Podcasts about in revelation

In Revelation 11, John is told to measure the temple and set boundaries around it—and Dr. Michael Youssef draws out the spiritual comfort behind the imagery: this is not merely about a physical structure, but about God placing protective boundaries around His people—His living temple—who are sealed by the Holy Spirit and kept secure. Even persecutors can only go so far. They may attack the body, but they cannot touch the soul. The outer “temple” can be harmed, but the inner sanctum belongs to the Lord—safe in His sanctuary and under His fortress-like protection (Psalm 91:1–2). Yet protection doesn't mean passivity. Dr. Youssef warns that one of Satan's cruelest strategies is counterfeiting spiritual language—masquerading as a voice of “truth” while actually accusing and crushing you. That's why it's essential to distinguish: The Holy Spirit convicts to draw you to repentance and restoration, Satan accuses to drive you into despair and keep you from God. When accusation rises, don't entertain it. Change the channel—praise God for salvation, run to Him in prayer, and ask the Holy Spirit to send the enemy fleeing. God has not left you unguarded. You are sealed, protected, and equipped to live in victory. Prayer: Father, thank You for protecting me and sealing me with Your Holy Spirit. Help me to discern Your voice and to turn to You and repent. May I be sober and alert to the schemes of Satan so I can serve Your Kingdom, arrayed in Your spiritual armor. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.  “This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything” (1 John 3:19-20).  Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Revelation for Today, The Beast vs. the Lamb: LISTEN NOW| WATCH NOW The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today's devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don't have to walk through it alone.

In Revelation chapter 1 is one of the most amazing portraits of Christ in all the Bible. That's where we see Jesus in the fullness of all His glory. There is a very important reason this portrait appears here, before we get to Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Let's find out about that reason—here, on Foreshadows Report!Learn more about Steve and his books at https://SteveMillerResources.comProduced by Unmutable™

We all wear glasses in this room. I am not referring to your contacts or the physical glasses your eye doctor prescribed. I am referring to your worldviewthe lenses through which you interpret everything you see: God, yourself, others, suffering, evil, history, the purpose of life, and the future. In our world today, people use a wide range of worldviews to make sense of reality. Theism holds that a personal God created and rules the world. Naturalism holds that the physical universe is all that exists. Pantheism identifies God with the world or sees God as present in everything. Postmodernism treats truth as personal, socially constructed, or tied to power. Nihilism holds that life has no ultimate meaning, purpose, or moral order. Most people do not wear only one pair of glasses. They switch lenses depending on what suits thema little theism for comfort, a little secularism for control, a little skepticism against authority, and a little self-rule for freedom. It may feel meaningful in the moment, but it cannot finally correct the vision problem. It still leaves reality blurred. One of the clearest symbols of modern humanitys hope was the World Trade Center. It took twelve years, from the earliest design stages in 1961 to the ribbon-cutting in 1973, to complete the Twin Towers, at a cost of about $900 million. The chief architect, Minoru Yamasaki, said the World Trade Center should become a living representation of mans belief in humanity, his need for individual dignity, his belief in the cooperation of men, and through this cooperation his ability to find greatness. That is a remarkable statement. The towers were meant to say something about us: our greatness, dignity, cooperation, and our ability to build a better world. Yet on September 11, 2001, it took less than two hours for those towers to fall, and nearly 3,000 lives were lost. Brothers and sisters, that is not merely a tragedy in American history. It is a parable of the world we inhabit. We live in a world of conflict, bloodshed, injustice, suffering, and death. We build towers and call them peace. We create systems and call them progress. We trust power, wealth, cooperation, technology, politics, and human greatness to bring stability. Yet again and again, the world proves unable to save itself. What we need is a biblical worldviewa way of seeing the world through the lens of Gods Word. Revelation pulls back the curtain on human historypast, present, and futureso we can see things as they really are. In Revelation 6:18, that curtain is drawn back on the world we know all too well: a world marked by conquest, war, famine, injustice, suffering, and death. Yet Revelation does not show us these things to make us despair. It shows us these things so we will see that the horsemen are permitted to ride only because the Lamb has the authority to open the seals. Before we go any further in this sermon, do not miss who opens each seal. It is not the horsemen. It is not the devil. It is not the antichrist. It is not kings, nations, armies, or empires. The Lamb alone has the authority to open the seals and to allow the horsemen to ride. As the Lamb opens the first four seals, do not think of the horsemen as strange figures waiting to be released in the distant future. Instead, think of them as the symbolic unveiling of the very world Jesus told us to expecta world marked by conquest, violence, exploitation, and death. Yet Revelation 6 shows us something the evening news never can: the horsemen ride only because the Lamb opens the seals, and He alone is worthy to do so. The Horsemen and the World Jesus Told Us to Expect We are now entering a section of Revelation that may challenge how many of us have been taught to think about the end times. For many Christians, passages such as Revelation 6 and Matthew 24 have been interpreted almost entirely as future events, often within a framework known as the seven-year tribulation. Many have also been taught that the church will be removed from the earth before that tribulation begins. I realize that, for some of you, that may be the only framework for understanding the end times you have ever known. Faithful Christians have held different views on these matters, so my goal is not to mock what you have been taught or force you into a different system. My goal is simply to ask you to do what the Bereans didto search the Scriptures and see whether these things are so (see Acts 17:10-11). What I want to show you is that Revelation 6 and Matthew 24 are not describing realities completely disconnected from the churchs present life. Jesus Himself told His disciples what this present age would look like: And Jesus answered them, See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. (Matt. 24:4-8) Revelation 6 is not describing a strange world the church has never seen. It pulls back the curtain on the age Jesus describeda world marked by conquest, violence, exploitation, suffering, and death. The four horsemen symbolize realities that have marked human history since Christs ascension and will end when He returns. Yet Jesus words also keep us from hopeless despair. These things are not the end. They are birth pains. And as painful as birth pains are, they remind us that something is coming: the kingdom of Christ in all its fullness. Until that day, the horsemen ride. Like birth pains, the realities they represent continue throughout this age and increase in frequency and intensity as history moves toward the return of Christ and the birth of the new creation. But understand this: they do not roam at their own leisure. The Lamb reigns, and He alone has the authority to open the seals. So when the Lamb opens the seals and the four horsemen are revealed, we are shown the world Jesus told us to expect. But we are also shown what the world cannot see: conquest, violence, exploitation, and death are not rogue realities, nor do they unfold outside His sovereign will and authority. The White Horse: The Lust for Conquest (vv. 1-2) There is some debate about what the rider on the white horse represents, largely because certain features seem to mirror the way Jesus appears in Revelation 19:1116, particularly the white horse He rides and the crown He wears. Others believe the rider represents a false Christ or even the antichrist because he seems to mimic Jesus appearance. The problem with these views is twofold: first, Jesus is the One who opens each of the seals; and second, the remaining horsemen clearly represent forces of destruction rather than specific individuals. There are other suggestions, but the context of Revelation 6 suggests that the rider on the white horse belongs with the other three horsemen: war, famine, and death. Together, they represent the destructive realities that mark this present age. This connection may be reinforced by the first living creature who announces this horse and rider. Notice that the first living creature has the face of a lion, representing strength, majesty, and power among the wild creatures. It is this creature that introduces the rider on the white horse. If there is a symbolic connection between the creature who speaks and the horseman who appears, then the first horseman fittingly represents conquestthe lust of kings, nations, empires, and rulers to expand their power, secure their kingdoms, and impose their will on others. Unlike the kingdom Jesus will bring, this rider represents fallen humanity grasping for dominion apart from God. This horse and its rider promise peace but never deliver it. Their creed is simple: If we can gain enough territory, enough power, enough influence, enough control, then we can secure the future. But Revelation shows us the truth: conquest does not lead to peace. It prepares the way for the red horse. The Red Horse: The Vandalism of Peace (vv. 3-4) The Lamb then opens the second seal. In response, the heavenly creature with the face of an ox, representing domesticated strength, service, and laborthe kind of creature people use to bring forth life from the earthsays, Come! Then the red horse appears, and its rider is permitted to take peace from the earth so that people may slay one another. If the white horse represents the lust for conquest, the red horse reveals what that lust produces. The world promises peace through power, but Revelation shows that power seized apart from God does not preserve peace; it vandalizes it. When God gives sinners over to themselves, the restraints that hold back violence are removed, and the human heart is exposed as it is and what it is capable of. This is why the rider is given a great sword, symbolizing violence, bloodshed, and the destructive force of war. From the first murder in Genesis 4 to the wars and rumors of wars Jesus said would mark this age like birth pains in Matthew 24, human history has been stained with the blood of those created in Gods image. Nations rise against nations. Kingdoms seek to outdo kingdoms. Brother turns against brother. Neighbor turns against neighbor. When sin-cursed humanity seeks dominion apart from God, even in the name of peace, peace is among the first casualties. Make no mistake: the rider on the red horse is not rogue. He is only permitted to take peace from the earth because the Lamb has authority to break the second seal. He does not seize the sword; he is given a great sword. The breaking of the second seal shows that even the violence of this age is not outside the sovereign hand of the Lamb. While the serpent of old was a murderer from the beginning and is the father of lies (John 8:44), Humanitys propensity toward violence is the result of its fallen nature; it is mankind that robs the earth of the shalom it was created to experience. Yet even this violence remains under the authority of the Lamb. The Black Horse: Exploitation of Need (vv. 5-6) The Lamb opens the third seal, and the living creature with the face of a man says, Come! The irony is that while man symbolizes wisdom, reason, and the stewardship God entrusted to humanity, the black horse and its rider represent the exploitation of creations needs by mankind. The rider is seen holding a pair of scales, and a voice is heard saying, A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine. The scales symbolize measurement, rationing, and scarcity. In Johns day, a denarius was a days wage, so the announced prices of wheat and barley reveal a world where food is available yet barely affordable. A person could work all day and still barely survive. Meanwhile, the command not to harm the oil and wine suggests that while daily bread becomes burdensome for the poor, others comforts and luxuries remain protected. Human need becomes an opportunity for human greed. The black horse reveals that much of the worlds suffering stems from the corruption of human stewardship. Humanity was created in Gods image to cultivate the earth, care for one another, and administer justice for the good of mankind and the rest of creation. But when people seek dominion apart from God, the needs of the earth and those who live on it are twisted into opportunities for profit. When mankind is given over to itself, human beings exploit one another and anything else in creation that offers an opportunity to get ahead of their neighbor. Yet even here, the rider is not sovereign and does not ride beyond the authority of the Lamb. The Pale Horse: The Dominion of Death (vv. 7-8) The Lamb opens the fourth seal, and the creature with the face of an eagle says, Come! Consider what an eagle represents: swiftness, height, watchfulness, and the realm just above the earth. When John hears this single word, he sees a pale horse, and its rider is named Death, with Hades following him. While the eagle soars over the earth, the pale horse gathers what mans lust for conquest, readiness to kill, and greed producenamely, death. The horses color is disturbing. The Greek word translated pale (chlōros) denotes a greenish hue, suggesting the sickly color of decay, disease, and death. There is little left to the imagination with the name given to this rider. He is Death, and Hades follows behind him like a grave, collecting what death has taken. This is the world east of Eden, where sin has brought decay to everything God created good. Death follows kings and nations. Death follows war. Death follows hunger, poverty, disease, and the neglect of creation. Death is the final enemy, and no human kingdom, political system, technological advancement, or amount of wealth or power can ultimately escape it. But while the pale horse and its rider may terrify us, they are not sovereign. The Lamb is the One who breaks the seal. Death rides, yet the Lamb reigns. And all who belong to the Lamb are assured that in a world where the four horsemen are permitted to ride for a time, the One who opens the seals also says to His people: Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades (Rev. 1:1718). Conclusion What the apostle John and the seven churches likely found most reassuring in the vision of the four horsemen is the reminder that it is the LambChrist Himselfwho breaks each seal and permits the horsemen to ride. The power wielded by rulers and nations is granted by the One who sits sovereignly on the throne. Revelation 6:18 is given so that we might see the world as it really is and see the Lamb as He truly is. The horsemen do not ride because chaos reigns. They ride because the Lamb opens the seals. And when the four living creatures cry, Come! their summons echoes the prayer Jesus taught us to pray: Your kingdom come, your will be done... (Matt. 6:10). The Lamb gives mankind over to its wickedness, not because evil is sovereign, but because He is accomplishing His sovereign purposes until His rule and reign are fully manifested on earth as it is in heaven. The four horsemen reveal to those who belong to the Lamb that Gods kingdom is indeed coming. Gods kingdom comes not only through salvation, but also through judgment upon everything that ruins His creation.

God does not always give His people great strength, great numbers, or great recognition, but He does open doors that no man can shut. In Revelation 3, Jesus speaks to the church in Philadelphia and reminds them that He holds the key, He sees their faithfulness, and He is able to make a way that opposition cannot close. This message looks at what it means to trust Christ with the doors of our lives, our witness, and our obedience.In Revelation 3, Jesus speaks to a faithful church with “a little strength” and promises an open door that no man can shut. This message reminds us that Christ holds the key, sees faithfulness others may overlook, and opens doors for His people according to His authority and wisdom. Even when strength is small and opposition is real, the door Christ opens remains secure.What do we do when doors close, opportunities seem uncertain, or our strength feels small? In Revelation 3, Jesus reminds the church in Philadelphia that He is holy, true, and sovereign over every door. This message explores the comfort and courage that come from trusting the One who opens and no man shuts.

In Revelation 17, the Apostle John warned of the mystery of Babylon, the great mother of harlots. Join us as Steve Gallagher unpacks this profound chapter and warns us of how if we do not separate ourselves from the lawlessness of this world that has even crept into church culture, we will be seduced into the spirit of Babylon.

