation and not before. We must never boast about our salvation because this is from the grace of God. We did not earn it and we did not deserve it. We must always boast about Jesus Christ who saved us and died for us on the cross.

Romans 4:2, “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God”.

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Ephesians, Lesson 4.

Lesson 4

Ephesians 2: 1- 3, Dead in sin, alive in Christ.

V 1, And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

God revived our spirit man. When we were born spiritually dead due to trespasses and sins. Greek for trespass is “paraptoma’’, which means crossing over the forbidden line. Trespass is usually an intentional act. Greek for sin is ‘’harmatia”, which means missing the mark or missing the bull’s eye. To sin is to miss the bull’s eye of God’s perfect standard. Sin is an unintentional act.

Romans 3:23, ‘’for all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God”.

Romans 6: 23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

V 2, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

We once walked aimlessly, according to satan’s agenda, the prince of the world. We were once “the sons of disobedience”. We once walked in transgressions and sins, slaves to satan, the “prince of the power of the air’’. But when we are born again, God gave us new lives in Christ through spiritual rebirths and regenerations.

1 Peter 1:3, NIV, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead’’.

1 Peter 1:23, “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever”.

Titus 3:5, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit’.

V 3, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Our lives were once dominated by the evil desires of the flesh. We may be walking and talking but we were dead in sins and separated from God. We were once the walking dead, alive in the flesh but dead in the spirit. When we became Christians, the Holy Spirit comes into us and gave us new spiritual lives in Christ. Even after salvation, the flesh and the spirit are still warring with each other. Now that we are made alive in Christ, born again, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, we became slaves to our new master, Jesus Christ. He operates by grace and gives us eternal life. We are no longer slaves to satan, who operates by law and death. Once we were children of wrath, but now we are children of God.

Galatians 5:16-17, “I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law”.

John 3:6, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”.

James 1: 14-15, ”but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has been conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death’’.

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Ephesians, lesson 3

Lesson 3

Philippians 1: 15-23

VV 15-16, 15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

Paul prayed for the Christians in Ephesus and the surrounding regions of Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. Paul commended them for their faithfulness and love towards other Christians. Paul called Christians, saints, “hagio” in Greek, which means consecrated, holy, or separated to God.

VV 17-21, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

God is the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul prayed for the Father to give them the spirit of wisdom, revelation, knowledge, spiritual insight, and the hope of heaven.

V 19, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

Paul prayed for them to receive the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. the power that raised Jesus from the dead.

Philippians 3:10-11, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain[a] to the resurrection from the dead”.

Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies [a]through His Spirit who dwells in you”.

VV 20-21, 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

God had exalted Jesus Christ above all principalities and power and had seated Christ at His right hand in the heavenly throne.

Philippians 2:9-11, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”.

VV 22-23, 22 And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

God had subjected all the principalities and powers to be under the dominion of Jesus Christ. Psalm 110:1, The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

God made Jesus Christ be the head of the church, His body.

Colossians 1:18-20, “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross”.

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Ephesians, Lesson 2

Lesson 2

Ephesians 1: 3-14

The key phrase in this passage is “in Him” and “in Christ”, which appeared 7 times. This is Paul’s prayer to God the Father. Paul mentioned the Father in verses 3-6, Jesus Christ in verses 7-12, and the Holy Spirit in verses 13-14.

VV 3-6, 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Greek for blessed is “eulogos”, from which we get the word eulogy. ”Eulogos” means to speak good of someone. God is good and blessed. God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Greek for Christ is “Christo”, Hebrew is Messiah, which means the anointed One. The Father blessed us (Christians) with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm. The Father chose us before Genesis 1:1, ie before creation. He sanctified and consecrated us.

1 Cor 1: 21-22, “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight’.

Jude 24: “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,

and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy”.

By grace, the Father predestined and adopted us into His family as His children through Jesus Christ, according to His will. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

VV 7-10, 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 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, even in Him.

On the cross, Jesus Christ redeemed and purchased our freedom us with His blood. Greek for redemption is “apolutrosis”, which means freedom procured through the payment of a ransom. Redemption is a slave market word. In first-century Israel, slaves were bought and sold in the slave market. A slave would be set free if someone redeemed him by paying the price required. We were once slaves to sin. Jesus Christ died on the cross, paid the penalty for our sin, and set us free from sin.

Romans 6: 23, “for the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord”.

