The One Who Overcomes

        If Revelation is following a Levitical (Lev-Chap 23) calendar it means there is a not a division from the OT but instead, a unity. One people of God; the church is the fulfillment of His purpose for Israel. 

*Gods plan for His people is a unified plan. He has ONE people.

*The 7 churches follow the 7 days of creation and trace through the Garden to crucifixion.  

(Ephesus-Day 1 of Creation, Thyatira- Day 4 of Creation, Laodicea-Day 7 of Creation)

Dispensationalists believe the 7 churches span the Church Age but they really span the history of the Bible. They follow distinct periods of its history. This shows a unity which God has intended. 

Chapters 2 and 3 use OT language which is why these parallels are evident. Not only do these 7 churches outline the OT but they also overlay events in Revelation and are dealt with in the rest of the book.

*What happens in Revelation has to do with the 7 churches, with their time because it was written to THEM. It uses imagery that fits THEM. (HAH yes, caps are for emphasis)

The Church of EPHESUS:

Jesus is walking among the candle stands. This imagery takes us to the garden how Adam walks through the trees. Each of these churches is represented as a tree. “To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life…” The church is being talked to through imagery of the Garden. In the Garden, Eve was seduced by another lover. (The ‘seed of the serpent’ was Cain.) The church of Ephesus had abandoned their first love just as Eve had abandoned perfection.

Revelation Overlay:

Who is the enemy?

1) False Apostles.

a) Revelation Chapter 5, the books are brought out and no one can open them. John starts weeping. The lamb comes forth and asks why john is crying. Jesus is the ONE true apostle. Apostle means, ‘Sent.’ In Hebrews chap 3 Jesus is called “The Apostle.” Chap 4 and 5 shows us the only way, the one, the true message who is TRULY sent in opposition to false apostles.

The Church of SMYRNA:

“I was dead, and I came to life… To the one who overcomes he will not be hurt by the second death…I will give him a crown of life.” This fits the period of time of the patriarchs. In the patriarchs we have the deadness of Sarah’s womb and Rebecca’s womb. Isaac’s sacrifice; where Abraham was willing to kill him even though the whole covenant rested on him. God has brought LIFE out of death. Joseph went to prison and then was raised out and given a crown and was second in command. This church covers from Geneses moving into the beginning of Exodus.

Overlay in Revelation:

Who is the enemy?

1) The synagogue of Satan, False Jews and False Israel.

a) They are persecuting the true believers. A true Jew is not one outwardly but one who has a circumcision of the heart. 
This content is seen in Revelation chapter 6, 7 through 8:1. They cover the 7 seals. Particularly you can see it in the 5^th seal, where the persecuted Christians are under the alter and it was false Israel that put them there.

The Church of PERGAMUM:

Rev Verse 14- Balaam, Balak and Jezebel...(See Numbers 22-24)

Verse 17, “To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna…” This church is showing the period of time of Israel’s wandering through the wilderness and coming up to the time they enter in the promise land.

Overlay in Revelation:

Who is the enemy?

1) Satan himself (Balaam and balak-) In revelation we have the Beast and the False Prophet.

This is dealt with in Rev chapters 8:2- chapter 14. The blowing of the trumpets.  

The Church of THYATIRA:

“The words of the Son of God who has eyes like a flame of fire and whose feet are life burnished bronze.” The phase the ‘Son of God’ is often a reference to Jesus kingship. In the OT Jezebel appears in the time of Elijah. She entices people into idolatry. This church covers the period of the Kings. The kingship arising in Israel.

“To him I will give authority over the nations..” This is quoted from Ps. 2. In the OT Jezebel does succeed in leading the people away. This language is chosen intentionally.
"The one who overcomes will have authority and the bright morning star."

*The sun moon and stars are created are created on the 4^th day.

In the OT, the sun and stars represent authority. (Like Governments and rulers) Think of Josephs dream and how the stars and moon all bowed down to him. 

Revelation overlay:

Who is the enemy?

1) Jezebel. She was engaged in idolatry, better known in the bible as whoredom. This is dealt with in the Bowl judgments. Where the Harlot who is riding the Beast is judged. (Rev chapters 16, 17 and 18)

The Church of SARDIS:

In OT Israel is divided into two nations. The north (Israel) is taken into captivity in 721BC. And the South (Judah) remains until 586BC. Toward the latter days of the nation there is only a remnant left of people who want to follow Gods word. So the imagery that they need to “wake up” fits this ‘remnant period’ of Israel’s history. This church covers the exile time up until the sending of Zachariah and Haggai.  

