Church Blog (Page 5)

Chapter 4 begins the “hard” part of the revelation – the symbolic section of the vision John saw, that many readers find so challenging and difficult to understand. As noted previously, one of the reasons modern readers struggle to understand the revelation is because this style of literature is virtually unknown in modern western culture. Chapters 4-22 can be divided into a series of visions that share many common themes, even though the particulars of the visions themselves might seem…

“Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.” (Revelation 1:19) The instruction at the end of chapter 1 sets the context of the vision in vv. 10-20 and previews the rest of the Lord’s message to the churches in chapters 2 and 3 – “…things which you have seen, …which are, and…after this.” By the time John writes what he is told, the vision of chapter 1…

The first three verses of the Revelation provide its readers both the “title” of this book and explain its Source (i.e., “where it came from, and how it was transmitted to them”): “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants– things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ,…

The basic purpose of the Revelation is to provide comfort and consolation to Christians facing or experiencing persecution because of their faith. To the modern (western-culture) reader, this may not seem obvious because the symbols and figures the Holy Spirit employs seem so “strange” to us – we don’t typically relate to images or recognize parallels as readily as we grasp plain, straightforward statements. (People in “eastern” cultures, however, often do not struggle in this way since they are often…

There is only one “revelation” – this letter’s proper “title” appears in its first sentence: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants– things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,” (Revelation 1:1). This means the last book of the bible is “the” revelation, NOT “revelations.” The inspired penman is John the apostle, and this letter dates from about 96 A.D. (some biblical scholars…

April 19, 1775 marks the genesis of a term we have come to know as “The shot heard round the world.” With the pull of a trigger, the hammer struck a primer igniting a single black powder charged rifle to propel a bullet downrange into enemy territory. While the mechanics of the gunshot are simplistic, the consequences were monumental. The battles of Lexington and Concord were underway, and from that point forward many would fight to the point of death…

Prayer is an awesome thing! I love the fact that we have a God who loves us and wants to listen to us. Whether things are going good or bad, we often want to talk to those who are closest to us. We talk to friends, spouses, family, or even pay to see a therapist. Sometimes we simply want to “get things off our chest.” Other times we may be seeking advice or just want others to know about what’s…

The need for Jude to “switch topics” and admonish Christians to stand up for the faith (instead of celebrating the joy of salvation, vs. 3) was rooted in the fact that “certain people” (vs. 4) were trying to change and corrupt the body of Christ. These were people who shamelessly masqueraded as faithful Christians in order to promote wanton behavior (“lasciviousness,” KJV) in place of the morality God’s grace would produce. (It seems they were using “grace” as an excuse…

Not much is known for certain about the inspired writer of this brief letter: “Jude” identifies himself as “a servant of Jesus Christ” (a word that can also be translated as “slave”), and also as the “brother of James” (vs. 1). At least six men in the new testament were called Jude or Judas. Many scholars believe James was both the writer of the epistle of James, and a half-brother of Jesus, thus making Jude also a half-brother of the…

The apostle John’s letter to a Christian brother named Gaius is a fascinating window into the uncomfortable reality that sometimes, some Christians don’t act very much like the Christ! Modern Christians sometimes seem to forget that the problems and conflicts that can arise within a congregation are neither unique nor original. In the fourteen short verses of this personal letter, John both extolls the godliness of faithful and consistent brethren like Gaius and Demetrius, and bluntly condemns the arrogance and…

Five times in the first four verses of John’s very brief letter to “the elect lady,” he emphasizes the role truth must occupy in a Christian’s life. He first notes that his love for this “elect lady” is rooted in truth, vs. 1. (The recipients of this letter, whom John addresses as the “elect lady and her children,” are thought by some commentators to be an actual sister in Christ and her family. Those who hold this view generally assign…

“Don’t reflexively believe everything you hear.” This is the gist of the commandment at 1 John 4:1, and the inspired penman goes on in the same statement to explain why Christians should “vet” or verify as true every doctrine or claim made by someone who professes to speak on behalf of God – because many “pseudo” prophets are present in our world. Conscientious Christians try to see the good side of people and give others the “benefit of the doubt,”…