Maranatha: Our Lord is Coming! The Rapture of the Church    In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1-3) The scene is etched forever in the sacred record of Scripture. It is the night of betrayal. The Passover supper has been eaten. The traitor has gone out into the darkness. The eleven remaining disciples sit in stunned silence as the weight of impending loss presses upon their souls.    Their Master has spoken plainly of His departure. He has washed their feet. He has given them the new commandment of love. And now, with the shadow of Gethsemane already falling across His face, the Lord Jesus Christ turns to address the deepest fear in their hearts. He does not offer vague religious platitudes. He does not speak in the language of uncertainty. Instead, He utters words that carry the full force of divine certainty, words that have echoed down through two thousand years of church history as the unbreakable promise of His personal return.   Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.   These verses stand as the cornerstone of the doctrine of the Rapture of the church, the blessed hope that has sustained persecuted saints, comforted grieving families, and ignited holy urgency in every generation of believers. Yet the full power of this promise is often missed in English translation.    The blazing heart of the passage lies in the Greek construction of the words “I will come again,” and it is there that the exposition must linger with scholarly precision and devotional weight. The verb translated “I will come again” is the present indicative active of the Greek word erchomai—literally, “I am coming.” It is not the simple future tense that one might expect for a distant event.  It is the present tense employed in a manner called the futuristic present tense. This is no grammatical accident. It is a deliberate choice by the Holy Spirit through the pen of the apostle John.    In classical and Koine Greek, the present tense can be used to describe a future action when that action is viewed by the speaker as so certain, so inevitable, and so imminent that it is as good as already unfolding before the eyes. The futuristic present tense does not weaken the promise; it intensifies it. It lifts the event out of the realm of mere prediction and plants it squarely in the realm of divine declaration. Jesus does not say, “I might come someday if conditions allow.”  He declares with the full authority of the Son of God, “I am coming.” The present tense shouts certainty. It breathes imminence.    It carries the weight of a future so fixed in the eternal counsels of the Godhead that the Speaker can speak of it as already in motion.   This futuristic present is not unique to this verse, but its placement here is profound.    The same construction appears elsewhere in the Gospel of John when Jesus describes events that are absolutely assured in the divine plan. The grammar itself becomes a theological hammer, driving home the truth that the return of Christ for His own is not a distant possibility but a present reality in the mind of the Savior.    He is even now, from the vantage point of eternity, in the act of coming. The promise is so certain that the tense of the verb collapses the future into the present. This is the grammatical foundation upon which the entire doctrine of the Rapture rests. The Rapture is not an afterthought in the plan of God.        It is the next great event on the divine calendar for the church of Jesus Christ, an event so fixed and so near that the Lord Himself can announce it in the present tense: “I am coming.”   The Rapture of the church is the personal, visible, and audible return of the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds to receive unto Himself every believer, both living and dead, and to take them to the place He has prepared in the Father's house. It is distinct from the Second Coming, which will occur at the end of the Tribulation when Christ returns to earth in power and great glory to judge the nations and establish His millennial kingdom.  The Rapture is the moment when the Bridegroom comes for His bride before the wrath of the Lamb is poured out upon a Christ-rejecting world. It is sudden. It is secret to the world but glorious to the saints.    It is the fulfillment of the promise given in the Upper Room, and it stands as the great hope of every blood-bought child of God.   No passage of Scripture unfolds this event with greater clarity and comfort than the words of the apostle Paul in First Thessalonians chapter four, verses thirteen through eighteen.    These verses were written by divine revelation to correct the ignorance of the Thessalonian believers concerning those who had died in Christ. The apostle writes: But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.   Consider the weight of each phrase. The apostle begins by lifting the veil of ignorance. Death is not the end for the believer; it is merely sleep for the body while the spirit is present with the Lord.    The sorrow of the Thessalonian Christians is real, but it is not hopeless sorrow. It is sorrow anchored in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because He died and rose, those who sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. The dead in Christ are not left behind. They will not miss the Rapture.    Their spirits, already in the presence of the Lord, will be reunited with their resurrected bodies at this moment.   Then comes the heart of the revelation: “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord.” This is not human speculation. This is not apostolic opinion. This is direct revelation from the ascended Christ Himself.  The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven. Notice the personal emphasis. It is not an angel. It is not a representative.    The Lord Himself— the same Jesus who walked the shores of Galilee, who hung upon the cross, who burst from the tomb, who ascended from the Mount of Olives—He Himself shall descend. And He shall descend with a shout.    The Greek word for “shout” is keleusma, a military command, a royal summons, a cry of authority that will pierce the heavens and shake the graves.    Accompanying that shout will be the voice of the archangel and the trump of God. The trumpet does not signal judgment here; it signals assembly. It is the signal for the final gathering of the redeemed.   The sequence is precise and powerful. The dead in Christ shall rise first. Their bodies, sown in corruption, will be raised in incorruption.    The graves will surrender their prey. Then—and only then—we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them. The word “caught up” is the Greek harpazo, a word that means to seize, to snatch away by force, to carry off suddenly. It is the same word used in Acts 8:39 when the Spirit caught away Philip, and in Revelation 12:5 when the man child is caught up to God.    It pictures a violent, irresistible removal from this earth. No believer will be left behind. No one who has trusted Christ will miss this moment. Living and resurrected saints will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. The meeting place is not on the earth. It is in the air, in the clouds, the very atmosphere where the Lord will receive His own unto Himself exactly as He promised in John 14:3.   And then the final, glorious declaration: “and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Not for a thousand years. Not for a million years. Forever. The Rapture is not a temporary event.    It is the beginning of an eternal union. The bride will be taken to the place prepared in the Father's house, and there she will remain with her Bridegroom throughout the ages of ages. This is the comfort with which the apostle commands believers to comfort one another. It is not a doctrine for debate. It is a doctrine for consolation in the face of death and for courage in the face of life.   The same apostle who received this revelation also unfolds the mystery of the bodily change that will occur at the Rapture.      In First Corinthians chapter fifteen, verses fifty-one and fifty-two, he writes: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.   This is the mystery that was hidden in ages past but is now revealed. Not every believer will die. There will be a generation of Christians alive at the moment of the Rapture. Those believers will not sleep; they will be changed.      The change will be instantaneous—“in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” The Greek word for “moment” is atomos, from which we derive the English word “atom.”    It means an indivisible unit of time, the smallest possible fragment of a second. Faster than the eye can blink, faster than the mind can comprehend, the transformation will occur.  The corruptible will put on incorruption. The mortal will put on immortality. The bodies that have groaned under the weight of sin and sickness will be glorified, conformed to the image of the risen Christ.    The trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised, and the living will be changed. This is the power of the Rapture. It is not a gradual process. It is a sudden, sovereign act of God that will leave the world stunned and the saints transported.   The early church lived in the constant expectation of this event. They faced persecution, imprisonment, and death with the cry of “Maranatha” upon their lips. That single Aramaic word, preserved for us in First Corinthians chapter sixteen, verse twenty-two, carries the heartbeat of New Testament Christianity: If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.   “Maranatha” is not a curse. It is a prayer. It is a declaration. It means “Our Lord, come!” or more literally, “The Lord is coming!”    The persecuted believers of the first century did not merely believe in the return of Christ as a distant doctrine. They cried out for it as the solution to every trial. They lived every day with the expectation that before the sun set, the trumpet might sound and the Lord might appear. That same expectant cry has been the distinguishing mark of every faithful generation since. The futuristic present of John 14:3 fueled their hope. Jesus is not merely going to come.    He is coming. The present tense makes the future certain and the certain future near. Additional passages of Scripture reinforce this truth with unyielding clarity. The apostle Paul describes the Rapture as the believer's “blessed hope” in Titus chapter two, verse thirteen: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. It is not the appearing of wrath. It is the appearing of the great God and our Savior. It is blessed because it delivers the church from the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world.    It is glorious because it reveals Christ in His full majesty to those who love Him.   The apostle also writes in Philippians chapter three, verses twenty and twenty-one: For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.   The word “conversation” means citizenship.    The believer's true home is in heaven, and from that heavenly realm the Savior is expected at any moment. The transformation described here is the same as that in First Corinthians fifteen. The vile body—literally the body of humiliation—will be fashioned like unto His glorious body.  The power that will accomplish this is the same power that will one day subdue all things under His feet. Nothing is too hard for the One who spoke the universe into existence.   The doctrine of the Rapture is further confirmed in the closing words of the New Testament.    In Revelation chapter twenty-two, verse twenty, the ascended Lord Himself declares:   He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. And the response of the apostle is immediate and fervent: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.   Once again the language of certainty and imminence rings out. “Surely I come quickly.”    The same Lord who used the futuristic present in the Upper Room now seals the entire canon of Scripture with the promise of His soon return.   This constellation of biblical texts forms an unbreakable chain of truth. The futuristic present of John 14:3 is the grammatical foundation.    The detailed revelation of First Thessalonians four is the doctrinal exposition. The mystery of First Corinthians fifteen is the physiological description. The cry of Maranatha is the devotional response. The blessed hope of Titus two is the purifying motivation. The citizenship of Philippians three is the practical orientation. And the final prayer of Revelation twenty-two is the expectant climax.   Taken together, these passages challenge every believer to live in the white-hot expectancy of the Lord's return. The Rapture is not a doctrine to be debated in academic halls while life drifts on in complacency. It is a command to holiness.  The apostle John makes this explicit in First John chapter three, verses two and three: Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.   The hope of seeing Christ and being made like Him is not an abstract idea. It is a sanctifying force. The one who truly believes that Jesus may come at any moment will not toy with sin. He will not waste his days on the trivial and the temporal. He will purify his life with the same purity that characterizes the Lord Himself.    Expectancy produces urgency. It produces separation from the world. It produces devotion to the Word. It produces zeal for the gospel. It produces love for the brethren.  It produces a life lived with eyes fixed on the eastern sky.   The early church understood this. They did not build elaborate systems of prophecy to delay the return of Christ. They did not resign themselves to the idea that the Rapture was for some future generation. They lived as though today could be the day. That same spirit must characterize every generation of believers until the trumpet sounds.    The futuristic present tense in John 14:3 is not a curious footnote for Greek students.  It is a divine declaration that resounds through the corridors of time: “I am coming.” The Lord is coming. Maranatha.    The Bridegroom is on the way.   The Rapture will be a moment of indescribable glory. In one atom of time the graves of the righteous dead will burst open. Bodies long decayed will be reconstituted in splendor. The living saints will feel the sudden surge of immortal power coursing through their veins. Then, together, they will be caught up. The clouds will become their chariot. The air will become the meeting place.  The Lord Himself will receive them. No more sorrow. No more pain. No more death.    Only the eternal embrace of the One who loved them and gave Himself for them. The place prepared in the Father's house will at last be occupied by the redeemed of all ages.    The marriage supper of the Lamb will begin. The church will be presented faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.   Until that day, the Scriptures call every follower of Christ to live in the light of this imminence. The doctrine of the Rapture is not an escape clause for the lazy. It is a summons to vigilance. It is a call to watchfulness.    It is a mandate to occupy until He comes.    The believer who has fixed his hope on the appearing of Christ will order his life accordingly. He will speak the truth in love. He will labor while it is day. He will warn the wicked. He will strengthen the weak. He will lift up the hands that hang down. He will keep his garments unspotted from the world.  He will cry out with the saints of old, “Maranatha—Our Lord, come!”   The futuristic present tense of John 14:3 still echoes across the centuries. Jesus is not planning to come. He is coming.    The grammar itself testifies to the certainty. The supporting texts confirm the details. The early church embodied the expectancy. And the Holy Spirit today stirs the hearts of all who will listen with the same urgent cry: the Lord is coming. Maranatha. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  The promise stands. The place is prepared. The trumpet is ready. The Bridegroom is at the door.   Let this truth sink deep into the soul. Let it shape every decision. Let it fuel every act of obedience. Let it purify every motive. The Lord Himself shall descend. The dead in Christ shall rise.    The living shall be changed. The redeemed shall be caught up. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. This is the Rapture. This is the blessed hope.    This is the promise of John 14:1-3, sealed by the futuristic present tense and proclaimed by the infallible Word of God.    Maranatha. Our Lord is coming. Amen.

The cannibals! You will be eaten by cannibals! That was the warningJohn G. Patonreceived when he announced his call to take the gospel to the New Hebrides. An older man in his churchknown simply as Mr. Dicksontried to dissuade him. From a human standpoint, the concern was understandable. Patons ministry in Glasgow was thriving. Hundreds gathered each week, lives were being changed, and the work was fruitful. Why would anyone leave such a place? The New Hebrides were known as one of the most dangerous mission fields in the world. Just nineteen years earlier, in 1839, missionariesJohn WilliamsandJames Harrishad landed there and were killed within hours. Their deaths were still fresh in the minds of many, and the opposition Paton faced came not from enemies of the gospel, but from concerned Christian friends. Reflecting on this moment, Paton later wrote, The opposition was so strong from nearly all that I was sorely tempted to question whether I was carrying out the Divine will This also caused me much anxiety, and drove me close to God in prayer. Paton replied to Dicksons warning: Mr. Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or by worms; and in the Great Day my Resurrection body will rise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer. The danger was real, the opposition was understandable, and the cost was highbut Paton was convinced that Christ was worthy, even there. When Paton arrived in the New Hebrides in 1858, the cost became immediate. Within weeks of landing on the island of Tanna, his wife, Mary, and their newborn son both died of fever. Paton buried them with his own hands and even slept on their grave to protect it. It would have been understandable for him to leave. Yet he did not abandon his calling. For over forty years, he labored among those islands, convinced that Christ was worthy and that even the hardest soil was not beyond the reach of Gods saving power. Patons story did not end with his life. It helped fuel a missionary movement. The gospel did not stop in the New Hebrides; it continued to spread across the Pacific, eventually reaching places likePapua New Guinea, where the cost remained high and the danger real. Even today, the fruit of that gospel work remains. Why would a man risk everything for such a mission? Paton went because he believed Christ was worthy of whatever sacrifice it would cost to bring the gospel to those who had never heardeven at the risk of his own life. Revelation 5:610 shows us why. The Lion is a Lamb (v. 6) Remember what the scroll represents. In Revelation 5:14, Johns attention turns to a scroll in the right hand of Goda scroll that contains His sovereign plan to judge evil, redeem His people, and restore all creation from the curse of sin. It is held securely by the One who rules history with perfect authority. Within it lies the full scope of redemptive history: Gods judgments, the vindication of suffering saints, the defeat of sin and death, and the final restoration of all thingsincluding the new heaven and new earth. It holds both justice and hopethe outpouring of Gods wrath on evil and the fulfillment of His promises to save, dwell with, and rejoice over His people forever. But as a mighty angel asks, Who is worthy to open the scroll?, a crisis unfolds. No one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth is found worthy, and John begins to weep. And rightly sobecause if the scroll remains sealed, Gods promises go unfulfilled, sin goes undefeated, and redemption never reaches its goal. At that moment, everything hangs in the balance. Then a voice breaks the silence: Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered (v. 5). The answer is not found in human strength or angelic power, but in a personthe promised King, the fulfillment of every promise of God, the One who alone has the right to redeem. And it is this Lionthis conquering Kingthat John turns to see. Yet when he turns, he is confronted with something utterly unexpected. Between the throne and the four living creatures stands a Lamb as though it had been slain. The promised Lion reveals Himself as the sacrificial Lamb of God. Victory has not come through crushing Gods enemies but through the crushing of the Son of God, who willingly and obediently went to the cross like a lamb that is led to the slaughter (Isa. 53:7), bearing the iniquities of sinners. What John sees is not a contradiction but the key to everything. The Lion has conqueredbut He has conquered as a Lamb. He stands triumphant, bearing the marks of the cross. John understood what this meant, and we must understand it as well:the One who is worthy is the One who has given Himself for you. However, John not only sees a Lambhe sees a Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes. In Scripture, horns symbolize power and kingship, and seven signifies divine completeness. This Lamb possesses perfect, sovereign authority. His seven eyes represent complete divine wisdom and perception, corresponding to the sevenfold Spirit of God sent out into all the earth. Nothing escapes His sight, and no judgment exceeds His wisdom. These are not random detailsthey are a testimony. The One who stands at the center of the throne is not merely a symbol of sacrifice but the One of whom Jeremiah spoke: Yahweh our Righteousness (Jer. 23:6). He is the Lion of Judah, the Lamb who was slain, and the sovereign Lord over all. Yet this is not all that John sees and experiences. The Lion who is a Lamb is also the Redeemer. The Lamb is the Redeemer (vv. 7-8) This Lamb is worthy not only because of who He is but also because of what He has done. The Lamb is the Redeemer. In the Old Testament, a kinsman-redeemer was a family member who could step in when everything had been lost. But not just anyone could serve as a redeemerhe had to be a close relative by blood, possess the resources necessary to redeem, and be willing to do so. That is why Boaz could redeem Ruth, yet Boaz was only a shadow of a greater Redeemer to come. Naomi had lost everythingher husband, her sons, and her security. The land that belonged to her family was in danger of being lost forever. But Boaz, as a relative, stepped in. He had the means and was willing. By marrying Ruth, he redeemed the land, restored the family, and provided an heir. What was lost was restored, and what was empty was made full. But what humanity needed most was not merely the restoration of what was lostwe needed the reversal of the curse, reconciliation with the God we sinned against, and the renewal of all things. When Adam sinned, all was ruinedsin entered the world, death followed, and creation fell under the curse of his rebellion. What was needed was a true and better Redeemerone who could stand in the place of fallen humanity and restore what had been lost. This is what makes Jesus worthy to open the scroll. He became one of us so that He could be the Kinsman-Redeemer we need. He has the power to redeem because He is fully God. His willingness to redeem was demonstrated in that He embraced the cross, bearing our sin and becoming our curse. That is why, in Revelation 5, He steps forward and takes the scrollbecause He alone meets every requirement.He alone is the Kinsman-Redeemer. Through His incarnation, Jesus shares in our humanity. Through His divine Sonship, He possesses infinite authority as One equal with the Father. Through His willing sacrifice, He demonstrates beyond question His desire to redeem.The wounds of the Lamb are the proof of His willingnessand the scroll in His hand is the declaration of His worthiness. Now, do not miss what happens in verse 8! Upon taking the scroll, the four living creatureswhose appearance represents the created orderfall before the Lamb in worship. The same creatures who, in the previous chapter, declared of the One on the throne, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come (4:8) now fall before the Lamb to worship Him! And if that were not enough, the twenty-four eldersrepresenting the people of God in both the Old and New Testamentsalso fall before the Lamb in worship. How do we know they worship Him? Because they serve Himoffering songs to Him and presenting the prayers of His people before Him. They fall before the Lamb because He is the One who stands as our High Priest. For all of Scripture testifies, Since then 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 is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:14-16) Do not miss the significance of this moment. InExodus20, God commands: You shall not make for yourself an idol You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God (Exod. 20:45; BSB). Worship belongs to God alone. All of Scripture is clearno created thing is worthy of worship. Yet in Revelation5, all creationrepresented by the living creaturesfalls before the Lamb. The elders fall before the Lamb. Heaven itself erupts in worship directed to the Lamb. What does this mean? It means the Lamb is not merely part of creationHe is the reason creation exists. The Lamb whom heaven worships is the One Scripture testifies to: For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authoritiesall things were created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). The Lamb is not a created beingHe is the Creator. And the worship given to Him is the worship that belongs to God alone! The Redeemer is Worthy (vv. 9-10) The moment the Lamb takes the scroll, heaven erupts in worship. Instantly, the four living creatures fall down in awe before the Lamb. The twenty-four elderswho had already surrendered their crowns before the thronenow bow in reverence, presenting the prayers of the saints as a fragrant offering to the Lamb. A new song breaks forthnot a song of anticipation, but of accomplishment: Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. (vv. 9-10) This is not a song of anticipation, but one of accomplishment! The Lamb is worthy because He was slain so that a people undeserving of the mercy of God could be ransomed for God. The Berean Standard Bible translates this verse this way: Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. The Lamb is worthy because He alone can restore to redeemed humanity all that was lost through Adam, serving as the true and greater Adam who brings full restoration and hope to those He has saved. Dear brothers and sisters, our worthy Redeemer did not stop there. Sinners are not merely rescuedthey are restored. We are not only forgivenwe are brought near. You are not only savedyou are given purpose, identity, and a future. All who are redeemed by the Lamb have been made a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. In this moment, all of heaven is united in awe. The question that brought John to tears finds its answernot in an explanation, but in the person of Jesus. The scroll will be opened, history will unfold as God intends, and redemption will reach its glorious fulfillment. Jesus Christthe Lion of Judah and the slain Lambis worthy to redeem, restore, and reign forever. The question of heaven was asked: Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?And the answer is clear: Jesus is worthy because He was slain. Jesus is worthy because He has redeemed. Jesus is worthy because He reigns. So how do you turn your eyes from worthless things (Ps. 119:37)? You turn from what is worthless to the One who is worthynot only of the worship of heaven, but of all of you. He is worthy of your attention. He is worthy of your obedience. He is worthy of your trust. Some of you are clinging to things that cannot save, cannot redeem, and will not last. But there is One who was slain, who has redeemed, and who now reigns. He alone is worthy. So turn to Him. Trust Him. Worship Him. Follow Him. One day every knee will bow before Himso bow before Him now, while you still have time. Today is the day of salvation.