Revelation Overlay:

Who is the enemy?

1) The church is largely dead. Sleeping. Stagnant.

a) If they wake up they are going to get white robes. This is dealt with in Revelation chapter 19. You see the white horse rider and riding behind Him is the church bedecked in white robes.

The Church of PHILADELPHIA:

Verse 7, there is a restoration period under Zachariah and Haggai. But the people are a little sluggish so these prophets are sent to “Stir up” the people.

Jesus is the one who has the key. Verse 12 “The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God.” What happens during this time is the prophesy of Ezekiel. Ezek Chapters 40-48 where he talks about the temple.

Revelation Overlay:

Who is the enemy?

1) Synagogue of Satan/ False Jews

a) There is a wide open door for Philadelphia and there is this key. This is mentioned again in Rev Chapter 20. Where the key is binding Satan. The binding of Satan is imperative to there being a wide open door.

The Church of LAODICEA:

“…Vomit you out of my mouth.” This language comes from Leviticus. If the people do not follow the commandments of the Lord, the land will “vomit them out.” This church makes us think through the gospels. How the Pharisees and the religious leaders of the day were ‘lukewarm.’

Revelation Overlay:

Who is the enemy?

1) Lukewarm, self righteousness self sufficiency.

a) You have Jesus sitting on the throne with God and the door has been thrown wide opened and because of that they are all are sitting together eating a meal and that is all in revelation chapters 21 and 22.

1 John 5: 1- 3, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.”

1) One of the marks that you love God is that you love the children of God. If you love God you will keep his commandments. His commandments are not burdensome.

Verse 4-5, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

1) These verses become a (THE) definition of faith. One who truly comes to trust Christ there will be such a work in their life that they are putting away and are conquering the world. We have made faith so very narrow in Christendom. People will say, “I believe in Christ- I’m going to heaven.” When you don’t overcome you don’t know Christ. Salvation is not just about saying you believe in Christ and then living like hell. Salvation is a linear thing. Salvation is in the perseverance: In the conquering. “The one who endures to the end shall be saved.”

Verse 6, “This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only but with the water and with the blood. It is the spirit who testifies, because the spirit is the truth.”

*The ‘water’ represents Christ’s baptism

*The ‘blood’ represents Christ’s death

*The ‘spirit’ represents how Christ poured out His spirit while on the cross. He handed over his spirit.  –The spirit is given on the day of Pentecost when it is poured out on the people.

*We overcome because of the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. You have to believe everything about Christ. You have to follow him even when your flesh does not understand and does not agree.

To the one who overcomes, "He can eat of the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.’

To the one who overcomes, “He won’t be hurt by the second death.”

To the one who overcomes, “I will not erase his name from the Book Of Life.”

To the one who overcomes, “He can sit down with me on my throne as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne.”

HollyDee 

Nothing Unusual. Nothing Strange. Close To Nothing At All

I love the Cole Porter station on Pandora. I wish I had been born in a different era. I often wonder if love made sense back then or if everything was just as complicated.

I don’t really like mainstream music...Unless I need a good dance beat... But I prefer song writers; people who actually write about important things/ things that make you feel.  

We have a stigma in my family that everyone fights on holidays and weekends; especially holidays that fall on weekends.

Ever since I was little I have felt like all my inanimate objects have feelings. I love my pens and whenever they would run out of ink I would never want to throw them away because they were my friends.  If I ever had to throw some away I would wait till I had two so they could be together wherever the trash took them. I love pens to this day and have a problem….ahem….stealing them when I discover one I like.  I especially like thicker-ish ones because my handwriting looks better with those. Certain pens make for different handwriting.  

I truly wish I was covered in tattoos. My cartilage is my way of letting some of that need out. Haha.

I have a weird thing for Steven Tyler. Boys who play rock music are the best kinds.

I love Amy Winehouse. I get overly sad when celebrities die. As if I knew them..

I love contemporary dance. It is phenomenal and so much like real life. If I could go back in time, I would pursue dancing.

Scruffy boys are the most attractive. (And yes, that is partially a personality thing.) AND for some reason boys who wear eyeliner don’t bother me…hmm…I blame Johnny Depp for that. He is scruffy also.

