Spiritcode

Paul O’Sullivan

Getting spiritual understanding

  1. -11 h

    Revelation Ep 12: The Satanic Trinity of the Dragon, Beast and False Prophet

    Revelation Episode 12: The Satanic Trinity of the Dragon, Beast and False Prophet Today I’m talking about the Beast—the Lawless One, often called “the Antichrist”—and the False Prophet, who are both spoken of in Revelation 13. We see that, just as God is a Trinity, so too will the last-days manifestation of Satan be in triune form. The Beast and the False Prophet are empowered by the Dragon, Satan, whom we spoke about in the last session as the one who tried to destroy the Woman and the Man Child (Revelation 12:3, 9). Satan cannot create anything but can only copy, and the appearance of the Beast (or Antichrist) will be a counterfeit of the ministry of Jesus, even to the three-and-a-half-year length of his “ministry” on earth. The False Prophet will be a counterfeit of the Holy Spirit and will speak for the Beast (Revelation 13:11–18). This episode will deal with the work of the Satanic Trinity in its spiritual conflict with the Kingdom of God for control of the geopolitical realm of the world. This is distinct from the spiritual conflict in the last episode, where we saw the existential struggle involving the Woman as the Church of Revelation chapter 12, how the Prince Power of Darkness had been put under our feet through Jesus as Head of the Church, and how the Church was given divine protection. We see in this episode that the Dragon, Satan, who is a counterfeit of the Father, has always worked through world powers and will do so until the end. Matthew 4:8: “The devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’” Ephesians 2:2: “We once walked according to the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.” We also saw that the Dragon had seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his head. The seven heads here were seen as last-days heads of nation-states, but horns in the Bible speak of power. The ten horns therefore speak of last-days strategic corporate entities of power that influence nation-states and ultimately give rise to the Beast’s rule over the earth during the three and a half years. I mentioned in the last session that we might perhaps expect to witness surprising structural and influential changes in national leadership, even over the next few years, because of the current political instability. THE BEAST The Beast comes in the image of his father, the Dragon (see also Revelation 17:3, 10–12). Revelation 13:1: “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and I saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The Dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marvelled and followed the Beast. So they worshipped the Dragon who gave authority to the Beast; and they worshipped the Beast, saying, ‘Who is like the Beast? Who is able to make war with him?’” Here we see that the Beast comes in the image of the Dragon (Revelation 12:3), except that there are ten crowns on the horns rather than seven crowns on the heads. Horns speak of power, and crowns speak of authority. This speaks of the Antichrist giving authority to the ten heads of the ten powerful nations that will rule the world kingdom at the time of the end. John describes a single “Composite Beast” because this represents the gathering of all previous imperial, tyrannical, and dominating traits of history into one final, unified global entity. John describes a Beast that is “like a leopard,” with “feet like those of a bear” and a “mouth like that of a lion.” This vision of John’s is based upon a vision of the prophet Daniel, which gives us the code that unlocks the identities and characteristics of all those imperial nations and rulers of biblical history. What we will seek to decipher and explain today are the historical and ongoing prophetic lines from the Book of Daniel concerning the geopolitical struggle of the kingdom of darkness against the Kingdom of God. The following prophetic Scriptures from Daniel form very strong lines of historical and biblical continuity across the six hundred years from Daniel to when John wrote Revelation. In fact, we will draw just as strongly from Daniel in further episodes