“The Triumph of the King: Christ's Victory in Revelation 19”In this two-part series, we step into one of the most powerful and climactic chapters in all of Scripture—Book of Revelation chapter 19—where heaven erupts in praise and Christ is revealed as both Bridegroom and conquering King.In Revelation 19:1–9, we hear the thunder of heaven's hallelujahs as God's righteous judgment is celebrated and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is announced. This is not merely future hope—it is the present reality of the Church Triumphant, rejoicing in the finished work of Christ.In Revelation 19:9–21, the scene shifts from wedding to war. The same Christ who redeems His bride now rides forth in righteousness to judge and make war. This passage confronts us with the certainty of final judgment, the defeat of all opposition, and the absolute authority of King Jesus.

“The Triumph of the King: Christ's Victory in Revelation 19”In this two-part series, we step into one of the most powerful and climactic chapters in all of Scripture—Book of Revelation chapter 19—where heaven erupts in praise and Christ is revealed as both Bridegroom and conquering King.In Revelation 19:1–9, we hear the thunder of heaven's hallelujahs as God's righteous judgment is celebrated and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is announced. This is not merely future hope—it is the present reality of the Church Triumphant, rejoicing in the finished work of Christ.In Revelation 19:9–21, the scene shifts from wedding to war. The same Christ who redeems His bride now rides forth in righteousness to judge and make war. This passage confronts us with the certainty of final judgment, the defeat of all opposition, and the absolute authority of King Jesus.

Why Confession and Repentance Are Essential for Christian GrowthAuthor: Dave JenkinsShow: Anchored in the Word with Dave JenkinsDate: April 30, 2026Show SummaryWhy are confession and repentance essential for Christian growth? In this episode of Anchored in the Word, Dave Jenkins explains why repentance is not merely the beginning of the Christian life, but its ongoing rhythm. Drawing from passages such as 1 John 1:9, Mark 1:15, Psalm 32, Romans 8:13, and James 5:16, Dave shows how confession restores fellowship with God, repentance produces spiritual fruit, and the grace of God leads believers into deeper holiness, joy, and assurance in Christ.Audio PlayerVideo PlayerKey Scriptures1 John 1:9Mark 1:15Revelation 2–3Matthew 3:8Psalm 32Romans 8:13Ezekiel 36:26–27Hebrews 12:6James 5:16Acts 11:18Romans 2:4Episode HighlightsRepentance is the ongoing rhythm of the Christian lifeConfession restores fellowship with GodRepentance is more than simply saying “I'm sorry”Unchecked sin hardens the heart and hinders communion with GodRepentance produces humility, joy, and spiritual clarityThe Holy Spirit empowers believers to put sin to deathRepentance and assurance go togetherConfession within Christian community helps strengthen believersFull ArticleEvery Christian desires to grow. Every believer wants to mature in Christ, to walk more faithfully with the Lord, and to know deeper fellowship with Him. But the Word of God is crystal clear: there is no spiritual growth without repentance, and there is no close fellowship with God without confession of sin.Repentance is not something we do only once when we first come to Christ. It is the ongoing rhythm of the Christian life. Martin Luther famously said that the entire Christian life is one of repentance, and John Calvin likewise emphasized that repentance is not merely the start of the Christian life, but the Christian life itself. Scripture confirms this truth. In 1 John 1:9, confessing sin is taught as a continual practice. In Mark 1:15, Jesus begins His ministry by calling people to repent and believe the gospel. In Revelation 2 and 3, the risen Christ calls entire churches to repentance. Repentance is not optional. It is essential.Confession restores fellowship with God. When a Christian sins, his union with Christ is not broken, but his fellowship with God is hindered. Our security in Christ remains sure because it rests on the finished work of Christ, but our communion with the Lord can be interrupted by unconfessed sin. This is why confession matters so deeply. First John 1:9 tells us that God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Confession is not informing God of something He does not know. It is agreeing with God about what He already knows and sees.Biblical repentance is more than saying, “I'm sorry.” Repentance involves acknowledging sin honestly, without excuses or blame-shifting. It means turning away from sin with a deliberate break from it, and turning toward Christ in faith. Repentance is not merely stopping sinful behavior; it is returning to the Lord. Matthew 3:8 makes clear that repentance bears fruit. It produces change—not perfection, but real direction toward God.Christians must practice continual repentance because sin blinds and hardens the heart. We do not always see our sin clearly until Scripture, the Holy Spirit, or faithful believers bring it into the light. Left unchecked, sin becomes increasingly comfortable. We begin to treat it lightly, even respectably, instead of seeing it as the rebellion against God that it truly is. Repentance breaks that pattern. It humbles us before the Lord and reminds us daily of our need for the grace of God in Christ.Repentance also leads to joy. Psalm 32 shows that unconfessed sin crushes the soul, but forgiveness restores gladness and peace. Repentance is not the enemy of joy; it is the pathway to it. The believer who walks in repentance is not walking in despair but in the freedom of grace.This repentance is empowered by the Holy Spirit. Biblical repentance is not self-improvement or moral reform. Ezekiel 36:26–27 tells us that God gives a new heart and causes His people to walk in His statutes. Romans 8:13 teaches that by the Spirit believers put sin to death. We repent because God is at work in us, giving us grace to turn from sin and walk in obedience.Repentance and assurance also belong together. Many Christians struggle with assurance not because they are outside of Christ, but because they are not walking in the light of repentance. Hebrews teaches that the Lord disciplines those whom He loves. His discipline is not cruel or distant. It is fatherly, loving, and purposeful. God disciplines His children because He cares for them and desires restored communion with them. Repentance brings renewed clarity, peace, and confidence in Christ.Confession is also important within Christian community. While private confession before God is essential, James 5:16 teaches that believers are also to confess their sins to one another. This is not about public humiliation, but about accountability, prayer, help, and restoration. God often uses mature believers and faithful pastors to help us see our sin clearly and walk in repentance more fully.At the heart of all of this is the gospel. Repentance is not punishment. It is grace. Acts 11:18 calls repentance a gift. Romans 2:4 says that God's kindness leads us to repentance. The Lord does not call His children to repentance to crush them, but to restore them. In Christ, repentance is not a burden to dread but a gift to receive. It is God's gracious invitation away from sin and into renewed fellowship, peace, holiness, and joy.Christians do not outgrow repentance. They grow through it. The more we walk honestly before God, confessing our sin and turning afresh to Christ, the more we grow in humility, assurance, and joy. Repentance is not a sign that grace has failed. It is one of the clearest evidences that grace is at work.Takeaways / Reflection QuestionsDo you view repentance as a burden, or as a gracious gift from God?Are there sins you have been minimizing instead of confessing honestly before the Lord?How does 1 John 1:9 encourage you to walk in daily confession?In what ways does repentance restore joy and fellowship with God?Who are the mature believers or pastors in your life who can help strengthen you in repentance and accountability?Related ResourcesAnchored in the Word ArchiveAnchored in the Word YouTubeCall to ActionThank you for listening to this episode of Anchored in the Word with Dave Jenkins. We pray this episode helps you remain anchored in the truth of God's Word and anchored in Christ. Please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with others.

In Revelation 21:1-7 we see that the Risen Jesus will bring about a new creation, free from sorrow, where the redeemed will live with Him forever.

In Revelation 5 this week, we see Jesus take a new posture and what that does to and for all of creation.

In Revelation 2:18–29, Jesus comes to the church at Thyatira and we see the concern that he has for her and for her leaders. Jesus confronts the church, not because he's impatient, not because he doesn't care, but because he does care and he loves her and he doesn't want her to hide. Listen as Pastor Josué Pernillo preaches on this passage, showing that Jesus can see all, even the things we try to hide, so he calls us to repent that we may live holy lives in him. Part of a series on the book of Revelation. From Sunday Worship, April 26, 2026. ------------------------------- allsoulspca.org All Souls (Urbana, IL) is a part of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a Christian, Reformed denomination with historic and theological roots in the Protestant Reformation.

In Revelation 19:11-16 we see that the risen Jesus rules over history now and will one day return to defeat evil and establish His righteous reign.

We live in a day when worship is often treated casuallybut Scripture makes it clear that God does not take worship lightly. And yet, many of us rarely stop to consider what is actually taking place in heaven right now what true worship really looks like before the throne of God. Last week, we were given a glimpse into that throne room, where everything centers on the One who sits upon the thronesurrounded by splendor, power, and unshakable sovereignty. But as Johns vision continues, our attention now shifts from the throne itself to the worship that surrounds it. After the Lord delivered Israel from the clutches of Pharaoh by parting the Red Sea, Moses and the people sang a song of praise. At the center of that song is this question: Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? (Exod. 15:11). It is here that we are reminded why we existnot for ourselves, but for God, whose holiness sets Him apart from all else. Scripture repeatedly shows us what happens when that holiness is not regarded. Nadab and Abihu approached God in worship on their own termsand they were consumed (Lev. 10:12). Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the arkand he was struck down (2 Sam. 6:67). These are not isolated incidents. They are warnings. Worship that disregards the holiness of God is not merely deficientit is dangerous. For as the Lord has said, You shall be holy, for I am holy (Lev. 11:44; cf. 1 Pet. 1:16). And it is precisely this holinessthe holiness that cannot be ignored, redefined, or approached on our termsthat fills the throne room of heaven in Revelation 4, where unceasing worship rises before the One who is holy, holy, holy. The worship we see in Revelation 4 is not casual, and it is not optionalit is the only right response to who God is. So if Revelation 4 shows us what true worship looks like in heaven, then the question we must ask is this:Why is God so worthy of that kind of worship? We Worship the LORD Because There is No One Like Him (v. 6a) Revelation 4 shows us that the experience of Gods presence is not rooted in what we feel, nor is it produced by the latest worship songit is grounded in the truth of who God has revealed Himself to be in His Word. Do you remember what I said about the sea of glass before the throne of God? The sea represents chaos and opposition to Gods purposes, and it is from the sea that the beast comes. Yet here, before the throne, the sea is stilled, reminding us that what threatens creation elsewhere is powerless in His presence. In the presence of the One on the throne is where the redeemed find shalom (peace). What John sees in Revelation 4 is not only a display of powerit is a revelation of who God is. He is the Lord Almighty who rules over all things. He is a covenant-keeping God who keeps His promises. And He is a worship-worthy God before whom all of heaven bows down. And what is heavens response? Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power He is worthynot because of what He gives, but because of who He is. There is only one other place in Revelation where the sea of glass is referenced, and it appears in Revelation 15the fourth of the seven heavenly throne-room scenes in Johns apocalypse. There, John describes the same sea of glass, but with an added detail: And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fireand also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands (v. 2). At the Red Sea, Gods presence stood between His people and their enemiesbringing light to one and judgment to the other (Exod. 14:1920). In Revelation, that same reality is intensified as the sea itself is mingled with fire (Rev. 15:2)symbolically pointing us back to Exodus 14, where God prevented Egypt from pursuing Israel (Exod. 14:2425). After allowing Pharaoh and his army to begin crossing the parted sea, He then consumed the enemies of God by bringing the waters of the Red Sea upon them (Exod. 14:2628). This connection is not incidental. The redeemed stand beside the sea with harps in their hands and sing what John calls the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb (v. 3). Just as Israel stood on the far side of the Red Sea and sang of their deliverance, so now the people of God stand victorious and sing once moreonly this time, their deliverance is final. And just as the plagues of Egypt preceded Israels redemption, so here the song is sung on the threshold of judgment, just before the seven bowls of wrath are poured outjudgments that unmistakably echo the plagues that fell upon Egypt. For now, lets focus on a single verse from the song Israel sang after crossing the Red Sea: Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? (Exod. 15:11). In Revelation 15:34, a similar song is taken up and directed to the Lamb: Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. What began as a song of deliverance at the Red Sea becomes, in Revelation, a song of final redemption before the throneand at the center of both songs is the same unchanging truth: there is no one like Him. We Worship the LORD Because He is the Creator of All (vv. 6b-7) We are now introduced to four living creatures whose praise echoes that of the seraphim inIsaiah6, who declare of the One on the throne: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory (Isa. 6:3). Like the seraphim, these creatures have six wings, but unlike them, they are described as being full of eyes in front and behind. These eyes symbolize unceasing awarenessnothing escapes their sight as they live in continual service before their Creator. At the same time, each creature is distinct, representing a different realm of creation and reflecting the goodness of the One who made all things. There are four creatures because they represent the fullness of creation, yet each highlights a distinct category of created life. The creature like a lion represents the wild animalsstrength, majesty, and power. The creature like an ox represents domesticated animalsservice, endurance, and strength under authority. The creature with the face of a man represents humanityintelligence, reason, and the image of God. The creature like an eagle in flight represents the birds of the airswiftness and dominion in the skies. Together, these four living creatures represent the strongest, wisest, most powerful, and most majestic forms of created lifeand all of them are oriented toward the worship of their Creator. Some scholars have also noted a possible connection between these four living creatures and the way Israel was arranged in the wilderness. InNumbers2, the twelve tribes were divided into four groups and positioned around the tabernacle, with the presence of God at the center. Later Jewish tradition suggests that each group bore a distinct imagesuch as a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagleimages that closely resemble the creatures described here. If this connection is valid, it adds another layer of meaning: the living creatures would not only represent the fullness of creation, but also reflect the people of God gathered in ordered worship around His presence. In that sense, they may point to humanity as it was always meant to bea community centered on God and devoted entirely to His glory. Whether these creatures are the cherubim described elsewhere in Scripture or a distinct class of heavenly beings, the point remains clear: they represent all of created life, and they perform the very function that all of creation was designed to fulfillwhich is worship. And like the seraphim, they never cease to say: Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come! (v. 8). We Worship the LORD Because He is Perfectly Holy (v. 8) The declaration of the four living creatures is not that He is lovethough He most certainly is. Nor do they declare that He is just, though everything around the throne testifies to His perfect justice. They do not highlight any of His other attributes. Instead, they declare the one attribute that lies at the very core of all that He isHis holiness. And they declare it to the highest degree. He is not merely holy, nor even holy, holy. Noour God is: Holy, holy, holy! This is the only attribute of God raised to the third degree in all of Scripture. But what does it mean that God is holy? To be holy is to be set apart and separate from all that is sinful, impure, or morally imperfect. As it relates to God, there is nothing like Him in all of creation, and there is nothing in Him that is flawed, corrupt, or deficient. Gods holiness is the beauty of all that He is. Stephen Charnock rightly said, Holiness is the beauty of all Gods attributes. Brothers and sisters, it is Gods holiness that makes Him gloriousit is what makes His justice just, His mercy merciful, and His power pure. This is why the worship of God is both serious and dangerous. As Michael Horton argues in his bookIn the Face of God, the danger is not in drawing near to Godthe danger is in doing so on our own terms. Nadab and Abihu approached God on their own termsand they were consumed (Lev. 10:13). Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark, assuming his hand was cleaner than the dirtand he was struck down (2 Sam. 6:67). Ananias and Sapphira were more concerned with their image than Gods gloryand they too fell dead (Acts 5:111). Why? Because the holiness of God cannot be approached casually, on our own terms, or treated as common. And, just in case you are tempted to think that these examples are extreme and ought not be taken too seriously, consider the way Jesus taught us to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Jesus did not say to recite this prayer (though that is okay), but to pray like this. We are to begin with something like: Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name. That first petition is not one request among manyit is the foundation of them all, just as holiness is for the character of the Lord God Almighty! Every other request modeled for us in our Lords prayer flows from it and serves it: Your kingdom come for the hallowing of your name. Your will be done for the hallowing of your name. Give us this day our daily bread for the hallowing of your name. Forgive us as we forgive others for the hallowing of your name. Lead us not into temptation for the hallowing of your name. Deliver us from evil... for the hallowing of your name. Do you see it? We exist for the renown of Gods holy name in every area and part of our lives because He is holy, holy, holy! This is exactly what we see in Revelation 4. Heaven is not centered on man but on God. He is the Creator, and we are the creature. He reigns from heaven, and we are on earth. He is eternally sufficient, and we are utterly dependent upon Him. All that we dohow we live, how we pray, how we worshipis to be shaped and motivated by one great purpose: that Gods name would be hallowed! As His Word reminds us, For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen (Rom. 11:36). Only when God becomes the center of your universe will you begin to see your life rightly. And only then will you experience the kind of joy and satisfaction you were created for. At the center of that reality is the question sung in victorious celebration by Moses and the rest of Israel: Who is like you O Lord... majestic in holiness? (Exod. 15:11) We Worship the LORD Because He Alone is Worthy (vv. 9-11) Notice the response of the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders. They fall down before Him who is seated on the throne. Their posture shows us the proper response to Gods holinessnot pride, but surrender. The twenty-four elders lay down their crowns because they recognize that whatever authority, honor, or reward they possess ultimately belongs to the One on the throne. In response to the declaration that our unchanging God is Holy, holy, holy, the elders proclaim: Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Everything that exists does so because God wills it. That means your life is not random, nor did it come by chance. You were created by Him and for Himand the only right response is to lay down whatever you are holding onto and give Him the glory He deserves. Listenif you approach God on your terms, you will never experience Him as you were created to. Your way of worship will always lead you to your idols and away from the living God. But when you see Him for who He truly isholy, holy, holyyou will do what heaven does: you will bow, you will surrender, and you will worship. Heaven is not confused about who it is that sits on the throne. Heaven is not distracted by lesser glories. Heaven is not divided by that which does not last. All of heaven is fixed on one reality that outweighs everything else infinitely more: God is holy, and He is worthy of it all! One day, you will join this scene that we are given in Revelation 4. One day, you will stand before the One who sits on the throne. The only question is this: Will you bow before Him now in worship, or will you bow before Him then in judgment? If you really want to experience God, if you really want to live your life for that which will last and which matters, then be determined in your heart to do this: Turn from lesser things by giving God what heaven already declaresglory, honor, and all that you are. Why? Because there is no one like Him. Because He is the Creator. Because He is holy. And because He alone is worthy.

