Predestiny

                A major problem that I’ve been hearing lately is the idea of predestination. So many people I know, including Christians, believe that people are chosen before they are born to go to heaven or hell. This keeps people from having a relationship with God because they feel that no matter what, they can’t help where they end up after death. They believe that salvation is given only to chosen people and that the elect will come to have faith and believe until the end.

“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan

of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order

 that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.”

-Ephesians 1:11-12

                A lot of people take this verse as confirmation that there is undoubtedly predestination. However, what God means is that He chose them to have certain spiritual gifts. He chose the disciples and He chose the apostles. He has a plan for each and every one of us to do His works; we just need to accept the duty and responsibility. Also, the next verse contradicts the idea of predestination.

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word

of the truth, the gospel of your salvation.”

-Ephesians 1:13

                This verse declares that those who hear the Word and believe in it will receive salvation and a place in heaven. Deuteronomy 7:6-8 talks about the people of Israel being the chosen people. This doesn’t mean that they are the only ones permitted in heaven. What this means is that they have a special ranking in Heaven (see Revelation 7).

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever

believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God

did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does

not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed

in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

John 3:16-18

                No one is excluded from having everlasting life in heaven. All who believe will see the kingdom and reside in it! God loves each and every person that has ever walked this earth. He does not choose to send anyone to hell; He did everything to save us. He sent His only Son to perish for us. He became like us to be a sacrifice for us. He remained compassionate while Israel was arrogant and judgmental. The Bible tells us that whoever confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Christ and commits their life to God will receive life in heaven. We are told that we have our own will. Therefore, we are not predestined.

                Don’t be convinced that you can’t help set the way for where you will end up after death. One thing is, you are on a predetermined course. But you don’t have a predetermined destination. The course that you take, can have detours based on your decisions and if you stray from God's will, and so does your destination. Satan is not omnipotent or omnipresent. He can only attack you every now and then, putting thoughts in your head for short moments, hoping that those thoughts will turn you from God. So don’t let him convince you that you’re either set to go to heaven or hell. YOU make your own decisions and if you love God and live by His word than you are going to heaven. If you disobey God, then you are on a wide path to the lake of fire. You are not Satan’s to have-you are God’s. So live your life for Him and know that your destination is not predestined.

Fasting

“Even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘return to me with all your

heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

-Joel 2:12

                What is fasting? It is another means by which we can suffer for the Lord, through the voluntary abstinence from eating. Biblical fasting is not for physical purposes but rather for spiritual. It is used to gain a deeper fellowship with God.  It is something that is good, profitable, and beneficial.  The focus of fasting should not be on the lack of food but rather to take your eyes off of the things of this world and focus completely on God. The physical benefits such as detox and weight loss, are just an added blessing.

                Fasting and prayer are often done together as seen in Luke 2:37. Through fasting, answers to prayers are easier to decipher and the voice of the Lord is easily heard. Our flesh is suppressed and our spiritual sensitivity is heightened so that we can gain new knowledge and we could even decipher visions and dreams like Daniel did.  Before making important decisions, the disciples and prophets would fast so that they would know the will of God for them.

“While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting the Holy

Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for

the work to which I have called them.”

-Acts 13:2

                Fasting cannot be done for the wrong reasons or for personal gain. God often ordered fasting upon His people so that they may repent for wrongdoings that they did. We should do the same in our lives.

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords

of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?”

-Isaiah 58:6

                If we have selfish motives, then our fast will not be accepted by the Lord.   We can see that our motives for fasting should be pure. We should not boast about it so that we seem spiritually stronger but we are to not draw attention on ourselves. We cannot fast and have evil, unrepented sin or selfishness in our lives and expect God to answer our cries. We must seek our hearts and discover what our real motives are.

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all

your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and

strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot

fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.”

-Isaiah 58:3-4

                Today, many modern Christians feel that fasting is outdated but looking at the Word, we can see that the principle of fasting was never made obsolete or done away with by God. Matthew 6:16-18 says that when we fast we are to do it unto the Lord. He doesn’t say if we fast.

