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Ephesians, lesson 8.

Lesson 8

Ephesians 3: 14-21, Paul’s prayer

Paul prayed for his audience, the Christians at Ephesus and the surrounding region in Asia Minor (Turkey).

V 14, For this reason, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Paul bowed his knees in reverence to the Father in prayer. Bowing our knees is a sign of reverence and submission to the Lord. We should always bow our knees before God in prayer unless we have medical reasons like degenerative knee joint disease, knee joint replacement, and others.

V 15, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

The whole family of God on earth, “the one new man in Christ” or “the body of Christ”, and in heaven is named after Jesus Christ.

VV 16-19, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height, 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Paul prayed for his audience to be strengthened spiritually, by the Holy Spirit, experience the presence of Christ through faith, be grounded in love, understand the unfailing, unsearchable, and abundant love of God, and be filled with the fullness of God.

VV 20-21, 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3: 20-21 is a doxology. Jesus Christ is omnipotent and is able to do exceedingly more than what we could ever ask or imagine. Christ’s omnipotent power works in us through the Holy Spirit. Paul prayed for Jesus Christ’s name to be glorified in the Church throughout all generations forever and ever.

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Ephesians, Lesson 7.

Lesson 7

Ephesians 3: 1- 13, Mystery of Christ revealed

The word mystery appeared 3 times in this passage.

V 1, for this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles,

Paul called himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ, even though he was a prisoner of the Roman emperor Caesar Nero. Paul’s master was Jesus Christ. He was in jail for the Gentiles according to the will of Jesus Christ. The Jewish religious leaders were responsible for putting him into prison with trumped-up charges and false accusations.

V 2, if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,

Paul preached the gospel to the Gentiles by the grace of God in the dispensation of grace.

VV3-6, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

Greek for mystery is “musterion”, which means the mystery of a secret doctrine. This mystery of Christ was hidden in the Old Testament but now revealed to Paul by the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. Here is the mystery. Jesus Christ demolished the wall of separation between the Jews and the Gentiles, Ephesians 1:9-10. The Gentiles were reconciled with the Jews into a “one new man in Christ” called the Church, sharing the same body, same family, and same promise through the gospel.

Galatians 3:28, “In Christ, there are no Jews nor Gentiles, no slaves nor free, no male nor female, no Greek nor barbarians”.

V 7, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

Paul was a minister to the Gentiles by God’s grace and the Holy Spirit’s empowerment. Greek for minister is “diakonos”, from which the word deacon is derived. ‘’Diakonos” means servant. Greek for power is “dunamis”, from which the word dynamite is derived. ‘’Dunamis” means strength or ability.

V 8, To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

Paul, the greatest of the apostles, called himself the least of the saints. Paul’s preaching ministry to the Gentiles was by the grace of God. Greek for preach is “kerugma”, which means proclamation. Greek for unsearchable is “aneksereunetos’, which means impossible to fully discover. The riches of Christ are beyond anyone’s capacity to fully discover.

VV 9-10, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,

The purpose of God revealing the mystery is to teach the manifold wisdom of God to the principalities and powers, the hierarchy of satan’s demonic spirits. Greek for principalities is ‘’archon”, which means satanic rulers.

VV 11-12, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

Creating a “one new man in Christ” was God’s eternal purpose accomplished in Jesus Christ. Having been reconciled with God, we can come boldly before Him.

Hebrews 4: 14-16, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”.

V 13, Therefore, I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Therefore, do not be anxious, despair, or fear tribulations. Tribulations will work towards your glory. Greek for glory is “doxa”, which means splendor or excellence.

Romans 12:12, ESV, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer”.

John 16:33, ESV, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world.”

James 1:2. ESV, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds’’.

Romans 8:18, ESV, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present21 time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us”.

Romans 8:28, ESV, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose’’.

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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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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 14

Day 14

Revelation 10: 1-11

VV 1-4, 1 I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”

A mighty angel came down from heaven, clothed with a cloud, a rainbow over his head, his face shone like the sun, his feet like pillars of fire, and his voice roaring like a lion. He stepped onto the world with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. This angel cannot be Christ, because Christ will return to earth at the end of the 7-year tribulation but not in the middle. After all the demonic attacks in Revelation 9, a mighty and powerful angel appeared on the scene. John wanted to write down what he saw but he was commanded not to do so. There are certain things that we are not supposed to know. Duet 29:29, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law”.