What if everything wrong in your life stayed wrong forever—no justice, no healing, no hope—and then One stepped forward who could actually change it? In Revelation 5, heaven goes silent searching for someone worthy to hold the future, until a slain yet standing Lamb walks to the throne and takes the scroll. Come stand at the edge of the throne room and see why Jesus alone is worthy to hold your future in his hands.1) The crisis2) The answer3) The response4) The mirrorText: Revelation 5:1-14

In Revelation 5:1-14 we see that the risen Jesus reigns in heaven and is actively shepherding His people here on earth.

This is part. 4 of our series where we look at the first works, Jesus is calling us back to.In Revelation 2:4–5, Jesus doesn't only call the Church back to its first love—He also calls it back to its first works. This often-overlooked connection challenges how we live out our faith. In this multi-episode podcast, we'll unpack what those first works were and how they shape a vibrant, authentic walk with God.

John 17:6-13,“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”John 17 is one of the most amazing chapters in the Bible because the entire chapter is a prayer of Jesus — and it's a prayer he prays for us. We know this because of what Jesus says in verse 20. He says to his Father:“I do not ask for these only [that's the eleven disciples], but also for those who will believe in me through their word [that's us, his church].”By the grace of God, we believe in Jesus through the gospel that has been passed down to us in the apostolic word (that's the New Testament!). So when Jesus prayed in John 17 — yes, the eleven disciples were right by his side and he prayed for them — but he also had us in mind.Which means: what Jesus prayed in John 17 he prays for us — and notice I'm saying “prays for us” in the present tense.For this to make sense, I think we need to understand something important about prayer itself. In Revelation 5, when the four living creatures and twenty-four elders bow down in worship to Jesus, John makes a curious statement about prayer. He says that each of these worshipers are holding “golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”It's a minor detail on one hand, but it's also a clue that the prayers of God's people are collected. I think it tells us something about prayer that we can know by experience: it's that our prayers don't ever expire, but they accumulate.The more we pray, over time, those prayers shape us into a certain kind of person. The prayers themselves can change, in maturity and clarity, but basically we all become the kind of person who prays the way we do.Maybe a better way to say it is that our prayers stay with us. When we pray about something, we don't ever just ‘check the box' and move on — because prayer is not ‘one and done' sort of thing. The way we pray, even in private, gets represented by us everywhere we go. Everywhere we go, we go as persons who are praying a certain way.And we even talk this way as a church. A lot of times we'll say something like “Yeah, I'm praying about that” or “I'm praying for you” — we use the present tense. We understand that our prayers stay with us. That's true of us … and that's true of Jesus, like right now.I want you to know that the prayer Jesus prayed in John 17 is still operative. It's not a mere record of the way he prayed once upon a time. It's not left behind in the dust of history. But this is a prayer that reflects the heart of Jesus this morning. Jesus carries this prayer with him, and he wants all of this for us now like he wanted it when he first prayed it. We know the word of God is living and active! — I want you to know this prayer in the word of God is living and active!I want you to know that Jesus is praying this for you today!There are three things he's praying that I want to show you.1. Jesus is praying for us to be kept. I'm not sure what you think when you hear the word “kept” but it's got a rich biblical meaning. And it's really an image. For God to “keep you” means he holds onto you and cares for you. He doesn't let you go and he provides for what you need. That's what we hear in Psalm 121 when the psalmist says: The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. (Verses 5–7)Or it's like when God says of his servant in Isaiah 42, verse 6:“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you …” That's an image. He's saying: I'm looking out for you. I'm protecting you. I'm gonna get you where I'm leading you. In the New Testament, we see this in places like 1 Peter 1:5, “by God's power [we] are being guarded [or kept] through faith …” Or Jude 24, which we sing sometimes, “Now to him who is able to keep you … be glory!”Theologically, this idea of being kept is about endurance. It is part of a doctrine known as the “perseverance of the saints.” That doctrine teaches that those whom God truly saves he faithfully preserves. If you are in Christ, you will make it! That's the doctrine, and we see it in action in this prayer. Doctrine in ActionNotice first how Jesus describes who he's talking about. Jesus calls believers those whom the Father has given him. We can see that right away in verse 6. Jesus says, “I have manifested your name [Father] to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me …”Jesus says that's who he's praying for. Verse 9:“I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.”This is a big deal. Jesus is doubling-down on a distinction: there is the world here, and then there are those out of the world that the Father claims as his own and gives them to the Son.Where Are You?Here's an important question: How do you know where you are? Are you of the world? Or has the Father given you to Jesus out of the world?That's a good question. I was thinking about this the other day. I was on the road, sitting at red light, and there were seven cars at the intersection turning left in front of me, and I decided I would just look at the face of each person as they drove by. I think people are fascinating. So I'm looking at each person, and they're all different; they're all going somewhere; they all got stories, and I thought: “I wonder which of these people have been given to Jesus?” That one? That one? That one?Here's the thing: you can't really tell by just looking at people, but I know the answer: The ones who are given to Jesus are the ones who believe in him. That's what it means to keep Jesus's word in verse 6. Or, in verse 8, to “know in truth” who Jesus is. We're asking the wrong question if we're asking: “Have I been given to Jesus or not?”The question is: “Do you believe him?” If you believe in Jesus, you are given to Jesus, and if you are given to Jesus, you are kept by Jesus. Because he's praying for that. Right now. This means, for Christians in the room, we are gonna make it! We need to remind each other of this more often, especially in the face of hostility. Church, we will endure. We will make it through. Jesus is praying for us to be kept. 2. Jesus is praying for us to glorify him. This is a very simple sentence in verse 10, but I'd love for you to see it. Everybody help me out and find verse 10. Chapter 17, verse 10.“All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.”This is the first time Jesus has ever said this. Now he's talked about his glory before, at some key places in the Gospel. He opens verse 1 of this prayer asking the Father to glorify the Son so that the Son may glorify the Father. We saw that last week. Jesus is saying:Father, make me shine, so that you shine!Magnify me so that people see you! And Jesus is referring to the cross and resurrection. That is the most vivid revelation of God's heart! It's what the entire ministry of Jesus was been building toward — when Jesus was lifted up as our sacrifice and then raised from dead to defeat sin and death! Jesus is glorified in his cross and resurrection! He's told us that. But verse 10 is the first time Jesus has ever said that he's glorified in his disciples. It's a remarkable statement. Now Mediated Glory!Last week, Pastor David Mathis walked through “the story of Jesus's glory.” He showed us that Jesus has: Pre-world glory, Incarnate glory, Crucified glory, and Resurrected glory.Today, we add one more: Mediated glory. Now, like today — after his resurrection or because of his resurrection — Jesus shines through the work he does in his disciples. Including us.Because he's not here anymore, remember? But we are. That's what he says in verse 11 — Jesus is now in heaven with the Father, but we are here, with his Spirit. And that means that now we have become the living theater of his glory in this world. Jesus is now seen and heard, and known and loved, through the nature and witness of his church.That is how he is glorified in us. We might have the impression that to glorify Jesus means we must accomplish some grandiose thing; we might think we must do something super radical that gets people's attention — but that's not the case at all.We glorify Jesus, first, simply by the reality of who we are as believers. We trust him. We are born again to a living hope.I told you last week, church, we are living miracles. Our very being — and our being together — is because of the work of Jesus Christ. He is glorified in us by our existence.And then, also, he is glorified in us when we bear witness to him — when we join his mission to make his glory known. This part is astounding. …We get to really and truly display Jesus to others. We get to acknowledge him by our lifestyles, and give him in our relationships. We get to point to him and tell of him. Our Eager Expectation and HopeChristian, look: Jesus can be glorified in you through what you do. Isn't that amazing? You can make your Savior shine! You can show him, in all kinds of ways — starting with the meditations of your heart … to the words of your mouth, from serving your family well … to sharing the gospel with the lost, from small acts of faith … to costly acts of love, from resisting temptation … to enduring hostility with a smile on your face — we can do things that glorify Jesus. And don't you want to? Just for the wondrous fact that Jesus is happy about it. That he truly shines.I believe that if we could see the smile of Jesus upon us, we could do anything. I pray as a church that our ambition would become like the apostle Paul's, who said in Philippians 1:20, “it is my eager expectation and hope that … Christ be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.”That's it. Whatever it takes! Jesus be glorified in us — and Jesus is praying that! Jesus is praying for us to glorify him. 3. Jesus is praying for us to have his joy.Take a look at verse 12. Jesus prays:“While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”Jesus says again here what we've already seen — he keeps his own. He guards his people. Judas, however, ‘went out from them because he was never truly of them' (1 John 2:19). It was foretold in the Scripture. Jesus was not surprised by this. It was no failure on his part.He has been faithful to the mission the Father gave him, and he says again in verse 13 what he's been saying this whole time: I'm coming home. Another Purpose StatementJesus is going back to his Father, and we're staying here — and he wants something for us here.In fact, Jesus makes another purpose statement about the Farewell Discourse.Notice in verse 13 he says, “these things I speak in the world that they may have…” — it's a purpose statement.The “these things” includes this prayer he's praying, but he's thinking about everything he's been teaching. Jesus is praying that everything he's been teaching will accomplish a purpose. I want you to tell me what it is. Everybody look at verse 13, Jesus says: “these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy.” He already told us he wanted us to have his peace, now he tells us he wants us to have his joy!Now you gotta go back to those people who asked you about the Farewell Discourse a couple of weeks ago, and you gotta tell them that Jesus wants us to have peace and joy! That's what he says. He wants his joy fulfilled in us.He said the same thing in Chapter 15, verse 11. He said there:“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” He wants our joy to get filled up with his joy. The Joy of JesusWe can say for sure here that Jesus is not talking about generic joy. He says “my joy.” So what does that mean?What is the joy of Jesus that he wants us to have?The joy of Jesus that he wants us to have is joy in the glory of the Trinity. It's joy in the love that the Father has for the Son, and the Son for the Father, and Spirit who is the very presence of that joy. The joy of Jesus is truly joy in God himself — it is non-derivative, infinite, independent, and inexhaustible. That's why it's so good. It's what we could call “big picture joy” — and I mean that in the most profound way you could ever imagine it. Biggest possible picture joy.Which means: it's a joy that has the ability to look beyond the immediate. It can look beyond even pain and suffering. Now this is really important: I'm not saying that this joy ignores pain and suffering. It does not pretend those things don't exist. They do. This joy can say: “Father, it if be possible, let the cup pass from me!” (Matthew 26:39).This joy can say: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)This joy can say: Father, this hurts. I don't want it. Make it stop. Bring me through it. This joy doesn't ignore pain and suffering, but it's able to see to the other side. “For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). Big picture joy — the joy of Jesus — is a joy in front of us so glorious that it reaches back into our lives now and makes us make it. We're gonna make it because of this joy — and if I keep going, I'm describing the ministry of the Holy Spirit. But let me say this: Jesus wants you to have his joy — He prays for you to be kept. He prays for you to glorify him. He prays for you to have his joy.The InvitationAnd this morning, I would like for us to close with an invitation: Would you open your heart to the joy of Jesus?I mean this, first, for non-Christians: If you're here and you've never put your faith in Jesus, you are currently without this joy. You do not have Christ, but I'm inviting you to have him. Right now, you can pray: Jesus, I'm done walking down this path I've been on, save me. Trust in Jesus Christ. And for all the Christians in the room, for Cities Church: don't we want more of the joy of Jesus? For many of us, the burdens have piled up. We're weighed down. Life is heavy. We need that big picture joy! We need the joy of Jesus — and I'm inviting you: open your heart to him again. Ask for a fresh filling of his joy this morning. And you can do that at this Table. The TableAt this Table we remember the death of Jesus for us! He welcomes us again into his fellowship, into his joy. If you are a Christian, this is for you. Receive his bread and cup today and may the Lord Jesus restore to you the joy of his salvation. He's praying for you.

In Revelation 1:17–18, Jesus reveals Himself as the eternal Living One who entered death, conquered it, and now lives forever with absolute authority over it. Our “death problem” has been overcome by Jesus because of His resurrection from the grave.

