TIME FOR A HOUSEHOLD BUDGET

TIME FOR A HOUSEHOLD BUDGET

   Now that all of the Christmas gifts have been bought, and all of the fireworks for the New Year, is it time you consider a budget?  The bills will be rolling in from the credit cards soon.

   Budgets require a bit of dedication.  Having a written budget is the smart way to see where your money goes.  It helps to rein in wasteful spending and it promotes saving.  It will also help you to honor God with your tithe.

   Trust me, having a written budget reduces anxiety and promotes wealth.  There is no person who affects your happiness and welfare more than you do.  No elected representative is more intelligent than you are.

   So, if you want me to help you with your budget, leave your contact information in a comment on this blog (which will not be published), or contact me at actvsldr@gmail.com.   Let's make 2017 a great year!



 You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com,  http://omaslife.blogspot.com,  and http://omashealth.blogspot.com. 

THE CHRIST IS BORN

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH

PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN

Luke 2

   2) And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

   2) (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

   3) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

   4) And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

   5) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

   6) And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

   7) And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

   8) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

   9) And, lo, the angel of The Lord came upon them, and the glory of The Lord shone round about them:  and they were sore afraid.

   10) And the angel said unto them, Fear not:  for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

   11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

   12) And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

   13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

   14) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

   15) And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which The Lord hath made known unto us.

   16) And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and The babe lying in a manger.

   17) And when they had seen It, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

   18) And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

   19) But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

   20) And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

   21) And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, His name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

   22) And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to The Lord;

   23) (As it is written in the law of The Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to The Lord;)

   24) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of The Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

   25) And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel:  and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

   26) And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

   27) And he came by the Spirit into the temple:  and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law.

   28) Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said.

   29) Lord, now lettest Thou thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word:

   30) For mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation,

   31) Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

   32) A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.

   33) And Joseph and His mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of Him.

   34) And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary His mother, Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

   35) (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

   36) And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser:  she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

   37) And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

   38) And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto The Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

   39) And when they had performed all things according to the law of The Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.   Luke 2: 2 - 39  King James Version (KJV) public domain

COMMENTARY

   Wow!  How totally remarkable is our God!  He told us hundreds of years before He sent His Son that He would.  He told us when to watch for Him.  There were many who listened and many who knew.  He continues to talk to us today!  Are we listening?  Do we take the time to hear from Him?

   We, at Oma's Wisdom, wish you all a Merry Christmas, as we look for our Lord's return.

THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH IS COME REVELATION 6: 9 - 17

THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH IS COME

REVELATION 6: 9 - 17

photo courtesy of i.dailymail.co.uk

9) And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw Under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

   10) And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

   11) And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

   12) And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

   13) And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

   14) And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

   15) And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

   16) And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

   17) For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?   (King James Version, public domain)

COMMENTARY

   The fifth seal is the midpoint of God's judgment.  The first half (3.5 years) was just a taste of what was to come.  The second half of the tribulation is God's full wrath on mankind for rejecting Him and salvation through His Son.  Who can stand the full wrath of God Almighty?

   The saints who were martyred for the Word of God and for their testimony after the rapture are the souls under the alter.  These are not believers who were saved during the dispensation of grace but are part of a different relationship with God than we have.  Don't judge them that they don't turn the other cheek but rather they seek justice by God, Who is holy and true.  They were awarded white robes (symbol of being cleansed from their sins) but note that they had to wait until God's predetermined number of their "fellow servants" (those who believe and are willing to die for their faith) and their brethren (those who will be martyred for their faith) should be fulfilled.

   This is where we all fall to our knees and praise His Holy Name, that He would determine that our eyes were opened to His truth.  Thank you, Jesus for Your faithfulness!  Thank you, Lord, for Your mercy and grace!

   Politically speaking, here in the United States of America, we have fellow citizens and our own government attacking Christians even now!  How much worse it will be when The Holy Spirit is not here to restrain Satan!  

   WikiLeaks released emails from 2012 that was allegedly sent to John Podesta, who became Hillary's Presidential campaign chairman from Voices for Progress president Sandy Newman that stated, “there needs to be a Catholic Spring, in which Catholics themselves demand the end of a middle ages dictatorship and the beginning of a little democracy and respect for gender equality in the Catholic church” and proposed that the Clinton team “plant the seeds of the revolution” to change Catholic teaching. Podesta replies, “We created Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good to organize for a moment like this . . . Likewise Catholics United.” He adds, “I’ll discuss with Tara.  Kathleen Kennedy Townsend is the other person to consult.”   So, that was three organizations created by Democrats to rip the religious thread:  Voices for Progress, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, and Catholics United.  Don't forget what Hillary Clinton said in her speech at the Women in the World Summit in 2015:  "deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed."  

   

   So, the war on religion is bad now but it is behind closed doors.  After the rapture, it will be out in the open and encouraged by all.  I wonder who funds these organizations.

   The sixth seal is called "The Great Day of  His Wrath" and is associated with the "force" of fear.  In this seal, unlike the first five, which involves humans in one way or another, God acts alone.  The earthquake will be so great that it will not only shake the earth, but also the heavens.  Have you seen the result of the earthquake in New Zealand, where the seabed is lifted more than 2 meters and exploded through the sand?

photo courtesy of DailyMail.com

  
   God is all powerful, and these things would be awe-inspiring to see.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 that these things are to be expected in diverse places and with increased intensity; But the actual islands, mountains, cities, etc. are still seen in existence long after this vision has had it's fulfillment.  In the beginning of Revelation, we are told that The Lord sent and "signified.....", which means that He made it known by signs or symbols.  So, let us investigate these signs and symbols now:

   These "earthquakes" and all the calamity is actually a shake up of governments and societies, authorities, and established religions - the destruction of the present order.  While there may be physical manifestations of awe-inspiring proportions, pay close attention to what they symbolize:

   The sun is a well-known type of The Lord Himself; it is the source of light and life on this planet.  The sun will be blotted out means that that our Lord will be entirely rejected and His word utterly despised.   Keep in mind that the Church has already been raptured before the sixth seal is broken.

