The Bond of Peace, Part 1 of 2

Mark 9:38-40 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part.


I have addressed this issue in my series of Posts entitled “Simply Christian,” but I felt it worthy of further discussion and consideration. I felt it appropriate to examine this passage of Scripture in light of denominational boundaries, since this was one of the very first examples of “denominational” differences between followers of Jesus Christ.

Messianic Prophecies

I have compiled a list of the Old Testament prophecies regarding Jesus' life, death, and resurrection as it was fulfilled in the New Testament. I pray that anyone viewing these fulfilled prophecies may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing have life in His name, John 20:31. The list is arranged by citing the Old Testament (OT)/then the New Testament (NT), then the subject matter as it was written in the Bible chronologically. Note that some prophecies listed consider both Jesus' first and second advent.

Revelation Chapter Four, Part 4 of 4

Before continuing on I would like to address a few issues. If you are wondering as you read this exposition, “Does he believe Revelation is literal or symbolic?” I at once answer literal, save for the passages using symbolic language; and John makes it clear at those times that he is in fact speaking symbolically. True, I do speak of the elders representing the saints, crowns representing rewards, etc. Allow me to use this comparison in an effort to clear the air. In a knighting ceremony a literal event possesses symbolic meaning. Someone is dressed in finery, comes marching down a hall filled with onlookers, kneels before royalty, receives the dubbing with a sword, etc. Does all of this literally happen? Yes. Does this likewise carry symbolic connotations? Again, yes. Someone totally ignorant to a knighting ceremony would be watching and wondering what in the world this was all about; they would need explanation as to what the events mean from someone who knew about the ceremony.

Revelation Chapter Four, Part 3 of 4

4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
John looks out now and sees the elders sitting about God’s throne. I believe the fact that there are twenty four elders present (two sets of twelve) represents the Old and New Testament saints glorified and resting in their God. They are clothed in white raiment which represents the imputed righteousness which faith in Christ grants, Zechariah 3:4; Revelation 1:5; 7:14; 19:14. They also possess crowns of gold on their heads which represents their triumphant walk of faith in which they, in the power of God, overcame the world, the flesh and the Devil. The robes symbolize their adoption into the household of God; the crowns symbolize their faithful walk with God through the indwelling Holy Spirit on this earth. See Hebrews chapter 11 for a detailed examination of the spiritual fruit yielded in the Old Testament era.

Revelation Chapter Four, Part 2 of 4

4:1 I will shew thee things which must be hereafter
Now John is going to receive a Heaven-bound perspective of events that unfold during the seven-year Tribulation period on earth. He is Raptured to Heaven, stands at the throne of God amidst the elders, saints and cherubim, and sees the One sitting upon the throne, and the Lamb. The judgments being poured out on the earth are about to proceed, and John sees the One commanding their issuance and the source from which the judgments originate. This is the Great Day of God Almighty; this is the day for which the ungodly have been treasuring up wrath in the day of wrath and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God, Romans 2:5. Make no mistake, God is NOT pouring out wrath arbitrarily on earth with cattle killed here or earthquakes rocking an island there; this is not God’s wrath. He made it clear that when He pours it out, it will be mixed in full and poured out until it is finished, Revelation 16:17; 18:8. When it comes men will hide in caves and cower and civilizations will fall; billions will perish and the very celestial heavens will bear the signs of God’s severe displeasure with sinful man.

Revelation Chapter Four, Part 1 of 4

4:1 After this
To find the proper context for this opening verse in chapter four we should return for a moment to chapter one. As Jesus was about to begin the narration that John would record to send to the seven churches in Asia our Lord told him this: “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this,” Revelation 1:19. The things which John has seen are right before him: the risen and glorified Christ coming to him in the power and majesty of His inherent deity. The things which are regards the church age, or the dispensation of grace. That began the day of Pentecost when the disciples received the indwelling Holy Spirit, the promise from the Father, Luke 24:49; John 16:7; Acts 2:3-4. If the church age is in fact “the things which are” then what could be “the things which will take place after this,”?

Unless They are Agreed (Amos 3:3)

Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? This is the question God poses to Amos; it is a rhetorical question that God expected Amos to have a ready answer for. The essence of the question is the spirit of a believer's fellowship with the Lord. Can two walk together--can we be yoke fellows with Christ--unless we are agreed with Him? Now, I am not asking, can you truly be saved? If you heard and believed the gospel of salvation you are saved forever; there are literally hundreds of verses throughout the New Testament that testify of this simple, blessed and God-given truth.

Conflicts in Genesis

Evolution is just one of many ways of trying to explain our existence without a Creator (Charles Darwin simply updated a very old belief with some scientific-sounding words). Mankind has been trying to explain life-without-a-creator for thousands of years and none of this caught God by surprise. Since God created our minds He knows how we think; and how we will think when we separate ourselves from Him. God wants us to believe He is our Creator but will not force us. Romans 1:20 tells us that God provided the physical creation so that we could “clearly see” His invisible attributes by looking at what He made.