Podcasts about Patmos

====================================================SUSCRIBETEhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNpffyr-7_zP1x1lS89ByaQ?sub_confirmation=1==================================================== DEVOCIÓN MATUTINA PARA JÓVENES 2025“HOY ES TENDENCIA”Narrado por: Daniel RamosDesde: Connecticut, USAUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist Church===================|| www.drministries.org ||===================19 de JunioPuertas abiertas y cerradas«Mira, yo estoy llamando a la puerta; si alguien oye mi voz y abre la puerta, entraré en su casa y cenaremos juntos». Apocalipsis 3:20El libro de Apocalipsis es uno de los más fascinantes de toda la Sagrada Escritura, tanto desde el punto de vista espiritual como literario. En una rocosa isla llamada Patmos, Juan «vio» y «oyó» «la revelación de Jesucristo» (ver Apocalipsis 22:8), y posteriormente se dedicó a transmitirla por escrito.Uno de los detalles más interesantes que surge al leer este enigmático libro es el que encierra la palabra «puerta». Esta palabra, en griego thura, aparece tres veces en el libro (Apocalipsis 3: 8, 20; 4: 1).* En dos de esas tres menciones, la «puerta» está relacionada con Dios y en ambas ocasiones la puerta está «abierta».Tanto en tiempos de Juan como en el presente, una puerta abierta es sinónimo de oportunidad, así como de acceso libre y garantizado.  ¿No es ese un hermoso mensaje para hoy? De parte de Dios, las puertas están siempre abiertas para sus hijos. Las oportunidades están garantizadas para ti. Tienes libre acceso para que en tu vida se cumpla el propósito que Dios preparó para ti desde antes de la fundación del mundo. Y las puertas no solo están abiertas para ti, sino que como es Jesús mismo el que las abre, nadie las puede cerrar (ver Apocalipsis 3: 8). Pero no olvidemos que hay una tercera puerta en Apocalipsis.La tercera mención a una «puerta» (gr. thura) aparece en Apocalipsis 3:20. Sin embargo, a diferencia de las otras dos menciones de esta palabra, esta «puerta», que a menudo se ha equiparado con el acceso al corazón humano, no está abierta. Mientras que Dios deja sus puertas abiertas y garantiza el acceso a la salvación y sus bendiciones, a menudo nosotros mantenemos cerrada la puerta que permite a Dios entrar en nuestras vidas. ¡Qué gran contraste!Hoy, como cada día, Jesús está tocando a la puerta de tu corazón. Él desea otorgarte las más ricas y abundantes bendiciones. ¿Cómo le responderás? 

NOTAS DE ELENAMaterial complementario de la escuela Sabática para adultosNarrado por: Patty CuyanDesde: California, USAUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist ChurchMARTES, 17 DE JUNIOOTRA IMAGEN Y LA ORDEN DE ADORARLAPruebas y persecuciones sobrevendrán a todos los que obedezcan la Palabra de Dios y se nieguen a rendir culto a este falso día de reposo. La fuerza es el último recurso de toda religión falsa. Al principio emplea la atracción, así como el rey de Babilonia probó el poder de la música y la ostentación externa. Si esos atractivos, inventados por hombres inspirados por Satanás, no hacían que los hombres adoraran la imagen, las devoradoras llamas del horno estaban listas para consumirlos. Así será ahora [pronto]. El papado ha ejercido su poder para obligar a los hombres a que le obedezcan, y continuará haciéndolo. Necesitamos el mismo espíritu que fue manifestado por los siervos de Dios en el conflicto con el paganismo. Dando cuenta del trato que el emperador de Roma daba a los cristianos, Tertuliano dice: "Se nos arroja a las fieras para hacernos retractar; se nos quema en las llamas; se nos condena a prisiones y a minas; se nos destierra a islas, como Patmos, y todo ha fracasado". Así fue en el caso de los tres dignatarios hebreos; su ojo era único para la gloria de Dios; sus almas estaban firmes; el poder de la verdad los mantuvo firmes en su lealtad a Dios. Solo el poder de Dios nos capacitará para serle leales... Los mandamientos de los hombres finitos y pecadores deben hundirse en la insignificancia al lado de la Palabra del Dios eterno. La verdad debe ser obedecida a cualquier precio, incluso cuando las prisiones, las cadenas y el destierro nos miren de frente. Si eres leal y fiel, el mismo Dios que caminó con los tres jóvenes hebreos en el horno de fuego, que protegió a Daniel en el foso de los leones, que se manifestó a Juan en la isla solitaria, te acompañará dondequiera que vayas. Su presencia permanente te consolará y te sostendrá, y harás realidad la promesa: "El que me ama, mi palabra guardará; y mi Padre le amará, y vendremos a él, y haremos morada con él" (The Signs of the Times, 6 de mayo, 1897, "God's Care for His Children", párr. 16, 18). La bestia de dos cuernos "hace [ordena] que todos, pequeños y grandes, así ricos como pobres, así libres como esclavos, tengan una marca sobre su mano derecha, o sobre su frente; y que nadie pueda comprar o vender, sino aquel que tenga la marca, es decir, el nombre de la bestia o el número de su nombre". Apocalipsis 13:16, 17 (VM). La amonestación del tercer ángel es: "¡Si alguno adora a la bestia y a su imagen, y recibe su marca en su frente, o en su mano, él también beberá del vino de la ira de Dios!"... Después de amonestar contra la adoración de la bestia y de su imagen, la profecía dice: "Aquí está la paciencia de los santos; aquí están los que guardan los mandamientos de Dios, y la fe de Jesús". En vista de que los que guardan los mandamientos de Dios están puestos así en contraste con los que adoran la bestia y su imagen y reciben su marca, se deduce que la observancia de la ley de Dios, por una parte, y su violación, por la otra, establecen la distinción entre los que adoran a Dios y los que adoran a la bestia (El conflicto de los siglos, pp. 439, 440). 

Najnovejša mednarodna raziskava Patmos je pokazala, da je v obstoj Boga prepričanih več kot 60 odstotkov Slovencev, za 26 odstotkov pa je vera pomemben del vsakdanjega življenja. Ozrli smo se tudi v Župnijo Rovte, v kateri se bodo v teh dneh spomnili rojaka, duhovnika Janeza Hladnika, ki je umrl pred 60 leti.

The sad and disgraceful record of our two chapters is one of the 2 appendices to the time of the judges and occurred in Judges. The events described happened quite early in that 450 year period, at the epoch when the elders who had outlived Joshua were all dead. It is the prequel to the Samson record described in chapters 13-16. These chapters explain both the apostasy commenced by the tribe of Dan and the reasons why many of the faithful Danites did not move to the territory that was conquered by the ambitious and ruthless leaders of the tribe, against the laid back Zidonians. The story begins at the time of Moses' grandson, whose name was changed by a scribe in the AV, to protect the reputation and esteem in which Moses was held. However the ESV tells us in 18 verse 30 that it was Jonathan the son of Gershom the son of Moses, rather than an unnamed Levite mentioned in Judges 17verse 7. Micah's mother is a dishonest idolater who congratulates her son for confessing his theft and then his mother changes the terms of her vow. Such was the morality of those days when everyone did what was right in their own eyes ie each person was the arbiter of what was right to him, or her. Chapter 18 describes the morality of the majority of the tribe of Dan who are prepared to kidnap Jonathan the Levite. They were prepared to slaughter the enraged men of Micah's centre of idol worship. Then they slaughtered the peaceful people of a city, 17 kilometres to the east of the Zidonian coast, rather than obey the commandment of the LORD to destroy the Canaanites and take their allotted inheritance. In that place the Danites commence the apostacy that resulted in the calf worship in Dan many centuries later in the days of Jeroboam 1 of Israel. Isaiah 40 is the commencement of the section of the prophecy through to chapter 66 often called the ‘gospel in the Old Testament'. It begins with ‘the comfort' of God being revealed to His people. As we read this chapter the echoes of Handel's Messiah resonate in our ears. The mission of John the Baptist and the unveiling of God's glory that would be seen in Jesus the Messiah is next spoken about. Humanity's true state and redemptive need are shown, together with the only solution to this problem, to be enlivened and transformed by the Word of God, and thus be fitted for perpetuating in the coming Kingdom. That Word has the power to spiritually transform us during our time of sojourning that we may be fitted for God physically changing us at Christ's coming: Philippians 3 verse 20-21. The good news would begin in Jerusalem with the gospel being taught by a loving and caring tender shepherd: the Lord Jesus Christ. The Messiah would be supported by the prevailing and Omnipotent power of the Almighty Father, who would similarly empower all His children to be with Messiah when he comes on earth to rule. The chapter concludes with an empowering vision of what immortality will feel like . Carefully read verses 28-31 and see yourself as the recipient of divine mercy and being there when Messiah rules. The first of John's 3 letters was written between 85-98 AD by the aged and much beloved Apostle. He was one of the Lord's special 3 – Peter, James and John – who were selected by Jesus from among the 12 to witness select events and miracles. Together with his brother James, they were both fishermen and partners of Peter and Andrew in the fishing business. Their father Zebedee and his wife Salome appear to have owned the Galilean business. Salome seems to have been Mary's sister; making the two Apostles first cousins of our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter and John were paired by the Lord Jesus for various tasks including preaching. Peter may well have been the oldest of the Apostles and John the youngest. Peter died first as was prophesied by the Lord Jesus Christ around 67 AD; while John died up to 40, or more years after that time (see John 21verses 20-24). There are many internal evidences to the fact that the epistles of John and the book of Revelation were written towards the end of the first century AD (Revelation being the last writing of the New Testament; written after John's exile to the island of Patmos in 96 AD under the Emperor Trajan). John describes himself in each of the three letters as, “the Elder”. The vitally important themes of chapter 1 describe God's terms for forgiving us: 1. Confession and repentance 2. Being in Christ by baptism – the blood of Christ cleanses us 3. + Propitiation – Rom 3 : Grk hilasterion, Translated mercy seat in Hebrews. = chair, THRONE; MEETING PLACE- ROM 3 God is enthroned in Jesus Christ and “he* is the ONLY place wher God will meet with men. Verses 1-4 of chapter 1 speaks of what we heard from the beginning. Which beginning, we ask? The gospel of John tells us, 1:1 “In the beginning”. This was the birth of the Son of God – see verses 9-18 which speaks of the time when our Lord came into being (compare Acts 10 verses 35-43). They knew the Lord, ate with him, walked and talked with him. And to know our Lord was to understand His Father; and in that knowing was eternal life (John 17 verses 1-3). And the understanding of this good news (gospel) would lead to everlasting life in the kingdom of God, which will be set up at our Lord's coming (2 Timothy 4 verse 1). The sharing of this understanding brings fellowship in joining together in partaking of the bread and wine (communion means sharing together); and also joy unspeakable. Verses 5-10 deal with, “Walking in the light”. Again a comparison with chapter 1 of John's gospel record, shows the significance of light to the walk of the disciple – here Jesus is described as a light imparting source (phos – such as the light of the sun), contrasted to the light (luchnos – portable lamp) of the disciple John the Baptist. The three great themes of John's first letter are: 1) God is light; 2) God is life; and, 3) God is love. The theme that “God is light flows from the first letter 1:5-2:6. The Apostle speaks in absolutes, black and white; and so he says, that there is no hint of any shadow (cp James 1:17). Wrong behaviour, says John, is evidence of not understanding the relationship believers have with the Father and His Son. Of course believers sin through weakness, but it is not in character with them to wilfully choose a life of sin. But as long as we are endeavouring to follow in Christ's footsteps we will be forgiven upon confession of our sins. Verse 8 tells us that if we deny that our nature is biased to sin; or that we are not sinning; we are self deceived. However forgiveness is available to those in Christ who confess and forsake their sins. But, chapter 2 commences, “we have an advocate in the heavens in our Lord Jesus Christ. The word “advocate”, is a kindred word to the “comforter” (used in the gospel record in John; which the Lord was himself – and when he departed for heaven to be our priestly mediator; the Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus as another “comforter”). The word used here speaks of a defender in a court of law. The Greek word means, “I call and he runs to my side to aid me”. Our heartfelt confession and repentance means we need not fear rejection since the Lord Jesus Christ has provided a “place of introduction for us to God's mercy – the word “propitiation” (see Romans 3 verses 21-26, 8 verses 27-39; compare with Ephesians 2 verses1-22). The basis for our acceptance before God is “Jesus Christ the righteous”. The righteous forgiveness provided by the LORD induces a moral imperative to walk in the way of the Almighty (Psalm 130). Chapter 2 verses 5-2 and 29 is the connection between God being light (phos illumination as opposed to reflection); and God being love. In fact, because He is love it is essential that He be an Illuminating source to His children through the Word of God (cp 1 Timothy 2 verses 1-5; 2 Peter 3 verses 8-13). In verses 7-14 the aged Apostle restates the “new commandment” of Jesus Christ, which was new to the extent that agape love had never been demonstrated to that extent before in any man other than our Lord cp John 15 verses 9-17). The loving life of the disciple flows from an understanding mind that has been illuminated by the Word of the Father (Proverbs 4 verses 18-19). The confidence of the forgiven saint impels one upon the path of loving and self sacrificing service to others. John writes to fathers, children and young men with the confidence that he will see the fruit of the word in their lives. He tells us from verses 15-17 that the perishing and transient world consists of no more than passions dominated by “the lust of the flesh” (these are the carnal appetites which tend to control what we do); “the lust of the eyes” (principally covetousness and our insatiable desire for more); and, “the pride of life” (the importance of being someone that is always greater than another). Christ conquered all of these through the heritage of his divine Sonship; and the Word of God impelling his every thought and action (Isaiah 11 verses 1-5). Verses 18 to 27 speak of the time of the development of the Antichrist among the believers (Greek “antechristos” from “ante” meaning the substitute, or usurper; and “christos” that is the Christ, Yahweh's Anointed). False teaching is evidence of this; and was even apparent towards the end of the first century AD. In its fully blown development it turned into the apostasy of the Church described in the books of – Revelation; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; and 2 Thessalonians 2 verses 1-12 and others. The true believers would resist corruption of teaching and practice through their immersion (anointing in/by the Word of God (1 Peter 1 verses 21-25, Titus 2 verses 11-15; 3 verses 1-11). Verses 28-29 express John's assurance that such believers will continue in the true course until the Lord Jesus Christ comes.

