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. 

Revelation Installment #1

Just so you know I was raised under dispensational views... My pastor and most people in my surroundings went to DTS. (Dallas Theological Seminary.) So I mean I always thought the whole apocalypse was coming; tribulation and Armageddon and all that jazz is imminent. So, we are doing Revelation..So we can learn what has been fulfilled at 70 A.D. and what is still future. I am really excited to learn about Eschatology and to learn more about the Scripture. It is going to be so fantastic to find out what the Bible says..So these are just some random notes from the sermon :) I like to rewrite them so I can internalize it and get it right in my brain.  So I figured, “Why not write it here!”

 Revelation 1:1-3 "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and he sent and communicated it by his angel to His Bond-Servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophesy, and heeds the things which are written in it; for the time is near."

 *A better translation for the word ‘Communicated’ would be that the message was Signed to him.
A better translation for the word ‘Heeds’ would be Keep (Obeys and guards)
(My pastor stressed how important it is that we keep and guard these things. Which also implies we really need to know what the flip is going on here.)

 *Apocalypse, which is a Greek word, means, 'To pull the veil aside or Pulling away the veil. (What wasn’t known is now known.)

 Revelation is:
From God
^
From Jesus
^
From the angel
^
From Paul
^
To the 7 Churches

 *Revelation is Heptamerous. (7 Fold) it is built on 7s.
It mirrors creation. Creation was in 7 days and in Revelation there are 7s everywhere. (7 churches, 7 angels, 7 stars, 7 golden lamp stands, just to name a few.) It is built on 7s because Revelation is about a New Creation.

 *Testimony of Jesus vs. Word of God.
Cognate phrases/ words. ‘Word of God’ refers to the Old Testament where as ‘Testament of Jesus’ refers to New testament. Rev 6:9- Were old testament saints who had delivered the Word of God and had been martyred as a result.

 *The Church is growing and we are all being unified over time.

 *‘Soon must take place.’ Soon, quickly, near and swiftly are all words used in Revelation and throughout the Bible. They always mean exactly what they say. Which are SOON, QUICKLY, NEAR and SWIFTLY.  (Heb, 8:13) ( Eph 2:13, 17) (John 11:55) (Acts 12:18) (James 1:19) are a few scriptures that have these terms. Language is language. It means what it means. The meanings never vary.

 *Why then do people (Ahem dispensationalists) try to stretch out the meaning of these words over 2000 yrs. Perhaps is it possible that Jesus already came in a way (Not the second coming mind you) that was judgment on the nation of Israel for how they broke the covenant ant would not believe the New Covenant? (AHEM **SPOILER ALERT!**) Perhaps at 70 A.D. when the temple and Judaism were destroyed?....

 *Revelation was written somewhere in 64 or 65 A.D. under the reign and persecution of Nero. People think it was written 90 to 95 A.D. under the reign and persecution of Domitian. However, my pastor pointed out that in Revelation John is told to ‘measure the temple’ and he could not have measured the temple in those years because the temple had already been torn down and destroyed in 70 A.D.

 *Written to the church that was in persecution and not written to ‘Israel’.
Most of revelation is not about the Second coming.

*In the Old Testament, Gods law was administered by angels. The angel is guarding the garden and we are barred from Gods presence which was in the garden. In the O.T angels had the keys but now in the N.T and in the New Covenant the church has them. The church is now the guardian of the ways and things of the Lord.
At 70 A.D. the O.T Disappears.  Revelation is a transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. Angels are still operative in Revelation.
Not that they aren’t operative today but just not in the same way. We aren’t getting direct words from angels from God. It does not work like that anymore…

 My pastor told us it is so important that we look in the Bible to see what it says instead of just going with what we have been taught. He says we can’t make a ‘Procrustean Bed.’
*Procrustes was someone in Greek mythology that would cut off the legs of the person on the bed if his legs were too long to fit.
*People do that with their theology, they try to make scripture fit their argument when we should be doing the opposite and be making sure our arguments fits scripture.

 (When the truth of the matter is hardly anyone even knows what it in revelation!!) I am so excited to learn this week by week. Let me know if you want to come here the word as well!!

Neeways. Just some thoughts..

 
Love always
HollyDee

 
P.S Did you know the Serpent that deceived eve in the garden was really a dragon? I’m just saying. My pastor blows my mind. I should blog about that sermon as well….. :)

Not me Monday..

