11/9/12
What now?
This picture says it all; America no longer is the world's greatest in anything!!! True, we still have some freedoms, but with each any every passing year, they are diminished!!! If you feel lost, discouraged and disgusted and wonder what you can or should do about the current situation, I suggest you click on the link below.
This is worth listening to....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeYscnFpEyA&feature=player_embedded
Please realize that I do not necessarily agree with everything presented here, but I have placed this video link on the blog as something one should think about!!!!!
Bible Reading, Nov. 9
Nov.
9
Isaiah
53-56
Isa
53:1 Who has believed our message? To whom has the arm of Yahweh
been revealed?
Isa
53:2 For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out
of dry ground. He has no form nor comeliness. When we see him, there
is no beauty that we should desire him.
Isa
53:3 He was despised, and rejected by men; a man of suffering, and
acquainted with disease. He was despised as one from whom men hide
their face; and we didn't respect him.
Isa
53:4 Surely he has borne our sickness, and carried our suffering;
yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and afflicted.
Isa
53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for
our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and
by his wounds we are healed.
Isa
53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his
own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isa
53:7 He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he didn't open his
mouth. As a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that
before its shearers is mute, so he didn't open his mouth.
Isa
53:8 He was taken away by oppression and judgment; and as for his
generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the
living and stricken for the disobedience of my people?
Isa
53:9 They made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his
death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in
his mouth.
Isa
53:10 Yet it pleased Yahweh to bruise him. He has caused him to
suffer. When you make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his
seed. He shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Yahweh shall
prosper in his hand.
Isa
53:11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light and be
satisfied. My righteous servant will justify many by the knowledge of
himself; and he will bear their iniquities.
Isa
53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he
shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his
soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore
the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Isa
54:1 "Sing, barren, you who didn't bear; break forth into
singing, and cry aloud, you who did not travail with child: for more
are the children of the desolate than the children of the married
wife," says Yahweh.
Isa
54:2 "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch
forth the curtains of your habitations; don't spare: lengthen your
cords, and strengthen your stakes.
Isa
54:3 For you shall spread aboard on the right hand and on the left;
and your seed shall possess the nations, and make the desolate cities
to be inhabited.
Isa
54:4 "Don't be afraid; for you shall not be ashamed: neither be
confounded; for you shall not be disappointed: for you shall forget
the shame of your youth; and the reproach of your widowhood you shall
remember no more.
Isa
54:5 For your Maker is your husband; Yahweh of Armies is his name:
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; the God of the whole
earth shall he be called.
Isa
54:6 For Yahweh has called you as a wife forsaken and grieved in
spirit, even a wife of youth, when she is cast off," says your
God.
Isa
54:7 "For a small moment have I forsaken you; but with great
mercies will I gather you.
Isa
54:8 In overflowing wrath I hid my face from you for a moment; but
with everlasting loving kindness will I have mercy on you," says
Yahweh your Redeemer.
Isa
54:9 "For this is like the waters of Noah to me; for as I have
sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth, so
have I sworn that I will not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.
Isa
54:10 For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed; but my
loving kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall my covenant
of peace be removed," says Yahweh who has mercy on you.
Isa
54:11 "You afflicted, tossed with storms, and not comforted,
behold, I will set your stones in beautiful colors, and lay your
foundations with sapphires.
Isa
54:12 I will make your pinnacles of rubies, and your gates of
sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones.
Isa
54:13 All your children shall be taught of Yahweh; and great shall
be the peace of your children.
Isa
54:14 In righteousness you shall be established: you shall be far
from oppression, for you shall not be afraid; and from terror, for it
shall not come near you.
Isa
54:15 Behold, they may gather together, but not by me: whoever shall
gather together against you shall fall because of you.
Isa
54:16 "Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of
coals, and brings forth a weapon for his work; and I have created the
waster to destroy.
Isa
54:17 No weapon that is formed against you will prevail; and you
will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is
the heritage of the servants of Yahweh, and their righteousness which
is of me," says Yahweh.
Isa
55:1 "Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters, and he who has
no money; come, buy, and eat; yes, come, buy wine and milk without
money and without price.
Isa
55:2 Why do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your
labor for that which doesn't satisfy? listen diligently to me, and
eat you that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in
fatness.
Isa
55:3 Turn your ear, and come to me; hear, and your soul shall live:
and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure
mercies of David.
Isa
55:4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a leader
and commander to the peoples.
Isa
55:5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you don't know; and a
nation that didn't know you shall run to you, because of Yahweh your
God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he has glorified you."
Isa
55:6 Seek Yahweh while he may be found; call you on him while he is
near:
Isa
55:7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts; and let him return to Yahweh, and he will have mercy on
him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isa
55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your
ways my ways," says Yahweh.