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they

disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting.

I tell you the truth, they have received their rewards in

full. But when you fast, put oil

on your head and wash your face, so that it

will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only

to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who

sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

-Matthew 6:16-18

                Two reasons for fasting are to receive spiritual cleansing and to obtain victory over the devil. When Jesus was led into temptation during his encounter with Satan, he was able to overcome him because his fasting had given him spiritual strength. We can receive more of the Lord’s spirit and gain new understandings, as well as break addictive habits that are not healthy for our spirits. Fasting is not meant to move the hand of God, but is meant to make Satan lose a hold of us.

                By afflicting our soul (Isaiah 58:3), we are saying to our flesh, “You are demanding to eat but Christ is stronger than the desires of my flesh. My spirit shall rule and my flesh shall not have dominion over me.” Fasting is not a way to move the hand of God and receive what we want but it is to see what GOD wants for us.

              There are different types of fasts: Regular fast, partial fast, absolute fast, Daniel fast, corporate fast. Jesus fasted and set an example for us.

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert

to be tempted by the devil. After fasting

forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter

came to him and said, 'If you are the Son of God,

tell these stones to become bread.’

Jesus answered, ‘It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but

on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

-Matthew 4:1-4

                Deuteronomy chapter 8 is proof of this. The Israelites were in the wilderness for forty years but survived on the manna given by God and his Word. They went through an absolute fast. In Act 9:9 Saul immediately went a three day absolute fast upon his conversion. The body can go a number of days without food, but cannot go for long periods without water. Therefore, there are few absolute fasts that last longer than three days. One of these accounts was when Moses spent forty days and night on Mount Sinai without food or water. He had a supernatural encounter with God that sustained him during that time.

“And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did

neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words

of the covenant, the ten commandments.”

-Exodus 34:28

                Partial fasts can be done for one meal, one day, one month, or however you feel lead by God. Shorter fasts are easier to endure until we have built our spiritual muscles and our faith increases. A three day fast is beneficial as a spiritual cleansing as seen in Acts 9:17-18. Paul was thrust into it upon his conversion so that he would be cleansed and receive the Holy Spirit. A partial fast can also include giving up fleshly desires like watching TV, playing video games, or having intercourse with your spouse (1 Corinthians 7:5).

                During a Daniel fast, we abstain from eating pleasant foods, meat, and wine and restrict ourselves to fruits, vegetables, and water. Why is this called a Daniel fast? Because in Daniel 10:2-3 we see that for three weeks Daniel  partook in this fast.

“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks.

I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor

wine in my mouth, neither did

I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.”

-Daniel 10:2-3

                We also see that in Daniel 1:8-17, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah ate only fruits and vegetables and drank only water. They looked healthier than all of the other young men so the king ordered all of them to give up choice foods and wine.

                A corporate fast is a fast done by a group of people at the same time. God calls His people to set up a sacred and holy fast in the Old Testament. He did this because they needed to repent and give up fleshly desires so that they may draw close to God.

“Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly.”

-Joel 1:14

                Fasting and mourning are often closely associated in the Bible. Two examples are in Ezra and Nehemiah. Both men in Ezra 10:6 and Nehemiah 1:4 fast and mourn for the repentance of God’s people.

                Fasting is also a way we can minister unto the Lord. We read in Acts 13:2 that they ministered unto the Lord and fasted. It is a way we can offer the time we generally spend in eating as unto the Lord in prayer. As we spend this time with Him, it causes things to happen in the Spirit. We do not understand this principle any more than other mysteries in the Bible, but we find that by applying it we get results. There are many things I don't understand with my natural mind, but I receive them by faith because the Word of God says they are true. If God's Word says it, that settles it. In our fasting, the Lord wants to use us to bless others as well. Isaiah 58:7 tells us that during a time of fasting we can give spiritual bread and food to those in need as well as cloth and shelter them.

                Fasting often comes spontaneously like when we are mourning or sick. It is our subconscious way of dealing with a situation and receiving healing. Others are so busy seeking God’s guidance that they forget to eat. Others are in parts of the world where there is little food so they can spend time seeking God and He will bless them as He would a voluntary fast.