Well we got through rehearsal today without getting yelled at. This is a feat. (That is for dern sure.) One of the songs we are singing is called, "Close to you." We are singing the version that was recorded by the Carpenters. (If you don’t know who they are...THEN you need to get some more EDJUMACATION.) I love the Carpenters..They are totally iconic 70s. There is something so pathetically sad about them as well...

Some of the lyrics go,
"Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near? Just like me, they long to be close to you. Why do stars fall out of the sky every time you walk by? Just like me, they long to be close to you."

I am supposed to start the song a capella..

and being my Ballady self...I got up there...Closed my eyes....I was totally feeling it...I am sure you can imagine....And then I opened my mouth expecting the words I knew so well to fall of my tongue with precision, piercing the hearts and minds of all those around me..(hahahaha jk. im just being a DIVA) but INSTEAD.....I opened my mouth and said...

"Why do birds...Fall out of the sky...Every time you walk by..."

***Room erupts into laughter***

Fail***  MOMENT KILLED*** by me..

and then I could not sing it right for the rest of the day. TOTES FAIL***

At least Kathy thought it was hilarious

I am always good for a laugh.

HollyDee ;)

 

The Days of my Life (I am a lightning rod for drama.)

I was awoken this morning to face much annoyance...I had a doctor’s appointment but apparently the doctor had called my mother and made the appointment earlier. However, NO ONE had told me. Well I got up, did my makeup in like 10ish minutes and walked out the door. Without my cup of coffee…and you know I cannot function without my cup of coffee. .So you came imagine my mood...

My doctor’s appt went well. I got a steroid for my nose. So hopefully that will help my allergies. She told me she didn’t want to take out my tonsils because that can change your voice and she tries not to do that to singers. So I pray these drugs will help me.

Then I had to make a special trip to the school to get my sister belles alumni TShirt and while I was there I decided that I would go to the admissions/advising to get a degree audit and fill out my application for the Music Field of Study Certificate. That was exciting and momentous. :) On the way back I had to stop at CVS to get my prescriptions... I walked up to the desk, told them who I was and the pharmacist said, "Okay, that will be 250 dollars..." umm... what? NO. Will you please call the Dr. and get them to change the medicine?!?!? Geee. AINT NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT. Hopefully they will get that worked out.

I drove home on my merry way...or so I thought...Suddenly...a car came out of nowhere (exactly the same circumstances that happened when I broke my arm.) This individual was trying to cross all lanes of traffic to go the other direction and basically stopped in front of me. I slammed on my breaks but it was wet and rainy and I knew I was not going to be able to stop in time so I had to swerve into oncoming traffic to their left turn lane to avoid hitting him. Thankfully the cars over there were in the far lanes away. I hit the curb in the midst of the chaos, blew out my tire, and destroyed the rim...AND THEN!!!!!!!! THE GUY JUST DROVE AWAY AND DIDNT EVEN COME OVER TO SEE IF I WAS OKAY!!! Seriously... (WORD to all of you people who drive out halfway in the road and stop...just don’t! This is the second time this has happened to me and my arm still hurts all the time because of that woman’s bad choice. It is just NOT worth it. Just go up the road a little ways a do a Uturn. I’m not kidding. You may really hurt a person. (LIKE ME!!!) )
Thankfully there was the sonic right next to me so I just pulled in... (On my rim mind you...what else was I supposed to do? Continue to face the wrong way in oncoming traffic!? I think not. P.s you are most likely thinking, "Holly, you dummy. Why did you swerve into oncoming taffic? " Um. Well... After an ambulance ride and three surgeries AND three times losing brain cells because of the anesthesia then you might want to avoid hitting other vehicles AT ALL COST!!) I was really shaky and nervous and was suffering extreme Deja Vu. But alive. My Momy came to rescue me and then she bought me chipotle.. :) But alas, my car is dead for a bit. I am supposed to take it up to see brad at discount tire in the morning.

We went home to eat and then I decided to take a nap and start over. After I woke up we headed to Carrolton to see Dr. Neagle for an arm follow up. Well the news isn’t great. They think I have tendonitis over the ulna. Mmmm pain. They did an X-ray and said there was good healing over the Styloid, SO that is a cause for rejoicing. But my tendonitis hurts. My arm hurts all the time. They gave me a cortisone shot over the area. OUCH. Now it is puffy and green. They told me I can’t lift any weight for a while only 2-5 pounds… and I should be wearing a brace. Lovely. It seems that this arm business never goes away. However, I will praise the Lord because this is just His path for me and the pain is bad, yes, but it could have been so much worse. I could be armless. Or be in an unresponsive state. So I am thankful :)

Anyway, such is
A Day in My Life.