of Revelation concerning the latter parts of the three-and-a-half-year Tribulation and the return of Christ. Daniel 7:3: “And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’” “After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The Beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it” (4 = global dominion). “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth Beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.” TRADITIONAL IDENTIFICATIONS IN DANIEL 7 SYMBOL — TRADITIONAL IDENTIFICATION — CORE CHARACTERISTIC - Lion (with eagle’s wings) — Babylon — Sovereignty: Represents imperial majesty and dominion (parallel to the “Gold Head” of Daniel 2). - Bear (raised on one side) — Medo-Persia — Crushing Power: Characterised by the command to “Arise, devour much flesh … and it ate three ribs,” emphasising its massive appetite for conquest. - Leopard (with four wings/heads) — Greece — Speed: Four wings—leopard’s natural speed, Alexander the Great’s rapid expansion, and the four successor kingdoms. A leopard is pale yellow with black spots. - Fourth Beast (iron teeth/10 horns) — Rome — Imperial Destruction: Described as “terrible and extremely strong,” using its “iron teeth” to crush and devour all opposition. These established ancient identities are not merely historical footnotes; they serve as the necessary archetypes for understanding how power is projected throughout history. Note the progression of Lion, Bear, and Leopard, because John reverses this sequence in Revelation 13:2, where we see the leopard, bear, and lion qualities of the Beast first. This is because John is looking back into history, from Rome to Babylon. But what we must remember is that John is also looking forward prophetically into history from two thousand years ago. It will be useful, amongst the bewildering range of symbolic descriptions of the “Beast Nations” of history, to remember the sequence of three recurring symbolic nations of history—the Lion, the Bear, and the Leopard. These have been the prelude to a sequence of dreadful “composite beasts” throughout history and will feature significantly in the last days, when they become the ultimate ogre of the “Composite Beast” at the Second Coming of Christ to the earth. Remember the sequence: Lion, Bear, Leopard. One of the greatest counterfeits that will be perpetrated by the Beast, the Lawless One, will be a counterfeit resurrection in verse 3, which will delude many. Remember, in 2 Thessalonians 2, that God would send strong delusion for people to believe a lie. His mouth will speak great things. He will be a great leader and statesman who will sway the multitudes. He will receive power from the Dragon, Satan, to overcome those saints who endure the Tribulation. But their martyrdom will be to the glory of God. These saints are encouraged by the angel of Revelation 14:7. Daniel 7:8 speaks of one powerful, persuasive person as a horn of power who will arise at the end: “And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.” So we have strong lines of scriptural formation from Daniel to John, but in the two thousand years from John until now, we have reached beyond the time of John, when Rome was the “Composite Beast,” into the description of a much more awesome and devastating Composite Beast that Rome represented. John’s final Beast here has seven heads as well as ten horns. And I have to say this—but wait, there’s more. In Revelation 12:3, in the last episode, we saw John describing the Dragon, representing Satan: “Behold, a great red dragon … having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads” (diadems are jewelled headbands). So the sequence is: - Revelation 12:3—Dragon: 7 heads crowned + 10 horns - Revelation 13:1—Beast: 7 heads + 10 horns crowned - Revelation 17:3, 12—Beast: 7 heads + 10 horns; then ten kings receive authority This is not a repeated description—John changes the locations of the diadems. That fits prophetically and purposefully with the progression from Satanic authority being delegated to a Beastly political authority, and then to a final ten-kingdom coalition. Chapter 13 portrays the Beast receiving and exercising the authority previously associated with the Dragon. It is like the Father giving J