   We read that all government (the moon) derives their authority from God (the Light).   So, this is describing total anarchy.  The stars falling from heaven speaks of great religious leaders' downfall and apostasy.  The whole fabric of religion will be wound up as something obsolete and out of date, soon followed by blatant Satan worshiping.  In fact, I am told frequently today, that my "religion" is but a 2000 year old fairy tale.  Today, I see intelligent people turning to worshiping self and pleasure.  Seek ye wisdom! 

   At some point, with the Holy Spirit gone (who abides with the Church), total chaos, anarchy, Satan worshiping, etc., it appears that mankind will have the veil removed from their eyes and recognize that God DOES exist and that He is angry.  Rather than praying for forgiveness and repenting of their sins, they call on the rocks and mountains to fall on them and hide them from the wrath of God!

   Dear friend, none of us are promised tomorrow.  If God is speaking to you through these messages, please don't make Him wait.  We have a version of the sinner's prayer at http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.  Please accept His priceless gift of salvation today and let us know (in a comment).  We want to encourage you in your walk.

If this ministry is a blessing to you, we encourage you to leave your thoughts in a comment.  We would love to hear from you.  Please also pray for this ministry that God uses us to bring glory to Himself.

   We are also asking that you share this post on your favorite ministry.  It is free and doesn't hurt to share.  It may even help someone you know.

 You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com, http://omaslife.blogspot.com, and http://omashealth.blogspot.com

FUND RAISER FOR BROTHER BRUCE TRAVIS

FUND RAISER FOR BRUCE TRAVIS

   As some of you know, many churches have a benevolence fund that they use for their members who find themselves in temporary situations that require a little help.  If you go to http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/one-year-anniversary.html, you will discover how we have helped some of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ in the beginning of this ministry.  We don't publicly post our deeds every year (and neither does the church).  Most of the funding comes from me and my kid sister.  She has stood by me and supported my efforts for years, personally, and with this ministry.

   If you are not tithing, this is the perfect month to get into the habit.  It is common to hear people say they are "giving back" when they give to a commercially run charity; but I say to you, tithing is "giving back" to the One Who has given you everything!  So, I ask that you pray about it.  Whatever you give, ask God to bless your gift and your effort, and ask Him to show you how you can get on the right track (of giving your tithe) regularly.  Statistically, only 3 - 7% of church members tithe.  Go to  http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/tithes-and-offerings.html to see what is in store for you when you are obedient and how God views it when you don't tithe.

   For the month of December this year, we have decided that your gifts to this ministry up to $3,000.00, will be used to pay for medical expenses for our Brother in Christ, Bruce Travis, who was injured in an auto accident and had to have a life-saving operation.  He owes that much on the operation he just had, needs a "bone growth stimulator", and will require more surgery.  Please pray for his complete recovery.  Below is how he described this surgery:

 "The dr preformed really two procedures at once, he had to put a metal spacer around the cervical spine at level c3-4 bc the disc fell apart in his hands when he tried to fix it bc it was herniated so bad after the semi hit me. It was actually busted and all my cervical nerves were too compressed bc of the damage. Then he fused the two vertebrae together with titanium plates and screws. After I recover from this one I have to have c4-c5 repaired but it is not as bad as this one was. He said I have to wait to have it repaired after I recover from this one first or it probably wouldn't heal. He prescribed a bone growth stimulator for me but insurance won't pay for it,so I have to hope and pray it all works together and the bones start to grow back without it. I'm paying them $100 a month for 30 months to cover my part of the co-pay."

   I will be posting your gift on this site daily.  If you don't want your name and amount of your gift posted, we respect your privacy; just leave a comment on this post and we will not publish it.  So, share this post frequently and check back to see the outpouring of love for my God and yours.  Thank you so much!  Bruce is important to us and so are you. 

December 3:  $100.00 from Susan D. and Kit A. 
December 23:  $50.00 from Susan D. 

$148.25 sent to Bruce on January 9, 2017 (after paypal's fees were taken)
 

REVELATION 6: 1 - 8 (KING JAMES VERSION), THE FOUR HORSEMEN

REVELATION 6: 1 - 8

THE FOUR HORSEMEN

photo courtesy of beginningandend.com

   1) And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

   2) And I saw, and behold a white horse:  and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him:  and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

   3) And when He had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

   4) And there went out another horse that was red:  and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another:  and there was given unto him a great sword.

   5) And when He had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see.  And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

   6) And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and wine.

   7) And when He had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

   8) And I looked, and behold a pale horse:  and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him.  And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

 

COMMENTARY

   Jesus talked with His disciples in Matthew 24 about the end of the age.  You can re-read it.

   1,2) Thunder speaks of a coming storm and a bow, of distant warfare, i.e., guns, bombs, etc.  When the seals are broken, what is written on the scroll is not read aloud, but is acted out.  The first four seals involve horse and rider.  Horses in Scripture are associated with triumph, majesty, power, and conquest.  These "riders" are best described as "forces" rather than people.

   The white horse, then, is a symbol of worldwide peace.  Notice the rider had a bow but no arrows.  The crown was given to him in bloodless victories.  He will "conquer" by cunning and deceit, not military force.  This is Satan's imitation of peace.  It is man's best effort at bringing in a reign of order and peace without Christ, which will be shattered upon the breaking of the second seal.