I get really annoyed by people who use ‘bring’ and ‘take’ incorrectly…of course, it is impolite to correct them but I can’t seem to help it.  Even if I don’t say it out loud I have to compulsively correct them under my breath… I must grow in the area………………..;) But I kind of think foster are all grammar Nazis…

I was never a very good speller. I was never diagnosed with dyslexia…. But I know I have it. I have gotten so much better in my old age… When I was little and we would read the bible I would have a really hard time. I would have to put a card underneath the line I was reading and read very slowly. Nowadays when I read out loud I still get very out of breath. However, it is my goal to someday be a fantastic speller and to never rely on auto correct. ;)

I love movies that simply break your heart; the ones about lost love, death, war and passion. I would take a tearjerker over a comedy any day. They make me happy in my niblet places. (don’t ask. Ahem. Ivy, that was for you.)

I struggle with a bit of wanderlust. Wide open spaces, peace and quiet, out in the elements. Especially days where is it kind of dark and cloudy I just want to pack up and get on a plane to go somewhere. Or jump in my car and drive. Someday I might just disappear. Up and leave. That being said, I love days where the weather is dark. It doesn't make me sad like it does for most people.

When I am an old lady I think i might like to be a gardener..And have little bunny foo foo hopping all over my yard eating everything. 

I retreat into myself when I am around certain people. There are times when I am totally out there insane and others when I am so very quiet.  

I know myself very well in most areas but there are still things I am learning.

I don't know how to feel without feeling everything. (I need to write a more concise entry on this one of these days.)

I most always drive with my car windows down.

I am fascinated by different cultures.  I want to read a book on the history of like every culture there ever was. 

I almost drowned when I was little. (Not like I had to have CPR but still) We were over at the Fasolinos and I was walking on the ledge. You know the seat thing that is sort of in the water? I was walking back and forth and then I walked too far and fell in, sinking to the bottom. I remember sitting on the bottom of the pool looking up, it was crystal blue and so peaceful. I remember watching dad jump in to save me. I wasn't afraid and that was what was so scary. To this day I don't really like my face being in the water just because I remember that feeling of being down there unable to breathe but being unafraid at all and for some reason that is scary and traumatizing to me. 

Love always,

HollyDee

Older chests reveal themselves
Like a crack in a wall
Starting small, and grow in time
And we always seem to need the help
Of someone else
To mend that shelf
Too many books
Read me your favourite line

She broke down the other day, yeah you know
Some things in life may change
But some things they stay the same

Like time, there's always time
On my mind
So pass me by, I'll be fine
Just give me time

Random Personality 'Quirks'

I heard somewhere that we as people need to stop thinking we are the only ones that know ourselves. Instead, we need to think along the lines that God is the only one who truly knows us. Regardless..... There are a few things I know about myself. ;)

Firstly, I love peace and quiet in the morning. I love my cup of coffee and I love listening to scripture whilst getting ready. I can’t think clearly before my cup of coffee. And yes, I know this seems like a fad these days. However, I have always disliked mornings. (I used to have these Muppet's pajamas that said, "I hate mornings." Baha I wore them for ages) But It was right around my first semester at college when I truly started embracing coffee; dark and with only cream. Now I adore my cup of bliss. I wake up, stumble into the kitchen, (hoping no one talks to me) and pour myself a lushus bit.

It is also very important how you wake me up. My sister Ellen used to awaken me with an extremely loud voice until she finally got the memo. (I always think of that one bible verse, “He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be reckoned a curse to him.” ) Now, to this day she wakes me up sweetly.

I think this need of mine stirs from childhood. Belle and I shared a room and mom would come in and very loudly say, "IT'S MORNING TIMEEEE!!!!" AND THEN she would throw open the blinds... Seriously though, it is the worst thing to have light thrown in your face after a long slumber. Am I right? ;)

Lastly, I CANT eat right after I wake up. Otherwise I feel totes icky…My brother is the same way. By the time I do actually eat it can only be certain food. (I know. weird) Truthfully, breakfast food is so much better at night anyway….

NEWAYS


HollyDee ;)

Death, Life and One Like a Son of Man Among the Candlesticks

Random revelation notes. Sorry if this doesn't really have a perfect flow. I had to listen to this sermon twice because there was SO much in it..

‘Death, life and one like a Son of Man among the candlesticks.’ (Opening reading, Rev 1 and Isaiah 22: 15-25) In reference to the clothes of Christ-

‘The Clothes make the man.’  When we look at people we size them up by how they dress. This appearance of Christ is the most significant thing in all revelation. What is coming in the latter parts of the book is defined by who Christ is. Every attribute of Christ, has to do with what the book is about.

*We need to think more broadly about the whole Bible when understanding Revelation. When you read the Bible, it is telling our redemptive history and how God has revealed himself to us. You have to understand geneses 1,2,3 and 4 or you cannot understand the flow of the Bible.

