My saving Grace. 3 days.

Its been three days since I've written, and so much has happened. Church on Sunday was learning experience so I decided to share it instead of referencing Revelation again. Before I get started, about my last 3 days...

Last Wed I received an apologetic email notifying me that "my" internship was not going to happen. I call it mine, because if there was money I would so be there. Immediately after responding to the email, I decided to communicate with my next option, which I hadn't heard from since February and hadn't responded to because they said they would contact me when the mycologist came back into town. By Friday, I had contacted a professor over an internship with invasive species at MSU, and by Monday I had heard back in the first response that I didn't fit the profile because I wouldn't be an MSU student in the fall. By Monday afternoon, I had heard from my bible study leader Julie, questioning why I had started a summer project application and not turned it in. My life was pretty stressful at that point. So, I told her I was still interested since my other options were seeming unlikely and I hadn't heard back from the mycologist yet. After deciding to work on my application for Summer Project again, only a month late, I heard back from the Invasive Species lady saying yes, they would afterall look at my resume.

By that point, I was more interested in the Summer Project to anywhere, maybe because it would be a guaranteed job, maybe because God laid it on my heart. I filled in the app, sent out referrals to be completed, and talked to my parents, which was no less difficult than I thought it would be. With little details on the project availability I was setting myself up for a tough discussion, and I went to bed thinking - according to my mother, this is impractical for packing and getting to Penn State, and according to my dad, I had a laundry list of things to do before I could go anywhere. I had some tears Monday but woke up with a full spirit and was ready to look into my options.

Yesterday, I found out the dates, found out the availability, and asked for my referrals. Last night I sent out my application. Julie reminded me of Galatians 1:10

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Today, I've had anxious thoughts about getting my referrals in, as well as hearing back from the mushroom company. I just heard back from Kaolin Farms in PA, and after setting up this project and being prepared to raise money for it, I just can't see myself being ok with being rid of my Month off to pack and the remaining time for God.

The problem with working at an internship, is it prepares you for real life. A real job.  It doesn't prepare you for grad school. When confidence not from God enters into your life, grades go downhill because you think your job experience made you to be perfect for grad school. Without it, I feel my confidence will be in Christ and my dedication will be for Him.

Revelation 8:

• Verse 1 made me laugh. At the opening of the 7th and final seal- seemingly like an acceptance letter- there was silence for half an hour. Who knew time could be passed down that way back then? I can't imagine Jesus wearing a watch.
• Seven angels with trumpets stood before God.
• Another angel had a golden censer ( for incense) and it was filled at the altar. The smoke and prayers went up to God  from the angel's hand.
• The angel filled the censer with fire and hurled it at the earth, producing an earthquake, lightning, and thunder
• Some believe the earthquake in Japan symbolized the beginning of the end.

•  the angels prepared to sound their trumpets
• with the first trumpet sound came hail and fire with blood hurled down to earth. 
• 1/3 of the earth burned up 
• a third of the trees burned up 
• all green grass was burned up
•  At the second trumpet, a huge mountain like thing was thrown on fire into the sea.
• 1/3 of the sea was turned into blood, a third of the sea creatures died, and a third of ships were destroyed
• At the third trumpet, a great blazing star named Wormwood fell from the sky like a torch onto a third of the rivers and springs. A third of the waters turned bitter, resulting in many deaths.
• At the fourth trumpet, a third of the sun, moon, and stars turned black. A third of the day and night was without light.

v. 13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”




image ref: http://www.earlywomenmasters.net/dickinson/a_garden_tis/sanctity/censor_bookshelf.jpg

Revelation Chapter 3-The remaining churches

Revelation 3 addresses the 3 other churches to which John wrote letters from Jesus Christ.
To the church is Sardis:

 v. 1 ... you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

•  The people are dead because they aren't living for Christ.
• wake up and repent, for if you don't, Christ will come at you like a thief and you won't know when
• those that walk with me will be dressed in white, and those that turn from their ways to follow me will be dressed in white:

v. 5... I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.

To every church John writes something similar to the following: 
v. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. This is because Christ forgives those who repent and follow Him.


To the church in Philadelphia:
7-10 These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.  I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. ¹⁰ Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

To the church of Laodicea:

v 15-18 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

• this set of verses says that the church is doing some things good and some things not good. They aren't recognizing sin as wrong, but chosing their own path to follow. 
• The verses to not refer to literal riches- in terms of clothing- but rather walking in faith and truth, in light and acknowledgment of Christ Jesus
• These verses also don't refer to literal nakedness, but the nakedness Adam and Eve felt when their sins were revealed eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. They hid away from God and for the first time felt shame and were punished.

v 19-21 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.

• Once again, this set of verses does not talk about literal eating. This talks about taking in the Spirit and living by the "fruit" or spirit that we gain through accepting Jesus Christ as our savior. We must believe, repent, and follow him by accepting Him into our hearts and allowing the Spirit to enter our hearts. Every heart has a door, and many ignore the figurative "knocking."
• Christ was victorious when He gave himself for the sins of the world, a blemish-less lamb, a perfect offering.
• We can be victorious when we live our lives for Christ, giving up our "rights" to worldly happiness in order to please Christ, which will also make us more joyful.

image from: http://www.reallynatural.com/archives/lamb.jpg

Revelation Chapter 2- Fear the Lord

I'm happy to say that Revelation chapter 2 is better than Rev one, because it actually reveals weakness in the church, and grounds upon which they can receive mercy.

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Revelation 2 reveals the letters from John to 4 of the 7 churches.  

The church of Ephesus:

• Is commended for enduring hardship in Christ's name, not tolerating the wicked and disproving false apostles. 
• The church of Ephesus is reprimanded for not loving Christ as they once did. The lampstand would be taken from them if they did not repent. Christianity is about living in faith, not just about following rules.

v 7 ...To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

To the church of Smyrna: 

• There is the devil living amongst the Jews resulting in slander. Some will be put in jail for 10 days and may even die. Those who suffer to the point of death or are tested and live will be given life (spiritual life). 

• To those who listen: The victorious will not suffer the second death (eternity in hell).

Romans 13:13

Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

 To the church of Pergamum:

• Christ thanks the church for being faithful even as his faithful servant Anitpas was killed.
• The church is reprimanded for some believing the teachings of Balaam, eating the food offerings to the idols and committing sexual immorality, and others following the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
• If the church didn't repent He would come and fight with the sword of his mouth.
• Those who are faithful will receive Manna and a stone with a new name.

To the church of Thyatira:

• Deeds: love, faith, service, perseverance 
• Sin: Jezebel a prophet is tolerated who leads others into sexual immorality and eating of food sacrificed to idols. He would punish her through suffering, and those who did not repent of their sin would suffer with her. All her children would be killed 

v 23...Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

v 26-29 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation Chapter 1- Christ speaking to John

In order for Christians and non-Christians to understand the importance of living each day on earth for Christ, we must be able to comprehend the "revelation" given to John by Jesus Christ. Using "How to Read the Bible Book by Book" by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart as a reference, I will point out the key verses that touch my heart as important in day to day living through Christ, and expand as best as I can. The first chapter illustrates Christ Jesus and how he appeared before John.

I will paraphrase or quote the chapter below:
v 1,2 Jesus comes to John in order to address the future.
v 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. 
v 4-6 A letter from John is sent to seven churches
 ⁷ “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
   and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
   and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
            So shall it be! Amen.

 ⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” 

A voice called out behind John and told him to write down what he saw and heard on a scroll and send it to the 7 churches:
Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea

v 12-20

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. 

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

   “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Image from:  
http://heavenawaits.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/7-lampstands.jpg