The First Beast - Revelation 13:1-6

Today, we start chapter 13 where we are formally introduced to the Antichrist.

Carried Away - Revelation 12:15-17

In today's study, we wrap up chapter 12 by seeing how the Devil, through the Antichrist, will come after the children of Israel during the Tribulation to destroy them.

Healthcare

As a History teacher, veteran, and American, I have read the Constitution a few times, and I have yet to see the word "healthcare" any where in it. The American people are creating a government that is simply too big. They are are creating the very government that our founding fathers fled from. It is not the government's job to take care of us. It never has been and it never should be. Barack Obama knew when he and the Democrats shoved the Affordable Care Act down our throats that it would never last; that it was ill conceived, and would bankrupt the country. However, that was not his or the Democrats concern at the time. Their primary goal, as progressives (i.e., socialists) was to raise healthcare to the level of an entitlement. They did this because they knew that if they could do that, it would be practically impossible to ever get it removed; thus the new saying coming from conservatives, "repeal and replace". Yes, it should be repealed, but no, it should not be replaced. America simply can not afford it unless it continues on the path of wealth redistribution which will lead to our downfall. That's my take, you are certainly entitled to your own. I do know that the Constitution does talk about that.

Made In God's Image

The Bible says in Genesis 1:27 that "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Yes, man man was created in the very image of God. What does that mean? The word in Hebrew is "tselem" and it means to shade, a phantom, illusion, icon, resemblance or a representative figure. In English there is an old expression that we use when someone looks like someone else: spitting image (e.g., he is the spitting image of his father).

Now, that does not mean that we necessarily look like God, for no one knows what God looks like (John 1:18). Instead, it means that we were made in his image. Remember that we are a representative figure. God is a trinity in that he is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. In other words, there is one God expressed in three eternal and coequal persons. We get an insight into this when it says in Genesis 1:26, And God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."

Yes, the trinity is indeed hard to understand, and even harder to explain. However, I will make an attempt using the properties of H2O, or what is commonly referred to as water. Water can exist in three different states: solid, liquid, and gas, and yet the chemical make up, H2O, never changes. It is still water. So too, the Trinity never loses its identity as God.  

With that said, how are we in God's likeness? Simple, we are a trinity just as God is a trinity. I like to express it this way, God is the mind of the Godhead, the Son is the body of the Godhead, and the Holy Spirit is the spirit of the Godhead. Man also has a mind, body, and spirit. We see this confirmed in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 when Paul said, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul (mind) and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." We are indeed made in the image of God!

Uncertain Times

Today we certainly do live in uncertain times. Of course, I don't say that to arrogantly assume that others before us have not or others after us will not. It's life. It ebbs and flows with uncertainty and there just isn't anything that we can do about it except trust in the mercy of God. 

It seems like America is coming apart at the seams. We use to be held together by something. That something was a sense of direction, destiny, calling, patriotism, etc., but that seems to be gone now. I would be foolish to make the assumption that the Christian faith alone knit all of us together. I have studied far too much American history for that; however, I do believe that it did serve as a glue of sorts as that it created a common morality that even those who rejected it would not have dared to stand against. Culture just dictated certain behavioral patterns that were considered acceptable and unacceptable. Of course, the Scriptures served as the primary guide for most even if they did not buy the whole concept of Christianity.

However, with the passing of time, that "glue" has weakened and I believe that the primary blame lies at the doorstep of the church. Yes, I said the church. I don't believe the government or those outside of the church walls are primarily to blame. Instead, I blame the church because it has failed in its obligations to God and the unattended consequence of that failing is a Godless culture. The church has all too well adapted and offered the message of compromise with a world that is at enmity with God instead of delivering the ultimatum that it was entrusted with.

It's a Start

Quite frankly, I write all of the time, but I am not the biggest fan. I write out my messages when I preach, my outlines when I teach, my assignments when I take classes, and type endless amounts of emails and chats all day long. Yet, I have never been that good at just writing. I mean just expressing thoughts on paper with no deadline in view and no format to mind. However, I am going to start trying because I have become convinced that it is quite therapeutic for me. 

Now, what should I write about? My thoughts each day are normally filled with people that I interact with, my time studying the Bible, my work, meetings that I attend, assignments that I am given, and yes, politics. How in the world can anyone not have some opinion on that subject today! Seems like everyone has suddenly become an expert on all things political. Striking considering the vast majority of Americans do not even actively participate in the political process. 

Let's start out with politics since I am apparently on that subject. I am puzzled when I see people in the streets shouting, "not my president". Well, do tell? If he is my president, but not your president, and we both live in the same country, where does that leave me? I can only assume that they are trying to impose their will on the rest of us. The question is will we let them?

War In Heaven - Revelation 12:7-14

War In Heaven - Revelation 12:7-14: In today's study, we see that there will be a war in Heaven in the future which will result in the Devil, our accuser, being cast out for good; the result being that many will lose their lives during the Tribulation period.. Speaker: Dwayne Spearman. Revelation 12:7-14. Series: Revelation.

War In Heaven - Revelation 1:7-14

In today's study, we see that there will be a war in Heaven in the future which will result in the Devil, our accuser, being cast out for good; the result being that many will lose their lives during the Tribulation period.

A Prepared Place - Revelation 12:4-6

In today's study, we take a closer look at the supernatural protection that God is going to afford the children of Israel one day as they flee from the Antichrist.






 

Wonders In Heaven - Revelation 12:1 - 3

In today's study, we enter chapter 12 to find a woman and a dragon. Who are they and what do the represent?