   This is where the Antichrist offers Israel a 7 year pact of peace.  The Temple of Jerusalem is rebuilt and the ritual of animal offerings is re-established.  Such blasphemy!

   3,4) The red horse...red is the symbol of fire and blood, depicting war.  As it was with Hitler, who promised peace, war will break out throughout the world.  Cue Matthew 24: 6 - 9.  Daniel 8:24 describes the Antichrist's skill at warfare.  Then, the Antichrist will set up the abomination of desolation that will touch off massive conflicts.  See Daniel 11: 36 - 45.

   5,6) The black horse....famine.  Famine usually follows war, as food supplies are eaten or destroyed and those involved in production of food are killed, machinery destroyed.  "Like a voice in the center of the four living creatures" is God.  This famine is one of His judgements on the nations of the world for rejecting Him.  The famine is so bad, that a full day's wage will only purchase a day's "wheat".  If you have a family, a day's wage will purchase three quarts of barley, which is low in nutrition, and usually fed to livestock.  In other words, people will be slowly starving.  Look at the nation of Haiti to see how bad it is there today; it will be even worse than that during this time.

   Just let that sink in for a minute.  Food will be rationed, due to lack of supply.  Here in America, the richest nation in the world, our wages are huge!  However, in the time of worldwide peace, wages may all be the same; nobody earns more than his neighbor, whether he is highly skilled and educated or works in the field.  The weak and infirm are not able to purchase food, as they can't work.  There will be no welfare.  The church is gone; there is no charity.  People will be looking out only for themselves, much as those without Christ do today.  This is a time that brother may turn in Christian brother to the government for a fee.

   (7,8) The pale horse:  We have already seen where war and hunger will kill many.  Disease will kill more.  A fourth of  the population will loose their lives.  There is roughly 7 billion people on the earth pre-rapture; a fourth of that is 1.75 billion! That's a lot of people to bury!  With the struggle of trying to find food and money to buy it, who will have life insurance?  We must be looking at mass graves and/or burning bodies.

   "Beasts here may include a relatively common pests/beasts:  the rat.  The rat is alive and well in many populated as well as underpopulated areas.  Some people believe that in New York City, there are as many rats as there are people living in the city.  They can destroy food supplies and carry disease.

   Dear friend, now is a good time to accept the priceless gift of salvation!  Please check out our "Pathway to Salvation" page here:   http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.


If this ministry is a blessing to you, we encourage you to leave your thoughts in a comment.  We would love to hear from you.

We are also asking that you pray for us that God uses this ministry for His glory.  Please take a moment to click the share button so your friends may also be blessed from reading this post.  Thank you for all you do.

 You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com, http://omaslife.blogspot.com, and http://omashealth.blogspot.com

REVELATION 5 (KJV)

REVELATION 5

WORTHY IS THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN

photo courtesy of trackingbibleprophesy.com

   1) And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

   2) And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

   3) And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

   4) And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

   5) And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not:  behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

   6) And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as It had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

   7) And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne.

   8) And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

   9) And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof:  for Thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

   10) And hast made us unto our God kings and priests:  and we shall reign on the earth.

   11) And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders:  and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

   12) Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

   13) And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

   14) And the four beasts said, Amen.  And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshiped Him that liveth for ever and ever.   (King James Version, Public Domain)

COMMENTARY

 photo courtesy of bgfons.com

   1) The "book" written is really probably a scroll similar to the one photo.  The ancient books of Israel were generally sheepskin rolls; and since we are told that this book was sealed with seven seals, we are to understand that the book was rolled up to a certain point, and there a seal was placed on the edge, so that it could not be opened until that seal was broken.  It was then rolled up a little farther and another seal was placed; and so on, until there were six seals on the edge of the book and one seal closing the entire scroll.  After the first seal was broken, a certain portion of the book was exposed to view, and so forth, until all of the seals were broken and the entire book was unrolled.

   2 - 5)  In the days of Jeremiah, his cousin, Hanameel, knew the Hebrews were about to be taken captive.  However, he had a piece of property.  He knew the property would be worthless to him after Israel was conquered, so he offered to sell it to Jeremiah.  You can read about this in Jeremiah 32.  God told Jeremiah to buy it; so he did.  He gave the deed to his lawyer, sealed, to hide away for his posterity in the event he did not return from Babylon, because Jeremiah knew that one day, the Hebrews would be freed.  After they were freed, who owned the property?  That's correct:  the descendants of Jeremiah!  Only they had the authority to come back and unseal the document and claim ownership!

   Thus it is with this world.  God created it for mankind to enjoy.  Adam and Eve sinned, so they forfeited the title.  Satan claimed it for his own, and tries to claim the inhabitants.  However, Jesus paid the price to restore it to it's former, untainted splendor along with His Bride.  So, God has been holding the title for safe keeping until the time Jesus comes and reclaims it.  No one else could.  No man has ever been born who is worthy of unsealing the scroll; only Jesus who is the Son of Man but sinless.

   6) The seven horns speak of power.  Seven is perfection.


The only way to spend eternity in Heaven is with a personal relationship with The Lamb, Who was slain to cleanse you totally from your sins.  Click here to start your journey with Him:   https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

If this ministry is a blessing to you, we encourage you to leave your thoughts in a comment.  We would love to hear from you.  Please also pray for this ministry to be used by God for His glory, and click the share button to share this post on your favorite social ministry.  Thank you.