                By taking our eyes off the things of this world, we can more successfully turn our attention to Christ. Fasting is not a way to get God to do what we want. Fasting changes us, not God. Fasting is not a way to appear more spiritual than others. Fasting is to be done in a spirit of humility and a joyful attitude.

Understanding the Book of Revelation: The Thousand Years

            Chapter 20 has become, unfortunately, one of the more disputed passages in scripture. It is the only place in Revelation where the thousand years appears. In Chapter 20 Satan is bound for one thousand years so that the earth may be restored and the remaining men will not be deceived by him. The Church is allowed to begin to take charge of the nations. Instead of being an outcast and overruled, she now has a voice. The martyrs and overcomers are given thrones during this time so that they may help judge during the millennial kingdom.

There are three interpretations:

a. Premillennialism: This argues that Christ comes pre- (before) the millennium of a literal thousand years. Christ's return in power and glory will deprive Satan of all his power, raise the Christian dead, and set up the kingdom of the saints on earth. After a thousand years, Satan will re-emerge from his imprisonment, attempt once more to destroy the saints, fail, and be destroyed himself. Then will come the resurrection of the rest of the dead, the judgment of the great white throne, the final destruction of the wicked, and the making of a new heaven and earth. The appearing of the Antichrist, the tribulation, the rapture is usually held to have taken place before Christ's coming in victory, and that comes before (pre-) the millennium: hence the name of this interpretation. This doctrine is sometimes called chiliasm which is derived from the Greek chilios, a thousand.

b. Amillennialism: There is no literal millennium, the 1,000 years is symbolic. It stands for the whole time between the life of Jesus on earth and his second coming. There is a biblical millennium. The saints are raised with Christ at the new birth, this is the first resurrection, (Ephesians 2:6, Colossians 2:12, Colossians 3:1), and they reign with Christ in life (Romans 5:17).
 

c. Postmillennialism: Christ returns after (post) the millennium. The millennium is the triumph of the gospel in this present age, sometimes a literal 1,000 years.

In Chapter 20 Satan is bound for one thousand years so that the earth may be restored and the remaining men will not be deceived by him. The Church is allowed to begin to take charge of the nations. Instead of being an outcast and overruled, she now has a voice. The martyrs and overcomers are given thrones during this time so that they may help judge during the millennial kingdom.

                Each interpretation brings its own meaning to each of the verses. I know I might not be right but I will share with you the interpretation that the Lord has given to me. You don’t have to agree with me; that’s not the purpose of this blog. You can interpret each passage your own way.

The Thousand Years

                After the thousand years, Satan will again be released to test the nations for the final time. In verse 5 there are two different resurrections mentioned. The first resurrection is for the believers. The second resurrection is for all those who are left that have not believed. In verse 6 we can see that this is true. It says that those who partake in the first resurrection will not see the second death, which is being cast to hell and having death of the spirit. 

Gog and Magog

                Verse 8 is Satan’s last chance to gather everyone from around the earth. Gog and Magog are mention in Ezekiel 38:2-3 and 39:1-2. This battle that will occur is separate from the battle of Armageddon. Ezekiel 38:2 indicates Gog is of Rosh, Meschech, and Tubal, which correspond to Russia, Moscow, and Tobolsk. Magog relates to Eastern Europe. Satan deceives them so that they can be his warriors. He instigates this final war and causes man’s rebellious nature to show again. During the thousand years, man’s rebellious nature still existed but it didn’t show because there was no temptation or deception from Satan. The camp mentioned in verse 9 is the lodging place of the overcoming believers who reside on earth as Heaven’s army. The beloved city is Jerusalem and God won’t let any harm come to them. He instantly brings fire and destruction against the enemy. 