*The Garden of Eden is pictured in and throughout the whole bible. Eden is where God lives. You go on the top of the mountain to be with him. There is a river that flows out to the four corners of the earth. We have perfect communion with God but then we are thrust out and there are angels guarding the door. We cannot get in. Corresponding is the tabernacle. It is a kind of Eden. In the garden, tabernacle and the temple there is a picture of a person.

Holy of Holies- The head

Show bread table- The body

Bronze alter- The Feet

(Daniel is behind all of revelation. 10:5-6 is a corresponding picture of Jesus)

When God thrust Israel out that does not mean He is not done with His people. He is still working with them but they then lived in the 'time of the gentiles.'

*The statue from Daniel has fallen down. It toppled from the bottle to top. It toppled all at once. This is very important. When the statue falls, the ‘time of the Gentiles’ is over. The people of God no longer had protection by the rulers and governors. We have a kingdom now. We are in Christ’s kingdom. There is now a new man and the new man is Jesus.

John was in the realm of the spirit. On the Lords day- Sunday.

The trumpet: God calls his people together by trumpets. God is calling John.

(1: 14-16 is a description of Jesus.)

Golden lampstands: 

1.) As you enter into the holy room, by the curtain there is a golden lampstand, a table of showbread and the alter of incense. The Lampstand is casting light on the showbread.

2.) The lampstand represents an ‘almond’ tree. The Hebrew does not have a word for ‘almond’ however, that is how the bible translates it. Jer 1: 11-12 What does Jeremiah see? ‘A rod of an almond tree.’ The word comes from the root that means, ‘to watch.’ Jeremiah sees a “watcher tree.”

3.) What is it watching? It is watching the showbread. Just like the priest has to trim the lamp, Jesus is walking through the 7 churches and he is trimming the lampstands. 

4.)Jesus is the Gardener. When He was raised from the dead and Mary mistakes Him for the ‘Gardener’ She does not mistake Him by accident. This is a literary devise God planned because Jesus IS the TRUE gardener. Jesus is the NEW Adam. Go back to creation. Adam fails, but then along comes one like a Son of Man, a second Adam. He does everything perfectly and that is what revelation is about.

The Garden is now the 7 churches and the 7 churches are ‘watchers.’

*On the table there are 12 loaves of bread which correspond in Israel literature to the 12 constellations. If you went into an early synagogue you would see on the floor the zodiac. (And the 7 stars) Each constellation corresponds to a tribe of Israel. (Leo- Judah. Aquarius- Ephraim. Taurus- Rueben. Scorpio- Dan) (Mr. Nelson called this a fun fact. ;)

* The watcher tree in the tabernacle is watching the 12 tribes of Israel. Gen 1:14-18 (the word ‘Seasons’ should be better translated as ‘Festivals.’) All the stars are made in a certain pattern. The stars are governors between light and darkness. When you look through the O.T. the stars, the sun and the moon are representatives of people who govern.

“The sun will go dark...” Babylon has fallen and died, Edom has fallen and died, Egypt has fallen and died. These things have already happened.

1.) We see a picture of a lampstand which is the picture of the tabernacle. Rev 1:20. The seven lampstands are the stars and they are watching the showbread. They are looking at Israel which is a greater picture of the 12 constellations and also a picture of the whole world. We are supposed to be watching the whole world.  

2.) Every Sunday we gather report to the Lord and we talk with each other about what is happening in the world. We are watchers. Jesus has 7 lampstands and He begins is trimming the lamps in chapter 2. He has something to say to each of the churches about their behavior. And He tells them if they do not do whatever He commands then He will remove their lampstand.

*Angels in the O.T are compared to stars. In the N.T, angels do not govern anymore but instead, man governs now over the world and under Christ. The word ‘Angel’ is the word messenger’

The church is a watcher. It’s a type of the Garden of Eden and here in the Garden Jesus is trimming the trees, taking care of the garden. Jesus takes care of the Garden unlike Adam ever did. *The lord is in the church (as a whole) still trimming us, taking care of us and shaping us. We don’t need to fret about the different denominations because the gardener is still here and he is walking among us.

*Jesus is clothed like a priest. (His clothes resemble the ephod in the O.T.) These clothes are for glory and beauty. (The priest wears Linen on the day of atonement. Which resemble ‘Work clothes’ for Him. ) Jesus is walking through these lampstands but His work is done. He put on His linen clothes (His work clothes) at the cross and He presented the sacrifice to God almighty. And He now has put the clothes on that are for glory and for beauty. He work is done, He is at rest.