Isa
55:9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my
ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isa
55:10 For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky, and
doesn't return there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth
and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
Isa
55:11 so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall
not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing I sent it to do.
Isa
55:12 For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace:
the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into
singing; and all the trees of the fields shall clap their hands.
Isa
55:13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree; and instead
of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to Yahweh
for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."
Isa
56:1 Thus says Yahweh, "Keep justice, and do righteousness; for
my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
Isa
56:2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds
it fast; who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and keeps his hand
from doing any evil."
Isa
56:3 Neither let the foreigner, who has joined himself to Yahweh,
speak, saying, "Yahweh will surely separate me from his people;"
neither let the eunuch say, "Behold, I am a dry tree."
Isa
56:4 For thus says Yahweh, "To the eunuchs who keep my
Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and hold fast my
covenant:
Isa
56:5 to them I will give in my house and within my walls a memorial
and a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will give them an
everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
Isa
56:6 Also the foreigners who join themselves to Yahweh, to minister
to him, and to love the name of Yahweh, to be his servants, everyone
who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and holds fast my covenant;
Isa
56:7 even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them
joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their
sacrifices shall be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be
called a house of prayer for all peoples."
Isa
56:8 The Lord Yahweh, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, "Yet
will I gather others
to him, besides his own who are gathered."
Isa
56:9 All you animals of the field, come to devour, yes,
all you animals in the forest.
Isa
56:10 His watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they
are all mute dogs, they can't bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to
slumber.
Isa
56:11 Yes, the dogs are greedy, they can never have enough; and
these are shepherds who can't understand: they have all turned to
their own way, each one to his gain, from every quarter.
Isa
56:12 "Come," say they,
"I will get wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink;
and tomorrow shall be as this day, a day
great beyond measure."
Nov. 9
2 Timothy 3
2Ti 3:1 But know this,
that in the last days, grievous times will come.
2Ti 3:2 For men will be
lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 without natural
affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no
lovers of good,
2Ti 3:4 traitors,
headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 holding a form
of godliness, but having denied the power thereof. Turn away from
these, also.
2Ti 3:6 For of these
are those who creep into houses, and take captive gullible women
loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
2Ti 3:7 always
learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2Ti 3:8 Even as Jannes
and Jambres opposed Moses, so do these also oppose the truth; men
corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith.
2Ti 3:9 But they will
proceed no further. For their folly will be evident to all men, as
theirs also came to be.
2Ti 3:10 But you did
follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love,
steadfastness,
2Ti 3:11 persecutions,
and sufferings: those things that happened to me at Antioch, Iconium,
and Lystra. I endured those persecutions. Out of them all the Lord
delivered me.
2Ti 3:12 Yes, and all
who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
2Ti 3:13 But evil men
and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being
deceived.
2Ti 3:14 But you remain
in the things which you have learned and have been assured of,
knowing from whom you have learned them.
2Ti 3:15 From infancy,
you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise
for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16 Every
Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof,
for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,
2Ti 3:17 that the man
of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Revelation, Chapter 5, Mark Copeland
"THE BOOK OF REVELATION" Chapter Five OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER 1) To examine what is revealed about the Lamb (Jesus) and what He has accomplished through His death 2) To consider the impact this scene would have had upon the persecuted Christians in Asia SUMMARY The scene that began in chapter four continues. Whereas the theme of chapter four can be stated as "God is on His throne!", the theme of this chapter may be called "Worthy is the Lamb!" John's attention is drawn to a scroll in the right hand of God. Written on the inside and on the back, it is sealed with seven seals. A strong angel proclaims "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" and at first there seems to be no one in heaven and earth deemed worthy to open the scroll or look at it. This prompted John to weep (1-4). But one of the twenty-four elders tells him not to weep for One described as "the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David" (cf. Gen 49:9-10; Isa 11:10) has prevailed so to be able to open the scroll and loose its seals. In the midst of the throne and of the living creatures and the elders, John sees a Lamb standing as though slain (i.e., Jesus - cf. Jn 1:29), with seven horns and seven eyes. The seven eyes are explained as the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth (cf. Zech 4:10). As seen before (cf. 1:4; 3:1; 4:9) they represent the Holy Spirit, while the seven horns are indicative of great strength (cf. Deut 33:17; 1Sa 2:10). The Lamb is then seen as taking the scroll out of God's right hand (5-7). Taking the scroll prompts the four living creatures and twenty-four elders to fall down before the Lamb. Each possessing a harp (perhaps symbolizing praise, Hailey) and golden bowls of incense which depict the prayers of the saints, they sing a new song praising the Lamb