The Dead are Judged

                In saying that the dead are standing in verse 12 indicates that they have been resurrected. The dead unbelievers are the last to be judged. Death is the last enemy to be destroyed. Death can no longer come to God’s people so it is cast to Hell where torment is prominent. During the first death, the flesh is separated from the spirit and our spirits will be put in a waiting place (Luke 16:22-24). Those who are not in the book of life, they will surely be cast to the lake of fire, the kingdom of Satan, and the dwelling place of death.

Understanding the Book of Revelation: The Antichrist and the False Prophet

The Beast Out of the Sea

                  In this segment I will be discussing Chapter 13, the Beast out of the Sea and the Beast out of the Earth. The beast out of the sea is the Antichrist. The sea is the Mediterranean Sea. When saying he will come out of the sea, it is telling us he will come from two sources: his spirit from the abyss and his body from one of the Gentile nations around the Mediterranean. The sea signifies Gentile nations (Revelation 17:15, Isaiah 57:20). The ten horns and seven heads are those of the dragon (Revelation 12:3); the beast is therefore one with the dragon. The ten horns are the ten coming kings (Daniel 7:24) and the seven heads are the seven Caesars (Revelation 17:10). The ten heads correspond to the ten toes in Daniel 2:42-4. The Roman Empire, Antichrist, and ten kings (represented by the ten crowns) are one with Satan. The seven Caesars, symbolized by the seven heads, claimed deity and ordered their people to worship them, which is a blasphemy against God.

 

                A leopard, characterized by swift and crucial movements, was the symbol of Alexander the Great, king of Greece. The bear, characterized by its destroying feet, was the symbol of the monarchy of Medo-Persia. The lion, characterized by its devouring mouth, was a symbol of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. The Antichrist will have their characteristics. He’s the totality of all evil powers in human history. Giving his power, throne, and authority to the beast, he makes the beast one with him so he can resist God and persecute God’s people on earth. Verse 3 refers to one of the Caesars who will be resuscitated, causing the earth to marvel. He is one of the Caesars who was assassinated or murdered because it says his face was slain. During the last three and a half years he will terminate all Jewish worship and service to God (Daniel 9:27), persecute the saints, and destroy Jerusalem. The saints that he will make war with are the believers that remain on earth.

The Beast Out of the Earth

                13:11 brings our attention to the beast out of the earth. This other beast is the false prophet mentioned in Revelation 16:13, 19:20, and 20:10. Since the earth signifies Israel, the false prophet will most likely come from the Jews. By saying that he looks like a lamb but talks like a dragon this verse is indicating his falsity. He is the ultimate of all the false prophets that we were forewarned about. He helps persuade people to worship the beast from the sea.  He will be able to do what Elijah did in 1 Kings 18:36-38 by bringing fire out of the sky. People won’t be able to distinguish the truth from the lies. In his being able to give breath to the statue of the beast of the sea he is doing something that has never been done before in human history. Psalm 115:5 tells us that no idol made by human hands has ever been able to speak. 

              

Understanding the Book of Revelation: The Woman and the Dragon

The Woman               

                   Chapter 12 is about the woman and the dragon. It can be difficult to interpret what this chapter is talking about but with the right outlook on it, it becomes clear. In Genesis 37:9 Joseph saw in a dream the sun, moon, and eleven stars plus himself, signifying the totality of God’s people. Based on this principle, the sun, moon, and stars here must signify all of God’s people as well, which is represented by a woman. The sun signifies God’s people in the New Testament because the world is no longer dark after Christ entered the world; there is hope for mankind. The moon signifies God’s people in the Old Testament. The moon is the age of law, which is not to be exalted over the stars; all these people are light bearers. The child, being a man child, signifies God’s stronger people. The bible considers them a collective unit fighting the battle for God here on earth. The cry mentioned is actually a prayer. When it says “…and cried out in pain…” it signifies the suffering that God’s people face. 