According to the riches of His grace, Jesus Christ generously gave us wisdom and understanding and revealed the mystery of His will to us. In His second coming, Jesus Christ will gather all Christians in heaven and on earth to Him.

VV 11-14, 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

In Christ, according to God’s will and divine predestination, we have received an inheritance.

Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together”.

In Christ, we heard the truth of the gospel, believed, saved, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee of heaven to Christians. Greek for guarantee is “arrabon” which means down payment or deposit. When you buy a house, you pay the down payment as an earnest deposit and pledge that you will purchase the house. God gave us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee that Christians will be resurrected and glorified in Christ’s second coming.

2 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever”.

2 Corinthians 1:22: “Who has sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.”

2 Corinthians 5:5, “Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee”.

Do not be caught up with the Calvinist-Arminian debate. Calvinism and Arminianism are two extremist positions on salvation. Divine predestination and human decision worked together in unison for the salvation of a soul. Predestination will not preclude anyone who comes to God of his own free will. God gave us the freedom to choose but will not force His will on anyone. He made salvation available to whoever believes.

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”.

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Ephesians

Lesson 1

Ephesians 1: 1-2

Introduction:

Ephesians is one of the 4 prison epistles of Paul, viz. Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Paul wrote these 4 epistles between 60-62 AD under house arrest in Rome. Ephesians is believed to be a circular letter for the churches in the regions of Ephesus.

Ephesus was a flourishing commercial center in Asia Minor, which is present-day Turkey. This was home to the temple of the Roman goddess Diana or Artemis and the 25,000 seats Roman amphitheater. Paul founded the Ephesian Church on his second missionary journey recorded in Acts 18:18-21. He returned to Ephesus on his 3rd missionary journey and stayed on for 3 years, teaching, preaching, and building up the church, Acts 20:31.

VV 1-2, 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul, the author of Ephesians, was an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, the Father. Greek for apostle is “apostolos”, which means a messenger or an ambassador. Paul was chosen to be an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, the Father. Ephesians is addressed to the faithful Christians or saints in Ephesus. Greek for saints is “hagios” which means sanctified, consecrated, or set apart. Christians are sanctified, consecrated, and set apart for the work of God. Paul proclaimed grace and peace to his audience. Greek for grace is “charis”, which means God’s unmerited favor. Greek for peace is “eirene”, which means a state of tranquility. Grace always comes before peace. Salvation and justification by God’s grace result in peace with God, peace from God, and peace of God.

Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”.

Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.

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Philippians, lesson 11

Lesson 11

Philippians 4: 8-23.

VV 8-9, 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Paul implored the Philippians Christians, (and us), to meditate on things that are noble, just, pure, lovely, good, praiseworthy, to learn, emulate, and imitate him in words, actions, and deeds.

VV 10-13, 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Greek for abased is “tapeinoo”, which means in humble circumstances. Greek for abound is “perisseuo”, which means in abundant circumstances. Paul rejoiced in Christ and was contented in all circumstances, in poverty and in prosperity, in hunger and in fullness, in good times and bad times, in freedom and in prison.

1 Tim 6: 6-7, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out”.

Philippians 4:13 is a memory verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.

VV 14-16, 14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.

The Philippians church supported Paul financially in his second missionary journey when he was ridiculed, persecuted, beaten, and imprisoned by the Jews in Philippi. They supported him when he had left Philippi for Thessalonica.

VV 17-20, 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Paul was not greedy for money but encouraged them (and us) to give generously out of a grateful heart, to receive God’s blessings in return. He thanked them for their timely and acceptable offering through Epaphroditus.

2 Cor 9:6, “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully”

Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Philippians 4:19 is a memory verse, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”.

VV 21-23, 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Greek for saint is “hagios”, which means consecrated or holy. Pauline theology considered all Christians as saints.

Ephesians 1:1, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus”.

Paul sent greetings from all his coworkers in Rome, including Christians in Caeser’s household, who were converted and saved through the Roman Pretorian guards, who were converted and saved by Paul. Paul ended this epistle with a doxology, benediction, prayer, and Amen.

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Revelation, Day 17

Day 17

Revelation 13, 666, the mark of the beast.

V 1, Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

The beast speaks of the anti-christ. John saw the anti-christ, coming out from the sea. In biblical typology, sea speaks Gentiles nations and land speaks of Israel. The anti-christ will most probably a political leader from a Gentile nation, Europe, although he may still be a Jew. 7 heads speaks of the 7 nations that occupied Israel in history, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medes, Persia, Greece and Rome, and the 7 hills of Rome. 10 crowns speak of the 10 nations controlled by the anti-christ, the 10 toes of iron and clay of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Daniel 2:31-34, “You, O king, were watching; and behold a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly, and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay”.