(3:55) Bible Study: 2 Corinthians 3:15 - 4:1, 3-6 What is the hidden letter to the Corinthians? Father explains (21:58) Break 1 Father expounds on the meaning of the Veil. (27:24) Letters: Who was the woman well known among the apostles? When is a lay person permitted to open the tabernacle? Father answers these and other questions. Send him a letter at simon@relevantradio.com (35:07) Break 2 (35:40) Word of the Day Father shares three words of the day today? (37:49) Phones: Ken - question about Paul: I believe Paul had a near death experience and went to heaven. Ken - I love you Father Simon and appreciate you coming on every day. Father Simon needs to hear it from his listeners Carlos - there were people giving communion to out to patients in hospital without asking if they were catholic. is that right? John - when exactly did Thomas receive the holy spirit? Rocco - in the past as early Christians did they take the Eucharist home for the week after mass? Jan - can you recommend any reading material regarding detachment specifically regarding detachment from wanting good health in hard times? Christine - should spiritual mentors be the same as your confessor? AND when they pour the wine, i see they wipe the cup before drinking it. why? Rosemary - is it mandatory to go to mass after having surgery or do you need to go to confession first... Ricardo - is Patmos island a good place to go?

Det är inte slut förrän det är över! När Johannes, lärjungen Jesus älskade, på ålderns höst förvisas till ön Patmos, rör sig många tankar i hans huvud. ”Vad det så här det skulle sluta?” Men där och då, när han är i Anden, mullrar en röst som med en basun styrka får Johannes att inse att ”det är inte slut förrän det är över”. Många gånger när vi tror att det är slut, har inte ens Jesus stigit in i handlingen. Han är Alpha, alltings början, men han är också Omega! Det är en uppmuntran till dig som lyssnar på undervisningen. Att oavsett hur ditt liv ser ut just nu, så är det inte slut förrän det är över! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

====================================================SUSCRIBETEhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNpffyr-7_zP1x1lS89ByaQ?sub_confirmation=1==================================================== DEVOCIÓN MATUTINA PARA MUJERES 2025“AMANECER CON JESÚS”Narrado por: Sirley DelgadilloDesde: Bucaramanga, ColombiaUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist Church===================|| www.drministries.org ||===================09 de JunioEl Cordero que venció como León«Entonces uno de los ancianos me dijo: "No llores, porque el León de la tribu de Judá, la raíz de David, ha vencido para abrir el libro y desatar sus siete sellos"» (Apocalipsis 5:5).¿Has imaginado alguna vez al apóstol Juan, un anciano confinado a la soledad, llorando con amargura? Imagina que estás en Patmos y tu instinto de protección te acerca a él. Al llegar le preguntas: «¿Por qué llora, papito?» Él responde: «Porque no se ha encontrado en toda la tierra, ni en el cielo, ni debajo de la tierra, alguien que sea digno de abrir el libro que el anciano que está sentado en el trono tiene en su mano». Tú te quedas muda, pensando de qué libro habla Juan, mientras él sigue llorando.Nuestra mente no alcanza a comprender en toda su extensión lo que ocurrió en la isla de Patmos. Por tal motivo, el libro de Apocalipsis, en muchos casos, es el que menos queremos leer. Antes de verlo como un libro de juicios y terror, debemos de apreciarlo como un libro de victoria. Mientras, Juan sigue llorando, pues tú no lo has podido consolar. Uno de los veinticuatro ancianos se acerca a Juan y le dice: «Ya no llores, ya se encontró a uno que es digno de abrir el libro». En seguida Juan para de llorar y seca sus lágrimas. La sonrisa ilumina su cansado rostro, sus ojos brillan debajo de sus párpados caídos, mientras sus oídos siguen atentos a las palabras del anciano: «el León de la tribu de Judá ha vencido». Juan levanta la mirada buscando al León, pero en su lugar ve a un Cordero inmolado a quien los cuatro seres vivientes y los veinticuatro ancianos le están rindiendo adoración con cánticos y arpas.Juan ha dejado de llorar. ¿Por qué hoy tú sigues llorando? Si ya sabes que el León ha vencido y que te ha redimido, entonces para de llorar. Es probable que las lágrimas no salen de tus ojos y, sin embargo, vives quejándote de tu suerte, de la desdicha de este mundo, de la maldad que invade y destruye, de los líderes de la congregación, de la enfermedad, del silencio de Dios y otros motivos que tú conoces. No llores, es la orden. No hay motivos para seguir hundida en la tristeza y el desánimo. La buena noticia es que Jesús peleó por ti como un León y murió como un Cordero para que hoy obtengas la victoria. No llores. 

The apostle John came as close to being a time traveler as any man is likely to be. When he was sitting near the coast on the isle of Patmos one day, a great voice behind him said: “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia.” And what John saw was enough to make our hair stand on end.But we have to decide what it is we are reading when we pick up the Book of Revelation. There is a view that says John traveled in vision and saw the future. He saw people and events and tries to describe them for us as best he can. One source on this, for example postulates that John actually saw a helicopter assault in this vision, but having never seen a chopper, he described them as locusts. Mind you, he didn't say they were like locusts. He said they were locusts. The fundamental assumption here is that John was carried into the future and saw real events. And from that assumption comes another one. The events described in Revelation have, to all intents and purpose, already happened. Because John has seen them.“Now wait a minute”, I can hear someone say, “How can these things have already happened and be in the future at the same time?” We have walked smack into a paradox. Look at it this way. If they haven't happened, how could John have seen them as they happened. Before we blow a mental fuse, let's back away from this and consider another way of looking at the Book of revelation. John did not travel forward in time. He had a vision, and he wrote it down. That vision has come forward to us as the Book of Revelation.Someone once said that prophecy is history written in advance. I don't think so, and let me try to explain why. For history to be written in advance, it must already exist. That means you and I have no choice. The future is already written and all we can do is walk through it. Our choices are already written down and we can't change them. But I don't believe either the future or the past exist. The past no longer exists. The future does not yet exist. This has serious implications for the study of the Book of Revelation. So how should we look at this book?

Deus revelou uma Palavra poderosa para o Apóstolo João na Ilha de Patmos, mas essa mesma revelação é presente e atual para nossos dias. Ouça nesta mensagem como a mensagem do Livro do Apocalipse nos impacta atualmente! @embaixadasavoy

Ezekiel 1:25-2:1; Revelation 1:9-17While these types of experiences seem rare, they can occur today, not only to great prophets but those that consider themselves ordinary believers. They are especially crafted by God to produce “Awe”, or what we call the “Fear of the Lord” which is a foundational experience (Proverb 1:7, 9:10) which aids the believer to develop “Compassionate wisdom.” This type of experience usually induced by either theophany or angelic appearance can be shocking to the surprised recipient but it is given to produce awe of God. This experience prepares the believer for a very challenging call and mission. This type of experience can also resolve the subtle evil of becoming “over-familiar” with God: all daddy and no Lord; which may lead to a primarily egocentric relationship, where God becomes an easy broker or a soft touch: Remember that in the Lord's prayer “your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” come before Give us today our daily bread etc. God has for all of us His will to be done on earth and sometimes it is so challenging that He gives such shocking experiences. It helps produce awe, respect, reverence for God that surpasses the normal human responses like fear because of the difficult call and challenge to their faith. And as in Paul's life, God given radical manifestation began his ministry and continued throughout his ministry (Acts 9:23:11; 27:23)Our key passages (Ephesians 1:25-2:1; Revelation 1:9-17) Continue to illustrate the humanly uncomfortable manifestations for God's prophets' but what begins as a shock ends with wisdom, confidence in God and His plan.Usually these shocking manifestation of God occur when God's macro/major plans are revealed: Other examples are easy to locate in Scripture.  Abraham's call in Genesis 12:3 “Where he fell face down” before God's revelation.Moses Burning Bush experience in Exodus 3, The whole chapter records Moses shock and human reticenceIsaiah's reaction in Isaiah 6:1-5 especially verse 5, “woe to me!” I am ruined… because eyes have seen the king, the Lord almighty” Remember also Job 42:1-5)Mary's response to the angel Gabriel, Luke 1:29-30 “... Mary was greatly troubled and confused at the angel's words'The disciples at Jesus's transfiguration (Matthew 17:6 “When the disciples heard the voice of the Lord, declaring Jesus as His son, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified!While these experiences themselves seem to be far from a blessing they all lead to a great respect for God and HIs personal call in their lives, an “Awe” and confidence that He who calls us is able to empower us to get it done (Philippians 1:6) a shock experience that leads to glory.Finally these experiences can be distinguished from an Ananias and Sapphira type of experience. Which illustrates a judgment from God. John the revelator's “falling at the risen Jesus's feet”, as though dead that produced great fear” was only a prelude to His call that produced great awe before God: John was “awestruck” before Jesus and His great Revelation. He received an experience while in prison at the island of Patmos, to encourage him to continue to see and write God's final Revelation. John still had a purpose for the Kingdom & God had not abandoned him, even in prison.Amen 