as worthy to take the scroll. They proclaim His worthiness on the basis of being slain and redeeming by His blood those from every nation who are made kings and priests to God who shall reign on the earth (cf. 1:5-6; 1Pe 2:9). The voices of many thousands of angels around the throne then join in with their praise of the Lamb who was slain as worthy to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing. Finally, every creature in heaven, earth, and sea join in with praise for both Him who sits on the throne (God) and the Lamb. To which the four living creatures say "Amen!" and the twenty-four elders fall down and worship (8-14). This awesome scene should certainly encourage the faithful Christian. As stated by Summers: "Such a scene was calculated to bring new courage and new hope to the hearts of John's first readers, the persecuted Christians of Asia; it brings the same cheer to Christian hearts in any age. Believing in the power of God (ch. 4) and the redeeming love of God (ch. 5), there is no enemy or force of evil which Christians need to fear. They can enter the conflict or endure the evil knowing that God is still on his throne; he has not laid aside his scepter; he has not abandoned his throne to any other." And what does the scroll represent? As Shelly says in his commentary: "This scroll is the book of the destiny of mankind. In it could be found the fate of the suffering saints, the outcome of Rome's (and I would add Jerusalem's, MAC) machinations against the church, and an outline of the future from John's time through the resolution of the particular battle raging between his brethren and Satan's forces. The things revealed in the subsequent visions of the Revelation were bound up in this scroll." I.e., the scroll reveals how God would manifest his righteous indignation upon those who rejected His Christ and persecuted His people. Also, how the suffering saints would eventually overcome. As long as the scroll was sealed, the workings of God was still a mystery. But as the seals are broken (6:1-8:1), we have: "the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants -- things which must shortly take place." (1:1) OUTLINE I. THE SCROLL AND THE LAMB (1-7) A. THE SCROLL IN GOD'S RIGHT HAND (1-4) 1. Written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals 2. The proclamation by the strong angel a. "Who is worthy?" b. "To open and the scroll and to loose its seals?" 3. The initial response a. No one, in heaven, on the earth, under the earth! b. No one, able to open the scroll, or to look at it! 4. John's reaction: "So I wept much, because no one was found worthy..." B. THE ONE WORTHY TO OPEN THE SCROLL (5-7) 1. Comforting words of the elder to John a. "Do not weep" b. "Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David" c. He "has prevailed" 1) "To open the scroll" 2) "To loose its seven seals" 2. John's description of the Lamb a. Standing in the midst of the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders b. A Lamb as though it had been slain 1) Having seven horns 2) With seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent into all the earth c. Who takes the scroll out of God's right hand II. THE LAMB IS PRAISED (8-14) A. BY THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES AND TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS (8-10) 1. Each having: a. A harp b. Golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints 2. They sang a new song... a. The Lamb is worthy! 1) To take the scroll 2) To open its seals b. Because: 1) He was slain 2) He has redeemed them to God by His blood out of every tribe, tongue, people and nation 3) He has made them kings and priests to God, to reign on the earth B. BY THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF ANGELS (11-12) 1. Their voices heard around the throne, along with the living creatures and the elders 2. Saying with a loud voice: a. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain b. To receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing C. TOGETHER WITH HIM WHO SITS ON THE THRONE (13-14) 1. John now hears those in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and in the sea saying: a. "Blessing and honor and glory and power..." b. "Be to Him who sits on throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!" 2. Upon which: a. The four living creatures said "Amen!" b. The twenty-four elders fell down and worshipped Him who lives forever and ever REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER 1) What are the main points of this chapter? - The scroll and the Lamb (1-7) - The Lamb is praised (8-14) 2) What did John see in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne? (1) - A scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals 3) What did a strong angel proclaim with a loud voice? (2) - "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" 4) How did John react when it seemed there was no one worthy to open the scroll? (3-4) - He wept 5) What did one of the twenty-four elders then say to John? (5) - "Do not weep" - "Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and it seven seals" 6) What did John see? (6) - A Lamb as though it had been slain, with seven horns and seven eyes 7) Where was the Lamb? What did He do? (6-7) - In the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures and the elders - He took the scroll out of Him who sat on the throne 8) What happened when the Lamb had taken the scroll? (8-9a) - The four living creatures and twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb - They each had a harp, and golden bowls of incense (which are the prayers of the saints) - They sang a new song 9) What did they proclaim in this "new song"? (9) - The Lamb was worthy to take the scroll and open its seals 10) Why did they deem the Lamb worthy? (9-10) - For He was slain and redeemed them to God by His blood - He has made them kings and priests to God 11) What did John then see and hear? (11) - The voice of thousands of angels around the throne, the living creatures and the elders 12) What were they saying? (12) - "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain" - To receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing 13) What does John hear next? (13) - Every creature in heaven, on and under the earth, and in the sea - Offering blessing, honor, glory and power to both Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb 14) What happens then? (14) - The four living creatures said "Amen!" - The twenty-four elders fell down and worshipped Him who lives forever and ever
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