VV 5-7, 5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven 6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created the heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, 7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.

The mighty angel raised his hand to heaven and swore by Christ, the eternal creator of the universe. John 1:3, “Through him all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made”. Colossians 1:16, “For in him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him”. The angel declared that there should be no more delay. When the 7th trumpet sounded, the mysteries of God will be revealed to His servants the prophets.

VV 8-11, 8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.” 9 So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.” And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” 10 Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. 11 And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

The voice from heaven told John to take the little book from the mighty angel’s hand and eat it. John approached the mighty angel, took the book from him, and ate it. It was sweet as honey in the mouth but became bitter in the stomach. Jeremiah 15:16, “When your words came, I ate them, they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty”. Psalm 119:103, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth”. Ezekiel 3:3, “And He said to me, ‘Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.’ So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness”. After John had eaten the book, the angel told him to prophesy to people, nations, tongues, and kings.

The word of God is sweet in the mouth but sour in the stomach. It is sweet because there is forgiveness of sin and salvation. It is bitter because it will lead to a conviction of sin, compassion for sinners, and a burden for lost souls. The word will cause spiritual heartburn in your stomach, which will only be relieved by sharing it with others.

Reading, meditating, and obeying the word is the key to successful living. Joshua 1:8, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful”.

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Revelation, Day 10

Day 10

During the tribulation there will be 7 seal judgments, 7 trumpet judgement, and 7 bowl judgments. Revelation 6 is the opening of the first 6 seals.

Rev 6: 1-17, The seal judgments.

Rev 4 to 5 corresponds to the rapture of the church. Rev 6 to 19, corresponds to the 7-year tribulation on earth, also called the times of Jacob’s trouble, Jeremiah 30:7, “Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it”. Opening the seals will release judgments.

VV 1-2, 1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

When the 1st seal was opened, the 1st horseman of the apocalypse came riding on a white horse with a bow but no arrow. This is the anti-Christ, who come conquering in the name of peace but only a pseudo peace. Seemingly a man of peace, he established a 7-year peace treaty in the Middle East between the Jews and the Arabs. After 3 1/2 years, he will show his true color and trouble will break out in the Middle East.

VV 3-4, 3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” 4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

When the 2nd seal was opened, the second horseman of the apocalypse came riding on a red horse, bringing war and bloodshed to the whole world.

VV 5-6, 5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”

When the 3rd seal was opened, the 3rd horseman of the apocalypse came riding on a black horse, bring a worldwide famine. Things will be very expensive. A day’s wage will only be sufficient to buy food for survival. He will not harm the wine and the oil, speaking of luxury goods. The wealthy and the rich will be spared.

VV 7-8, 7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” 8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

When the 4th seal was opened, the 4th horsemen of the apocalypse came riding on a pale horse. The rider’s name was Death and Hades. He had the power to kill. One-quarter of the world’s population will be wiped out. Will beasts and savage animals will be unleashed to kill the people.

VV 9-11, 9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

When the 5th seal was opened, John saw underneath the altar, the souls of the tribulation martyrs crying out to God for vengeance. God covered them with a white robe, speaking of the robe of righteousness. God told them to be patient because more martyrs had to come before He will brings justice. God will not ignore the cries of martyrs to go unnoticed. He will bring justice and avenge them.

VV 12-14, 12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

When the 6th seal was opened, natural disasters broke out, by way of great earthquakes, cosmic blackout, cosmic phenomena cosmic trembling, and stars falling from the sky.

VV 15-16, 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave, and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

All the people whether kings or civilians, whether great or ordinary, whether rich or poor, whether slave or free, will be shaken and frightened to death. They hide themselves from God in caves and rocks of the mountains, instead of crying out to God for mercy. Today, everyone has the opportunity to believe in Jesus and be saved but many still hardened their hearts. Hebrews 3:15, “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”