 You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com, http://omaslife.blogspot.com, and http://omashealth.blogspot.com

REVELATION, CHAPTER 4 (King James Version)

REVELATION 4

ENTERING HEAVEN

photo courtesy of thebookofrevelationonline.com


   1) After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven:  and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

   2) And immediately I was in the spirit:  and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

   3) and He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone:  and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

   4) And round about the throne were four and twenty seats:  and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

   5) And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices:  and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

   6) And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal:  and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

   7) And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

   8) And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

   9) And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, Who liveth forever and ever,

   10) The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

   11) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power:  for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.   (King James Version, public domain)

COMMENTARY

   When Chapter 3 ends, so ends the age of the church.  The church is raptured between chapter 3 and 4; and chapter 4 begins with the Apostle John being caught up into Heaven.  The scenes in the first few chapters are how events are witnessed from Heaven.  Then we will switch and see how those same events looked on earth.  Come quickly, Lord Jesus!  Keep in mind that the word "Saint" from here on is distinct from the church.  Israel comes into view, along with a great multitude of Gentiles saved through the tribulation; but there is no Holy Spirit left on earth from this point on, no Bride of Christ, there is no church.

  So, if you don't have a relationship with my LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ, click here to learn how to be adopted into His family:  'https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html'

   3) The jasper stone here is probably not the opaque stone that we are familiar with today, but a diamond, as described in 21:11.  The sardine stone was probably a ruby.  These two stones together give the idea of glory and sacrifice.   The ruby red may also represent the wrath about to be poured out.  To the Hebrew, these stones represent the first and last stones in the breastplate of the High Priest.  These stones bore the names of the tribes of Judah.  The first is Rueben (behold a Son); the last Benjamin (Son of my right hand).  So, these stones name Jesus.

   The rainbow is like an emerald (the stone of Judah - Praise). The rainbow symbolizes God's covenant faithfulness, mercy, and grace. (Genesis 9: 13-17)  Even if the red ruby represents His wrath, His wrath never operates at the expense of His faithfulness; His judgments never abrogate His promises.  That is why we don't live in abject terror of His power and holiness.  The take-away of God sitting on His throne is not of someone who is resting, but One who is ruling!  He rules in power and majesty!

   4) There were twelve sons of Israel (Jacob), and twelve Apostles = 24.  These are not the individual sons of Jacob and Apostles, but representatives.  These are representatives of all the Old Covenant and New Covenant believers.  Not all commentaries agree that this is who the twenty four are.  Some say it is 24 angels, which is not substantiated elsewhere in scripture. Others say they represent the tribulation saints.  Still others believe they represent the raptured, glorified, coronated church.


   THE FOUR BEASTS:  Ezekiel tried to describe these "beasts" as has John.  It is difficult to describe those things that we are familiar with, much less, those things we have never encountered!  The best guess is that these "beasts" are cherubim, an exalted order of angels frequently associated in Scripture with God's holy power.  Their eyes in front and back symbolizes their awareness, alertness, and comprehensive knowledge, even though they are not omniscient.  Nothing escapes their scrutiny pertaining to their duties.

  The calf, the eagle, the lion, and the man represent the banners of the twelve tribes of Jacob:  Reuben - man; Dan - eagle; Ephraim - the calf; Judah - a lion.  This description, though, describes the creatures in relation to the created world:  the lion represents wild creatures; the calf represents domestic animals; the eagle - flying creatures, and man - the pinnacle of creation.  Also worthy of note, is that symbolically, the lion represents strength; the calf - service; the man - reason; and the eagle - speed.

   10) Note that these Saints cast down their crowns.  Nobody receives a crown until after the rapture: "Look, I am coming soon!  My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done."  Revelation 22:12 (NIV)


   11) Now, catch this:  God created all things for His pleasure!  That is talking about you and me!  Oh, if only He takes delight in His creation!  How often do I wonder if I make Him smile or if He gets fed up with me.  I praise Him that He is merciful and gracious; slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. Psalm 103:8

    If this ministry is a blessing to you, we encourage you to leave your thoughts in a comment.  We would love to hear from you.

 You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com, http://omaslife.blogspot.com, and http://omashealth.blogspot.com

FUND DRIVE FOR CONNIE CHESNEY

COLLECTING LOVE OFFERING FOR CONNIE CHESNEY

   We are doing a fund drive to assist Connie Chesney with expenses related to her medical treatment for cancer.  This has been a battle for many years and she continues to be a warrior against this devastating disease.

This is my beautiful sister, Connie.

In August of 2011, she had undergone a double surgery to remove the cancer and ended up in ICU.

Here is a recent picture of her.  She continues with chemotherapy.  Her strong will to live and conquer this disease is mind boggling!  Many are praying for her complete cure.

   Your challenge is to hold a bake sale, a garage sale, etc. and donate the proceeds.  Explain to your neighbors that you are raising funds for her and see if they will donate to you for mowing their yard, running errands, babysitting for a date night, etc.  Be creative and share with us how you are getting involved.  You could simply donate an hour's pay.  Then, tag 5 of your friends to get involved.  And pray for her while you are helping, that our God will cure her and restore her to perfect health.

   I think I will run a bake sale every week in October and donate the proceeds to Connie.  We have recipes of mini cheesecakes and triple chocolate overload Oreo cupcakes at http://omaslife.blogspot.com.  These are always winners!

   Won't you help her?  The funds donated to this site from now until the end of October, 2016 will be hand delivered to her.  The names and amount of the donations will be posted here. 

   Thank you to everyone who makes this happen. 

Your Sister in Christ,

Kit Allen

  

You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com, http://omaslife.blogspot.com, and http://omashealth.blogspot.com

September 29, 2016

Susan D.      $50.00

Deborah K.  $50.00

October 8, 2016

$100.00 cash was delivered to Connie Chesney.  Thank you two for your support.

