This is a mini- series of messages pertaining to the church, and what the Lord is pleased with and what He is not pleased with, leading up to Christmas. I pray that the posts will benefit those who profess to be born again, and those who are unsaved can benefit also.
Some of the challenges will be about Christmas, and prayerfully it will bring conviction to those who think certain things are innocent. Because there was so much transpiring this past weekend, I will write about one church at a time, which may include Christmas.
First and foremost, everything that is written in the Bible is for the children of God to benefit from. Some Christians do not receive certain things told to them are not harmful and they disregard it. Whether they disregard it or not, that’s between them and God, but those who say what the Spirit of God tells them, are blessed for having the courage and boldness to speak the truth.
Before getting to the seven churches, I want to mention that some people think we are living in the book of Revelation. However, we are living in the first three chapters that I am going to write about.
The first verse in chapter four says this: After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” This proves that the Lord is taking us to be with Him; this is called the Rapture.
The Comfort of Christ’s Coming
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And there we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruption must put on incorruption, and this mortality must put on immortality. So, when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:50-58).
You will not see anything about the church again until chapters nineteen – to the end of the book of Revelation. It is crucial for the readers to know that the Lord confirms His Word over and over again. For instance: He never allows His people to be destroyed, in the book of Genesis, when the flood came and destroyed the earth, God spared Noah and his family from the worst catastrophe in history (Genesis, chapter 7).
Also, the Lord destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah after Lot and his family escaped from that wicked place (Genesis, chapter 19).
Lord willing, I will start with the seven churches tomorrow.
His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org
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