(In Hebrew the words for ‘temple’ and ‘palace’ are the same and also, the word for ‘priest’ and the word for ‘servants’ (of the King) are the same.)

Jesus is clothed like Eliakim. (Is. 22) Jesus is the doorkeeper and you can’t get to God unless you go through Jesus.

“Blessed is the one who hears and keeps what he hears.” The Lord has a voice like many waters and we are to listen to Him.

*John fell at his feet, “Like a dead man.”… “And he placed his right hand on me….” 

The most numerous command that the Lord gives to His people is the command, “Do not fear."

1) John is an apostle, he had seen Jesus on earth and John had seen Jesus after He died when He had appeared to the 12... But now when John sees Jesus he is afraid. Why?

2.)  Why is the right hand significant? In the Garden, Adam and Eve see they are naked; their eyes are opened to see good and evil and they look at themselves and realize they are NOT worthy. So they sew fig leaves to cover their nakedness and then they hear God. The NASB says they heard God “Walking in the cool of the day.” The Word ‘cool’ is the word ‘Spirit.’ ‘The Spirit of the day.” The ‘Wind.’ God comes like Wind. This is the first picture of God riding the clouds like a chariot. Flashes of lightening and peals of thunder. They hear him and they hide because they know they as good as dead. But God raises them up and clothes them by a bloody sacrifice. 

3.)All throughout scripture there are pictures of us being dead and Jesus reaches down and raises us up to new life. John was raised up to new life.

*One of the things that is lacking in the evangelical church is a true fear and revering for God. Real joy comes out of real fear for knowing God. When we hear what the Bible says and we choose not to do it we show ourselves not to fear God. 

 John understood he was dead and Jesus saved him. Jesus has raised us with His right hand out of darkness into light. We have passed out of death into new life. 

Love Always 

HollyDee

But remember this, my brother

See in this some higher plan
You must use this precious silver
To become an honest man
By the witness of the martyrs
By the Passion and the Blood
God has raised you out of darkness
I have bought your soul for God

Random Church Notes.

Acts 23: 12- 24: 27

Can we trust the Lord? "His commandments are not burdensome and yet we hear people saying, 'living the Christian life is so difficult.' " 

*Abraham trusted God that he would raise Isaac from the dead.

*Paul trusted even when he was told by GOD that he would suffer for his name.

Courage= Be bold 

Acts 6:11, 21:28 Stephen and Paul were charged with the same offence. 

23:11- More than 40 men ( Israel tested 40 years. Jesus tempted 40 days. 40 years until 70a.d.) ((Foreshadowing..Imagery))

Matt 23: 29-30 'You bear witness against yourself.' God is getting our attention about 70 A.D

Luke 3- Jesus' inauguration. The new creation. Imagery of when the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 

 Ps. 2- The new Adam and the new Israel.  This ushers in the new creation. 

Storm Season

I am an extremely rational person in a crisis. I always reminded of this around this time of year. The dreaded storm season. The dreaded tornados. However, storms have never scared me. You may think it is because I am ignorant..but really, the truth is, I learned the fact that life is but a vapor so very early.. I am very conscious of our frame. And I am very conscious that The Lord is in control. I know whatever happens He is taking care of His children. If it is our time to die there is really absolutely nothing we can do about it. We are not going to take one more breath than what He has planned for us to take. Because of that knowledge, I don't really worry about dying in a storm. All I know is, we don't need to worry about the future. The Lord is taking care of and holds the future in his hands. And he designs the future, which in it of itself should give us comfort. Because we don't serve a God who is vindictive and one who wants to see us suffer. We serve a God who is caring, sovereign, mighty and one who loves each one of us.

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:25-34 ESV)

For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. (Romans 14:8 ESV)

Love always

Not..Me Monday...

Today whilst out looking for work....

I stopped by the new bank opening up right by my house. Thinking, “Surely they will need people!”

 I walked in and asked, "HEY! I know you guys just opened and I was wondering if y'all are hiring?"

"Why yes we are hiring!"

"Really!? Oh that is great!"

She asked, "Do you have any banking experience?”

And I did NOT accidentally say,

“No, I don’t have banking experience…but I do have Community Service experience.”…

(When I meant to say… “No, I don’t have banking experience but I do have customer service experience...”)

She just stared at me… and I couldn't think of what I was really trying to say...Great, now she thinks I am a criminal…So much for that job.

This totes didn’t happen…Nope…Not to me.