October 18, 2016

Robert W. K.   $100.00

October 19, 2016

Susan D.   $100.00

$193.42 was delivered to Connie's daughter for deposit into Connie's account.  That was $200.00 donated via credit cards minus PalPay's fees.  Thank you to Robert and Susan for your gifts.

November 1, 2016

   This post has been seen 679 times.  Three people cared enough to donate.  May the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob bless you abundantly for helping His child as she fights for her life. This fund drive is now closed, but if you want your future gifts to go to help Connie, please leave a comment after you donate.  Thank you

THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA REVELATION 3: 7 - 13 PART 2 of 3

THE CHURCH OF THE OPEN DOOR

REVELATION 3: 7 - 13

PART 2 of 3

   7) And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write;  These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

   8) I know thy works:  behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it:  for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My Name.

   9) Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

   10) Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

   11) Behold, I come quickly:  hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

   12)  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out:  and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God:  and I will write upon him my new name.

   13) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
(King James Version, public domain)

COMMENTARY

    We have  past the reformation period in church history, and embarked on the revival period.  Please note, that the "letters" may have been delivered to the churches, but churches are comprised of individuals.  Take each of these letters and examine your own heart.  Be bold in making changes to self as God shows you areas that could be improved; but also, rejoice in those areas that you have nailed it, ever praising Him for His mercy!

   The church of Philadelphia loved as brethren of Christ, as The Holy Spirit had given them.  They called sinners to repent and saints to awaken to their privileges in Christ.  They were aroused to a deeper sense of the value of His Word, and its all-sufficiency for their guidance.

   They separated themselves from evil in life and error in doctrine, thus He said, "These things saith He that is holy, He that is true."  Sound doctrine always generated Godly practice.

   "The key of David" is referenced back to Eliakim in Isaiah:  "And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open." (Isaiah 22: 22  KJV)  (see also, Isaiah 9: 6,7)   We have seen where Jesus now has the keys to hell and death, and here, He says He has the key to the kingdom of the earth as well.  So, He has full prerogative to open or shut any door He chooses.  But there's more:  the key is also the key to the treasure-house!  He dispenses knowledge, wisdom, and so much more to His children!  He opens doors to witness and spread The Gospel!  We were #bornforgreatness!  What a privilege to be entrusted to labor for my Lord!

   Keep in mind, that Christ also IS the Key.  He opens up understanding and the divine Truth of His Word.  In understanding The Bible, all you need is The Holy Spirit.

   Important characteristics of Philadelphia:  His Word is kept; His Name is confessed; His will is obeyed.

  They had "a little strength", which refers to true believers not depending on their own strength, but leaning on The Lord to carry them through whatever task He had for them.  He will not give us something to do and not provide the means to accomplish His goal.

   (10) As children of the Living God, we are promised that when we keep His Word, and confess His Name and obey His will, we will not be left upon this earth when the hour of temptation arrives!

   (11) The believers at Philadelphia were secured in salvation but were warned to let no man take their crown.   There are said to be 5 Heavenly Crowns:  the Crown of Life, the Incorruptible Crown, The Crown of Righteousness, the Crown of Glory, and the Crown of Exultation.  We will surely learn more about the crowns as we continue our study of the Book of Revelation.

   12) This verse speaks to the believer of stability, security, of fellowship, and of intimacy with the Lord, Himself.  It doesn't get any better than this!

If this ministry is a blessing to you, we encourage you to leave your thoughts in a comment.  We would love to hear from you.  And don't forget that you are always welcome to share our posts on your favorite social media.....surely you know of someone who could benefit from it.  Thank you.

 You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com, http://omaslife.blogspot.com, and http://omashealth.blogspot.com

THE CHURCH OF SARDIS REVELATION 3: 1 - 6

THE CHURCH OF THE DEAD ORTHODOXY

REVELATION 3: 3 - 6
PART 1 of 3

   1) And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

   2)  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die:  for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

   3) Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.  If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

   4)  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white:  for they are worthy.

   5) He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.

   6) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.   (King James Version, public domain)

COMMENTARY

   The word "sardis" means "a remnant" or "those who have escaped".  Prophetically, it speaks of those who escaped Rome and who went through the reformation period to later get caught up in rules and tradition.  This church represents the Reformation Age.

   Can you imagine facing The Lord and Him telling you that you are dead; that your works are not recognized as good before God?  After the reformation period, with Holy Ghost revivals, the people received The Perfect Word.  Alas, where is there to go after reaching the top of the mountain except down?  We have doctors, insurance, good paying jobs, etc.  What do we need?  We surely don't need God: we have everything we need!  We decide to attend church and give God lip service but our hearts are of stone.  We are not watching for The Lord's return.  We don't pray or read our Bibles; most of all, we don't believe on God and trust Him to care for our every need.

   We attend church on Sunday as if it were a social event.  We feed the hungry and do other good works to impress our neighbors.  We (the church) have a name but we are dead.  Without the love of God, all is but a clanging gong! 

   But there are a few who come in searching for a church to belong to; a church where they can build on what they already know; a church where they can fellowship with other believers; a church where they are not expected to be perfect, but forgiven and empowered to glorify God; a church where they can witness to others and help lead others to the saving faith in Our Lord.

   Let me ask you a question:  When do you start preparing for celebrating birthdays?  anniversaries?  Do you begin preparations an hour before the event?  a day?  months before?  When you KNOW an event is imminent, you prepare!  The one theme the commentaries share about Sardis is that Jesus is telling them to watch for His return; not next year, or months from now, but His imminent return.  Brother, I am here to assure you that His return IS imminent!

   I recently saw a photo of a sign outside of a church which said something like, "Watching for the return of The Lord....hopefully before the November elections".  I don't know about that, but I assure you, it is closer than you may realize.  Are you ready?  Are you watching for His return today?