The Word of God The importance of the Bible. Without it, knowledge would be limited. It sets people free and offers a new life. Matthew 28:1-6 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary visit the sepulcher. A great earthquake occurs. An angel descends, rolls back the stone, and sits on it. The angel’s appearance: countenance like lightning, raiment white as snow. The keepers shake with fear and become as dead men. The angel tells the women not to fear. He knows they seek Jesus, who was crucified. Jesus is not there; He has risen as He said. The angel instructs them to tell the disciples that Jesus is risen and will go before them into Galilee. The Empty Tomb The ladies were seeking Jesus. Their responsibility was to take care of the body after it was delivered to the tomb. Jesus gave up his life; it was not taken from him. Isaiah’s prophecy: Jesus bore the iniquity of us all. God put the iniquity of all mankind on Jesus. Jesus bore the embarrassment, humiliation, rebellion, and unlovingness of sin. Jesus died for future sins. Every sin He died for was future for those born after that day. God accepted the blood of Christ as atonement for sin. Galatians 4: God sent His Son to redeem those under the law so we might receive the adoption of sons. Having Jesus in one’s heart because He died for our sins. Joseph of Arimathea Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man and counselor, was secretly a disciple of Christ. Being a disciple of Christ secretly for fear of the world. Being afraid of ridicule or standing out for one’s faith. Joseph went to Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body. It was approaching evening, and they needed to take the body off the cross before sundown. Pilate marveled that Jesus was already dead. The legs of the others were broken to hasten their death, but Jesus was already dead. To be sure, they pierced Jesus in the side, and blood and water came out. Every drop of Jesus’ blood was for sin so that people could go free. Joseph went back to the cross to take the body off. Joseph was not alone; Nicodemus showed up. Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus at night, now revealed his belief. Nicodemus brought about a hundred-pound weight of ointments and spices. Joseph and Nicodemus prepared Jesus’ body and wrapped it. They carried the body to a new tomb that Joseph had hewn out. No corpse had ever been in this tomb. The Burial and the Guard Jesus was dead. The penalty for sin is death. Adam was told he would surely die if he ate the forbidden fruit. Jesus Christ became the propitiation for all our sins. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary followed them as they carried Jesus’ body to the tomb. They stooped down to enter the tomb. Humbling oneself before God leads to seeing the light and finding life. They laid Jesus in the tomb and rolled a great stone at the door. Mary and Mary Magdalene witnessed exactly where Jesus was laid and the stone being rolled over the door. The Pharisees and Sadducees were nervous and went to Pilate. They reminded Pilate that Jesus had said He would rise again in three days. The Pharisees, unlike the disciples, seemed to believe Jesus’ prophecy. They feared the disciples would steal the body and claim Jesus had risen. Pilate instructed them to make the tomb as secure as possible. They sealed the stone with Herod’s seal. The Visit to the Sepulchre Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the sepulcher at the end of the Sabbath. They wondered who would move the stone. Doubt and unbelief can keep people from seeing the empty tomb. The world needs to know the truth: Jesus is not dead anymore. At the very moment one begins to seek Jesus, He has already sought them. The tomb was sealed and had a rock in front of the door. Divine help intervenes when it is needed most. Unbelief leads to torment. Hell is full of the wicked, agnostic, and atheist. They could not get past the stone. No one finds God on their own; divine help is needed. If there were another way to heaven, God would not have sent His Son to be crucified. Divine intervention moves the rock of earthly intellect and human understanding, giving faith. Never having been to Jerusalem or seen the tomb. It doesn’t matter if one has seen the tomb; what matters is that Jesus is alive in one’s heart. He is Risen The people of God are too quiet about the truth. The life-giving force for believers is the three words: “He is risen.” The ladies wondered who would move the stone. The Holy Ghost convinces people that they are lost and need a Savior. It is expedient that Jesus went away so the Comforter could come. The Comforter, the Spirit, will guide and lead in all truth and righteousness. If one is not saved through the power of the Holy Spirit, they are not saved. There is only one way to heaven: through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Being born in the Spirit is essential; religion, church membership, and baptism alone do not save. When the Holy Spirit speaks to the heart and invites one to come to Him, that is the moment to bow one’s heart. Jesus gives eternal life, and believers shall never perish. The angels helped the ladies. The guards were hired to keep watch over the tomb. The stone was not holding Jesus in; He came out on His own. The stone was rolled back so that others could see the empty tomb. What is behind the stone of unbelief? It covers the heart and separates one from the truth of Jesus Christ. The ground began to shake. When one gets born again, earthly experiences fade away. Divine intervention takes place, and one’s attention is solely on God. God moves the stone, and unbelief drifts away. The angel of the Lord descended and rolled back the stone. The keepers fell as dead men. Everything that would keep the ladies from knowing the truth about Jesus Christ had been dealt with. When Jesus comes to someone, everything else melts away. The stone had to move. Even the disciples didn’t believe at first because they still had a stone in the way. The Holy Ghost will show up and move the stone so one can see the truth. The truth is that Jesus died for our sins, shed His blood, and is alive. The stone was moved by the angel, and the keepers were no longer a problem. The Truth The only thing needed was the truth. Salvation requires divine intervention; one cannot be saved apart from the Holy Spirit. No one seeks after God on their own. The Holy Spirit moves in one’s life. Each person is given a measure of faith, just enough. The greatest gift is when God moves the stone and gets rid of the keepers. The ladies heard that Jesus was not there. The three words “He is risen” changed their lives. The greatest news is that He is risen. Someone has to help with the stone of unbelief. When the Holy Ghost shows up, one starts paying better attention. When the heart listens instead of the ears, it’s getting close. When one hears Him speak and say, “I’ve come for you. I want to save you,” one will know in their heart that He is alive. He is alive forevermore. The angel said, “I know who you’re looking for. You’re looking for Jesus. He’s not here.” He is risen. The primary difference between all other religions and Christianity is that our Savior is alive. In Revelation, Jesus says, “I am he that was alive and was dead, and am alive forevermore.” The reason to believe is that He now lives within. One needs their own experience to know that He is alive. All that is needed is for some things to be moved out of the way. What better day to be born again than Easter morning? Surrender to Christ and believe.

We live in a world that is consumed with appearances. We measure our lives by our stuff, our entertainment, our purchasing power, our sexual freedom, and when hardships come our immediate instinct is to escape it by any means as quickly as possible. In Revelation 2:8–11 we find that the church in Smyrna is experiencing social rejection, poverty, and pressures, but into this moment Christ speaks a message that turns everything on its head. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on this passage, showing us that real life is not as it appears; life in the present is a life of fear; Jesus faced death to find life; and resting in Jesus' life frees us to face death and find true life. Part of a series on the book of Revelation. From Sunday Worship, March 29, 2026. ------------------------------- Want to go deeper? Take some time to reflect on the sermon with the following questions: Jesus tells a church facing poverty that they are actually rich. How does this challenge the way we usually measure success or security? Why is our being rich not a fiction and mere sentiment? When you feel the poverty of your circumstances (social rejection, financial stress, or personal loss), what earthly comforts are you most tempted to scramble after to find a sense of security? How does Jesus' victory over the second death free you from having to earn a life of comfort or approval today and offer you a sense of fearless hope when you think about your future or your greatest fears? If we truly believed that things are often not as they appear—that our spiritual reality in Christ is more solid than our physical circumstances—how might that change the way we face a specific anxiety or fiery trial this week? ------------------------------- allsoulspca.org All Souls (Urbana, IL) is a part of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a Christian, Reformed denomination with historic and theological roots in the Protestant Reformation.