The Red Dragon

                The red dragon in verse 3 is Satan. The redness of the dragon signifies the shedding of blood caused by Satan’s murders (John 8:44). The seven heads and ten horns are those of the Antichrist (13:1). This indicates that Satan and the Antichrist are one; the Antichrist is an embodiment of Satan. The seven diadem crowns that the dragon wears indicate the glory of the seven Ceasers’ extraordinary kingship. Since each of them were one with Satan, each assumed deity, claimed to be God, and forced people to worship himself as God. The third part of the stars that are cast to the earth are the saints that backslide because of Satan and are therefore cast down to earth and now they must partake in the Great Tribulation and rapture.  That the dragon stood before the woman signifies that he is always against God’s people. Since Genesis 3:15 to this day he is always waiting to claim possession of God’s people and devour them. The man-child is the overcoming saints, the stronger followers. We know this because in Revelation 2:26-27 it says that the overcoming saints will help rule the nations during the millennial kingdom and here they are given an iron rod to rule the nations. God will protect the remaining believers during the last three and a half years before they are raptured on that last day. 

The War in Heaven

                The war in Heaven mentioned in verse 7 begins immediately after the strongest believers are raptured. They are always in a state of fighting for the Lord. With this war Satan and his angels are cast out of Heaven. Satan accused Job and Joshua and now he accuses the believers of God day and night. But, through fighting him, the kingdom of God can now come in full. Verse 11 refers to the overcoming believers who constitute the man-child in verse 5. They overcame the slander of Satan. The blood of the Lamb answers before God all the accusations of the devil against us and gives us victory over him. We need to verbally testify against the devil when we feel him against us. Unto death indicates martyrdom. They were martyred in Christ’s name. The devil is angry because he has been cast out of Heaven losing all of his territory. He will concentrate his hatred against God’s people during the last three and a half years with great strength, trying to turn them away from Him. 

The Woman in the Wilderness

                Because of this wrath of Satan, God will be the great eagle that protects her. The wings signify his strength to rescue (Exodus 19:4, Deuteronomy 32:11-12). He will protect His people from Satan just like He brought the people of Israel out from the Pharaoh’s persecution. A time and times and a half denotes three and a half years. The water that Satan will cast out in verse 15 signifies the armies that will be sent by Satan to try and destroy the children of God. God said that He would not use water again to punish His people; therefore, this refers to Satan’s attempt to destroy God’s people. The earth will open and swallow Satan (the depths of the earth often signify hell). The rest of her seed signifies the rest of God’s people who do not make up the man-child. Among them are the Jews that we saw in Chapter 7 and the believers who hold Jesus’ testimony. The sea in verse 18 is the same that we will see in 13:1- the Mediterranean Sea. The sand here represents the shore of the Holy Land, where Israel is. Satan’s persecution will be focused mainly on the land of Israel during the Great Tribulation. 

Understanding the Book of Revelation: Christ and the Scroll

     Moving further into the book of Revelation, we’ll be reviewing chapters 10, 11, and 12 today. 

“Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from Heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with

a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars.”

-Revelation 10:1

                This mighty angel is Christ. Being clothed with a cloud is different than being on a cloud. He is not yet in the open; He’s in secret descending from Heaven from Heaven. Revelation 1:7 and Matthew 24:30 let us know that He’ll come out of secret when all tribes see Him. The rainbow around His head signifies that He will keep the covenant God made with mankind after the Great Flood. It also shows that He will execute judgment according to God’s judgment. Legs like fiery pillars indicate He will be steadfast and in God’s glory. The little scroll in His hand is the scroll in 5:1. In 5:1 it was still sealed but here the seven seals have been completely removed. It is only part of the scroll and we know this because here it is referred to as a little scroll. The main part of the scroll has been revealed.

                In saying that “He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land…” it indicates that He is taking possession of the earth back from Satan. When verse 3 says He roared like a lion, it is letting us know that Christ wrath. A roar of a lion is likened to a king’s wrath in Proverbs 19:12 and 20:2. The seven thunders show the full and powerful wrath of God. In verses 6-7 Christ is saying that with the seventh trumpet comes the most serious of His wrath, the final answer to the martyred saints’ prayer we sawing in Revelation 6:10. There will be no more mystery in God. In Isaiah 2:2-4, 11:1-10, 65:17-20, and 66:22 God made promises of the kingdom in its manifestation coming, and the new heaven, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem. They will be revealed to all.