Junkyard Outreach

Send us a textRevelation Ch.18 reveals the destruction of Babylon the Great also called the Great City and the Women who sits on the Beast.  The Great City is identified as Jerusalem in Ch.11 so it appears to me that Babylon the Great is Jerusalem under the reign of the Antichrist.  The city may become the center of the world economy when the Antichrist or "Beast" begins to exert political power over the nations including the world's trade.    

Send us a textChapter 17 introduces John to a women who sits on a beast.  The women, also known as the "great city," "the great prostitute" and "Babylon the Great" is a key player in the tribulation period.  I believe the "great city" being defined in Rev 11:8 as the city of Jerusalem, or the city where the Lord was crucified, is represented in all these other names and represents those in Jerusalem who are connected to the antichrist and benefit from his power during the first 3 1/2 years of the final 7 years of Daniel's 490 year prophecy.  

Send us a textThis new vision or new part of the overall vision shows the finality of the judgments of God up to the end of the Great Tribulation.  

Send us a textLiving in harmony with one another and God is a lofty task.  And the reason is that we can get stuck in our old nature and never experience the deliverance that comes from the Holy Spirit.  But with the Holy Spirit we can be transformed into children of light and that harmony increases.  Staying in that place where we are being renewed day by day is the key.  

Send us a textBeing thankful is a part of the believer's experience with God.  When our hearts are given over to Jesus and we are made new in Him, we have so much to look forward to in eternity and in this life as well.  He will empower us with a new life serving Him and doing things for the Kingdom which will reap big rewards in eternity and in many cases here as well. 

Send us a textJohn's vision which started in ch.7:9 comes to an end here in ch.15:4 where the scene is heaven with the end of the Great Tribulation in view.  

Send us a textJohn sees the 144,000 standing with Jesus on the earth.  The final message of salvation is given to the earth by angels and then Jesus gathers the nations for the judgement of the sheep and goats in Matt 25.  

Send us a textKing David had his ups and downs.  But his heart was yielded to God and through those times when life was very difficult for him, he soon learned that God was with him when his heart was right.   

Send us a textAs a child of God we are ministers of the Gospel.  That means we have a ministry and fulfilling that ministry is crucial to our eternal rewards.  Being faithful to that which God has given us and serving Jesus throughout our lives, until the end, in obedience to the Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us through this life will result in fulfilling our ministry in this life.  

Send us a textChapter 13 gives us a spapshot summary of the Antichrist and False Prophet's role in the Great Tribulation.  

Send us a textChapter 12 opens with a look at the history of Israel when Jesus was born and gives a heavenly perspective on the battle between Satan and Israel up into the tribulation period. 

Send us a textVictory in Christ comes when we allow Him to lead us through this life.  What is hard about this is the things we are called to do and the manner in which to do them are often not something we want to do.  So we often rationalize ways to avoid God's will.  And that leads to spiritual desolation.  Whereas trusting in Him no matter what brings about God's will which is often something we cannot grasp on our own. 

Send us a textIn chapter 11 we are introduced to two witnesses who will become known worldwide for preaching Jesus.  The Beast, or Antichrist, will ultimately kill them although God has realistically completed their ministry so it's time to bring them home.  Following this revelation, John sees the 7th Trumpet and the effects of it.  This brings the tribulation period to a close as Jesus is seen as having set up His kingdom on earth.  

Send us a textReading through the Scriptures we see references to the righteous, the foolish and the wicked.  For each person there is a trajectory in life that lands in eternity.  Some think it's not subject to change as they were destined for the life they live.  But God can change things and bring a person out of darkness into the light if they are willing to receive Him.  

Send us a textChapter 20 is a short chapter where John is given a scroll to consume and instructed to continue to prophesy (speak forth the word of God).  We also see what is referred to a the 7 thunders.  We are not told what they are but we are told that the mystery of God would be revealed when the 7th Trumpet sounds. 

Send us a textChapter 9 introduces the reader to a horde of demonic creatures resembling locusts in the natural world.  These creatures torment those who are not sealed by God for 5 months giving those who willing an opportunity to turn to Jesus and repent. 

Send us a textWe see the title "sluggard" in the Scriptures referring to those who are not willing to work or really contribute at all.  And studying this we can see that God does not condone sluggishness rather expects people, especially those who claim Him as their God, to be diligent in their character and take care of business.  Poverty is one consequence of being "sluggish" although some in poverty are not sluggish rather they work but are stuck in poverty.  God doesn't condemn them as they are diligent in their lives.  And a sluggish person can have a sluggish relationship with God resulting in nothing but failure because they don't pursue God diligently.  