Join Dr. James Spencer on the Thinking Christian Podcast with Dr. Shane J. Wood, author of Thinning the Veil: Encountering Jesus Christ in the Book of Revelation. Dive into a unique perspective on Revelation that moves beyond end-times predictions to focus on a transformative encounter with Christ. Explore themes of John's loneliness on Patmos, the nature of persecution as pressure to conform, and how the revelation of Jesus Christ calls believers to live faithfully in the present. This episode offers fresh insights for Christians seeking to understand Revelation not just as a roadmap of the future, but as a call to a deeper, Christ-centered life today.

Diário de Viagem para as Terras Bíblicas – Ep. 4Com Paulo Borges Júnior e ElvioA caminho da ilha de Patmos, gravamos esta conversa a bordo do barco.⛵ Falamos sobre o Brasil, o Acre e os lugares de isolamento que nos revelam.

Diário de Viagem para as Terras Bíblicas – Ep. 5Com Paulo Borges Júnior e JonhNa volta da ilha de Patmos para a Turquia, conversamos a bordo com Jonh, um jovem marinheiro.⛴️ Entre céu e mar, uma conversa sincera sobre fé, busca e espiritualidade.

Making All Things New – Today's scripture is from Revelation 21, where John of Patmos, the visionary, sees a new heaven and a new earth, a new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven, along with an announcement that God will be dwelling with the people and there will be no more tears, sorrow, crying, or pain. It is appropriate for the Easter season when the agony of Good Friday was tossed away by the resurrection of Jesus. The question for us is whether we believe that God is always doing a new thing. In her sermon, Carol gives several personal examples of times when things appeared dismal, but then they turned around. She also cites several places in Biblical prophecy where those kinds of things were heralded by the likes of Isaiah and Jeremiah. She reminds us of the setting for the Book of Revelation, believers who were suffering because of their beliefs in God as ruler rather than the Roman emperor as ruler. Those believers were sometimes even executed for their beliefs, but this word from God through John of Patmos offered them a new Jerusalem, a new hope. If or when we feel like everything is falling apart, it would be good to remember this vision of the new Jerusalem and God's promise to live among us and make all things new.

The Book of Revelation invites us into a profound journey of faith, hope, and divine revelation. As we explore the first chapter, we're reminded of Christ's eternal nature as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. This powerful imagery emphasizes God's sovereignty over all of history. The vivid description of Jesus in His glorified state challenges us to see Him not just as the humble servant, but as the majestic King of Kings. How does this elevated view of Christ impact our daily walk and worship? The message encourages us to embrace both the comfort of Christ's personal touch and the awe of His divine authority. As we contemplate John's vision, we're called to examine our own spiritual state. Are we, like John, ready to fall at Jesus' feet in reverence? This passage reminds us that no matter how dire our circumstances – even in our own personal 'Patmos' – God can use us and reveal Himself to us in powerful ways.