   Please, if you haven't accepted Jesus as your personal savior, please visit our page at http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.
 

    If this ministry is a blessing to you, we encourage you to leave your thoughts in a comment.  We would love to hear from you. You are also invited to share this post on your favorite social media. It won't cost you anything and it takes very little effort.  Thank you.

 You are invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com, http://omaslife.blogspot.com, and http://omashealth.blogspot.com

THE CHURCH IN THYATIRA REVELATIONS 2: 18 - 29 PART 4 of 4

THE ADULTEROUS CHURCH
REVELATIONS 2: 18 - 29
PART 4 of 4

Façade of the Archbasilica of St. John in Lateran

 photo courtesy of Wikipedia

   18) And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, Who hath His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass;

   19) I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

   20) Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

   21) And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

   22) Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

   23) And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts:  and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

   24) But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

   25) But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

   26) And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

   27) And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers:  even as I received of My Father.

   28) And I will give him the Morning Star.

   29) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.    (King James Version  Public Domain)

COMMENTARY

   We have looked at the first three churches, which are supposed to be gone by the rapture.  Beginning with the Church in Thyatira, the remaining churches will still be in operation at The Lord's return  (note verse 25, which was not mentioned in the first 3 letters).  I just have to say, though, that I can see some of the first three churches in my own spiritual life.

The church of Thyatira represents the "age of papacy".  Papacy is defined by Britannica.com as "the office and jurisdiction of the bishop of Rome, the pope who presides over the central government of the Roman Catholic Church.         

    The word "thyatira" comes from two words: one word meaning "sacrifice", or "an incense-offering"; the other meaning "continually".  This church sets forth the period which was the result of the union of the church and state, as set up by the Pergamos Church.  It was in the 7th century when the Bishop of Rome, whom Constantine had elevated to a position equal to nobles,  became the visible head of the church and was recognized as Christ's vicegerent.   However, according to www.dictionary.com, a vicegerent is "an officer appointed as deputy BY AND TO a sovereign or supreme chief!  There is no record of God appointing the Bishop or the Pope.

   Verse 18 identifies the Speaker as "The Son of God", not the son of Mary, or a saint or anyone but The Only Begotten Son Of The One True God.  When you offer a sacrifice for sins, something or someone has to die.  When He agreed to be our sacrificial Lamb, He pronounced, "It is finished."  He does not need to be continually killed and sacrificed by the bishop or pope.  His work was finished over 2000 years ago.

   Understand, that Jesus gave His life for our sins.  He loves us that much!  Since He loves us that much, why would we need to go to His mother or one of His disciples to put in a good word on our behalf?  How could He demonstrate His love for us any more than He has?  We petition The Father in The Name of Jesus.

   I did a double take when I read verse 19.  The Apostle John was to tell the angel of the Church in Thyatira that God knows of their works, and charity, and service, and faith, and their patience, and their works; and the last to be more than the first. Why did God know their works---twice?  The first "works" include the sisters and monks; the hospitals and orphanages, which were run by the Church.  Their last "works" will be greater than the first in that the more the church practiced the charity, service, faith, and patience, the more their "works" became true heart-felt works and multiplied.  I find this to be consistent in my own life, don't you?

   But "Jezebel" tried to attract more pagans to the church, so she transformed the church to the likeness of the world.  She ended up with a mixture of heathenism, Christianity, and Judaism.  Today's churches also try to influence pagans into attending church by the same methods, like trick or treating sponsored by the church.   The two things He holds against Rome is spiritual fornication and idolatry.  Spiritual fornication is the union of the church and the world; idolatry is the worship of images.  Can they not just read the Ten Commandments and know they have set themselves against God?

   But He gave her space to repent.  The reformation period produced many Christians who clearly pronounced the error of her ways.  Power is a heady thing.  Once you have it, you will do anything to keep it (just look at our elected officials).  The people of the church are no different.  If they have a hardened heart, they are not in it to give God the glory, but to promote their own self interest.

   The Catholic Church has promoted the Mother of Jesus to a position of diety, saying she was sinless.  They have promoted their Popes to a position of infallibility, yet they are known to reverse themselves on issues.  He who has eyes, let him see!

   The time will come, after the calling away of the Church, when Rome will be recognized as Spiritual Babylon the Great!   Yet, God sees those who do not subscribe to the false teachings.  He recognizes those who belong to Him, may He be forever praised!

If this ministry is a blessing to you, we encourage you to leave your thoughts in a comment.  We would love to hear from you.  You are also invited to share this post with your friends your favorite social media.  It costs you nothing and does not require a lot of effort to click the "share" button.

 You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com, http://omaslife.blogspot.com, and http://omashealth.blogspot.com

THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA REVELATION 2: 8 - 11 PART 2 of 4

THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

REVELATION 2: 8 - 11
PART 2 of 4

   8) To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:  These are the words of Him Who is the First and the Last, Who died and came to life again.

   9) I know your afflictions and your poverty --- yet you are rich!  I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

10) Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.  I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days.  Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown.

   11) Whoever has ears, let them hear what The Spirit says to the churches.  The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.

COMMENTARY

   Myrrh is used in embalming the dead and has to be crushed, giving off it's fragrance.  Smyrna means myrrh.  The church in Smyrna was crushed by Rome and in perpetual martyrdom for their faith in Jesus.  They met in secret and had sentries posted to warn them of approaching danger.  

   The Jews were entrenched in political Rome during this time period, forcing Christians to convert to Judaism and all of the traditions and legalism that went with it.   They did not want to give up the power they held in the synagogue to the church.

