Lesson 4000

 Lesson (4000)(12-31-22)  Revelation 2:1-7

    “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; 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: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art 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. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. 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.”

    Today’s quote is the letter Jesus told John to pass on the the church at Ephesus. Therein, He both congratulated and rebuked the Ephesians for differing elemenst of their behavior.

    It is my believe that the “seven churches of Asia”, as referred to in John’s revelation, represent certain dispensations of time, or progressing generations of the church. Ephesus being the first in the progression.~

Lesson 3999

 Lesson (3999)(12-30-22)  Revelation 1:12-20

    “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 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. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 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: 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. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; 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”

    In today’s quote, Jesus, in all His glory, appeared to John, explaining to him some of the things he was seeing concerning the seven churches, and having him write them down in the book.~

Lesson 3998

 Lesson (3998)(12-29-22)  Revelation 1:9-11

    “ I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 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.”

    In today’s quote, God told John to write down what he was about to see and send the warnings to the seven churches of Asia.~

Lesson 3997

 Lesson (3997)(12-28-22)  Revelation 1:8

    “ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

    Today’s quote is God presenting Himself to us through the voice of John and, from what I have witnessed in my lifetime, this is one of the most underappreaciated acknowledgments that can be found in the entire bible.

    In my experience there are very few who realize the awesomeness of today’s quote. God IS, period. He IS NOT just another individual that we can associate our own lives and experiences with. We cannot approve, or disapprove of what He does, or doesn not do. He simply IS, WAS, and WILL BE. He is omnipotent. He CANNOT be challenged. He is all knowing and all powerful. He DOES NOT make mistakes. He DOES NOT lie. He DOES NOT forget.

    HALLELUJAH! God IS! Praise Him for His amazing, saving grace!~

Lesson 3996

 Lesson (3996)(12-27-22)  Revelation 1:7

    “ Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”

    Today’s quote foretells the second coming of our Lord Jesus. It is indeed a short, but oh so sweet, lesson. ~

Lesson 3995

 Lesson (3995)(12-26-22)  Revelation 1:4-6

    “John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

    Today’s quote is John’s letter of warning to the seven churches of Asia. This letter is also his warning to every one of us as to the events that will occur leading up to, and after the second coming of Jesus Christ.

    There is a second lesson in today’s quote that, the importance of which, can be easily missed by the casual bible reader. That is that John makes clear that the “washing away” of our sins, is by the blood of Jesus Christs, NOT by water baptism. “Him that loved us, and WASHED US FROM OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BLOOD”.~

Lesson 3994

 Lesson (3994)(12-25-22)  Revelation 1:1-3

    “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”

    If you want a blessing, read and keep the things written in this book.~