A Sermon for the Third Sunday after Easter St. John 16:16-22 by William Klock On Easter morning we heard St. John's account of the empty tomb.  How Mary Magdalene had come running to the house where he and Peter and the others were hiding.  How she sobbed out that someone had taken Jesus' body.  How he and Peter ran to the tomb as dawn was breaking and how they found it empty, with the linen graveclothes lying there neatly.  And we heard John say that “he believed”.  Somehow…inexplicably…Jesus had risen from the dead.  John believed in the resurrection of the dead.  They all did.  It was their hope.  But it wasn't supposed to happen like this.  Maybe it was fear, maybe it was confusion, maybe he just wanted to be more certain, but he didn't say anything.  They went back to the house where the other disciples were.  They went back into hiding.  Doors locked, windows shuttered, no lights, no fire.  When things blew over, they could sneak out of Jerusalem, slink back to Galilee.  Maybe they could go back to their old lives and everyone would forget that they'd been followers of Jesus. But then the next week we read from John's first epistle.  We read those words: Everything that is fathered by God conquers the world.  This is the victory that conquers the world: our faith!  That doesn't sound like the same John afraid to even tell his friends that he believed Jesus had been raised from death.  And last week we read from Peter's first epistle and he exhorted us to bear patiently with suffering.  Peter went from hiding behind locked doors on Easter to boldly preaching the risen Jesus in the temple court just fifty days later.  He would eventually find himself proclaiming that gospel in Rome itself, where he would be martyred for that holy boldness.  What happened? Brothers and Sisters, hope happened.  Jesus, the risen Messiah, appeared to them in that locked room.  They saw him, resurrected and renewed and yet still the same Jesus with the scars of the cross in his hands and feet.  They saw Jesus risen from the dead.  Not a ghost, not a spirt, but Jesus bodily raised.  It wasn't supposed to happen that way.  It was supposed to be everybody all at once, not just one person even if he was the Messiah.  But there he was, proving the old doctrine of the Pharisees and the Prophets and their fathers true—just not the way they expected.  But even that's not so much what motivated them to leave their hiding places and to proclaim the risen Jesus to the world.  It's what Jesus' resurrection meant.  Because Jesus' resurrection was more than just an astounding miracle.  Jesus' resurrection was the proof that God's new world had been born, that new creation had begun, that the promises he made through the prophets and the hopes of God's people were being fulfilled.  Jesus' resurrection meant that the hopes of God's people were finally becoming reality.  Jesus had kindled God's light in the midst of the darkness and they knew the darkness would never overcome it.  But as they worked this out, they also realised that while Jesus had inaugurated this new creation, it would be they—Peter, John, Mary, the others, you and I—who would carry and announce God's new creation to the world.  Again, this hope, made real, made manifest in the resurrection of Jesus, is what sent the disciples out, not just to announce that God had performed a miracle in raising Jesus, but to announce the God's new creation had been born and that Jesus is its king—and if that proclamation cost them everything, even if it got them killed—they knew that God would raise them and that he would vindicate them, just as he had Jesus. Nothing else changed.  They were hiding in that locked and darkened house because—usually—when the authorities crucified a rebel or a revolutionary, they would also round up and crucify his followers.  As it turned out, it doesn't seem that anyone was seriously interested in doing that to Jesus' disciples.  But they didn't know that.  The real danger came when they went out and began proclaiming the good news about Jesus—as they challenged the false gods and the pretend kings of the darkness with the light of the Lord Jesus, as they confronted this fallen world and its systems with God's new creation.  That's when they were mocked, beaten, arrested, and martyred. Think of Paul.  He was one of the one's breathing threats against Jesus' disciples.  He was there looking on while Stephen was stoned, holding coats so people could better throw stones at him.  And then as Paul was on his way to round up Christians to bring them before the Jewish authorities, he was met by the risen Jesus.  And, again, it wasn't just an amazing miracle that inspired Paul to take up his own cross and to follow Jesus—to follow Jesus and to be beaten, stoned, imprisoned, and eventually murdered for the sake of the gospel.  It was hope.  It was what the resurrection of Jesus meant.  Jesus, risen from the dead, was proof of God's faithfulness and proof that his promises of forgiveness and new life and new creation and of humanity and creation set to rights—everything the Jews (and Paul!) had hoped and longed for—it was proof that it was all true and that it was coming true in Jesus.  The light has come into the darkness and the darkness has not and never will overcome it.  It was proof that if we are in Jesus the Messiah, we have a share in God's new creation and that no amount of suffering and not even death can take that away.  People aren't going to risk their lives to report a miracle.  What drove Peter, John, Paul—and all our brothers and sisters since—what drove them to risk everything to proclaim the good news was the knowledge, the assurance, the hope that through that proclamation God's promised new creation would overcome the darkness, the sadness, the tears—that it would make all the sad things of this broken world come untrue—for them and eventually for everyone who believes.  The kingdom would spread and grow until heaven and earth, God and humanity are at one again. All of this is what Jesus is getting at in our Gospel today from John 16.  It's from the middle of the long teaching that Jesus gave to his disciples when they were in the Garden of Gethsemane, after they ate that last Passover meal with Jesus.  Over and over Jesus exhorts them saying things like, Don't let your hearts be troubled…trust God and trust me, too.  And: I chose you, and I appointed you to go and bear fruit that will last…If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you.  If you were from the world, the world would be fond of its own.  But the world hates you because you're not from the world.  No, I chose you out of the world.  And at the beginning of Chapter 16 he says to them: I've said these things to you to stop you from being tripped up.  They will put you out of the synagogues.  In fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will suppose that they are in that way offering worship to God…I have told you these things so that when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them.   I expect the disciples were remembering that part of what Jesus said very well when they were hiding.  “Jesus said they'd come to kill us,” they whispered in the dark.  What they didn't remember—or at least what they didn't understand were the words we read today.  In verse 16 Jesus says: “Not long from now, you won't see me anymore.  Then again, not long after that, you will see me.”   They expected—like pretty much everyone else—that the Messiah would bring some kind of revolt or revolution.  He would overthrow the pagans and take the throne of Israel and, ruling over Israel, he would restore God's people to their rightful place and status in the world.  So it's no wonder that when they heard this, they started murmuring amongst themselves.  John goes on: “What's he talking about?” some of his disciples asked each other.  “What's this business about ‘not long from now, you won't see me, and again not long after that you will see me'?  And what's this about ‘going to the Father'?”   Maybe Jesus was going to finally do what the Messiah was supposed to do.  Maybe he was going to go gather his army and come back to battle the Romans.  John writes: They kept on saying it.  “What is this ‘not long'?”  “What's it all about?”  “We don't know what he means!”  Jesus was doing that thing again where he would say cryptic things or tell a confusing story.  It got their interest and then he could fill them in.  Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, John says. “You're discussing with each other what I meant, aren't you?” he said.  “You want to know what I meant by saying, ‘Not long from now, you won't see me; and then again, not long after that you will see me.'  That's it, isn't it?  Well, I'm going to tell you the solemn truth.”   I can see them all stopping the whispers and leaning forward.  “Yes, Teacher.  Tell us what you mean!”  So Jesus goes on in the silence:  “You will weep and wail, but the world will celebrate.  You will be overcome with sorrow, but your sorrow will turn into joy.”  I can picture the confused looks coming back to their faces.  The Messiah was supposed to make everything all better.  He was supposed to set everything to rights and to wipe away all the tears.  The Messiah was supposed to bring an end to weeping and wailing!  So Jesus gives them an illustration they could understand: “When a woman is giving birth she is in anguish, because her moment has come.  But when the child is born, she no longer remembers the suffering, because of the joy that a human being has been born into the world.”  And then he adds in verse 22: In the same way, you have sorrow now.  But I shall see you again, and your hearts will celebrate, and nobody will take your joy from you.”   Even with the childbirth illustration, it was still pretty cryptic.  Even with what follows—which we'll come to in our Gospel for Rogation Sunday in two more weeks—even with that, the disciples really didn't understand—yet.  It was all there in the Prophets and it was all there in the things Jesus had been teaching.  The son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the legal experts.  He must be killed and raised up on the third day,” Jesus had said at one point.  It doesn't get much clearer than that.  And yet the events of that first Good Friday and Easter Day came as a complete surprise to them.  But then when they met the risen Jesus it all started to come back to them and it started to fall into place.  The wheels started turning.  Mental light bulbs started turning on.  The one thing left that they needed was the Holy Spirit—but I don't want to get ahead of the story.  We're still in that fifty days between Easter and Pentecost. And I think those fifty days must have been some of the most exciting days in the history of the world.  The disciples sat with Jesus—risen and glorified, the first bit of God's new creation real and tangible and true right there with them—and he taught them.  He went back over the scriptures—no doubt saying things he'd said a hundred times before—but now, in light of the resurrection, it all started to make sense.  And I can imagine their excitement growing between being there with Jesus in all his resurrected glory and as they connected the scriptural dots and as they saw how the story they had grown up with, the story they lived every year at Passover, the story that defined who they were, the story they knew so, so, so well began to unfold in a new way.  They'd always known it was a great story about the mighty and saving deeds of the Lord, but over those forty days in the presence of Jesus and hearing him teach and explain the story turned into something more glorious than they ever could have imagined.  The God they'd known became so much bigger and more glorious than they ever thought he could be.  And then it was time for Jesus to ascend and he had to tell them, “Wait.”  They were ready and eager and excited to go out into Jerusalem and Judea to start telling everyone the story—the story everyone knew, but now seen in a new and glorious light through the lens of Jesus' resurrection—and about this new hope they knew.  God's new creation had finally come and they'd spent the last forty days living in his presence.  But Jesus said, “Wait.  Your excitement about what God has done is only part of what you need.  Wait.  Just a little bit—ten more days—so I can send God's Spirit.  Couple this good news with the power of the Spirit and not even the gates of hell will stop you!” And, Lord knows, the gates of hell have tried, but the gates of hell had already done their worst at the cross, and Jesus rose victorious.  And that's how and that's why those first disciples took up their crosses and followed Jesus.  Peter was crucified at Rome, Andrew was crucified in Greece, Thomas was speared by soldiers in India, Philip was martyred at Carthage, Matthew was martyred in Ethiopia, Bartholomew in Armenia, James was stoned to death in Jerusalem, Simon was martyred in Persia, and Matthias in Syria.  Only John survived, after being exiled to Patmos.  You see, in the risen Jesus they saw the proof that sin and death have been decisively defeated, that the false gods and kings of the old evil age have been exposed, and most of all they saw that God's promised and long-hoped for new creation has been born.  The resurrection gave them hope and that hope sent them out to proclaim the good news even though it meant following in the suffering of Jesus.  And their stories have been the stories of countless Christians through the ages—of the Christians who died in the Roman persecutions, who died at the hands of the Sassanids, the Goths, the Vikings, the Caliphs, the Turks, the Kahns, the French revolutionaries, the Communists, the Islamists.  It's been the stories of countless missionaries who marched into hostile territory for the sake of the gospel, knowing they very well might die for it, but also knowing that the way of the cross is the path into God's new creation. Brothers and Sisters, too often these days we've lost sight of this.  Maybe it's the prosperity gospel, maybe it's that we haven't known any meaningful persecution for so long, but we Christians in the modern west seem to have forgotten this.  There's no room for suffering and the way of the cross in our theology.  We gloss over what look like “failures” in church history.  I was listening to a sermon this past week.  The preacher was telling the story of a missionary named Peter Milne.  Milne was a Scottish minister and part of a group that called themselves “one-way” missionaries.  When they shipped out to far off lands to proclaim the gospel, they packed their worldly goods in a coffin.  It was symbolic.  They were going out as missionaries with no expectation of ever returning home.  They would die—one way or another—in the land they went to evangelise.  Peter Milne went to the New Hebrides in the South Pacific.  It was a land of head-hunting cannibals.  Milne wasn't the first to go.  Others had gone before and were killed by the natives.  Milne was the first to go and to survive and to have a thriving gospel ministry.  When he died fifty-some years later in 1924, he was buried in his coffin with the epitaph: “When he came, there was no light.  When he left, there was no darkness.”  When he'd arrived there wasn't a single Christian on the island.  When he died, there wasn't a single person who wasn't a Christian. But here's the thing—and the preacher I was listening to completely missed it: Following Jesus means first taking up a cross.  It's not about the glory of “successful” ministry.  It's about dying to self, and living for the hope of God's glory and the spread of his kingdom.  The preacher I listened to said nothing of the others who had gone before Milne to the New Hebrides and been martyred.  They don't fit in with our prosperity and business model theology.  We admire their willingness to give their lives for the sake of the gospel, but they sort of get chalked up as failures.  But to do that is to miss what it means to follow Jesus, to know the pangs of childbirth, but to also experience the joy that makes the pain and the sorrow pale in comparison. As Tertullian said, the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church, but so are all the other good-faith “failures”.  There was a week when we were church-planting in Portland that I found myself all alone.  Veronica's mom was sick and she and Alexandra had travelled up to Kelowna.  The other family that was helping us to get things off the ground had to be away that weekend.  It was just me.  But The Oregonian newspaper had just run a story on us.  I'd had several contacts that week.  The show had to go on.  We were meeting at a Lutheran Church on Sunday evenings, so I asked the pastor there if one of their organists could come and play that evening.  She came and she and I sat there waiting.  And 7pm came and went.  And 7:05, and 7:15 and we knew no one was coming.  I was discouraged and it was obvious.  She and I said Evening Prayer together and then she told me her story.  She and her husband, a pastor, had been Lutheran church planters in Jamaica for almost ten years.  They had a very small group that had asked them to come to help them plant a church and for ten years they tried and nothing ever happened.  When they finally decided to quit there were no more people than when they started.  She said that she and her husband found the whole thing utterly discouraging.  They had made significant sacrifices to be there and nothing had happened.  It was tempting to be angry with God.  They returned home thinking they were failures and wondering why.  They'd been faithful in proclaiming Jesus.  They'd spent hours every week in prayer with that little group of people.  And then several years later they received a letter.  It was from a pastor in Kingston.  Not long after they'd left, he'd arrived to plant a church.  His group moved into the building left behind by the Lutherans and quickly began to grow and thrive.  And he wrote to thank them.  “You soaked this place in prayer and you cast gospel seed all through the neighbourhood,” he wrote.  He didn't know why it never grew for them, but he knew they'd been faithful and he was now reaping a harvest he hadn't planted and he wanted to thank them for their faithfulness.  That elderly Lutheran organist told me that story with tears in her eyes and said, “Be faithful and don't be discouraged.  Whatever happens, if you are faithful, the Lord is at work.  Some of us plant, some of us water, some of us reap, but it's all the Lord's work.”  She reminded me of the hope that lies before me—and that lies before all of us—and that Jesus doesn't just call us to follow him; he first calls us to take up our crosses.  Just it was necessary for Jesus to give his life that he might be raised from death, so must we die to ourselves that we might live.  Brothers and Sisters, fix your eyes on Jesus.  He knew the joy that was set before him and so he endured the cross.  He scorned its shame.  And because of that the Father raised him from the dead and has seated him at his right hand.  His kingdom has been born.  Now the joy of the kingdom, of new creation, of God's life is before us.  May it be the reason that we take up our crosses and follow our Lord. Let's pray: Gracious Father, as we come to your Table this morning, give us a taste of your great kingdom feast; let us see Jesus, risen from the dead; and make us especially aware of your indwelling Spirit that we might be filled with the joy of your salvation and the joy of your new creation.  Strengthen us with joy, so that we will not fear to take up our crosses and follow Jesus.  Amen.

“Oh, another dreary day. Nothing exciting is going to happen.” When was the last time you felt like that? John the disciple probably did on the island of Patmos. But something exciting did happen one day—he saw a vision of heaven and the new earth! Imagin