The Roman Empire officially ended in 476 AD but was revived in 1950 AD through the Treaty of Rome resulting in the formation of the European Union or EU. Today EU has 27 member countries. However, the composition of EU can still be reduced to 10 by the time the 7-year tribulation starts.

Throughout history, many political leaders of the world had been suggested as the anti-christ eg Mikhail Gorbachev, Henry Kissinger, Ronald Reagan, the Pope, and so on, but the anti-christ will only show up during the 7-year tribulation and we are not there yet.

VV 2-4, 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

The anti-christ was like a leopard, a bear, and a lion. In Daniel 7:1-7, Daniel saw in a vision of a beast coming out from the sea which looked like a lion, a bear, and a leopard. Daniel’s vision was similar to John’s vision but in a reversed order. Lion speaks of Babylon, bear speaks of Medes and Persia, and leopard speaks of Greece.

Satan gave power to the anti-christ. The anti-christ will be assassinated (killed) but miraculously resuscitated to life. Seeing this, the world will go crazy and worshiped satan (dragon) and the anti-christ (beast).

VV 5-8, 5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

The anti-christ will be a great orator who blasphemed against God, His name, and His tabernacle for the second 3 1/2 years of the tribulation. He waged war against the tribulation saints, those who believed in Christ during the tribulation. Those who worship the anti-christ will not be saved and their names will not be in the Book of life. Rev. 3:5, ‘’He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels’’.

Rev. 20:12, “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books”.

VV 9-10, 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Can you feel the emotion of John? Whoever enslaves us now will be enslaved in the end. Whoever kills us now will be killed in the second death. Do not throw in the towel. Be patient and faithful knowing that the Lord will be coming back. You may be under persecution, fighting with illness, facing financial reversal, but it will all be solved eventually. We know how the story will end. We will be going to heaven, things will be wonderful, and sufferings will be gone. Life is short, time flies and we will be out of here in no time.

VV 11-14, 11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.

Another beast coming out of the earth (land) is the false prophet. In biblical typology, land speak of Israel, the Holy land. The false prophet is a religious leader, gentle as a lamb in appearance with 2 horns, but spoke like satan (dragon). He is as powerful as the anti-christ, can perform signs and wonders, can call fire from heaven, able to deceived the people to make an image of the beast. This is the unholy, counterfeit trinity, satan, (dragon), anti-christ, (beast), and false prophet, (second beast).

VV 15-18, 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

The false prophet will set up an image of the beast in the third temple, which will be rebuilt during the 7-year tribulation. This image may be a computer-generated image like a hologram. This image could talk and demand to be worshiped. Those who refused to worship this image will be killed. The false prophet will compel everyone to receive the mark of the beast on the right hand or forehead. Those who did not have this mark will not be able to buy and sell. The mark of the beast may be a subdermal implantable RFID computer microchip implanted into the right hand or forehead, containing a unique ID, personal details and barcode that can be scanned. This technology is already in use for animals. 6 is the number of man. 666 is the number of the anti-christ (beast).

Today, some people claimed that taking the Covid 19 vaccine is taking the mark of the beast. This is not true because the mark of the beast will only be available during the 7-year tribulation and we are not there yet.

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Revelation, Day 16.

Day 16

Revelation 12, the war in heavens.

VV 1-2, 1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

Revelation 12 is colourful, dramatic, full of suspense, and interesting to read. John saw a great sign in heaven. The woman in labor speak of Israel, the 12 stars speak of the 12 tribes of Israel, and the child speaks of Jesus.

VV 3-6, 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

John saw another sign in heaven. The fiery red dragon speaks of satan. 7 heads speak of the 7 empires that occupied Israel in the past, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medes, Persia, Greece, and Romans. 7 heads also speak of Rome, the city of 7 hills. Most biblical scholars and commentators were of the view that the 10 horns speak of the revived Roman Empire, the EU, formed in 1950 with 6 member countries. This was increased to 9 in 1973 and 28 in 2013. On 31/1/2020, this was reduced to 27 with Brexit. It will be interesting to watch how history unfold between now and the 7-year tribulation. Will the final number of EU member countries be reduced to 10?