Prepared to Feed the Church (1) (audio) David Eells, 3/29/26   Meats or Empty Sweets? K.H. - March 2011 (David's notes in red) The dream began as I arrived at this large convention center. (This represents the corporate church.) I walked through the glass front doors and went over to where a group of people were standing. As soon as I walked over to the group, a young woman came and asked if I wanted to help serve food. I agreed, as I enjoy serving others, and followed her into the kitchen area. (This dream is feeding the Church.) When I entered the kitchen, I saw many other volunteers lined up to get trays of food to take to the two different rooms, so I got in line. I was first given a tray and was told to go into the first room out of the kitchen door. In the first room, there were rectangular tables of people along the walls and two rows of tables down the middle; the room was filled with very hungry people. I noticed that the men, women, and children in that room had very worn clothes and were gaunt-looking. (Most of the church is starving for heavenly food.) I went to the first table in the middle of the room and started putting down the plates of food on my tray. (If we are partaking of the body and blood of Christ, we will be dressed up with Him as our wedding garment, and we will spiritually be healthy and strong. Rom.13:12 The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof]. Notice that if we are putting on Jesus, we are putting on truth and not letting the flesh have its way.) After I finished passing out all the plates I had, I noticed that all of them had a slice of pie. (Pie is sweet and can fill you up if you eat enough of it, but you will have a sugar high and then a sugar low, and there is no substance to it.) As I watched the people begin to eat their pie, I realized that the pie slices were hollow -- there was no fruit in the pie. I was very disturbed by this and understood why they were so skinny, as they were not being fed properly. (Teaching what is sweet to the flesh is fruitless and will not make you strong in the Lord.) There were some people in the room who seemed to understand that there was no substance to their meal, but there were some who searched all over the plate and inside the crust to try to find the fruit that was supposed to be in the pie. (Some people in the apostate church are satisfied with the emptiness that they have grown accustomed to, but some are searching for the truth because they know there is more to Christianity than what they have been taught or fed.) (Man's opinions and traditions have no spiritual fruit or nourishment and do not clothe one's nakedness, so that spiritually their sin is revealed. Many don't know they are in this condition because those whom they consider spiritual seem the same way. Rev.3:16 So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see. Those who do hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled. Matthew 5:6) I didn't want to continue because I began to feel so sad for those people who were still starving and not receiving what they had come for, but I felt in my spirit that I needed to deliver food to the next room. So, I went back into the kitchen and got another tray of food, and walked to the second room. As I entered the room, the tables were all set up the same way, but the people in that room had less-worn clothes and looked much healthier than the people in the other room. When I passed the plates of food out to the people in the second room, I realized that there were slices of meat, like a meatloaf. (Unlike the pie, you can become full by eating the meat and you will stay full longer without having the sugar high/low effect.) This meal seemed to satisfy all of the people much more than in the other room. (This second room represents those Christians who eat the meat of the Word and are getting fed by the true Word, not the empty gospel.) (Also, they are not just hearers of the Word deluding themselves, but doers of the Word. Jesus said that His meat was to do the will of His Father. He said that only those who hear and do the Word would have a house that would survive the waves and winds of life. Mat.7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock: 25 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the rock. 26 And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: 27 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof. It would be far better for some to stay home and read their Bible than to go to a spiritually poverty-stricken and starving church only to be fed leaven.) As soon as I woke up from this dream, the Lord reminded me of this passage in Joh.6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth hath eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which cometh down out of heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: yea and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world. 52 The Jews therefore strove one with another, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53 Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves. 54 He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me. 58 This is the bread which came down out of heaven: not as the fathers ate, and died; he that eateth this bread shall live for ever. (Jesus is the Word made flesh, which we must eat. It is plain that a person cannot just blindly go to “church”, as the Jews did, and not partake of the Word for himself and expect to have life.) There are so many Christians who are spiritually starving under the apostate church, and I am thankful for the Lord giving me this reminder to pray for His children who are still searching for Him so that they find the truth sooner rather than later. Only when Christ is in us through eating the Word do we bear His fruit, 30-, 60- and 100-fold, and are strong to withstand the attacks of the enemies who come to plunder us of our heritage.   Transformed to Bear Fruit in Others Judy Fahrnow - 06/12/2016 Notes: [David | Debbie Horton ] In a dream, I was in the living room, feeding a small baby boy a bottle of milk. (This represents feeding her spiritual man of “Christ in you”. 1Pe.2:2 As newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation. Mat.12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother. We are the mother of Christ if we feed our spiritual man the Word of God. In the parable of the seed of the sower, the seed of God is His Word, and our heart is the womb to bring forth the fruit of Christ 30-, 60- and 100-fold. When the baby is born, this fruit of Christ is revealed to the world for we are to look like our Father. Luk.1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. 31 And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. And Elizabeth said unto Mary, who like us was to bear the fruit of Jesus, 45 And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.) The neighborhood kids kept coming into the house and getting out all of the baby boys toys. (Other Christians try to distract our born-again man with the things of the world so we don't grow up in Him. Eph.5:15 Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.) Col.3:2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. 3 For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory. Manifested here is phaneroo, and it means “to make visible” [as in a birth]; “to cause to shine” [as the shining forth of the glory of Christ].) I didn't want all that chaos, clutter and noise as I was feeding the baby. (Because we must concentrate on the milk of the Word so our spiritual man will grow up into the meat and image of Christ. 2Co.3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.) Then I told all the other children to pick up the toys and put them away and that they had to leave. I ushered them out the door, closed it, and locked the door so they could not try to come back inside. Mat.6:33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Luk.10:41 But the Lord answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things: 42 but one thing is needful: for Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Jos.1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Gal.5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would.) Then, as I was going back to where the baby was to feed him, I couldn't find him. Then I noticed he was bigger and walking around the room, and I thought, “Well, I can't feed him anymore from a bottle; he needs more grown-up food or a jar of baby food”. (Judy's fruit of Jesus grows quickly from the milk of the Word to the meat because she is concentrating on the spiritual and not the carnal; the Word and not the world. Heb.5:12 For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. 13 For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. Notice that experiencing the Word and not just knowing it is going from milk to meat: 14 But solid food is for fullgrown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil. We must use the Word to experience it and grow to maturity. Jas.1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. 23 For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: 24 for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing.) Then I was also wondering where I was going to find clothes to fit him because he was growing so fast, and he just kept growing and growing until he was very tall, maybe seven feet tall. (Our spiritual clothes are our works of righteousness and show our maturity, as in being a member of the Bride. Rev.19:8 And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright [Lampros, meaning “radiant”; i.e., glory] and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. He also had wide shoulders. Isa.9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Then I felt I needed to find my husband to tell him what had happened. (Our spiritual husband is Jesus, Who is the Word, which is the seed that brings forth His life in the womb of the natural man. Judy here represents the natural man who brings forth the spiritual man of “Christ in you”. All of God's people are called to bear the fruit of Jesus. The first-fruits of these sons of God is the Man-child who will lead God's people through the wilderness tribulation in the days to come. This Man-child will be caught up to the throne of God's authority to do this work.) He then said he needed to go to his father, and we got into the car, and he backed the car out of the driveway and drove to a big open field. Mat.13:38 The field is the world. He got out of the car and looked up, and I saw the heavens open up and he ascended into Heaven, just like Jesus did. (Our personal Man-child will live with our Father in heavenly places. Eph.1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ: 2:6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus.... The first fruits Man-child company will now be caught up to the throne to minister to the Woman Church in the wilderness. Rev.12:5 And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days.) The seed is in the fruit. Those who have the fruit now have the seed. The next thing I knew, I was back home in my living room. (Ready to go to work in the Kingdom.) I didn't drive back. I was just “there,” back in my home. I was feeding another baby, and he also started to grow really fast. (Once our spiritual man is grown, we are capable of feeding and raising other spiritual men so that they, too, can bear fruit quickly and live in heavenly places in Christ. Luk.6:42 Or how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me cast out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.) As I watched him grow, I had another baby in my arms, feeding him, and again he grew really fast, and another baby appeared in my arms, and I was feeding him. It was like the babies just kept coming and coming and growing up very fast. ... And then the alarm clock went off. (The time will come when the time is up to bear the FIRST-fruit in others but in the wilderness many will bear the fruit of Christ through them. Just as the disciples of Jesus, the first-fruit, grew up to bear His fruit so it will be with many others. This is what Jesus taught in Joh.12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit. We must die to our own will and the toys of this world and seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. The catching to the throne of the FIRST-fruit is near.) I asked the Lord for a verse regarding this dream and opened the Bible and put my finger down on Eze.37:4 again he said unto me, prophesy over these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. (This is the way the revival will bring in the dead religious multitudes and give them life in Christ. Even as Satan's minions fight to stop us. Many have been diligent to get the Word out to others so they can grow up quickly.) (I also asked for a Word by random computer and received Pro.14:23 In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.) (Meaning, let's talk about it less and feed the spiritual man more or we will end up spiritually poverty-stricken.)   Man-child / Bride Feed Apostate Baby Believers Missy Pollock - 04/24/2012 B. A. notes in green | David's notes in red In a dream, I was walking on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere (the wilderness tribulation), following a young man. I had a love for this young man whom I had never felt before. (In type, Missy is following Jesus in the Man-child who will lead the Bride and under her the Church through the wilderness tribulation.) This young man went into a field (the world) and when he came back out of the field, he had a baby in his arms. He was now dressed in shepherd-like clothing that was multicolored. (Having this multicolored clothing on when he came out of the field means he was anointed to be the Man-child.) (Joseph's coat of many colors represents the attributes of the light of Christ, the Man-child.) I asked him with great concern for the baby, “Where did you get that baby?” (Which represents believers in the worldly church who have not yet matured.) He didn't say anything. I kept following him with this baby. The next thing I knew, we were on the second floor of a house, walking into a room. (No longer walking on earth, walking in the first stage of the spiritual realm, walking in the light, walking in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.) In this room was a crib full of babies. I asked the young man again with great concern for these babies, “Where did you get all these babies?” He didn't answer, but I knew he had rescued these babies because he loved and cared for them. (The Man-child will rescue many baby Christians from the apostate leadership.) I was holding one of the babies, and it was cute with very dark skin. (They are very dark because they have been walking in the apostasy of the church.) I also noticed the baby had sharp claws on its hands and feet (meaning they have beastly works and walk). I asked the young man, “Are you sure this baby is human?” He said, “Yes, I'm sure”. I felt funny asking this. I said, “I hated asking that, but I wasn't sure”. (The beast nature in the spiritual land of their life keeps the believers from maturing. Exo.23:29 I will not drive them (meaning, the carnal man) out from before thee in one year, lest the land become desolate, and the beasts of the field multiply against thee. 30 By little and little I will drive them out from before thee (meaning the spiritual man), until thou be increased, and inherit the land.) After that, I felt this dark presence of a man (representing the apostate leadership) come up from behind me, and he tried to seduce me (by speaking leavened words which are doctrines of demons). I said, “Leave me alone; get away from me”. Then, all of a sudden, I realized where the young man got the babies. I said to him, “I get it. I know where you got these babies”. He got these babies from carnal women who couldn't take care of them (because they don't have the unleavened Word of God to feed them). (Isa.4:1) And seven women (the seven churches, representing the sects of Christianity) shall take hold of one man (Jesus in the Man-child) in that day, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name; take thou away our reproach.) I said, “You bought them from him”, meaning the dark-presence man. (The Man-child paid the price to receive the Unleavened Bread and feed the babies who were under the false prophet, apostate leadership.) Then the dark presence of this man was gone. (When you expose the darkness by speaking the light of the truth, it must go.) (When you reject the seduction of leaven, he has no power.) I then went over to the crib full of babies. With each of the babies was a birth certificate-type document showing ownership (born of God, purchased by the blood of the Lamb). I noticed one of the babies was a little chubbier than the rest and it didn't have any hair (representing, overindulging in the world and no submission to God). I picked this baby up and started taking care of it. I immediately loved this baby. I took the baby with me out of the room, into another room where there was a set of stairs that went down to the first floor. A man was standing on the stairs, almost at the bottom, keeping guard. (Watching for thieves, like the Pharisees, stealing God's sheep.) Joh.10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.) I would tell the baby, “Mommy loves you,” and I would just kiss and kiss the baby and tell it that I loved it over and over again. (I was feeding the baby with kisses, which are the Word of God. Son.1:2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; For thy love is better than wine.) (Love of the brethren is one of the most common themes in the Word, and “Love never faileth.” Love them into the kingdom.) This room looked like the reception area of a doctor's office. A woman was standing by a desk, looking at some files in her hands. She asked me, “Didn't you use to wear glasses?” (Seeing the world's way.) I said, “Yes, but not anymore because I can see now”. She then took a card out of one of the files and put it really close in front of my face, and it was all blurry. (She is not near-sighted but far-sighted, like those with faith who see things far off as already in their possession.) She then took it away quickly and said, “You can see”. (I used to wear glasses but stopped wearing them, believing that my eyes are healed in Jesus' name. The card, blurry when I looked at it, was showing that I had learned to walk by faith and not by sight. I represent the Bride, and the test was to see if I was qualified to be in the Bride and take care of the baby.) (Only those who walk and see by faith for the babies can teach faith to them.) These are the verses that the Lord gave me: 1Co.15:27 For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him. (28) And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all. (“Things” in this verse is italicized in the Numerics because it is the chosen people who are being brought into submission and subjection to the Father, like the overindulgent and under-submissive baby Christians that the Man-child and Bride were caring for in the dream.) 2Ch.33:3 For he (Manasseh, the dark presence leadership) built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he reared up altars for the Baalim, and made Asheroth, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. 4 And he built altars in the house of Jehovah, whereof Jehovah said, In Jerusalem (the Bride) shall my name be for ever. 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven (He caused God's people to sacrifice their lives to demons) in the two courts of the house of Jehovah. 6 He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom (his leadership sent his spiritual children to hell); and he practiced augury, and used enchantments, and practiced sorcery, and dealt with them that had familiar spirits (all forbidden knowledge and false prophecy demons), and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger. 7 And he set the graven image of the idol, which he had made, in the house of God (he raised up the golden calf in God's house), of which God said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name (Hebrew meaning: “nature, character and authority”) for ever: 8 neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from off the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them, even all the law and the statutes and the ordinances [given] by Moses. (Because of this dark leadership, the people were driven from the land of milk and honey into captivity to the beast.) 9 And Manasseh (meaning “causing to forget”) (This apostate leadership of God's people caused them to forget His Word and ways. He) seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem (as the apostate leadership), so that they did evil more than did the nations whom Jehovah destroyed before the children of Israel. Dan.2:12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. (The beast will destroy the harlot as Revelation says. He will destroy all the apostate leadership [or dark presence man] by bringing them under submission to it. In Revelation 17, the beast is a corporate body of spirits from the abyss who enter perdition or destruction, as in the corporate body of the sons of perdition.) Psa.80:18 So shall we not go back from thee: Quicken thou us, and we will call upon thy name. 19 Turn us again, O Jehovah God of hosts; Cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved. (Father will grant grace to many apostate babies to turn to Him because they are not as responsible as their leaders are for their sins.)   Bride to Feed the Tribulation Church Eve Brast - 01/12/2011 (RS and David's notes in red) I dreamed I was at my dad's parents' old house in Highland Park in Dallas, Texas. Their home had been built during the Great Depression in the 1930s (the world is coming to a great depression) and was surrounded by million-dollar mansions when I was young. (Eve here represents the Bride, for she was the bride of Adam, and Jesus was the last Adam. The house that Eve was raised in represents the Church, which is overshadowed by this world. The Church is returning to the depression era in the Tribulation, while being completely outclassed and encircled by the world beast.) They had refused to sell their lot. (Like Naboth, they will refuse to sell their inheritance land [their lives] to Ahab, representing the beast.) I was on what appeared to be a transparent racetrack in the air above their house. (We are running a spiritual race, which is unseen, in heavenly places, above the church which is earthly.) I was running around on this track, preparing all sorts of healthy fruits and salads for God's people. (The Bride is preparing the Word from heaven for the people.) The Holy Spirit spoke to me and told me to go downstairs and feed the people. (She was to feed them the true Gospel.) I went downstairs into the kitchen and dining area and set the food I had prepared near the double sink on the right side of the kitchen. I had a small plastic container of dried cranberries that I had prepared for myself that I set down with the other food. (Cranberries are a very healthy fall fruit, but when dried, they are preserved so they can be eaten any time of the year, like the Word that will go forth from the first-fruits Man-child ministry, preserved by many methods of recordings, so many can partake of them any time. The Bride will be first to partake of this ministry. Cranberries are the color of blood, representing those who are washed in it and have lived the crucified life.) I didn't charge anything for the food I had prepared. (The Bride gives the clean Word of God freely as Jesus comanded.) There was another fruit stand in the dining room with a sign on it that read $1.00 each. (The harlot church merchandises the Word.) Nobody was at the stand. It was deserted. Nobody was running it, and nobody was buying the fruit. (An abomination of desolation. The Holy Spirit and the righteous will be leaving the apostates who make merchandise of the Word. God's true people will not buy the harlot's food anymore.) There was a huge, polished, wooden statue of the Babylonian king standing in the center of the fruit stand. (The harlot church is united with the beast and worships its image.) It was as tall as a large tree, with a bald eagle in front of it with its wings spread back against its sides. It was all carved out of the same piece of wood. (The one world order is being carved out. The large tree was the Babylonish head of gold in the image of the beast in Daniel 2 and 3 that was hewn down and conquered.) As I was looking up at the head of the statue, I heard a faint rumbling. I became disoriented, or it seemed as if the statue was about to fall over on me. I quickly looked away from it and the fear left me. (Babylonish U.S. is about to incur devastating earthquakes; the rumblings are already being heard in fault zones. As long as we look at the physical when things begin to fall apart, we will be fearful, but if we turn to the Word, the fear will leave and we will not fall in these judgments. Isa.26:3 Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]; because he trusteth in thee.) I remembered my cranberries and went back to the sink area to get them. (The Bride will remember the Man-child teachings and will be able to feed many.) Three women who looked like my mom came and received my food joyfully and thankfully. (When the shakings above begin, many from the church who have scoffed at the Man-child teachings will receive them with joy from the Bride because they are answers and deliverance in tribulation.) I was glad they appreciated it, but I noticed my cranberries were gone! I was disappointed because I cherished eating them because they were sweet and sour at the same time. (In reality, I don't care for cranberries that much.) (The cranberries represent the Word through the Man-child: sweet in your mouth but bitter to your belly, representing death to the flesh.) I then went back over to the fruit stand, and a woman appeared in a white and black maid outfit. She was violently stirring a bowl of ingredients and resentfully preparing the “king's dainties” for him and his household, she said. I then looked over to the left of the fruit stand and saw two kings sitting and dining together. They were dressed in royal robes with their crowns on their heads. The Babylonian king was on the left, and the Persian king was to his right. Servants waited on them as they dined. As I looked at the Babylonian king, his image alternated with that of Obama's. He was pretending to be the Persian king's friend (Cyrus Trump) but secretly was intending to destroy him and the Persian kingdom (The new Republic. Alexander the Greats Grecian Kingdom conquered this. History must repeat.). (My notes here are not prophecy but an attempt to put a puzzle together.) (Obama and the D.S. who are covertly “violently stirring” the Middle East nations of factionalized Islam and, in effect, delivering them over to unceasing war, which is how they make money. The powers that be who own the capped wells in the U.S. will soon open them because of the high price of oil elsewhere. The destruction of these nations was predicted in Jeremiah 25:20-26, where at the end of this list of nations Babylon (U.S.) overthrows Iran. Along this list we can see the Philistines and Gaza (the Palestinians), Elam (Persians - Iran), Medes, and Sheshach (Babylon) falls last. History must repeat according to Ecc.1:9.) As I came up behind them, I saw my cranberries in a decorative clear glass candle holder sitting in front of the Persian king (Trump). I reached in between them and quickly took the candle holder and emptied the cranberries into my right hand and placed the candle holder back in front of the Persian king. Suddenly, a hand appeared out of nowhere and replaced my cranberries with a crimson (Blood) candle in the candle holder, escaping the notice of the kings. (The Man-child ministry served under both of these kings in Daniel, as they will today. The Bride, Eve, will partake of the fruit, but they will partake of the light, as they did in Daniel's revelation. He, as the Man-child ministry of his day, gave much light from God to the rulers.) (This reminds me of the handwriting on the wall in the book of Daniel to the Babylonian king (Obama and his puppet) that his kingdom would be given to the Medes and the Persians (Trump).) (Trump is conquering Babylon D.S. America. The Man-child, Daniel, pronounced the judgment that the Persian king, Cyrus Trump, would conquer the Babylonish eagle, but history shows he would later be conquered by Alexander the Greats Grecian kingdom. Obama is attempting his second run now. The U.S. is at the very bottom of the list in Jeremiah 25 to fall as Sheshach (Babylon) .) The candle's wick had been lit in the past and was burnt, but was not currently lit, but was soon to be lit again. (Obama's two separated terms. Jesus will soon return in the body of the Man-child to bring the light to the Church and the rulers, once again, as persecution also returns.) I then turned and walked away, eating the cranberries out of my right hand. Then I woke up. (Those who increasingly come into the Bride will feed on God's Word through the Man-child and Bride.)   Bride Not to be Captive Shelly Lynch - 01/22/2013 - 5:55 AM (Grace Multiplied) (David's notes in red) I had a brief dream this morning, the day following my trial in which I fell into sin and repented and received the Lord's forgiveness! I believe He gave me this dream to encourage me that I would be restored and content to be a doorkeeper in the Kingdom! Hallelujah! I saw the Marriage Feast banquet hall. (The Marriage Feast represents tribulation, for it is the last seven days before the Bride is taken to the Groom's home while escorted by the virgins.) I saw food served and cake for dessert, too. I saw busloads of people getting off the buses (Revival!) coming into the banquet hall, and I was helping hang up their coats and looking for more hangers, as there were so many coming in the door. (Hanging their coats is resting from their old works) I was running from the kitchen to the dessert table, taking out more cake (God's Word is sweeter than honey), as the food (truth) was disappearing rapidly. The people were very hungry (having come from a famine of hearing the Word)! (Shelly is a type of the Bride here who feeds the immature saints during the marriage feast, just as in Song of Solomon.) Then I saw a black man stand up at the podium and begin to speak to the crowd in the banquet hall. Then I woke up. (Not sure why he was a black man.) (To those unfamiliar with the sovereignty of God to teach His people with vessels of dishonor, it would come as a shock that the beast is one of the primary teachers to create sons of God. He will bring tribulation in the form of fiery trial on the apostate church to turn them to God.) Scripture given after prayer by random: Jer.52:13 and he burned the house of Jehovah, and the king's house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, burned he with fire. (Father will use the beast to purge out unregenerate Jerusalem leadership from among regenerate, heavenly Jerusalem leadership.) I was also given: Jer.52:16 But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen. (The Lord always chooses the poor in spirit to keep and raise His vineyard.) 17 And the pillars of brass that were in the house of Jehovah, and the bases and the brazen sea that were in the house of Jehovah, did the Chaldeans break in pieces, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon. (The brass is the least mature, 30-fold, of the three metals representing the people of God: gold, silver and brass. The brass will go to Babylonish captivity.) The new leadership is the Bride. She is also black, but for a different reason: persecution from the false brethren. Son.1:5 I am black, but comely, Oh ye daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, As the curtains of Solomon. 6 Look not upon me, because I am swarthy, Because the sun hath scorched me. My mother's sons were incensed against me .... (I also got Lamentations 4:22 by random, I believe this is a promise to me personally and for the Bride. Lam.4:22 The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; He will no more carry thee away into captivity : (The bride will be purified in spirit before tribulation and will escape Babylonish captivity, but the Edomite Christians will go under the beast for crucifixion and to reap what they have sown against their brethren.) He will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; He will uncover thy sins. Another I got by random after prayer: Lam.4:12 The kings of the earth believed not, neither all the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem. 13 [It is] because of the sins of her prophets, [and] the iniquities of her priests, That have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her. (The world and the apostate leadership do not believe that they and their followers will be taken into bondage by the beast for their sins.) Still another I got by random after prayer: Jer.52:31 And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the [first] year of his reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison; 32 and he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon, 33 and changed his prison garments. And [Jehoiachin] did eat bread before him continually all the days of his life: 34 and for his allowance, there was a continual allowance given him by the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life. (This is showing that some of the apostate leadership that is not spiritually killed will repent and be given favor by the beast, for God is able to make our enemies to be at peace with us, if we please Him, as he says.)   Original Word Restores Original Church Eve Brast - 12/13/2015 (David's notes in red) When I woke up this morning, I had been dreaming of a harvest of restoration and when I looked over at the clock, it was 5:55 AM. (5 is the number of grace, which is the only way the Church will receive the restoration it does not deserve. Remember when Jesus, as a type of the Man-child ministry of our day, came and started the restoration at a time when the people were blind, sinful, sick spiritually and physically, following evil apostate leaders. They deserved nothing, but He gave everything to them; He met all their needs by grace as He is about to do in our day. “The things that have been are the things that shall be”. Hallelujah!) I dreamed that my husband and I and our boys went back to Texas (meaning: “friends”) to reclaim my Father's land that he had willed to me and that my mother had signed over to me the deed of ownership. (We are a gathering of friends whose ambition is to reclaim our Father's land willed to us through the New Testament or will. It was deeded to us by the early mother Church. The Promised Land is everything He gave us in His will, the New Testament. Joshua was told that every place in this land that we put the soles of our feet, He will give to us. Every place in the New Testament where we stand on His Word will be given to us.) This has all been stolen by a great army of plunderers, but restoration is coming by grace. Joe.2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, my great army which I sent among you. 26 And ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and shall praise the name of Jehovah your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you; and my people shall never be put to shame. 27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am Jehovah your God, and there is none else; and my people shall never be put to shame. 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit. We had come to reclaim it from a cruel landlord who had swindled it away from me through deception and trickery. He was well known for his reputation for dishonest practices in stealing properties away from people. (Satan and his ministers have come to steal what was willed to us through the New Testament from our Father. These thieves have been talking many out of the promises because they have no faith, rather than teaching us how to live on them. 2Co.11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. 15 It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. Joh.10:8 All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.) What shall we do about this theft of our land for the last 2000 years? Let's go back to our text in Joel: Joe.2:17 Let the priests, the ministers of Jehovah, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Jehovah, and give not thy heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the peoples, Where is their God? 18 Then was Jehovah jealous for his land, and had pity on his people. 19 And Jehovah answered and said unto his people, Behold, I will send you grain, and new wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith (Our land shall once again bear fruit unto us by promise.); and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations; 20 but I will remove far off from you the northern army (He will get rid of the army of thieves.), and will drive it into a land barren and desolate, its forepart into the eastern sea, and its hinder part into the western sea (They will be driven totally out of our land, meaning reprobation); and its stench shall come up, and its ill savor shall come up, because it hath done great things. 21 Fear not, O land, be glad and rejoice; for Jehovah hath done great things. 22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth its fruit, the fig-tree and the vine do yield their strength. Our land shall once again bear fruit unto us by believing the promises. 23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in Jehovah your God; for he giveth you the former rain in just measure, and he causeth to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, in the first month. 24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. (This thief of a landlord looked just like our current landlord, whose name is Doug. The name Douglas is an Anglicized form of the Scottish surname Dubhghlas, meaning “dark river” from Gaelic dubh “dark” and glais “water, river”. Douglas was originally a river name, which then became a Scottish clan name (belonging to a powerful line of Scottish earls). It has been used as a given name since the 16th century.) (This dark water river represents the deceptions that stole the promises from God's people. Jesus spoke to us a river of living water, which we also must speak. Joh.7:37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water. 39 But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive: for the Spirit was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified. 40 Some of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, This is of a truth the prophet. But the apostate leaders speak a river of the waters of darkness and death. 2Pe.2:17 These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved. The worldly will receive their river of lies, but the true Church will not. Rev.12:16 And the earth(ly) helped the woman (Church), and the earth(ly) opened her mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth. If the worldly swallow it, the righteous know it is no good. The Harlot church is a member of the body of the Beast and rides on his back. 17:3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a woman (Harlot) sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication, 5 and upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. As members of the Beast body, they and their leadership, the False Prophet body, speak the deceptive doctrines that rob God's people of their promises, their land. Rev.16:13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, as it were frogs: Let us agree with and speak the Word to live on our Promised Land. 1Pe.4:11 if any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God (i.e., say what God says); if any man ministereth, ministering as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever, Amen. Isa.8:20 To the law and to the testimony! if they speak not according to this word, surely there is no morning for them (meaning only darkness with no new day and no light of the sun/Son). Gal.1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema (Meaning: “devoted to destruction” or “cursed”). 9 As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema. Those who preach the dark river of lies, rather than the truth of the Word, are cursed and to be destroyed by the coming destroyer if there is no repentance. 1Jo.2:18 Little children, it is the last hour: and as ye heard that antichrist cometh, even now have there arisen many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last hour. It was their last hour, for the Beast came and destroyed their nation, and now it is our last hour and, once again, the antichrist leaders are multiplied and separated from us by the Word. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us. When the Word is preached to the wicked, they can no longer hide in the Church but depart, for they do not love the Lord and keep His commandments. In this way, the Church is sanctified. God's solution is to believe only the Word to abide in the temple of God, Jesus Christ. 24 As for you, let that abide in you which ye heard from the beginning. If that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father. The original Word is the only model to create the true Church, meaning “called-out ones”. Back to Eve's dream: My husband (representing our Bridegroom, Jesus), was an excellent negotiator and He walked the entire property with me. (Jesus will lead us on the walk of truth.) There were corn stalks on the entire property from border to border, as tall as we were, surrounding the two mobile homes in the center of the property. (Mobile homes represent tabernacles in the wilderness. Corn stalks represent the people of God, in which individual kernels must fall to the ground to bear much fruit, as Jesus said.) These corn stalks were covered with ripe honeydew melons growing in clusters of five on each stalk, like giant grapes, instead of corn. (These corn stalks have a very sweet and large fruit on them.) My husband was very pleased with the crop. It was morning, and the sky was so blue, and the sun/Son shone on the crop like bright white light. It wasn't yellow like the usual morning sunlight. (Without the pure sunlight of God's Word, Jesus Christ, there will be no fruit. All disciples who love the Lord will devour His Word.) When my husband and I came to the back of the property, we saw a large pile of rusted-out car bodies lying next to the back fence line. (Vessels representing the way and works of God's people having come under the curse of death and being rejected.) He became angry at the cruel landlord, Doug, and went over to where he was standing next to the left mobile home. My husband then began to argue my case for me (Jesus is a paracletos, meaning a lawyer) to the landlord and told him that because of the rusted pile of cars that he had piled up at the back of the property, he had no legal right to it. (According to our law, because the apostate leaders have not brought forth fruit in the people, God would give the vineyard to those who would bring forth the fruit.) He then ordered him to return the property to me and to remove all the rusted cars from the property. (Remove their fruitless people from the Promised Land.) The landlord knew that what my husband had said was right. (Because it's in the Word.) He acted ashamed and fearful and agreed to give my father's land back to me and hurriedly left. Mat.21:33 Hear another parable: There was a man that was a householder, who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country. 34 And when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, to receive his fruits. 35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them in like manner. 37 But afterward he sent unto them his Son, saying, They will reverence my Son. 38 But the husbandmen, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance. 39 And they took him, and cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. Just as the wicked leaders do today. 40 When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will let out the vineyard unto other husbandmen, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone (Jesus, the WORD) which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; This was from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes? The hated and persecuted ones will be the head, just like Joseph, David, Jesus, and the Man-child. 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And he that falleth on this stone shall be broken to pieces: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust. 45 And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. And so it speaks of the apostate leaders today. 46 And when they sought to lay hold on him, they feared the multitudes, because they took him for a prophet. After this, David showed up. (Representing the David Man-child company, who are the coming reformers to bring forth the Lord's fruit.) He had with him his personal assistant, Allison. (Who is a recovery room nurse that I currently work with at the hospital. Allison's name used to be masculine and means “son of the noble one”. Recovery room nurses help the surgery patients to recover from their surgeries until they are stable enough to return to the nursing units on the hospital floors.) (The Lord is raising up many who are gifted to help the sick Church in the restoration process.) Allison had been David's personal assistant for many years, in this dream. She knew everything about David and his family. (This is a good description of many who are doing this work now, but after the coming anointing, they will be very much more successful.) She was telling me all the details about his wife and children and everything they had been through together over the years. (The Church in the past has fallen away and persecuted the Davids, as it was with Joseph and his brethren before their restoration.) (UBM has helped many people over the years recover what the enemy has stolen from them [and the greatest days are just ahead].) I walked with David and Allison into the kitchen of the left mobile home, and I saw David's wife standing near the kitchen sink. The mobile home had been extremely run-down, but now the kitchen had been completely restored. (This is a picture of the restoration of the spiritual family of the Davids. His wife here represents the restoration of the Church that once brought forth the fruit of Jesus.) She was young and beautiful, and she was wearing a white knit top with sleeves that went down to her forearms, a long skirt, and a white head covering. (Representing restoration of the Church from the curse, in righteousness, purity, and submission to her head.) She was standing with her hands clasped together and had a peaceful smile on her face. She watched with pleasure as her and David's children ran in and out of the kitchen, playing and running among the ripe crops of honeydew melons. (The individual children of the Church will come forth from the kitchen, representing them having partaken of the good spiritual food prepared by the reformers and Allison, and bear the sweet fruit.) Their laughter filled the air, along with the smell of the ripe fruit. (There is great joy in bearing the fruit of the Word.) I looked up at David, who was standing to my left in the kitchen, and I smiled at him. I felt so much joy in my heart at this restoration that was taking place. He was very tall and had a serious look of wisdom and radiance about him, but there was a sparkle in his eyes. He said, “It's time for the harvest.” (In the harvest will be the Great Reformation, even in the midst of a religious world falling apart. This is so people will have examples by which to make their decisions about who they will follow and who is the Lord. When they see the fruit, they will know who is of the Lord.) As we walked out of the mobile home, there was an old forest green farm truck with wooden slats on the sides. A carpenter was driving it. There were a bunch of other carpenters in the truck bed who jumped out with tools to restore the rest of the left mobile home, and also to help with the harvesting. (Restoring the Church to its former glory.) Some of them started to work on the mobile home, while others helped David and me and the recovery room nurse, Allison, pick the honeydew melons. We took them to an outdoor processing area behind the mobile homes. Then I heard the voice of the Father say, “You must cut off the rinds”. (The rinds are the external body or flesh that carries the fruit. This vessel is just for keeping the fruit and seeds to feed the saints. Those who bear fruit will be able to richly feed others. Whereas the apostate church only sees that their bad education and titles are the qualification.) So I went back into the kitchen, got a paring knife out of the drawer, and came back out to help cut off the rinds from the melons. David had his own special pocketknife that he used for this purpose. As we were all working together to harvest the fruit and cut off the rinds, Allison was explaining to me that David had recently gotten his car restored, and she pointed over to where it was parked behind the right mobile home. It was a silver Mitsubishi Eclipse. I was amazed and said, “That looks exactly like the very first new car I ever owned! It too was a silver Mitsubishi Eclipse!” (The car or way of progress and rest must look just like the  original way 2000 years ago.) (The meaning of the name Mitsubishi is “programmable logic controllers”.) (And this will “Eclipse” the old worldly religious programming and logic that brought forth no fruit. Rom.12:2 And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.) This is when I woke up. I asked Father for a verse or text for this dream and when I flipped open my Bible and was going to put my finger down, I heard the Spirit say to turn back a page, so I fumbled to flip back exactly one page and I put my finger down on Isa.60:16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the nations, and shalt suck the breast of kings; and thou shalt know that I, Jehovah, am thy Saviour, and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. The whole chapter is a wonderful promise to God's elect. (Isaiah 60 is all about the restoration of the original, glorious Church. This text shows that Beast kingdoms will ultimately serve God's true Man-child and Bride. As Beast kings of the past kingdoms saw the glorious God of the true disciples of God, they feared and bowed to Him and served His Kingdom representatives like Pharaoh of Joseph, Ahasuerus of Mordecai and Esther, Nebuchadnezzar of the three Hebrews and Daniel, Darius of Daniel, Darius of Zerubbabel, Cyrus of Sheshbazzar, etc.