“That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! ‘Peace be with you,’ he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!” (John 20:19–20 NLT) If we were telling the origin story of the Christian church, this would be a compelling first scene. A handful of Jesus’ followers hiding behind closed doors, shell-shocked, confused, and too scared to show their faces in public. Suddenly the risen Jesus miraculously appears in the flesh, victorious over sin and death, confirming the truth of everything He taught and promised them. At some point, either while Jesus was in the room or after He left, the truth must have dawned on them. If the One they served is more powerful than sin and death, then (1) they had nothing to fear, and (2) the world needed to know. We see their newfound boldness and sense of purpose in the passages that follow. That’s the power of the resurrection. Armed with that power, this small group of believers changed the world. And most of them sacrificed their lives to do it. According to church tradition, Peter took the gospel to Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia, Cappadocia, and Asia. He was crucified upside down because he told his executioners that he wasn’t worthy of being crucified in the same manner as Jesus. Andrew spread the gospel through what is now Russia, Turkey, and Greece. He, too, was crucified. Thomas wasn’t present when Jesus first appeared to the disciples in John 20. And he doubted their story. But when Jesus appeared again, and Thomas saw Him, his doubts disappeared. He took the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection all the way to India. He died after being impaled by the spears of four soldiers. Philip spread the gospel in North Africa and Asia Minor. After he converted the wife of a Roman official, the official had him put to death. Matthew, the tax collector, traveled to Persia and Ethiopia to spread Jesus’ message. He was stabbed to death. Bartholomew accompanied Thomas to India and also shared the gospel in Armenia, Ethiopia, and Southern Arabia. He was crucified. James, the son of Alphaeus, shared the Good News of Christ throughout Syria. He was stoned and then clubbed to death. Simon took the gospel to Persia. He was put to death there when he refused to make a sacrifice to the sun god. Matthias was the man chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. He shared the gospel in Syria, where he was burned to death. John is believed to be the only disciple who died a natural death. He was exiled to the penal colony of Patmos. The apostle Paul traveled extensively to share the gospel. He was beheaded in Rome. The apostle John ended his Gospel with these words: “Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25 NLT). Among the “many other things” was the impact Jesus had on a small group of ordinary people. He changed their lives forever. And, in turn, they changed the world in His name. As Jesus’ followers, we’re still called to change the world—one life at a time. We have Good News to share—the best news, in fact. If we’re faithful to our calling, we can impact lives for eternity. Reflection question: In what ways would you like to be bolder in sharing your faith with others? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Take up your cross, my cross, and follow:ME: OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.So, if you become a Christian, and you should and I pray that you are, you have one promise from our Lord of what is to come, and that is:PERSECUTION.Of course there is joy, rejoicing, grace, bliss, faith, hope, strength, and so much more when you join forces with, become a disciple of, and fall in love with:JESUS CHRIST.But, there comes with all these positives, the negative of:PERSECUTION.For the most part, the world hates Christianity. Secularists disavow and dislike anything about Jesus. And that leaves secular governments to crack down on Christians, Christianity, and the belief and practice thereof.Take China for example. The Chinese Communist Dictator Xi Jinping has tightened his grip on religious activities in the world's second most populous country. The Chinese Communist Party announced last week that starting May 1, foreign missionaries will be prohibited from sharing their faith or preaching, as well as establishing religious organizations. So, if you are Christian in China, you cannot testify about your faith and belief in Jesus Christ. Nor can you preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Nor can you establish congregations, churches, or any type of religious Christian organization in China. That to me is simply unbelievable and unacceptable, and it will be for so many Christians in China. Nothing will prevent them from sharing and testifying, nothing. And many will become martyrs, jailed, or even killed-executed for their faith. They will gladly, willingly, and lovingly take up their cross, lay their all on the altar, and count themselves blessed if martyrdom happens, and as a result, they go to their eternal reward. China and the Chinese Communist Party are absolutely brutal.The Chinese Communist Party wants to SINICIZE all religion in China. That is, whatever the Communist Party determines religion to be, will be the only one in China. After May 1, 2025, there will be new regulations, a greater crack-down on all religions, but especially Christianity and persecution will be the new normal.We often think of Russia as the main enemy of the United States. Traditionally, that nation has been just that. But today, the number one threat to democracy and America, is none other than the second most populous country in the world:CHINA.It is becoming a superpower and its military strength, army, navy, marines, and special forces grow every day and becomes the number one threat to America and the world over. It is a nation to be reckoned with and it will be used by the forces of evil to challenge every nation in the world. Small wonder that, whatever we the people may think of the means used by President Trump, he stands up against China knowing this incredible threat which begins with democracy, freedom of speech, the practice of religion, subterfuge and infiltration, spying in America and other countries, none of which will be tolerated by the Trump administration.And the same thing happens in Egypt. We hear little about persecution of Christianity in Egypt, but it exists in large measure. Christians face daily discrimination, harsh restrictions, and constant pressure to hide their faith. And in the world at large, it is estimated that 1 in 7 Christians face harassment, violence, or even death, and in Africa the number of Christians enduring constant PERSECUTION is one in five. PERSECUTION of Christians who have given their entire lives to Jesus Christ is on the rise everywhere as both scripture and our Lord, prophesied. Soon, it will be worldwide and in every nation. Are we ready, are you ready, true believer in Jesus Christ, to face that persecution? The Apostle Paul was beheaded because of his Christian faith. The disciple, Peter, was crucified. James was murdered. John was ostracized to Patmos. The early church, especially under Roman dictator Nero, experienced aggressive persecution. It began at the time of our Lord, and it will continue until the rapture.Are you ready? Ready to lay your all on the altar, and take up the cross of Jesus Christ and stand for Him and your faith when persecution comes at you, are you? I do hope so, for it is a decision none of us have had to make in America, not really, even though there is indeed mild persecution. But the day will come when mild is replaced by aggressive. Then and only then, will you know the strength of your faith and the extent to which you really believe in Jesus Christ.And the same thing now exists in Australia, AUSTRALIA NO LESS! In NEW SOUTH WALES (NSW), newly enacted legislation allows prayer or expression of any religious belief if and only if it is not directed to changing or suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity. If any would pray in that way that is a crime and punishable by imprisonment. In practice, this law would criminalize anyone who said a prayerful word with regard to sexual orientation or gender. REPENT of such, and off to jail you go.And more, everywhere, and persecution has only just begun. Again, when you are faced with that, aggressively or even passively, are you ready to stand, resist, and to accept persecution, even criminal penalties for your faith, are you?Thankfully however, the younger generation begins more so to TURN TOWARDS RELIGION. That is a first start, but sooner or later, that TURN we do hope turns to Christianity and to the person of Jesus Christ. The very respectful research firm BARNA has found in a nationwide survey that 77% of American teens are interested and even motivated to “continue learning about Jesus throughout the rest of their lives.” That at least is a start but by no means the end. Remarkably 52% of the younger generation said they are very interested in knowing more about Jesus. May it be so.There seems to be, said Barna, an openness and curiosity about spiritual matters among today's teens and young adults, a good thing, but only a start. Many of America's young know the futility of the woke generation and its so-called principles, and hunger for something more, much more. They can only find that in Jesus Christ and I hope they continue to search until such time as HE is found. We the believer should thank God that there is now an openness to Christianity and truth which has not existed for years, and revival is on the horizon. All of that is happening in spite of persecution, in spite of the secular, godless governments which somehow have gotten control as witnessed by what is happening in China, Australia, Egypt, and many other nations. The love of Jesus Christ is the most powerful force on this earth, and it should be our prayer that our teens, our younger generation, in our beloved America finds and experiences that love, and no matter the persecution which may come, and it will, continue searching until they find the ultimate answer:HIM,OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Welcome to the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast. We are studying through the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. In this lesson Dr. Mitchell will be exploring Revelation chapter 1 verses 9 - 13.Although John does not identify himself by name in any of the other books he wrote, here John identifies himself with his name. He goes on to write about where he was and why he was there. He was on the island of Patmos. He states two reasons for why he was there. They were because of the Word of God and then also because of the testimony of Jesus. Jesus instructs John to write what he sees in a scroll and to send it to the 7 churches.Let's join Dr. Mitchell in Rev.1:9-13 to find out what John saw.

The letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3 are possibly some of the best known parts of the apocalypic book, mainly due to their accessibility compared to the rest of it. But how should we read these seven letters? Are they examples of the history or eras of the church? Are they addressed to different types of church today? Are they symbolic? And why all the Old Testament references?Join Alex, Chris & Jo as they discuss these significant chapters, give some good background information that help make sense of what John is writing, and then talk aboput how we might be able to bring some meaning to us today. For the one who has ears to hear...Resources"Revelation (NIV Application Commentary)" by Dr Craig Keener– A detailed analysis that bridges the historical-cultural context and application for today."The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament" by Dr Craig Keener – Offers essential historical and cultural insights on the New Testament, including Revelation."Discipleship on the Edge" by Darrell W. Johnson – A study on Revelation that considers its relevance for Christian discipleship."Reading Revelation Responsibly" by Michael J. Gorman – A user-friendly guide to understanding the apocalyptic message of Revelation without fear or misinterpretation.Big thanks to Tim Whittle for editing and extra production on this podcast. Get more info at Riverlife Church, and find us on Facebook and Instagram.Subscribe to Bible Streams on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Amazon.

Second Sunday of Easter Bible Readings Acts 5:12,17–32, John 20:19-31 Worship Folder Pastor Paul A. Tullberg Sermon text: Revelation 1:4–18 4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is, who was, and who is coming, and from the seven spirits that are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His own blood 6and made us a kingdom and priests to God His Father—to Him be the glory and the power forever. Amen. 7 Look, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him. And all the nations of the earth will mourn because of Him. Yes. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, the One who is, and who was, and who is com-ing, the Almighty.” 9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingship and patient endurance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus. 10 I was in spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard a loud voice behind me, like a trumpet, 11 saying, “Write what you see on a scroll and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” 12 I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me. When I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was one like a son of man. He was clothed with a robe that reached to his feet, and around his chest he wore a gold sash. 14 His head and His hair were white, like white wool or like snow. His eyes were like blazing flames. 15 His feet were like polished bronze being refined in a furnace. His voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 He held seven stars in his right hand. A sharp two-edged sword was coming out of His mouth. His face was shining as the sun shines in all its brightness. 17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last— 18 the Living One. I was dead and, see, I am alive forever and ever! I also hold the keys of death and hell.” The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Take a Moment to recall something from today's message. Ask Jesus to create for you opportunities to use your words, activities and thoughts to glorify Him this week. We value your friendship and the opportunity to share the love of Jesus together with you!

Special Episode Blue Zone Travel   https://www.bluezones.com/exploration/#section-1   The five "Blue Zones" in the world, which are regions identified as having a high concentration of people living to a very old age, are:    Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California, USA. Notably, four of these Blue Zones are located near oceans, making them easily accessible by sea travel.    Ocean proximity: Blue Zones like Costa Rica and California are situated not too far from coastlines, making them ideal destinations for those interested in combining a healthy lifestyle exploration with beach vacations.  Mediterranean Sea: The regions of Sardinia (Italy) and Ikaria (Greece) are located in the Mediterranean Sea, which can be easily accessed by cruise ships or ferries.  Cultural immersion: Visiting a Blue Zone allows travelers to experience the local culture, cuisine, and lifestyle, which are often linked to longevity.    My friend Kirsty mentioned this in January, so I've created a list of things to do for each. You are not guaranteed to have long life, or even a good time, but visiting one or more of the zones will require different types of travel. 1. Ikaria, Greece

He is risen. He is alive. And He is coming.In this powerful Easter message, Pastor Blake Lawyer opens Revelation 1 and invites us to see Jesus—not just as a Savior who lived and died, but as the risen King in all His glory. From the isolated island of Patmos to the crowded streets of Shelbyville, the call remains the same: see the King, trust the King, and follow Him into a life worth living.Whether you're questioning your next step or longing for a deeper purpose, this sermon reminds us that Jesus is alive, and He's inviting you into the adventure of faith, mission, and resurrection hope.

April 20th, 2025 | Jesus is...ALIVE | Revelation 1:9-18Happy Easter! In this powerful conclusion to our Jesus Is... series, Pastor Todd Kaunitz brings a bold message from Revelation 1 that centers on the cornerstone of our faith: Jesus is ALIVE. As John receives a breathtaking vision of the risen Christ while exiled on the island of Patmos, we are reminded that following Jesus is not a casual commitment—it's a call to full surrender, even when it costs us everything.This message challenges the idea of a convenient Christianity. Instead, Pastor Todd shows us that the resurrected Jesus demands—and deserves—our complete allegiance. Yes, life with Jesus brings purpose and fulfillment, but it may also bring rejection and suffering. So why follow Him? Because He is alive, He reigns as King, and He holds the keys to life and death.Whether you're in a season of hardship, tempted to compromise, or still on the fence about faith—this episode offers clarity, conviction, and hope: Jesus is alive, and that changes everything.Do you know JESUS? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbgilmer.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Need PRAYER? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbgilmer.org/pray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support through GIVING: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbbctx.org/giving⁠

En el libro de Revelaciones se habla de una bestia impura producto del dragon y las naciones, esta bestia es identificado como el falso mesias. Sera esto un adelanto de parte de Dios de como la figura historica de Yeshua el Nazareno iba a ser transformado por los gentiles? De esto habla el maestro Iosef en este programa de hoy.