Send us a textIn chapter 8 we see the 7th seal loosed which appears to me to signify the end of the tribulation period as does the 7th Trumpet and the 7th Bowl judgement.  So the seals, trumpets and bowls all terminate at the end of the 7 years in my mind.  The 7th and final seal looses and reveals the writing on the scroll but we are not told what that writing is.  However, what transpires after the scroll in now open appears to be what is contained in the scroll, that is the judgments of God from heaven declared one by one by the blowing of a trumpet for each of the judgments.  The trumpet was used as a battle cry in the Old Testament among other things and that's what I see this as - God sounds the alarm and begins His attack and does so until the end of the tribulation period when the 7th Trumpet declares Jesus is now reigning on earth and the 7th Bowl declares "it is done."   

Send us a textRevelation chapter 7:9 begins a new section of the overall vision of the book beginning with the phrase "after this."  This section continues into chapter 15:4.   In this episode we will see a multitude standing before the throne of God waiving palm branches who are identified as those who have come out of the great tribulation.  This appears to me to be John witnessing the entire population of believers who have died during the final 7 years of Daniel's 490 year prophecy and shows John those who will perish in the judgements he will see starting in chapter 8.  

Send us a textPsalm 2 is short and deals with man's continued rebellion and God's authority over this world.  It also refers to the future when Jesus is set up as King in Jerusalem.  It's a psalm of warning to the wicked and hope for the faithful.  

Send us a textIn the Scriptures there are many references to the knowledge of God.  Reviewing these it becomes clear this is something we not only need to pursue but also possess if we want to know Jesus.  

Send us a textChapter 7 verses 1-8 are a small section of the Book of Revelation separated by the phrase "after this."  Again this to me seems to indicate that John is seeing different parts of the last 7 years of Daniel Ch.9's prophecy wrapping up the age of the rule of man before Messiah or Christ returns and sets up the long awaited kingdom.  In this section, we see God having 144,000 Jewish men sealed or marked as His own during this last 7 years.  No harm will come to them as God pours out His wrath on this world.  These will be witnesses for Jesus during the 7 years.  

Send us a textIn Chapter 6 Jesus opens 6 of 7 seals from a scroll that kick off a world wide war.  The 6th seal appears consistent with the 7 and final bowl judgment of Revelation chapter 16.  The seals and corresponding events represent the authority of Jesus to initiate the time in the Scriptures called by many names most notably the Great Tribulation.   

Send us a textThe ancient city of Philippi was a proud Roman colony in the days of the Apostle Paul.  He visits the city and he and Silas, his traveling companion, experience a crazy few days but those days allow a church to be born that Paul would later write a letter to - Philippians.  

Send us a textChapter 5 is a continuation of Chapter 4 where John is seeing the Throne Room of God preparing for the Great Tribulation Period which will kick off in Chapter 6. 

Send us a textIn our modern day world, with information available in real time, we can become overwhelmed with the negativity that seems to never end.  However, for the child of God there is a hope that is so much greater than than the drama of this life, that it is worth giving thanks to our King.  Staying focused on Jesus and being content with our lives, is key in living a life of thanksgiving which helps override the feeling of hopelessness we can fall into.  

Send us a textChapter 4 begins with the words "after this" and begins a new component of this vision from God.  John will see the events of the great tribulation all the way to the end where God establishes the New Heavens and the New Earth.  

Send us a textLiving our lives in obedience to Jesus should be evident.  Walking in the light is simply living day by day trusting Jesus and doing what we know He wants us to do.  That involves being in tune with the Holy Spirit and listening carefully for instruction for the day.  

Send us a textA view among some is that the 7 churches in chapters 2 and 3 represent 7 successive eras of church history in the order the 7 churches are listed in these two chapters.  I think this is interesting and see the connection while others don't.  This is my summary of this view.  

Send us a textIn a age where people are seemingly free to do what the Scriptures has declared evil, we have the Holy Spirit to provide is the wisdom and more to be a light in this world and show those in darkness the goodness, grace and mercy of God.  Our life as a believer must be lived "walking in the Spirit" so we can discern and accomplish the will of God.  

Send us a textLoadicea was a very wealthy and proud city.  And the Christians in that city appear to be the same.  This was the church where we find the word "lukewarm" describing their true character.  This was unacceptable to Jesus and He warns them that He would "spit them out of His mouth" if they continued down this road.  

Send us a textMost don't realize that our city of Philadelphia comes from this ancient city in Turkey.  This church, like Smyrna, receives no rebuke rather only encouragement.  They too were in the midst of hate and apparently did according to what Jesus would have them do as His followers.   

Send us a textThe church in this city, at the time John wrote this, appeared alive.  But from Jesus' perspective the church was dead.  There is nothing good said about this church and there were only a few faithful among the congregation.  Their instruction was to remember what they had received and heard and then keep it.  Then repent.  