Satan’s tail threw out 1/3 of the stars from heaven to earth. This speaks of Satan’s rebellion against God in heaven and 1/3 of the angels followed him to become his demons. Satan was ready to kill Christ as soon as He was born but did not succeed. Christ was born in Bethlehem, died on the cross in Calvary, resurrected to life on Easter, and ascended to God’s throne in heaven forty days after Easter. During the last 3 1/2 years of the 7-year tribulation, God protected a remnant of the believing Jews by taking them into a special place in the wilderness.

VV 7-9, 7 And war broke out in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out to earth with him.

Archangel Micheal and his angels waged war against satan and his demons in heaven, defeated them, and cast them out to the earth. Satan is also called the dragon, serpent or devil. Michael means ‘’who is like God?’’ Satan or Lucifer was once an angel of God but he rebelled against God and was cast out from heaven. Isaiah 14:12-15, “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens, I will raise my throne above the stars of God, I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit”.

VV 10-12, 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

A loud voice from heaven said, satan, who accused Christian day and night before God, had been cast down. Satan’s accusations and condemnations drives us away from from church, from bible study, from prayer, and worship. The Holy Spirit’s conviction draws us closer to God. Romans 8:1, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”.

Christians triumphed over satan’s accusations by the blood of Christ, by the word of God, by their testimonies, and by not living for themselves. The blood of Christ paid the wages of sin, Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Knowing that his time is short, satan became furious and started to persecute the people on earth with increased intensity.

VV 13-17, 13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Satan persecuted Israel (woman) but God protected her by taking her to a special place in the wilderness and protect her. Most biblical scholars and commentators believed this place to be Petra, a fortified rock city in Jordan, and one of the 7 wonders of the world. God will feed, protect and look after her there during the last 3 1/2 years of the 7-year tribulation until the second coming of Christ. Satan will cause a flood to drown her but God will open up the earth to swallow up the flood. Satan was enraged will continue to wage war Israel with increased intensity.

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Revelation, Day 15

Day 15

Rev 11: 1- 19, the 2 witnesses.

VV 1-2, 1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.

An angel gave John a reed to measure the temple and the altar but excluding the court of the Gentiles. This is the third temple, rebuilt as part of the 7-year peace treaty brokered by the anti-Christ. 3 1/2 years into the tribulation, the anti-Christ will defile the temple by sprinkling swine blood on the altar, and compelling the Jews to worship an image of him in the Holy of Holies, called the abomination of desolation. Matthew 24: 15-16, “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains”.

VV 3-6, 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have the power to shut heaven so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

God will raise 2 witnesses to prophesy, preach, and evangelize for 1260 days, or 3 1/2 years in sackcloth. They are the two olive trees and two lamp stands. Zech 4:2-3, He asked me, “What do you see? I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

They had power to blow fire from their mouths, shut the heavens, turn water into blood, bring plagues to the earth, and kill. Most scholars believed them to be Moses and Elijah, based on Malachi’s prophesy, Malachi 4:5, “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes” and the transfiguration, Matthew 17:3, “Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus”. Elijah was raptured to heaven, 2 Kings 2:11, “As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind”. They did what Elijah and Moses did, blowing fire from the mouth, shutting the heavens, turning water into blood, and bringing plagues to earth.

VV 7-10, 7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

When they had finished their testimony, anti-Christ will kill them, leaving their dead bodies in the streets of Jerusalem for the whole world to see through live cable news networks, BBC, CNN, and social media. The anti-Christ is called the beast 39 times in Revelation. Jerusalem is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt due to their rejection of Christ. The inhabitants of the whole earth rejoiced and celebrated their death.

VV 11-14, 11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake, seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

After 3 1/2 days, God will resuscitate them to life and rapture them to heaven. The people who saw this will be frightened. An great earthquake will destroy 1/10th of the city, and killed 7000 people. Those who survived will be frightened and gave glory to the God of heaven. The 2nd woe is over and the 3rd woe will follow soon.

VV 15-17, 15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

When the 7th angel sounded the last trumpet, (3rd woe), a great voice from heaven declared loudly, “the Kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ”. The 24 elders fell, worshiped, praised, and gave thanks to the Lord, God Almighty, who is immutable and had great power.

VV 18-19, 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.” 19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there was lightning, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

The inhabitants of the earth became angry at God’s wrath of destruction and judgment. God will reward His servants and prophets and those who fear Him, and will reveal the temple and the ark of the covenant in heaven. Lightning, noises, thunder, earthquake, and great hail will rain on the earth.