In February 2025, Ralston College hosted a landmark symposium in Savannah, Georgia, bringing together leading thinkers, artists, educators, and students for a searching conversation about the renewal of our shared culture. Over the course of a wide-ranging roundtable, speakers explored the collapse of higher education, the need for sacred space, the conditions for reawakening beauty and truth, the integral importance of literature, music and architecture, and the crucial role of the young in rebuilding a meaningful culture that can inspire and endure. This conversation is not an academic exercise in abstraction. It is the practical work of preservation—of remembering what the world has forgotten, and of laying foundations for what must come next. The roster of speakers is as follows: Stephen Blackwood: Why we are on the verge of renaissance James Orr: Why America is ready for change David Butterfield: Why colleges are the institutions to build James Hankins: Why the Italian Renaissance emerged Joseph Conlon: Why learning languages is essential Gregg Hurwitz: Why literature must resonate outside academia Jonathan Pageau: Why renewal requires in-person, communal remembrance Samuel Andreyev: Why music needs to know its tradition to thrive Christian Sottile: Why we need beautiful architecture Mari Otsu: Why Ralston College was the place that changed my life Authors, Artists, and Works Mentioned in this Episode:  Sir Isaac Newton Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Friedrich Hölderlin's Patmos Martin Heidegger John of Patmos, a figure traditionally identified with John the Apostle or John the Evangelist Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam The Cambridge Five Sir Niall Ferguson Saint Benedict of Nursia Flavius Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Charlemagne Alcuin of York Walter de Merton Gaius Marius Marcus Tullius Cicero Paradiso – the third and final part of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy Francesco Petrarca Cola di Rienzo Richard Wagner's opera Rienzi Livy (Titus Livius) Homer Plato Plutarch “JD Vance States the Obvious About Ordo Amoris” – in First Things, by James Orr Pythagoras Plato's dialogue Phaedrus Charles Dickens Alfred Hitchcock William Shakespeare Metamorphoses by Publius Ovidius Naso (43 BCE – 17 CE), known as Ovid Albert Camus – The Stranger James M. Cain – The Postman Always Rings Twice Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment Edgar Allan Poe Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray Michelangelo Buonarroti Pope Julius II The Bible Ezra Pound, quote from ABC of Reading (1934) Professor Jeffrey Eley Mark C. McDonald The Medici Family Gian Giorgio Trissino Andrea Palladio Otto Wagner The Black Paintings (Las Pinturas Negras) by Francisco Goya Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio Peter Paul Rubens  

Trump's former ambassador to Israel is now suggesting Tucker Carlson and I should be arrested and sent to prison, I receive absolute confirmation that we are on the right path regarding Justin Bieber—he is fighting for his freedom, and Harley Pasternak blocks me on Instagram. GoldCo Get up to 10% in FREE silver #goldcopartner http://www.candacelikesgold.com Nimi Skincare Get 10% off your order using code CANDACE10 at https://www.nimiskincare.com/pages/candace American Financing Act today! Call 800-795-1210 or visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/owens NMLS 182334, http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.327% for well qualified borrowers. Call 800-795-1210, for details about credit costs and terms. Patmos Make the switch to Patmos today! https://link.patmos.tech/F8C2WXL Candace Official Website: https://candaceowens.com Candace Merch: https://shop.candaceowens.com Candace on Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/Pp5VZiLXbq Candace on Spotify: https://t.co/16pMuADXuT Candace on Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RealCandaceO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this sermon by Chris Romig, the focus is on linking the Book of Revelation to Palm Sunday, unveiling the profound truths found in Revelation chapters 4 and 5. Pastor Chris takes us through John's vision on Patmos, explaining how the messages to the seven churches still resonate today, before shifting to the heavenly scenes of chapters four and five. John's vision in chapter four assures us of God's control over future events, while chapter five introduces a significant scroll held by God, symbolizing a divine testament for the earth's destiny. John weeps when no one can open the scroll until he is told of Jesus, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the Lamb, who has the authority to do so because of his sacrificial victory. Chris ties this to Palm Sunday, emphasizing Jesus' entry into Jerusalem as both Lion and Lamb, fulfilling his mission of salvation. This connection highlights the importance of Holy Week, urging believers to embrace the journey through suffering and sacrifice, leading to the ultimate victory of Easter. The sermon reassures us of God's control and hope through Jesus' sacrifice, encouraging a deeper engagement with the events of Holy Week, confident in the victory already achieved.

The MAGA movement seems to be compromised, I had a fantastic conversations with Jillian Michaels & Howie Mandel, StopAntisemitism goes after children's YouTuber Ms. Rachel, and do you know John Jay Sullivan from Malibu, CA? You actually do know him. I'm totally going to blow your mind and send you down another unnecessary rabbit hole. PreBorn To donate, dial pound 250 & say the keyword “BABY” that's pound 250 “BABY” or donate securely at https://preborn.com/candace Fatty15 Fatty15 is on a mission to replenish your C15 levels and restore your long-term health. You can get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to http://fatty15.com/CANDACE and using code CANDACE at checkout. American Financing Act today! Call 800-795-1210 or visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/owens NMLS 182334, http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.327% for well qualified borrowers. Call 800-795-1210, for details about credit costs and terms. Patmos Make the switch to Patmos today! https://link.patmos.tech/F8C2WXL Candace Official Website: https://candaceowens.com Candace Merch: https://shop.candaceowens.com Candace on Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/Pp5VZiLXbq Candace on Spotify: https://t.co/16pMuADXuT Candace on Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RealCandaceO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Bible study, we focus on Revelation 3.14-22. This is a message from Jesus to the church of Laodicea. Laodicea was one of seven churches in Asia Minor (modern-day western Turkey) to which Jesus had the Apostle John write a letter. The church in Laodicea thought they were rich and successful, when in God's eyes, they were weak and spiritually useless. Laodicea was judging itself on the world's standard, not God's. Join us as we dig deep and learn how this applies to us today.OUTLINE:03:06 - Huntersfield Retreat Center - https://www.huntersfieldny.com/03:38 - Outline05:44 - Background on Revelation and the island of Patmos. Rev 1.1-3 & 9-20 12:52 - Background on the letters to the seven churchesThe seven churches were in Asia Minor, all in the vicinity of Ephesus. (present-day western Turkey). Rev 2.114:47 - WORD STUDY: “Angel” - angelos ἄγγελος (Greek). A messenger, envoy, one who is sent, a messenger from God.16:45 - Read Revelation 3.14-2218:22 - Verse by Verse break down and expository study of the context for the church in Laodicea in its day.18:22 - Rev 3.14 - “These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.”19:17 - WORD STUDY: The Almighty - Pantokratōr - Παντοκράτωρ - he who holds sway over all things; the almighty.20:02 - Rev 3.15 - “I know your deeds…”20:35 - Rev 3.15 - “...you are neither cold nor hot”24:16 - Rev 3.16 - “so because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth” - AMP: ‘So because you are lukewarm (spiritually useless), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth [rejecting you with disgust].24:50 - Rev 3.17 - “you say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' 25:04 - Background on the city of Laodicea 27:37 - Rev 3.17 “You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.”29:37 - Rev 3.18 “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness, and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”29:58 - What is the refiner's fire? John 6.2733.44 - Closing 4 verses: 4 special statements (An explanation, an exhortation, an invitation, an Assertion)34:05 - Rev 3.19a - An Explanation, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.” Pro 3.11-12. God allows trials to shape us into who he wants us to become35:24 - Rev 3.19b - An Exhortation - “Be earnest and repent.” Repent of pride, humble yourself before the Lord. Three commands for Laodieca: Buy from me gold refined in the fire; Be earnest; and Repent37:01 - Rev 3.20 - An Invitation - Open the door, invite Jesus into your life.39:11 - Rev 3.21-22 - An Assertion. 41:09 - Applications for us today.41:22 - An Explanation - How do you measure the success of your life?43:38 - An Exhortation - Value yourself based on how God sees you. 44:04 - What is propitiation? How does God value us? 1 John 4.9-1045:06 - An Invitation - OPEN THE DOOR. John 15.548:20 - An Assertion - Rely on the Lord as your strength, and he will be ever present (Psalm 46). Empty yourself of your self and out of your weakness, seek the Lord's hel,p and His power will be made perfect in you (2 Cor 12.9-10).Support Iron Sheep Ministries: https://Ironsheep.org/donateListen to the podcast: https://anchor.fm/ironsheepContact Dave & the ISM team: info@ironsheep.orgBe notified of each new teaching, join the email list: http://eepurl.com/g-2zAD

Have you ever wondered what happens when ancient religious texts and hallucinogenic experiences collide? Our latest deep dive into the Book of Revelation might just convince you that John of Patmos was experiencing something far more chemical than divine.Taking you straight through heaven's door in Chapter 4, we explore John's fantastical descriptions of beings that shine like precious stones, a floor made of glass "like unto crystal," and creatures covered in eyes with faces of lions, calves, men, and eagles. We compare these vivid visions to documented medical cases of hallucinations, including a fascinating 2022 paper describing patients who see "colourful crystal sheens" during altered states of consciousness. The parallels are undeniable and hilarious.The biblical connections run deep as we trace John's inspiration to earlier prophets like Ezekiel and Isaiah, showing how he borrowed elements from their visions while adding his own psychedelic twist. We dissect the significance of jasper and sardine stones, analyze the mysterious sea of glass (with at least six competing interpretations), and question whether eternal existence spent repeating "Holy, holy, holy" truly represents paradise.Our irreverent analysis adds yet another theory to what Revelation might actually be – beyond prophecy, coded rebellion literature, xenophobic propaganda, or incel manifesto, we now must consider "hallucination dream journal" as a strong possibility. Whether you're a skeptic, a believer, or somewhere in between, our comedic breakdown offers fresh insights into this ancient text that continues to fascinate and perplex readers across millennia. Listen now, and remember – as we always say at the end – that's why Satan is my superhero.

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Revelation 1:9-20   9 I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, 11 saying, “Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and wrapped around the chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze when it has been heated to a glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. 19 Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.     BIBLE READING GUIDE - FREE EBOOK - Get the free eBook, Bible in Life, to help you learn how to read and apply the Bible well: https://www.listenerscommentary.com     GIVE -  The Listener's Commentary is a listener supported Bible teaching ministry made possible by the generosity of people like you. Thank you! Give here:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com/give     STUDY HUB - Want more than the audio? Join the study hub to access articles, maps, charts, pictures, and links to other resources to help you study the Bible for yourself. https://www.listenerscommentary.com/members-sign-up   MORE TEACHING - For more resources and Bible teaching from John visit https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Send us a textMsgr. A. Robert NuscaTalk 1: This reflection emphasizes the message of hope in Revelation. John, exiled to Patmos for his faith, receives visions that unveil divine truths, urging Christians to worship God alone and stand firm against adversity. The Book of Revelation reassures believers that God controls the world's destiny, promising triumph over evil and a renewed creation through Christ.Talk 2: In the Book of Revelation, we discover a portrait of Jesus Christ that is unique in the New Testament. Throughout, John shows us how Jesus remains present to the faithful on earth through the mystery of the Church, how He rules in heaven, and how He will return in glory and judgment at the end of time.