   In the two hundred years that the age of persecution continued, there were ten distinct edicts that went out from the Roman government calling for the persecution of the Christians; beginning with Nero and ending with Diocletian.

   With the testimony of the martyrs during the persecution of the church, the persecutors were saved.  What was meant to kill the church from without, was actually the seed of the church.  The fragrance of the faithful martyrs glorified God.  And for that, they received life!

    Verse 9 reminds us that we may live IN this world, but our currency is not OF this world.  We store up our treasures in Heaven!   (King James Version, public domain)

If this ministry is a blessing to you, we encourage you to leave your thoughts in a comment on this blog; and to share with your friends on your favorite social media.  We would love to hear from you.

 You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com, http://omaslife.blogspot.com, and http://omashealth.blogspot.com

THE CHURCH OF PERGAMOS REVELATION 2: 12 - 17 PART 3 of 4

THE INFILTRATED CHURCH   

REVELATION 2: 12 - 17
PART 3 of 4

   12) And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges:

   13) I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is:  and thou holdest fast My Name, and hast not denied My Faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

   14) But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

   15) So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

   16) Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

   17) He that hath an ear, let him hear what The Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
(King James Version), public domain

COMMENTARY

   Pergamos, a great religious center, was located 60 miles north of Ephesus.   The great altar of Zeus, one of the seven wonders of the world,  was located there. Ponder that for just a moment.  They had a medical center there and worshiped the god of medicine, Aesculapius, under the sign of a coiled snake. There was a 200,000 volume library there as well.  Intelligence, money, religion; they had it all!  And God's church was there.  But God's church had been infiltrated by Nicolaitanism and Balaamism.  Christ needed to cut them out, so to speak, with the double-edged sword proceeding from his mouth.

   Alexander Hislop documented in his famous book, Two Babylons, how the "headquarters" of Satan's religious system which was centered at Babylon fled to Pergamos when Babylon fell in the days of Belshazzar.  This ancient mystery religion endured for several centuries in that environment of pantheistic paganism.  It later moved to Rome.  If Hyslop's analysis of  "Satan's throne" is correct, it becomes a very literal description of the unseen principalities and powers centered at Pergamos.

   Pergamos has two meanings:  "marriage" and "elevation".  It was elevated to a place of power.  It speaks of the time when the church and state were married under Constantine and his successors.  When you study Roman history, you discover that Constantine had a "vision" in a dream when he and Maxentius was contending for the throne upon the death of  Diocletian and Galerius.  He called upon Christian bishops to explain their religion to him.  He  accepted the new doctrine of religion, and declared himself to be its God-appointed patron and protector.  He won a great victory over Maxentius and became emperor of the world.  His first act as emperor was to liberate Christians and to stop their persecution.  He bestowed unwanted honors on the bishops; they sat on thrones with the nobles of the empire.

   And so it was, that the church was no longer awaiting the second coming of Christ.  The bishops got confused about the church reigning with the return of Christ.  They decided that the church was reigning, so they were no longer looking for Christ's return.  It wasn't until The Reformation period that that changed.

   The church had a major issue under Constantine:  Arias contended that Jesus was a great man, but was not God.  His opponents disagreed, since "The Word was God."  The battle in the church went on for two years, with Constantine being called in to referee on several occasions.  Finally, Constantine called a great church-council to settle the question, in the city of Nicea.  There were over 300 bishops there, with Constantine sitting on a golden throne, presiding over the council, as the head of the Christian church.  His other title at that time was Pontifex Maximus, or High Priest of the Heathen (the same title that the Pope bears today).

   Eventually, the result of the council of Nicea was to acknowledge that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, thus they did not deny His Name. (verse 13)

   The Pergamites had not kept the false teachers out of the church, as the first two churches had.  Their teaching was permitted with the end goal for the church to compromise with the world.  Doesn't that sound familiar?  The Church of Pergamos had not only allowed those who claim to be saved into the church, but they were also allowed to preach their false doctrine, infecting the congregation.  The spirit of compromise has surely been one of the greatest evils in the Christian church and in Christians ever since the church at Pergamos.

   I have heard with my own ears, our preachers casually use The Lord's name in vain.  One of them even said that keeping the Sabbath holy does not mean all day long!  We are taught to test the spirits and know what is of God, but when you don't read and study the scripture, you fall for false teaching.

   Even today, we must repent of our attitude of compromise to one of insistence of doctrinal and moral purity.  We must stand firm on what The Bible teaches and not waver to the left or the right.  We can be loving without being accepting.

    And to those who overcome, he is promised a new name, chosen by God, Himself; known only to Him and us individually; a name of special communication and fellowship with Him.  Let me quote Dr. Henry M. Morris from his commentary related to those who overcome:  "we are assured access to God's presence and faithful provision of all needs."  How reassuring is that?  We are assured access to The One Who created everything, everyone, and Who put time in motion!  We are assured of His love 24/7. 

   Dear friend, the rapture is closer than you may realize.  I am now looking at days rather than decades for His return.  Please, if you don't have that relationship with my God, please go to our Pathway to Salvation page and change that.  I look forward to seeing you in Heaven.

If this ministry is a blessing to you, we encourage you to leave your thoughts in a comment.  We would love to hear from you.  You are also welcome to share this post on your favorite social media, which helps us.  Thank you.