 Love Always,
HollyDee

 

The shapes of things to come....

I'm not sure if you know this about me...but I see shapes. Everywhere I go I see shapes and patterns.
Before my living room was painted I saw a deer in the swirls of the wood. In my shower I see Aladdin's magic lamp with smoke rising above it.. It also sometimes turns into a cobra. On the choir room door I see an Indian decked out with a headdress and if you turn your head to the side it becomes a dodo bird.  I quite often see faces and sea horses in the textured walls and popcorn ceiling. So there you have it. I'm pretty sure this is a superpower.

Holly dee :)

Tissues....

Well many of you have witnessed over the last few months my terribly itchy, sneezy, watery eyes. My runny and red nose.....turns out.....I am allergic to tissues... I know. So dumb.
Well more specifically the tissues that have the anti viral and lotion added. SO WORD TO THE WISE, IF SOMONE IS TELLING YOU, 'you just have regular old allergies,' or, 'you just have a cold,' maybe instead of the WEATHER you might be allergic to the tissues! I'm just saying. I've been miserable! For months I have not been able to breathe! But I am so thankful I feel better now. It's made a huge difference getting rid of those old things!!!!

Love always
HollyDee

Spring break (More commonly known as, 'Spring Brizeak')

I spent the last few days with Ivy and it was SO much fun. We always have so much food. We had a Chickfila party the first night and then the second night we had Ivy’s fantastical kale pasta. I LOVE KALE PASTA. OH I just love all pasta. We made some beautiful biscuits and chocolate pudding cake for desert! Mmmmm. Every time I go to ivy’s she teaches me things without knowing it. She is such a great mother. She always finds great ways to explain things to her kids. <3 Lady was so precious! She crawled in bed with me this morning cause she wanted cuddles : ) I truly think she is the sweetest person ever. She is almost 1!! I cannot believe it. But she has delighted me every day!

We went to Calloways and got some flowers and we planted them in pots. : ) they are so beautiful. The boys were continually running to open the front door so they could check on the lovely flowers and monitor their growth. Sweet and silly boys.

And for some reason them running out there all alone reminded me of the time I ran away from home. This was in the gwendola house. I don’t really remember what happened but I got mad at someone so I stuffed my little black and green duffel with all of my stuffed animals... there were so many. (Benjamina, Clown, the little elephant that played that one lullaby and raggedy Ann, just to name a few.)  I ran up the road to the end of the side walk and realized I would miss my momy too much. (Oooh, how I love my momy!!) So… I ran back home. I do think that was the only time I ever tried to run away. It just wasn’t worth it. Besides I couldn’t fit any food in with my stuffed friends…and they are were a necessity.

Love Always

HollyDee

Can I do a 'not me monday' about someone else?

AHEM. Today my professor told us that this song we are doing only has four chords. (If you didnt know, pretty much every pop song has only 4 chords. just fyi)

Then...... I did NOT hear said person say, "Great....There are four chords but... we only have three people singing......."

Umm... fail.. just...fail.....

Ode to Belle

My whole life I have had to tell my older sister Ellie so many things. How she feels, what she wants......aka.. I've had to make all her decisions for her. (If you know her, you know she is the most indecisive person ever made.) She takes AGES to make a decision! She has often said to me, "Oh dee, just tell me what I want!"

In any case, today she called me up wanting me to go shopping with her. (She is decorating her house you see.) I was so very glad she called me! We had a lovely time. But let me tell you... I basically told her what she wanted the entire time. You might think this seems pushy...but no...I was right, of course! I knew exactly what she wanted. :) So we picked fabric for backing her frames and wreaths for her doors. We shopped for lamps and organizational baskets for her new desk. :)

We picked up a few shirts from target. She has finally boarded the Bohemian train. (I take credit for that. I also take credit for her fantastical side pony she has been sporting lately.)We spent around 4ish hours shopping.. :) It was lovely quality time. She is a dearest friend to me. I love me some belle.