Sunday Service (3/9/25) // Revelation 1:9-11 // Visit our website: https://mbchicago.org Follow us to remain connected: Facebook:   / mbc.chicago   Instagram:   / mbc.chicago   TikTok:   / mbc.chicago   Podcasts: Listen on Apple, Spotify & others To support this ministry, you can donate via: Zelle to: info@mbchicago.org Web: https://mbchicago.org/give Venmo: https://venmo.com/mbchurch PayPal/Credit: https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_but... Revelation 1:9-11 (ESV) Vision of the Son of Man9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”#DanielBatarseh #Revelation #BookofRevelation #BibleStudy #mbchicago #mbcchicago #Bible #versebyverse #sermon #sermons #sermononline #bookofrevelation #bookofrevelations #revelation #revelations #newtestament #scripture #verses #lessons #church #chicago #livechurch #churchlive #chicagochurch #chicagochurches #prophecy #prophetic #jesus #jesuschrist

We're talking with Josh from TWOAPW about Patmos Public Library, his personal connections to it, and the issues around public library funding and censorship of LGTBQ materials.  https://www.worstpossible.world/  https://www.twitch.tv/traditional_scrench  TWOAPW Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:kp7xkxfutoinhqeg3sfswghd Media Mentioned Segment: https://www.kcrg.com/2025/02/25/bill-ban-obscene-material-iowa-libraries-advances/  Why it's called the Patmos library: https://hudsedfound.org/what-we-do/engage-alumni/marvinandjunepatmos.html  Whose Children Are They: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18559276/  Reporting from the time of the initial removal vote:  https://www.metrotimes.com/news/conservative-michigan-town-defunds-library-over-lgbtq-book-30736450 https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/upset-over-lgbtq-books-michigan-town-defunds-its-library-tax-vote  https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/politics/jamestown-township-library-close-failed-millage-lgbtq/69-021f241b-611c-4856-bd7f-0994f967e714 Go Fund Me set up: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fund-patmos-library-for-2023 Reporting on the failure of the second vote: https://www.mlive.com/politics/2022/11/patmos-library-millage-fails-again-following-controversy-over-lgbtq-books.html MLA statement after second vote: https://www.milibraries.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1375:statement-on-patmos-library-millage---news---michigan-library-association&catid=44:news-advocacy&Itemid=311 Funding approved:  https://lanthorn.com/101674/news/allendale/jamestown-library-funding-approved-after-multi-year-content-disagreements/ https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/politics/michigan-politics/millage-vote-fund-jamestown-township-patmos-library-fails-ottawa-county/69-8102ff6f-1944-4246-a967-c2b3dc3a119e  MLive documentary on banning books in Michigan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x043zuGWgMA Another Michigan library: https://bookriot.com/alpena-public-library/  Porn hunters in Canada: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6656855  Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/zzEpV9QEAG  Transcripts: https://pastecode.io/s/ybvo6u1t 

Backstory to Revelation   John has been exiled to the island of Patmos because of his ministry for Jesus for serving and preaching. He had been living in Ephesus and overseeing several of the churches of western Asia Minor. The Christians within these churches are struggling to be faithful to Jesus as suspicion and hostility towards them increases.  While on Patmos, John receives a series of visions which he is instructed to write down and deliver to the churches of Asia. That becomes the book of Revelation and the message of Revelation is intended to strengthen the faith and faithfulness of the churches.   BIBLE READING GUIDE - FREE EBOOK - Get the free eBook, Bible in Life, to help you learn how to read and apply the Bible well: https://www.listenerscommentary.com     GIVE -  The Listener's Commentary is a listener supported Bible teaching ministry made possible by the generosity of people like you. Thank you! Give here:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com/give     STUDY HUB - Want more than the audio? Join the study hub to access articles, maps, charts, pictures, and links to other resources to help you study the Bible for yourself. https://www.listenerscommentary.com/members-sign-up   MORE TEACHING - For more resources and Bible teaching from John visit https://www.johnwhittaker.net

God doesn’t want us to remain how He found us. He wants us to grow, to be refined. It’s a lifelong process, and it’s one even the most famous biblical figures experienced. Notes: Focus verses - Mark 1, Mark 10 Jesus picked ordinary men. We all are called by God. Jesus meets us where we are; not where we think we should be. You are called by God. James and John struggled with pride, impatience, and a fiery zeal. #1 The Raw ElementsMark 1:19–20 James and John were impulsive. Jesus is constantly calling us closer to Himself. Read Luke 9:53–56 James and John were nicknamed “The Sons of Thunder.” #2 The Refining ProcessMark 10:37–41 God’s discipline is a sign of His love. "But He knows where I am going.And when He tests me, I will come out as pure as gold." Job 23:10 (NLT) James and John started out as rough, impulsive, self-seeking men,but they didn’t stay that way. #3 The Finished ProductActs 12:1–2 “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 1:9 (NKJV) The process of being refined by God is lifelong. 1. Pray2. Serve3. Give4. Be Present --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God doesn’t want us to remain how He found us. He wants us to grow, to be refined. It’s a lifelong process, and it’s one even the most famous biblical figures experienced. Notes: Focus verses - Mark 1, Mark 10 Jesus picked ordinary men. We all are called by God. Jesus meets us where we are; not where we think we should be. You are called by God. James and John struggled with pride, impatience, and a fiery zeal. #1 The Raw ElementsMark 1:19–20 James and John were impulsive. Jesus is constantly calling us closer to Himself. Read Luke 9:53–56 James and John were nicknamed “The Sons of Thunder.” #2 The Refining ProcessMark 10:37–41 God’s discipline is a sign of His love. "But He knows where I am going.And when He tests me, I will come out as pure as gold." Job 23:10 (NLT) James and John started out as rough, impulsive, self-seeking men,but they didn’t stay that way. #3 The Finished ProductActs 12:1–2 “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 1:9 (NKJV) The process of being refined by God is lifelong. 1. Pray2. Serve3. Give4. Be Present --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daily Dose of Hope February 26, 2025 Day 4 of Week 48   Scripture:  Esther 1-3; Psalm 139; Revelation 1   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope!  This is the devotional and podcast that goes along with the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.   Let's start with our Old Testament reading in Esther.  It was in 539BC that King Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon. A year later, he allowed the Jewish people to end their exile and return to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36). But not all of them went. They had lives and livelihoods and the journey to Jerusalem would mean picking up and moving after generations in Babylon/Persia. Esther and her family, who this book is about, for whatever reason decide to stay put. They give us a picture of what it looks like to be a faithful Jew in a foreign land.   In the first chapter, we meet King Xerxes, who ruled Persia from 485 to 465BC. It was a very large kingdom and Xerxes expanded its borders quite a bit, all the way to what it now Pakistan to the east and Ethiopia to the south. While he may have been a good military commander and strategist, he struggled in the “don't get drunk and mess up your marriage” area, as we can see in today's text. Xerxes had thrown a huge banquet with many diplomats and important people from all over the region. He flaunts his wealth and then wants to flaunt his wife.   Most Jewish scholars think that when Xerxes asked Vashti to display her royal crown, it meant that he wanted her to appear naked in front of this large group of inebriated men. Vashti, his wife, isn't having it. Women in those days had almost no say so in marriage, particularly if one was married to the king. And yet, something gave Vashti courage to say I'm not going to be paraded around like property before this group of drunk men. Maybe this had happened before. Regardless, it was a recipe for disaster and it would have been against custom of staying covered.   But Xerxes had unilateral power. To refuse a command of the king, especially in front of others, would most certainly have consequences. Vashti was willing to subject herself to them. She would rather lose her position in society than lose her dignity. She was brave, and while she knew it would mean something harsh, it was worth it to her. Sure enough, the king, probably under the influence of alcohol and without giving it much thought, decrees that Vashti is never to be in his presence again. Vashti has courageously served and now exited. God is making a way for someone else who will serve for a very specific purpose.   In chapter two, the search is on for a new queen. It's quite the process as well. Beautiful virgins from far and wide are brought into the palace for all kinds of exceptional beauty treatments. Esther is one of those women. Esther was a Jew. She didn't reveal her identity to anyone but she was part of the Jewish diaspora, the Jews who were spread outside of Jerusalem, trying to live faithfully in pagan lands.   She had been raised by her cousin, Mordecai, who we also meet in this chapter. He loves Esther like his own daughter and is filled with much advice for her. Esther is exceptionally beautiful and she catches the eye of the king more than any other woman. We also know that God is ensuring that she is chosen to be queen because there is something important that Esther will need to do for her people.   While God is not explicitly mentioned in the book of Esther, it is certainly a book that demonstrates the sovereignty of God. What does it mean that God is sovereign? It means that God is all-powerful and authoritative. He is ruler of the universe and is in all and over all. No matter the situation, God is present and God is at work. But unlike Xerxes, who uses his power selfishly, God uses his power in a moral, righteous way. He seeks what is best for his creation.   There is an interesting subplot at the end of the second chapter, in which Mordecai saves the king's life. This is a small but important piece to remember and tuck away for later in the book.   In chapter three, we meet Haman.  Haman is a real piece of work. He hears that Mordecai won't kneel down before him and he is enraged. Of course, we know that Mordecai is a Jew. He is only supposed to bow down before God. I'm thinking this plays in to Mordecai's refusal but it could be that Mordecai knows Haman is a royal jerk and he simply won't give him the pleasure. One can't help noticing the similarity between Mordecai and Vashti in this story. Both refuse to honor men who do not deserve to be honored and they do so knowing there will be consequences.   And there are consequences. Haman, who seems to be evil inside and out, decides he doesn't just want to punish Mordecai but his whole people group. He wants to ensure that all the Jewish people are killed. Let's think about the absurdity of this: Haman wants to kill all the Jews in the kingdom because one Jew, Mordecai, refused to kneel before him. Haman senses that Mordecai is a threat to his power and he wants to punish that threat mercilessly. Thus, Haman devises a plan. He presents this idea to King Xerxes. There is a “certain group” of people who contaminate his empire and it is not in his best interest to tolerate them. Haman has a ready-made plan for elimination and it even involves a monetary bribe. Xerxes either doesn't want to be bothered or is incredibly gullible. He basically passes his authority to Haman and says “do what you will” with an entire group of people.   Most of us will read this with a certain amount of horror. How appalling it is that a whole people group could be eliminated with nothing more than a flip of the hand. And yet, this scene, with different characters, has been repeated throughout human history over and over again. What is it about us as humans that we demonize whole groups of people? That we fail to value human life?   For our New Testament reading, we begin Revelation, one of the most difficult and misunderstood books of the Bible. It's going to be a great journey! The book was written by the apostle John, much later in his life, while he was exiled on the island of Patmos. Revelation was sent as a circular letter to the seven churches of Asia Minor, to be passed from church to church and read aloud. It was intended to address the real needs of real people. For some churches, it was a word of encouragement in the midst of terrible persecution to give them a bigger perspective; there was more going on in the world than they could see or imagine. To other churches, it was a word of conviction. But most of all, it was prophecy.   Let's be careful to not mix up prophecy with prediction. Prophecy is a divine message. Thus, Revelation is a word from God by his angel to John. It is God revealing that which was previously unknown. The beginning of today's chapter, verses 1-8, serves as a kind of prologue. It introduces the author and general theme of the book. Then, the book goes right into four visions that John received from the risen Lord.   In our culture and reading style, we tend to be very concerned with words. Revelation is really more about images. My encouragement would be to not get caught up in taking the words literally but focus more on the images that your mind sees as you read the passage. Remember, this was intended to provide a broadened perspective, a more eternal one, for people who were being harshly persecuted and even tortured for their faith. This book demonstrates that while evil may feel overwhelming, it will NOT have the final word. There is more to the world than that which we see with our human eyes. There is a battle going on. And in the end, Jesus wins.   One additional note for today. The Scripture says that those who read it will be blessed, as are those who hear it and take it to heart. First, try to imagine how those words must have resonated with the first hearers of this message. It was the end of the first century and Christians were very much harassed and oppressed in many of these areas. How encouraging it would have been for them to hear this word of promise and blessing. While we live in a different time and culture, the Scripture also applies to us. I trust that we will also be blessed by reading this book and blessed as we try to understand it and take it to heart. I ask that we all pray for open hearts and minds as we begin this journey into this exciting and complex book of the Bible!   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Imagine following Jesus—and losing everything because of it. Your job, your friends, even your life. That's exactly the type of hardship the Christians in ancient Smyrna faced. We learn about this in Revelation 2:8:11. In the Book of Revelation, Jesus dictated seven letters to the Apostle John when appearing to John in his prison cave on Patmos. Seven letters to seven early Christian Churches, and the second letter goes to the Church in Smyrna.Smyrna's letter is designed to provide comfort and encouragement. Why? Because the Christ followers there were faithful, but they were suffering. Slandered, arrested, even killed for their faith. Can you imagine being persecuted for your faith in Jesus? But right in the middle of their darkest moment, Jesus speaks directly to them—and to us today—with three powerful truths.First: Don't be afraid! Jesus reminds the church that He is “the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.” Translation? Your suffering doesn't have the final word—Jesus does! You may feel like life is beating you down, but don't let fear take over.Second: Stay faithful! Being faithful means believing God has a purpose for your pain. God doesn't send suffering, but He does permit pain. And if you trust in Jesus, you can rest assured that He works everything together for the good of those who love Him.Third: It won't last forever. Jesus promises that those who stay faithful will receive a “victor's crown.” Your struggles are temporary, but your reward is eternal. The gift of Heaven awaits, so hold on—victory is coming!Now, let's be real—you may not face the same kind of persecution today, but don't minimize your pain by comparing it to others. From medical issues, to wayward children, and financial stress, many Christians today are suffering. Know that your Lord and Savior sees you too, so this is also a word of encouragement for you! Watch this powerful message from Pastor Tim Lucas, which is the fourth in a chapter-by-chapter masterclass unpacking the powerful prophecy of Revelation.A MASTERCLASS ON THE BOOK OF REVELATIONHave you ever read Revelation and wondered, “What did I just read?” The Bible's last book is filled with strange symbols and mysterious messages that confuse modern minds. In this masterclass, Pastor Tim Lucas breaks down Revelation verse-by-verse in a way that's easy-to-grasp without watering down this powerful prophecy. Prepare to have your eyes opened and faith strengthened. Yes, you can read, see, and understand Revelation! #ChristianSuffering #Revelation #LiquidChurch