No one is immune from burnout. It comes in our jobs, friendships, and even our church life. Sometimes our hobbies become dry and tedious!But in Scripture, God gives us hope for the future. John 7:38 says, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”Jesus is telling us that in Him alone is true life. He is always pointing us to the future, to a time when that dry creek bed will be filled forever.In Revelation 22, He showed John a river flowing with the water of life, crystal-clear and coming from the very throne of God.The whole picture is one of healing and new life. He promises us that this scene will be very real and very permanent! The key is what we read in John 7:38…we must choose to believe! If you long for a new start and a bright future, you will find everything you need and want in the person of Jesus Christ.The living water He offers is perfect, and the supply is limitless.Jesus is the well that never runs dry.Let's pray.Lord, you are calling to each of us to follow You and let You lead us to a place of perfect paradise. We eagerly look forward to joining you in Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

In Revelation 2:1–7 we learn from Jesus' words to the church in Ephesus that this once thriving church had one major problem: they had abandoned their first love. Listen as Pastor Josué Pernillo preaches on this passage, addressing three questions: What is the diagnosis? What is the prescription? And what is the encouragement? Part of a series on the book of Revelation. From Sunday Worship, March 22, 2026. ------------------------------- allsoulspca.org All Souls (Urbana, IL) is a part of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a Christian, Reformed denomination with historic and theological roots in the Protestant Reformation.

What happens when the curtain pulls back and we see the throne room of God? In Revelation 4, John shows us a reality that changes everything—where every crown comes down and every voice cries “holy.” Join us as we discover why the cure for spiritual drift, idolatry, and empty religion isn't more effort—it's a bigger vision of God.The throne...1) What it conveys2) What it calls for3) Why it's neededText: Revelation 4:1-11

The last book of the Bible opens with a vision. It's not a vision of judgment meant for explaining at a prophecy conference. It's a vision of the Sovereign Savior meant for sustaining churches, ordinary local churches like Ephesus, Thyatira, Pergamum, Laodicea, and even Heritage Bible Church. After an opening greeting of grace, a colossal vision of a cosmic Christ comes at us in Revelation 1. And that is no accident. More than anything else, we must see Jesus. In Revelation 1:8–20, God provides a surprising vision to sustain us in our work and witness. Here is a vision of Christ to sustain the work for Christ. Listen to this sermon by Brad Baugham, lead pastor at Emmanuel Bible Church in Mauldin.

The final words of the Bible aren't just information—they're an invitation.In Revelation 22, Jesus makes one last promise: “I am coming soon.”The question is—are you ready?This message will challenge you to stop drifting, start living ready, and respond to God's invitation today.Come to Jesus. And don't come alone.

Who are the Nicolaitans mentioned in the Book of Revelation — and why does Yeshua say He hates their deeds? In Revelation chapters 2 and 3, one of the strongest rebukes given to the seven churches is against the Nicolaitans. But what does this mysterious term really mean? Is it a historical sect… or a spiritual system still active in churches today? This teaching will challenge you to examine your faith, your fellowship, and your leadership structure — whether you gather for Sunday church or Sabbath services. Join this channel to get access to perks: / @aroodawakening Watch more on the Michael Rood TV App! https://bit.ly/2X9oN9h Join us on ANY social media platform! https://aroodawakening.tv/community/s... Your Donation keeps these videos going! Thank you! https://aroodawakening.tv/donate/ Support us by visiting our store! https://roodstore.com/ Support us with purchases on Amazon!* https://amzn.to/3pJu9cC Have Questions? Ask us Here! https://aroodawakening.tv/support/con... "PLEASE NOTE: This is an affiliate link. This means that, at zero cost to you, A Rood Awakening! International will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Revelation 3, Jesus called out the church at Laodicea for their complacency, lukewarmness, and total ineffectiveness. As we listen to Jesus rebuke lukewarm believers, what is most needed by complacent Christians in today's world?  How can you avoid settling into a complacent, comfortable Christianity that serves self instead of the Savior? (Seven Letters, part 8- Conclusion)

In Revelation 1:9–20 the apostle John sees a glorious vision of Christ in heaven. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on this passage, helping us to better understand the glory of Jesus, the fear of Jesus, the grace of Jesus, and our service to Jesus. Part of a series on the book of Revelation. From Sunday Worship, March 15, 2026. ------------------------------- Want to go deeper? Take some time to reflect on the sermon with the following questions: When you imagine the scene John describes, which specific image feels the most overwhelming or weighty to you? We often prefer a “plastic Jesus” who is manageable and safe. How does John's encounter with the cosmic Christ challenge the version of Jesus we typically carry around in our day-to-day lives? The One who holds the stars in his hand is the same One who reaches out to touch a terrified man. What does this reveal to you about how Jesus uses his immense power toward those who are broken or afraid? In what ways does beholding the majestic, cosmic glory of Christ actually provide more stability for your soul than a “safer,” smaller version of him? What would change in your Monday morning routine—your stress, your interactions, or your inner monologue—if you truly believed the cosmic King was standing right there with his right hand on your shoulder? ------------------------------- allsoulspca.org All Souls (Urbana, IL) is a part of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a Christian, Reformed denomination with historic and theological roots in the Protestant Reformation.