HollyDee

P.s Growing up Ellen painted and she drew....she was hailed as the 'artistic one.' I can't paint or draw to save my life. However, I'm pretty artistic in other ways. I said to her, "You know, I hate you. My whole life you told me I wasn't artistic like you and I so totes am.. I've basically just decorated your whole house..." She replied, "You couldn't even write your name legibly till you were like 20." Baahaha so mean. But so...so true.

A few funny stories of little me

(At least.....this is how my parents tell it....;)

There was the time I poured out my Momy's foundation, mixed it with Vaseline and smeared it all over the brand new carpet in the Big House...

There was the time the big house was being built and my parents couldn’t find me.. I just disappeared! My Dad looked up and I was "30 feet up in the air" climbing on the scaffold. He had to climb up there and "rescue me"...

There was the time I painted the inside of our van....blue..

Then there was the time I found a bag of detergent and shook it out all over the inside of  the van....(Poor van...it saw a bunch of action...)

I remember holding a sharpie in each hand, stretching my arms out and markering all the walls going up the stairs...I remember being to little to reach both walls at the same time so I would have to swivel back and forth doing one side then the other.
hahaha

Apparently...I have been a 'handful' my whole life...a fact I contest.

HollyDee

Remember When

One of the hardest parts is going back home after funerals and everything is completely changed. You expect the whole world to stop and mourn with you and you don’t quite understand why everyone else is going on around you, happy, as if nothing had ever happened. I remember that feeling all too well. I was intimately acquainted with it. It is happening to some of my dearest friends now. People I have known for years.

The Funeral today was so very beautiful. It was centered on Romans 8:38-39

"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
When Jesus died on the cross He paid the price for all of it.  I am so very thankful for that. We have no need of 'Last rites' for God has forgiven us our future sin.

 One of the people who spoke reminded us how important it is for us to never live without hope. To never forget the hope we have in Jesus.
"But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation." 1 Thessalonians 5:8
"But Christ was faithful as a Son over His house-- whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end." Hebrews 3:6
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;"
Hebrews 10:23

The God we serve is so great. (How does that old song go? ‘My God is so great, so strong and so mighty; there is nothing my God cannot do.’) He is powerful enough to heal our broken hearts. We have to remind ourselves every day that He wants good for us and He is bringing about further sanctification in our lives. Even if the events that get us there are most painful and terrible.

 I know so many of you don’t know them, but I hope you will continue to pray for the Singleton family.

Love always
HollyDee

Can I just make a "Not me" Tuesday?...

(Run on sentences are required)

Today... while at Abby’s birthday party....... Emma’s van did not die. 

 And I did not drive her to the rental car place.  

And while I was NOT stuck at the rental car place in a certain parking spot because of a very large salesman (who was helping another very large customer) who was NOT standing directly behind my vehicle.

And I did NOT turn around and stare at them waiting for them to move.

After they finally did move and were out of earshot, I did NOT yell across the parking lot to my sister Emma, “OH my goodness! I was just stuck in a parking space for ages and I could not get out because this sales guy was giving some pitch to some other guy and they just wouldnt move their huge butts!”

And after that...the costumer who had been behind my car was NOT standing by Emma in a place where I couldn’t see… And he did NOT yell across at me saying, “Can I at least know your name if you are going to stare at my butt?” .................................and I did NOT die laughing

No, not me

 

Love always

Hollydee

7 Years with Abby

Tomorrow is my dearest Babo's birthday. <3 7 years old tomorrow. TIME moves so quickly. I remember the day she was born and how I held that little bundle. She didnt know how much joy she brought with her. Kim is the oldest daughter and yet her two younger sisters got married before she did; a fact that was SO hard for her. BUT she had the very first grandchild :)

 Ivy and I cried as soon as we saw her.

The first time I held her!













Abby is a wonderful little sweetie. She is lovely. She is kind. Her facial expressions are truly hillarious. She is such a tease.

 She is a girly girl and loves makeup parties. this is one of my favorites of us. I was fixing her up for Belle's wedding.

 

She is very sensitive. she loves the Lord. Half the time I forget I am talking to a 6 year old because she seems so grown up. Momy always says that is just how Kim was. I have to be super careful because I know she is truly just a tender little girl and she needs to be nurtured and loved. She and I have always been close and I love her with all my heart. I am so glad God sought fit to put her in our family. <3 I hope I can be a good influence and a source of godly wisdom in her life.

Tomorrow we will be getting together for lunch to celebrate. :) All the cousins I know will have a blast playing together. I LOVE YOU DEAREST. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABO!