Gary answers a listener question about the supposed historical fact that Antipas (mentioned in Revelation 2:13) was martyred in the mid-90s AD under Domitian. If true, this would mean the book of Revelation was written after the destruction of the city and the temple in AD 70. Preterists maintain that the book was written during Nero's reign in the mid-60s AD. So which view is correct and why does it matter?

Episode five of Becoming Brigitte. A look into Véronique, Jean-Michel Trogneux, facial recognition software, and the Macrons' former chief of staff is now following me on Instagram. PreBorn! To donate, dial pound 250 & say the keyword “BABY” that's pound 250 “BABY” or donate securely at https://preborn.com/candace GoldCo Diversify your savings! http://www.candacelikesgold.com American Financing Act today! Call 800-795-1210 or visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/owens NMLS 182334, http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org Patmos Make the switch to Patmos today! https://link.patmos.tech/F8C2WXL Buy Xavier Poussard's book, Becoming Brigitte, here: https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Brigitte-Xavier-Poussard/dp/B0DWGF5F43 Candace Official Website: https://candaceowens.com Candace Merch: https://shop.candaceowens.com Candace on Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/Pp5VZiLXbq Candace on Spotify: https://t.co/16pMuADXuT Candace on Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RealCandaceO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine one day you receive a letter from Jesus and inside is your performance review. Can you imagine getting a report card from Jesus with details of what you're doing well and what He's concerned about?! Well, in the Book of Revelation we learn that Jesus dictated seven letters to the Apostle John when appearing to John in his prison cave on Patmos. Seven letters to seven early Christian Churches, and the first letter (aka performance review) goes to the Church in Ephesus, which we read in Revelation 2:1-7. Now Ephesus was the largest city in Asia Minor–it was rich, powerful, and filled with pagan idols. In Ephesus there are two temples that stand out: The Temple of Diana where people worshipped sex and the Temple of Domitian where people worshipped politics. Life was EXTREMELY HARD for the Ephesian Christians.On the one hand, they were tempted by sexual immorality and on the other pressured to worship political leaders. Here's what's crazy, 2,000 years later we are dealing with the same stuff! We are living in 21st century Ephesus. These letters in Revelation are written TO them, but they are also FOR us today!And while Jesus has much praise for His church in Ephesus (their performance review starts out really strong), He hits them with the truth that despite resisting the temptations of sex and politics: “You have forsaken the love you had at first.” Somewhere along the way, the Ephesian Christians developed a hard heart. Their love for Jesus became cold. Faith became a duty. They were just doing the church thing. And this points to a moment of self-reflection for all of us today, because if you don't have God's love, all you have is dead religion.Watch this powerful message from Pastor Tim Lucas, which is the third in a chapter-by-chapter masterclass unpacking the powerful prophecy of Revelation.A MASTERCLASS ON THE BOOK OF REVELATIONHave you ever read Revelation and wondered, “What did I just read?” The Bible's last book is filled with strange symbols and mysterious messages that confuse modern minds. In this masterclass, Pastor Tim Lucas breaks down Revelation verse-by-verse in a way that's easy-to-grasp without watering down this powerful prophecy. Prepare to have your eyes opened and faith strengthened. Yes, you can read, see, and understand Revelation! #LoveSexPolitics #Revelation #LiquidChurch

The life and legacy of the Apostle John—the last surviving eyewitness of Jesus' ministry. From his early days as a fisherman in Galilee to his pivotal role in the Jerusalem church, and finally to his later years in Ephesus, John's journey is one of faith, endurance, and profound testimony. We'll examine his possible familial connection to Jesus, his close relationship with Peter and James, his exile to Patmos, and the enduring themes of his writings. Here we will sift through history, Scripture, and early church testimony to reconstruct the life of the disciple whom Jesus loved. Title: John, the Last Apostle Date: AD 6-98? Place: Jerusalem, Ephesus, Patmos Key Figures and Events: John Contact: churchhistoryandtheology@proton.me License: Church History and Theology is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. For full license details, please visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ Under this license, you are free to download, copy, share, remix, and translate episodes. You must credit Church History and Theology, link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. These materials may not be used for commercial purposes.

Episode five of Becoming Brigitte. A look into Véronique, Jean-Michel Trogneux, facial recognition software, and the Macrons' former chief of staff is now following me on Instagram. PreBorn! To donate, dial pound 250 & say the keyword “BABY” that's pound 250 “BABY” or donate securely at https://preborn.com/candace GoldCo Diversify your savings! http://www.candacelikesgold.com American Financing Act today! Call 800-795-1210 or visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/owens NMLS 182334, http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org Patmos Make the switch to Patmos today! https://link.patmos.tech/F8C2WXL Candace Official Website: https://candaceowens.com Candace Merch: https://shop.candaceowens.com Candace on Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/Pp5VZiLXbq Candace on Spotify: https://t.co/16pMuADXuT Candace on Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RealCandaceO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THE 12 DISCIPLES' FINAL FATES! From crucifixion to exile, in this episode of Religion Camp we investigate the mysterious and often violent deaths of Jesus's closest followers. We're exploring both historical records and traditional accounts to uncover how each disciple met their end - from James the Greater's execution in Jerusalem to John's exile on Patmos, and the gruesome martyrdoms recorded in early Christian texts. What's fact and what's legend in these ancient accounts? We're diving into apocryphal sources, historical documents, and church traditions to piece together their final days. Welcome to Religion CAMP!

On the unforgettable day when Patmos became Paradise, the apostle John saw what you and I will see. He saw...

Have you ever read Revelation and wondered “What did I just read?” The Bible's last book is filled with strange symbols and mysterious messages that confuse modern minds. In this masterclass, Pastor Tim Lucas breaks down Revelation verse-by-verse in a way that's easy-to-understand without watering down this powerful prophecy. Yes, you can read and understand Revelation!  WEEK ONE: HOW TO READ THE BOOK OF REVELATION The book of Revelation is often misunderstood. It's not about fear–it's about hope, victory, and trust in God's master plan! Today, we want to help move your heart from confused to confident in Christ. From feeling anxious about the end of the world, to assured that Jesus has the victory!  First, you must learn HOW to read the Book of Revelation. This requires 3 special lenses: Historic, Symbolic, and Prophetic. Historic means what you're reading literally happened. The Book of Revelation was written by the Apostle John while exiled on the island of Patmos. He was a real person who wrote actual letters to 7 real, historic churches that existed in Asia Minor around 96 A.D. Revelation is also Symbolic, filled with various sights, sounds, and colors that represent spiritual realities and we will decode them together. And Revelation is Prophetic, looking into the future and revealing what WILL happen next from God's perspective. Prophecy equates to promises that are 100% guaranteed to happen.  As we read Revelation 1: 1-8, together, we will unpack its meaning verse by verse. Such as Revelation 1:7 where we read the prophecy of the central event of Revelation and the defining event of human history: The Second Coming of Christ! This prophecy unveils the glory of King Jesus: risen, reigning, and returning to make all things new.  As you watch with us, be encouraged. You may look around our world today and see wars, wildfires, earthquakes, and people rioting and it feels like chaos. But, Revelation reminds us that things in our world aren't actually falling apart—they're falling into place. Everything is going according to plan. God's master plan! Revelation is a wake-up call from Jesus. A call to stand up and confront our culture today and live boldly for Christ! Will you be ready? Watch this powerful message from Pastor Tim Lucas, which is the first in a chapter-by-chapter masterclass unpacking the powerful prophecy of Revelation. #JesusReturns #Revelation #LiquidChurch