 You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com, http://omaslife.blogspot.com, and http://omashealth.blogspot.com

THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS REVELATION 2: 1 - 7 PART 1 of 3

THE ZEALOUS CHURCH

REVELATION 2 : 1 - 7  (KJV)
PART 1 of 3

   1) Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write;  These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

   2) I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil:  and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

   3) And hast borne, and hast patience, for My Name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

   4) Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

   5) Remember therefore from whence thou are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

   6) But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

   7) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.   (KING JAMES VERSION, public domain)

COMMENTARY

   One of the mysteries of the Book of Revelation is that the churches that were to receive the letters were real churches, but they also were also representative churches (they represented church history): :

• Ephesus          The Apostolic Age    before A.D. 100
• Smyrna           Age of Persecution               A.D.  100 - A.D. 313
• Pergamos        Imperial Church Age           A.D. 313 - A.D. 590
• Thyatira          Age of Papacy                      A.D. 590 - A.D. 1517
•  Sardis             Reformation Age                 A.D. 1517 - A.D. 1730
• Philadelphia    Missionary Age                   A.D. 1730 - 1900
• Laodicea         Age of Apostasy                  A.D. 1900 - ?

   The Apostle John, the Apostle Paul, and Timothy had all ministered to the Church of Ephesus.  Here, Jesus commends the Church for their zeal and steadfastness, done in the Name of Christ.  However, He warns that they have left their first love:  their love for one another, for the lost, and for The Lord.  God is love, so we must love.  Paul closes his epistle to the Church of Ephesus thus:  "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity".  A "first love" is a sincere love.  While love is not just a feeling, but it is an action word also, we must search ourselves to be sure we are not just busy with "Christ things", but that we are in The Word, and praising Him, and asking Him to search us, that we may be more LIKE Him.  Studying His Word, therefore, is commendable.

   Let me try another way to explain "your first love":  remember that first person you fell in love with?  How your every thought was of them?  You wanted to stay in their company all day.  You would do and say anything to please them.  THAT is how we are to be with our LORD.  Have the praise music on our radio, study the Holy Bible, attend church, minister to others.

   Then He commends the church for their hatred of the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which He also hates.  Note that He does not hate the sinner, but the sin (deeds).  According to biblestudytools.com, the Nicolaitanes were followers of Nicolas who had incorporated participating in orgies to heighten their spirituality.  They also believed in eating food that had been offered to idols.

   Christ asks the Church to return to their first love or their angel would be withdrawn and The Holy Spirit would no longer remain in their midst.  Here is another promise of God:  "He who has an ear, let him hear what The Spirit says unto the CHURCHES:  To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."  Don't you want that?  Be zealous in your love for Christ.  Be sincere in your love for Him.  Overcome apathy for Him, don't be too busy "doing" for Him, and take time to "sit at His feet" and adore Him.

If this ministry is a blessing to you, we encourage you to leave your thoughts in a comment.  We would love to hear from you.  You are also encouraged to share this post on your favorite social media.  Thank you.

 You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com, http://omaslife.blogspot.com, and http://omashealth.blogspot.com

REVELATION 1: 10 - 20 PART 2 of 2

REVELATION 1: 10 - 20
PART 2 of 2

   10) I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

   11) Saying, 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; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

   12) And I turned to see the voice that spake with me.  And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

   13) And in the midst of the seven candlesticks One like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

   14) His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire;

   15) And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.

   16) And He had in His right hand seven stars:  and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in His strength.

   17) And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.  And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

   18) I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

   19) Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

   20) The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks.  The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches:  and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.         (King James Version, Public Domain)

COMMENTARY

  First of all, consider the Apostle John, being in his later years, on the island.  If he was outside, he was facing toward the West, because seniors have issues with bright lights in their eyes.  He was in the spirit, and had to turn around at the sound of the voice.  He spent three years walking with Jesus when He was in the form of mankind, however, he fell to his feet as dead.  And The Lord touched him, saying, "Fear not!"  How comforting is that to all of us?  "Fear not!"

   How often do we boldly take our petitions and request before the throne?  Are you so confident that when you are faced with Him eye to eye, that you will not also fall down as dead?  It must have been quite intimidating, seeing Jesus in all of His power as God!  I wonder if John, even for a moment, thought about how he had laid his head on His breast.

   Note in verse 18 where Jesus says He has the keys to hell and death.  He fulfilled the prophecy of Psalm 16:10, "He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, neither His flesh did see corruption." Acts 2:31 Before Christ descended into Hades, it had housed all the souls and spirits of all people who had lived and died before Him.  The saints and those who did not know Jesus were separated by a "great gulf".  Reference the story of Lazarus and the rich man. Luke 16: 23 - 26.

   However, "the cross, meant to kill, is my victory!"  Jesus descended into Hades like those who died before Him.  Hebrews 2: 14, 14 tells us , "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same, that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject in bondage"

   Therefore, after He went to Hades He ascended up on high to heaven rather than lingering in Hades.  Now, when we give up this life, we will "be with Him in Paradise", as He said to the thief on the cross.

   Remember that Daniel was instructed to "seal up" the things he had seen until a later time.  Here, John was told to write it down and send it to the churches.  Jesus named the churches by name, and He knows us by name, also!  In this, consider that when God gives us a mission, He provides everything necessary to complete the mission

   Then He explains the symbols John is seeing:  the candlesticks and the stars.  He wants us to study the Book of Revelation; and He will explain it to us!  

   John saw Jesus in the midst of the churches.  Every true church has an angel assigned for their guidance and watch-care.  Even when the pastors and members come and go, a true church's angel remains.  Know, also, that individual believers have angels assigned to them (Matthew 18:10, Acts 12: 15).

   I am excited about embarking on the study of this Book of Revelation.  Please leave a comment if we are ministering to you...no money necessary.  We want to encourage you to seek The Lord.

   Also, if this ministry is a blessing to you, please feel free to share our posts on your favorite social media.  Thank you.

You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com, http://omaslife.blogspot.com, and http://omashealth.blogspot.com