March 16, 2026 Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, Novelist and Life Coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, March 16, 2026, and this is episode #7 in Series 2026. This episode is titled, “Jesus Christ Is Coming Back.” Before we get into our message, let me share a resource that will help you to draw closer to Jesus every day. It’s titled The Daystar Devotional and is a compilation of daily meditations I’ve written based on a Scripture verse for the day. If you’re looking for daily encouragement in your walk with Christ, The Daystar Devotional will provide just what you’re looking for. Daily readings will give you fresh insight into Scripture verses that will inspire you, encourage you, and strengthen you as you face the daily challenges of life. The Daystar Devotional is a powerful tool for growing in your relationship with our precious Lord. The Daystar Devotional is available in both print and ebook formats at the links below or in the show notes. The Daystar Devotional (Print)The Daystar Devotional (eBook) And now, let's dive right into this week's message: Jesus Christ Is Coming Back. A lot has been said recently about the return of Jesus Christ in the cataclysmic event called the Rapture. So much, in fact, that the fact that Jesus hasn’t returned yet has caused the mockers to increase in number and intensity. But just because Jesus hasn’t returned yet doesn’t mean He won’t. To think that His delay is permanent is deception, and it is where the great danger lies. For you see, my friend, Jesus Christ promised us that He would return. Before He went back to Heaven after His resurrection, Jesus said this to His followers: “In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14: 2-3). Since Jesus is God, He cannot lie. He will keep His Word. He will return. Let me be as clear and as simple as I can. The Bible prophesies the return of Christ in an earth-shattering event called the Rapture. Let’s read about this in 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.” After the Rapture, the Bible prophesies that a seven-year period of intense human suffering will come upon the earth. This seven-year period is called the Tribulation and will occur during the rule and under the rule of a man called the AntiChrist. Why is he called the AntiChrist? Because he will oppose everything the true Jesus Christ stands for and, in fact, the AntiChrist will attempt to replace Christ. The AntiChrist will proclaim Himself as God. Behind the AntiChrist will be Satan himself who will, in effect, use this man to perpetrate the worst horrors the world has ever known. Listen to what the Bible says about these horrors in the Message Translation where the AntiChrist is referred to as “the Anarchist:” 2 Thessalonians 2: 3-5 and verses 9-12 (The Message Translation):  “Before that day comes, a couple of things have to happen. First, the Apostasy. Second, the debut of the Anarchist, a partner in crime with Satan. He'll defy and then take over every so-called god or altar. Having cleared away the opposition, he'll then set himself up in God's Temple as God Almighty . . . The Anarchist's coming is all Satan's work. All his power and signs and miracles are fake, evil sleight of hand that plays to the gallery of those who hate the truth that could save them. And since they're so obsessed with evil, God rubs their noses in it—gives them what they want. Since they refuse to trust truth, they're banished to their chosen world of lies and illusions.” The Bible further describes the day of the Rapture in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, chapter 1, verses 2 and 3. This is Paul writing: “You know as well as I that the day of the Master's coming can't be posted on our calendars. He won't call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would. About the time everybody's walking around complacently, congratulating each other—“We've sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!”—suddenly everything will fall apart. It's going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman.”Did you hear that, my friend? The day of Christ’s return will come as a huge surprise to those who are not looking for His return. Some translations describe his return as unexpected as the intrusion of a thief in the night. Moreover, in Revelation 4: 8, we read of the holy angels who are now worshipping the Lord and proclaiming the promise of His return: “Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.’”The question then is not if Jesus will return. He Himself said He would. Nor is the question when will He return. The question is a far more important and momentous one: Are YOU ready for His return? You might be thinking, Dr. MaryAnn, this sounds like hogwash to me. Why should I be paying attention to the return of Jesus Christ? Why should I care? I don’t even believe in Jesus Christ. Christians have been talking for years about the return of Jesus, but He hasn’t come back yet. So what’s the deal? The deal is that your position regarding the return of Jesus Christ will mean the difference between whether you escape the Tribulation or whether you won’t. Why should you want to escape the Tribulation? Because during the Tribulation, as the Bible states in Matthew chapter 24 verse 21, “…there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again.” (Matthew 24: 21 NLT) Sobering words, no? So what will happen during the Tribulation? The Bible describes the scenario in several places. Let’s take a look at a few of them: 2 Thessalonians 1: 7-9 NLT: “He [Jesus] will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don't know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.“ Revelation 6: 12 (describing the vision of John the Apostle in approximately 95 A.D.): ” . . . there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood.” Revelation 9: 10-11 – “Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen to earth from the sky, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. When he opened it, smoke poured out as though from a huge furnace, and the sunlight and air turned dark from the smoke. “Then locusts came from the smoke and descended on the earth, and they were given power to sting like scorpions. They were told not to harm the grass or plants or trees, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were told not to kill them but to torture them for five months with pain like the pain of a scorpion sting. In those days people will seek death but will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them! “The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. They had what looked like gold crowns on their heads, and their faces looked like human faces. They had hair like women's hair and teeth like the teeth of a lion. They wore armor made of iron, and their wings roared like an army of chariots rushing into battle. They had tails that stung like scorpions, and for five months they had the power to torment people. Their king is the angel from the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon—the Destroyer.“ So, my friend, you can see from these few Scripture verses that the Tribulation will not be a picnic. It will be horrifying. Over half of the world’s population will die. In Revelation 6: 8 NLT, the Apostle John prophesies that one-quarter of the earth’s population will die: “I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave. These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals.” Then later, in Revelation 9: 15 NLT, he tells us this: “Then the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were turned loose to kill one-third of all the people on earth.” That’s over 80% of the world’s population that will die! These verses give just a few examples of the horrors that will befall those who are alive during the Tribulation. You don’t want to be one of them. But, if you do not accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you will be one of them. Only those who receive Christ into their lives will escape this time of unfathomable anguish, but those who do not follow Christ will not. So what is your choice, my friend? Do you want to live through the Tribulation and probably end up living forever in hell? Or do you want to believe that Jesus loves you, and that He died and rose from the dead to take the punishment for your sin so that you could live in Heaven with Him forever? The choice seems like a no-brainer. You might say, “I’ll just wait and see, Dr. MaryAnn. If I end up in the Tribulation, I could always accept Jesus then.” Yes, you could. But it will be extremely difficult. Why? Because the Bible says that those who accept Christ during the Tribulation will not be allowed to buy or sell anything unless they take the mark of the beast. And they won’t take the mark of the beast. The Beast is the AntiChrist, also known as Satan personified. The mark is a digital I.D. that will be placed on or subcutaneously implanted into one’s forehead or hand. This mark will identify that person as a follower of the AntiChrist. Those who refuse to take the mark in order to follow the true Christ will be identified as traitors and will be executed, most likely by being beheaded. In order for you to buy food for your family during the Tribulation, you will need to pledge allegiance to Satan and worship him as god. And once you do that, you relinquish every opportunity to be saved and to go to Heaven. Listen to what the Bible says:“Then a third angel followed them, shouting, ‘Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or on the hand must drink the wine of God's anger. It has been poured full strength into God's cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.’” Why will those who take the mark of the beast be doomed forever in hell? Because accepting the mark of the beast will alter your DNA. If your DNA is altered, you will no longer be human but transhuman. And transhumans cannot be saved because Jesus died only for humans, not for transhumans. My friend, please hear my heart. I don’t want you to go to Hell. It is a place of eternal torment from which you will never be able to escape. Can you even fathom what eternal means? It means never-ending. Forever without hope. Have you ever felt hopeless? Well, multiply that to the nth power and you will get only a glimpse of what eternal hopelessness feels like. But you can avoid all of this simply by believing in Jesus Christ and in His love for you. How hard is that to do? How hard is it to believe that God loves you so much that He was willing to take the punishment for sin that you should have taken? God does not want you to go to hell, my friend. He doesn’t send anyone to hell. People send themselves to hell by refusing to believe God. Listen to what God’s heart for you is: “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Thessalonians 5: 9. The Tribulation is the time when God will pour out his wrath on a sinful world. The Bible tells us that the Christ-Follower is not appointed to wrath. Friend, you don’t have to be here for the Tribulation. You can escape the hell that is about to be unleashed on the earth. All you have to do is receive the love Jesus has for you, a love so profound and so perfect that He gave His very life for you. Won’t you do that now? Won’t you accept Him now? Pray this simple prayer with me: Lord Jesus, I need You. I don’t want to be here for the Tribulation. I want to spend forever with You in Heaven. I believe that You are the Son of God Who died for me and rose from the dead and paid the price for my sin. I receive You now as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for saving me. Thank you for taking the punishment for my sin. Make me like You, Jesus. In Your Name I pray. Amen. If you sincerely prayed this prayer from your heart, you are now a born-again child of God. Welcome to the Family of God! Write to me at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com, and I will send you a free PDF e-booklet titled After You're Born Again. In closing, I want to remind you that my featured book for this week is titled The Daystar Devotional: Encouragement in Your Walk with Jesus. Get your copy now and learn how to experience God's will for your life every day by following His principles for a successful life. Get your copy at one of the links below. PRINT EBOOK Winning with the Word is available on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast venues as well as on YouTube. Check out my YouTube channel at youtube.com/drmaryanndiorio. Thank you very much for supporting the work of this ministry through your donations. If you would like to donate, please send your tax-deductible gift to PayPal.me/drmaryanndiorio. Thank you so very much. Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are. But He doesn't want you to stay there. As you walk with Him, He will help you to keep on winning with the Word.________________________________ Copyright 2026 by MaryAnn Diorio, PhD. All Rights Reserved. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO WINNING WITH THE WORD. « Older Entries

The Book of Revelation doesn’t begin with beasts and plagues. It begins with a warning to believers. In Revelation chapters 1–3, Yeshua speaks directly to seven real congregations — offering praise… but also correction, rebuke, and serious consequences for those who refuse to repent. In this powerful teaching, Michael Rood challenges us to stop pointing fingers at “the church” — and start looking in the mirror. Join this channel to get access to perks: / @aroodawakening Watch more on the Michael Rood TV App! https://bit.ly/2X9oN9h Join us on ANY social media platform! https://aroodawakening.tv/community/s... Your Donation keeps these videos going! Thank you! https://aroodawakening.tv/donate/ Support us by visiting our store! https://roodstore.com/ Support us with purchases on Amazon!* https://amzn.to/3pJu9cC Have Questions? Ask us Here! https://aroodawakening.tv/support/con... "PLEASE NOTE: This is an affiliate link. This means that, at zero cost to you, A Rood Awakening! International will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angels play an important role in Revelation. In Revelation 15, we are introduced to a new series of seven angels with seven plagues in the seven bowls of wrath. The repetition of “seven” whispers to us of completeness. These seven angels leave heaven's temple and the throne of mercy and act for God, administering justice instead of mercy.

Have you ever wondered what Jesus would say to the church? In Revelation 2:12-29, Jesus pastors his people with words that carry both warmth and weight. His message gives encouragement that inspires faithfulness, correction where compromise has crept in, and promises that strengthen us under pressure. The spiritual direction that Jesus offers is not only for the early church. His words continue to affirm, refine, and motivate all who are willing to listen now.

In times of global conflict and uncertainty, many people wonder if current events are signs of the end times. When tensions rise in places like the Middle East, it is tempting to line up today's headlines with Bible prophecy. But Scripture points us in a better direction. In Revelation 12, God pulls back the curtain and reveals the deeper conflict behind human history. The passage shows the enemy who opposes God's kingdom and accuses God's people, but it also reveals the decisive victory of Jesus. Through His birth, death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus defeated the accuser once and for all and made a way for His people to overcome.

In times of global conflict and uncertainty, many people wonder if current events are signs of the end times. When tensions rise in places like the Middle East, it is tempting to line up today's headlines with Bible prophecy. But Scripture points us in a better direction. In Revelation 12, God pulls back the curtain and reveals the deeper conflict behind human history. The passage shows the enemy who opposes God's kingdom and accuses God's people, but it also reveals the decisive victory of Jesus. Through His birth, death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus defeated the accuser once and for all and made a way for His people to overcome.

When was the last time your love for Jesus felt alive? Are trials wearing you down? Is your faith feeling routine? In Revelation 2:1–11, Jesus calls us back to wholehearted love and shows how his grace can rekindle devotion and give the endurance to keep going.

In Week Five of our Love Letters series, we unpack Jesus' sobering words to the church in Book of Revelation, a church in Sardis that had a reputation for being alive but was spiritually dying. In Revelation 3:1–3, Jesus calls them to wake up, strengthen what remains, and return to readiness before complacency destroys what's left. We explore how you can have activity without intimacy, noise without nourishment, and reputation without responsiveness. We learn that spiritual life is sustained not by occasional inspiration, but by watchfulness, discipline, and daily obedience. This message is a loving but urgent call: Wake up before you dry up.

How will the story actually end?In Revelation 20, God pulls back the curtain on the final defeat of evil, the coming judgment, and the Book of Life. This message walks through Satan's defeat, Christ's reign, and the Great White Throne to answer the most important question you will ever face: not how successful or moral you were, but whether your name is written in the Book of Life.Because one day, nothing about you will matter except this: does Jesus know your name?

In Revelation 11, Jesus prepares His church for life as faithful witnesses in enemy territory. Spirit-empowered testimony will face real opposition, and at times it may look like evil has won. But this chapter shows that Jesus knows who belongs to Him, sustains His people in pressure, and will publicly vindicate their allegiance. The kingdoms of this world will not have the final word. Jesus will reign forever.

In Revelation 11, Jesus prepares His church for life as faithful witnesses in enemy territory. Spirit-empowered testimony will face real opposition, and at times it may look like evil has won. But this chapter shows that Jesus knows who belongs to Him, sustains His people in pressure, and will publicly vindicate their allegiance. The kingdoms of this world will not have the final word. Jesus will reign forever.

Hi, I'm John Sorensen, President of Evangelism Explosion International, and you're listening to Share Life Today. The Bible ends with a powerful picture of hope. In Revelation 21:23, we're told that in the new heaven and new earth, there will be no need for the sun or the moon, because the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. For those who trust in Jesus Christ, this is our future. A perfect place where sin, suffering, and death no longer exist, and where we will live in the presence of God forever. This hope is possible because Jesus stepped into the darkness of our world, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again in victory. Darkness did not win. Jesus did. But until that day, God calls us to live as people of the light that share the hope of the Gospel with others. Let's tell those around us about Who Jesus is and what He has done for them! For resources to help you start sharing your faith, visit our website at sharelife.today.

In Revelation 8–9 we see trumpet blasts, plagues, demonic locusts, and global shaking—and yet Scripture ends that section with a chilling line: “The rest of mankind… still did not repent” (Revelation 9:20–21). If righteous judgment doesn't lead the world to repentance, what will?This sermon, “The Hope of the Nations,” walks through Revelation 8–9 (and connects into Revelation 10–11) to show:- God is acting in judgment throughout this present age (Revelation 8:6–13; 9:1–6, 13–19)  - God is *restraining* His judgment in mercy, symbolized by the repeated “third” (Revelation 8:7–12; 9:15, 18), giving space and time for repentance (2 Peter 3:9; Romans 2:4)  - Humanity tragically refuses to repent, doubling down on idolatry and sin even under judgment (Revelation 9:20–21; Romans 1:18–25)  - God advances His purposes through the faithful *witness* of the church, so that judgment + witness leads to repentance (Revelation 10–11, especially 11:3–13; Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 1:8)Drawing on the Exodus plagues as a background (Exodus 7–12), this message shows that God's judgments are not random outbursts of anger but targeted spiritual warfare against false gods and the demonic powers behind them (Exodus 12:12; Colossians 2:15; Ephesians 6:12). The “mutant locusts” of Revelation 9 are symbolic of spiritual forces that torment those who cling to idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood (Revelation 9:20), but are restrained from ultimately destroying humanity.We explore how:- Biblical justice begins with God, not human sociology (Psalm 89:14; Micah 6:8; Romans 3:10–26)  - The deepest problem in the world is the human heart without Christ (Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:20–23; Ephesians 2:1–5)  - Every sin must be answered for—either at the cross or in final judgment (Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:27–28; 2 Corinthians 5:21)  - The cross is the only true refuge from God's just judgment and the ultimate expression of His mercy (Romans 5:6–11; 1 Peter 3:18; John 3:16–18)  We also confront two common but unbiblical assumptions:1. “If things get bad enough, people will turn to God.”     Revelation 9 shows the opposite—judgment alone does not produce repentance. People often *worship the very powers that harm them* (Revelation 9:20; cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:9–12).2. “If I get forceful or angry enough, I can make people change.”     If God's perfect judgment does not convert by itself, our outrage won't either (James 1:19–20; 2 Timothy 2:24–26). The church's calling is not to coerce but to bear faithful witness.The turning point comes in Revelation 11: after the church bears costly, faithful witness in the power of the Spirit (Revelation 11:3–7), judgment falls and “the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven” (Revelation 11:13). The same phrase “the rest” used in Revelation 9:20 is now connected to repentance and worship. The difference? The *witness* of the church.In this message, we consider:- The seal of God on the foreheads of His people (Revelation 7:1–4; 9:4) and what true spiritual protection means (John 10:27–29; Romans 8:31–39)  - How idols promise life but pay out death “on a payment plan” (Romans 1:24–32; Galatians 6:7–8)  - Why God restrains judgment so that His mercy might triumph (James 2:13; Ezekiel 18:23, 32)  - How ordinary obedience, forgiveness, truth-telling, and endurance are actually acts of cosmic warfare (Romans 12:17–21; Revelation 12:11; Ephesians 6:10–18)Key Scriptures referenced throughout the sermon include:- Revelation 8–9; 10–11  - Exodus 7–12  - Romans 1–3; 6; 12–13  - 2 Peter 3:9

The Bible is not a collection of disconnected stories, but it is one unfolding, global plan of redemption. In Revelation 5, heaven erupts in worship because Jesus, the slain Lamb, has ransomed people for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation. This is a beautiful New Testament fulfillment of an ancient promise. From God's covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12, to the prophetic vision of the nations streaming to God's glory in Isaiah and Daniel, to Christ's Great Commission and the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, Scripture reveals one consistent theme: God's redemptive purpose has always been global. In Revelation, the end of the story shows a countless multitude from every nation worshiping the Lamb. Unity in diversity. One Savior. One kingdom. One eternal gospel. This global vision fuels our worship, drives our mission, and strengthens our endurance in suffering. Are we willing to pray, give, and go for the sake of His glory among all peoples? ________________________________________ Links to Sermon Notes & Answers: ➤Sermon Notes (Blank): https://www.sheridanhills.org/_files/ugd/30fec2_af54fc15702347269a00018e2d202351.pdf ➤Sermon Notes (Answers): https://www.sheridanhills.org/_files/ugd/30fec2_c64f4f1089d84817adf76ca84ac881da.pdf ________________________________________ In this video: Review of previous sermons in series Main Points Application ________________________________________ Subscribe to this channel to catch weekly expositional sermons from the Bible. ________________________________________ Explore more sermons and information: https://www.sheridanhills.org/watch-new ________________________________________ Follow us: ➤Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheridanhills/ ➤Twitter: https://twitter.com/sheridanhills01 ➤Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheridanhills/

In Revelation 2-3, Jesus speaks candidly to seven churches of the ancient world. Can you imagine a church congregation looking the other way when public, persistent sin was happening in their midst? Is your church supposed to be tolerant at any cost? What would Jesus say to a negligent church that continues to tolerate sin? (Seven Letters, part 5)

In Revelation the apostle John receives a vision of the glorified Savior. Fortunately for us, he wrote it down. And we're about to read his incredible description of what he saw. We'll then transition to a very helpful divine outline, that will help us grasp what's to come in our study, and where we're at right now on the prophetic timeline. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1459/29?v=20251111

Most people think spiritual danger looks like rebellion. But Jesus warned about something far more subtle — and far more dangerous.This video explores what the Bible says about lukewarm faith, spiritual drift, and how believers slowly lose passion for God without realizing it.In Revelation 3, Jesus delivers one of His strongest warnings to the church — a warning about becoming spiritually lukewarm. But what does lukewarm Christianity really mean? And why is spiritual indifference often more dangerous than outright rebellion?In this message, we talk about:• The slow fade of faith• How believers drift from God without noticing• The warning signs of spiritual complacency• Why lukewarm faith is so dangerous• How Jesus lovingly calls drifting hearts back to HimIf you've ever felt spiritually dry, distracted, or stuck going through religious routines without passion, this message will help you recognize the warning signs and rediscover spiritual fire.⸻

Have you been serving, staying doctrinally sound, and doing all the “right” Christian things—but feel your love for Jesus growing cold? In Revelation 2, Jesus praises the church in Ephesus for their diligence, discernment, and perseverance, but then gives a sobering rebuke: “You have left your first love.”This episode is sponsored by The Master's University. To learn more about how you can invest in a college education devoted to Christ & Scripture, visit: https://www.masters.eduIn this episode, we unpack what it means to leave your first love (not in sequence, but in prominence) and why a cold, apathetic heart is spiritually dangerous—even if your life looks strong on the surface. Using the Challenger space shuttle tragedy as an illustration of a “missing critical piece,” we look at Christ's clear prescription for spiritual apathy:Remember where you've fallen (preach the gospel to yourself)Repent (this is a heart issue, not just burnout)Return to “the deeds you did at first”We also discuss what those “first deeds” can look like: renewed hunger for God's Word, fervent prayer, love for God's people, evangelistic zeal, and honest confession—not just going through the motions.If you've been asking:“Why don't I love Jesus like I used to?”“How do I overcome spiritual dryness?”“What does Revelation 2 teach the church today?” …this conversation is for you.Scripture: Revelation 2:1–7