Send us a textThe church in the city of Thyatira has good things and bad things happening in the church.  Jesus points out those who are faithful and those who really need to stop and turn the other direction.  There is a promise of deliverance for the faithful and tribulation for the rest.  

Send us a textBeliever's new lives in Christ are not simply given to us by the Lord to sit idly by and while the battle for the souls of mankind rage in the spirit realm.  There is a purpose for each of us in God' plan to reveal His love to this world.  And when there are storms, we need to understand we are built for storms and our Captain goes before us and will lead us through.  

Send us a textThe city of Pergamos has been well documented in history and the believers in this city, during the time of John, experienced people in the church who had compromised their faith when they began to bring paganism into the church.   

Send us a textThe church in the city of Smyrna suffered severe persecution.  They were faithful and received no correction from Jesus rather they were called to be faithful until the death.  

Send us a textAs children of God we need to have the mind of Christ or in other words we need to think in a manner consistent with His will.  This is only truly possible when His Holy Spirit has the reigns of our lives.  And when we are loving one another we are doing His will.  But there are times when our liberty in Jesus can be a stumbling block to someone else's faith.  And we don't want that.  So being on guard so that we avoid hurting someone's relationship with the Lord is crucial in maintaining unity in the Spirit.  

Send us a textThe first church listed in chapter 2 is the church in the city of Ephesus.  This would be the church Timothy was involved with and John would return to after his exile.  Their church was solid but the love of God was shelved and they are called to repent.  

Send us a textKicking off the Book of Revelation, we see John and his interaction with the post-resurrected Jesus who gives John instruction to write this book and deliver it to 7 churches.   

Send us a textAmaziah was a king in the southern kingdom.  He started his reign well but went sideways and ultimately ended up dying in disgrace and leaving the kingdom in shambles.  What happened to Amaziah happens to many people in the church, they get tired of doing good and instead go after forbidden fruit which often times takes them down.  However there are others who continue to live their lives following Jesus and finish their life pleasing the Lord.  And that's where we want to be. 

Send us a textIn this episode I share my personal journey into studying the book of Revelation and what brought me to the Pre-Tribulation view.  While I don't expect this to change everybody's conviction to mine, this is why I land where I land based on by understanding of Scripture and experiences which lead me there.  

Send us a textPre-Millennial, A-Millennial, Post-Millennial, Pre-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation, Post-Tribulation.  If a student of the Bible is interested in the End Times events or Eschatology, these are terms that they must be familiar with.  Each one takes a different spin on the book of Revelation.  In this episode we explore these camps. 

Send us a textThe Book of Revelation is a very intriguing book to many and to those who wish to delve into a study of the book there are many things that are helpful to the student that, if learned ahead of time, they learn these things it will be easier to navigate through the book.  One of those issues is how the book has been interpreted over the centuries.  And there are four main ways the book has been interpreted all of which are different.  

Send us a textThere are several places in the Scriptures where God's goodness and love are proclaimed.  One such phrase is "Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!"  If we delve into this we find interesting circumstances surrounding these verses that remind of us God's goodness and love.  

Send us a textKing Jehoshaphat was a good king reigning over the southern kingdom of Judah.  But he allied himself with Ahab, the wicked king of the north, and that caused a lot of issues not only in Jehoshaphat's life but in his son's life as well.  But Jehoshaphat was rebuked and made things right and in this story we see a process of repentance and trusting in the Lord which brings about the victory in our lives.  

Send us a textWrapping up this series on conflict we look at ways to avoid conflict and also ways to enter into conflict when appropriate.  The big issue is being led by the Holy Spirit so we know we are on the right track. 

Send us a textDealing with people who are annoying but their behavior doesn't rise to the point where they have sinned against you can be frustrating and cause conflict.  But ensuring we are walking in the Spirit and living a life pleasing to God can be a tremendous help in dealing with difficult people. 

Send us a textJesus gives us instruction on conflict resolution within the family of God that is very effective but sadly is not often used when conflicts arise.  The result is the conflict doesn't get resolved and in some cases destroys relationships among God's family.  But following these step (being filled with the Holy Spirit) brings about reconciliation which is very important in the Church.  

Send us a textMy friend Robert has led a very interesting life with a lot of hardship experiences including being homeless as a kid, a broken marriage, nearly dying twice while serving in the military in Iraq.  But when he came to Jesus things changed and now he is in the process of moving his family out of state because God called him to do so.  And in this process he has seen the hand of God move in many ways preparing the way into a new chapter in his life.  

Send us a textIf we are walking in obedience and allowing the Lord to guide us, then the things we are instructed to do by the Holy Spirit will come to be and remind us of how God provides for us in all things.  Let Him lead.