Love always
HollyDee

Made for Eternity

O to live in a world where pain, sorrow and suffering were things that no one had ever experienced or even knew about. Today I learned one of my dear friends from high school had her sister pass away. I am terribly sad and hurt over this. Death is such an enemy. It is strange, all morning I was thinking about the promise of our resurrection from 1st Corinthians 15 and then as soon as I got home I learned of sweet Olivia. God was already encouraging me all morning even before I knew. Death is something that is very hard for me to bear.. Having lost someone and been through it at such a young age.. I feel the pain of others because I remember just how hard and dark of a time it is. God's promise is sure.

My Pastor was talking about suffering and saying, “Sometimes we suffer so that we ourselves can benefit but other times we suffer for the benefit of someone else.” I hope so many people will be reached because of the death of this young girl. I remember there were over 1400 people at Kelsey’s funeral. I hope that if Olivia knew or had friends that were not living correctly that this death of hers will benefit them and that they will turn from their sin and live for God.

 I've been reading "A Sweet and Bitter Providence." It is a wonderful book that centers around the book of Ruth.  In it John Piper talks about how we are to deal with difficult circumstances.

 “Life is not a straight line leading from one blessing to the next and then finally to heaven. Life is a winding and troubled road. Switchback after switchback. And the point of biblical stories like Joseph and Job and Esther and Ruth is to help us feel in our bones (not just know in our heads) that God is for us in all these strange turns. God is not just showing up after the trouble and cleaning it up. He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ.” -Piper

 I believe that with all of my heart. God has His hands in everything. Every circumstance. Every situation. I learned so early that this life is temporal. But I also know that we were created eternal beings and we were created for an eternity with our Lord. Olivia is in the arms of Jesus.

 “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” –John 11:25-26

 “They will hunger no longer, now thirst anymore. Nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to the springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” Rev 7:7:16-17

 
This is our promise. God's covenant with us. Ivy says whenever someone dies she just thinks that it means there is more of a welcoming party for her when she goes. I know the other saints in heaven welcomed Olivia’s soul home just as they did for Kelsey those 5 long years ago. Pray for the Singletons as their pain is still so fresh. Pray that the Lord will show himself so sweetly to them and comfort their broken hearts. He is near to the broken hearted and to all who call out to his name. We serve a great, loving and powerful God.

 
Love always
HollyDee

Random things

I check people.com everyday. I call it, "staying informed with the world around me."

I Brush my teeth while in the shower...Some of you might call that gross. I call it multitasking

I think Gatorade is a miracle drug.

One day while trying to describe myself (in a particular area..not all the way around mind you  ;) I invented the word 'AnalRetentious." It is a cross between Anal Retentive and Contentious.

I love the stage but I hate being stared at. It makes no sense that I went for a preformance degree

When I sleep I tuck my thumb in between my pointer and my middle finger. I have no idea why.

Around 1 every night i get terrible hunger pains and I have to run to the kitchen because I feel like I might die otherwise.

I can belly dance.. I specifically rememeber learning how whilst sitting on the potty doing potty training. haha (TMI ?) Sometime later my sister ellen drew a flag on my stomach and I laid on my side and made it wave hahahaha

When I was little I could pop my belly button in and out...IT only stays in now..if you were wondering....

I think it is very important that you remember where you have been. The sins you have commited. You know what they say about history being repeated. That being said, I would love a do over. I have heard people say they dont want do overs. They will say, "I wouldnt be who I am today." (Which i think is idiotic. I mean who wouldnt want to take back the sin they comminted against a perfect god?!) But if I had the chance to take back pain I have caused others I would do it in a heartbeat.

I fancy myself a 'go with the flow' sponteneous person

I have been called Dee my whole life. I still find it strange when I hear people call me holly.

I suppose I dont know if I have ever been in love. Love isnt supposed to end. Is it?

Pearl Harbor is one of my favorite movies. I start crying in the openeing theme. OKAY I know it is a pretty lame movie..(and Ben Afflecks acting has come a heckuva long way buttttt) One of the reasons I love it is because I used to watch it with Kelsey before she died.

Today my sister likened me to a fruit, 'Right for the picking.' hmm...Thank you?.. (You know who you are)

I sneeze when I eat peppermint or spearmint.

I have to sleep with my fan on. Rain, shine, snow.

Totes random but I thought I would share that with you all. (Mostly for ivy. Just so i could say i blogged.. :)

HollyDee
Love Always