  2. 2 sept.

    Revelation Ep 11 The Woman, The Church and The Manchild

    Revelation Episode 11: The Woman, the Church and the Manchild Today we are doing Revelation episode 11, which talks about the Woman, who represents the Church in the last days, and her experience of being attacked by the Dragon and protected by God during the three and a half years, or forty-two months, of the Tribulation. Reading from Revelation 12:1: “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems…” The Dragon of Revelation is out to destroy the Woman and her Man Child. We will look at him in a moment. Most traditional viewpoints identify the Woman as Israel bringing forth Jesus. However, that is a historical event—not a future event during the three and a half years of the Tribulation. Revelation chapter 12 describes the narrative of the Woman over the Tribulation period of 1,260 days, or 42 months, or three and a half years. This event is of great significance in Revelation for the Church, regarding its ongoing future conflict with the Dragon and his rebellious angelic following, and the divine protection of the Church throughout the Tribulation. Remember, in the last episode on the Two Witnesses, we saw that Revelation chapters 11 to 19 deal with all the events within the final 3½ years. The events are not all presented as a single, uninterrupted chronological sequence. They are explanatory “camera angles,” or parallel perspectives on the same period—like watching a movie and thinking you’ve arrived at the end of the story, where everything is about to be resolved, and then a caption comes up on the screen saying, “Three and a half years earlier.” From Revelation 19, we can move progressively toward Christ’s return. Today we are identifying the Woman as the Church—camera angle three on the grid below. PERSPECTIVE — FOCUS OF THE VISION — SPECIFIC NARRATIVE SYMBOL - Heaven — Declaration of God’s Kingdom — The Seventh Trumpet (Revelation 10) - Israel — The prophetic ministry/testimony — The Two Witnesses (Revelation 11) - Church — Conflict and protection of the Church — The Woman (Revelation 12) - The Beast — The political/religious authority — The Two Beasts (Revelation 13) - God Blesses — Choosing of an anointed group — The 144,000 (Revelation 14) - God Judges — The outpouring of divine wrath — The Seven Bowls (Revelation 15) The foundational blueprint for the overarching journey of the Woman as the Church travels from Genesis to Revelation starts in Genesis 3:15 (God to Satan): “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” This promise of a coming deliverer who will bruise the serpent’s head finds its prophesied goal in the corporate body of Christ. While the initial fulfilment is enacted in the person of Jesus on the cross, the apostolic vision of Paul in Romans 16:20 confirms a final delegated work from Jesus to the Church. Paul says to the Church, “The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.” This shift to the corporate phrase “your feet” signals the transition from Jesus on the cross to the Church as the feet in the execution of judgement. To understand this fulfilment, we must first analyse the celestial “Woman” of Revelation 12—a spiritual fulfilment whose seed is prophesied into history from Genesis 3:5. We saw the Woman dwelling in the fulness of the Godhead in the sun, moon, and stars. The sun speaks of the glory of the Father; the moon is the reflected glory of Jesus; and the stars speak of the Holy Spirit in Christians. Twelve stars represent the twelve Apostles of the Book of Acts—the number twelve speaks of order and authority. The Woman, the Church, is about to bring forth a Man Child. The identification of the stars representing the Holy Spirit in Christians is seen in the following Scripture references. Firstly, through Abraham—Genesis 22:17: “I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies” (Matthew 16:18—the gates of hell shall not prevail). Then, through Daniel—Daniel 12:3: “And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Then, through Paul—1 Corinthians 15:37: “There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory” (God on display). THE DRAGON This Dragon is Satan. Revelation 12:3: “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.” The seven heads speak historically of seven world kingdoms down through the ages, spoken of in Daniel. These are Egypt, Assyria, Media, Persia, Greece, Rome, and the final fearsome ten-toed kingdom (covered in Revelation in a later lesson). The seven heads here are seen as last-days heads of nation-states, while horns in the Bible speak of power. The ten horns speak of last-days strategic horns of power that give rise to the Beast’s Antichrist rule. We will see later that the crowns change place between Revelation 13:1 and Revelation 17:9, speaking of significant corrupt political and spiritual power-brokering in the final days. Even today, we are seeing radical changes in the power dynamics of political, military, and economic hegemony, where some nation-states are in desperate decline while others are gaining economic and military advantage. Unexpected alliances of strategic horns-of-power groupings are being formed to dominate nation-states, and these power groupings leverage and threaten with no regard for diplomacy. We can perhaps expect to witness surprising structural and influential changes in national leadership, even over the next two years, because of the current political instability (next episode). THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE DRAGON, SATAN, AND THE WOMAN, THE CHURCH Revelation 12:4: “His tail swept down (syro from 138, drawn to oneself) a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the Dragon stood before the Woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child, he might devour it. She gave birth to a Man Child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to His throne, and the Woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.” The tail of the Dragon draws the third part of the stars of heaven (verse 4). This “sweep” refers to the deception of “fallen saints” rather than original angelic rebels. We saw earlier that the stars represent Christians. Later, in verse 9, the Dragon, Satan, falls with ALL of his rebellious angels. According to the typological key, we see what happens here in Isaiah. Isaiah 9:15: “And the prophet who teaches lies is the tail; for those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up” (bala—engulfed). So these are Christians deceived by false prophets and lying wonders, as Paul prophesied in 2 Thessalonians: 2 Thessalonians 2:3: “Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time (the Holy Spirit). For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way (mesos; in the midst—how is the Woman out of the way?). And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one (the Beast) is by the activity of Satan (the Dragon), with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore, God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be judged who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” The Dragon now prepares to devour the Man Child because this is the fulfilment of the prophesied “seed of the woman” (Genesis 3:15), who will completely destroy him, the Dragon (Romans 16:20). When the Man Child is caught up, the Dragon is cast to the earth with all of his angels. This is distinct from the one-third of the stars being swept by the tail of the Dragon, meaning fallen saints, not angels. All the angels are cast down after Michael defeats Satan. THE MAN CHILD Revelation 12:5: “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne.” The identity of the Man Child is one of the controversial issues of the Book of Revelation. Like the Book of Revelation itself, teaching on the Man Child has become sectarian and divisive. This would be precisely what Satan, the Dragon, would want to see for obvious reasons. I simply propose that the Man Child is a certain corporate group expression of Christ that rules with Him, with a designated sphere of influence and authority. We will compare Moses, Jesus, and the M

  3. 25 août

    REVELATION Ep10 The Two Witnesses

    REVELATION 10 THE TWO WITNESSES  At the end of Revelation 10, we reached the great prophetic climax. The mystery of God is being brought to completion, and the seventh trumpet is about to sound. We are at the point toward which all the previous judgments have been moving. Today we’re talking about where we belong and with whom we belong and to whom we belong. We all belong to an idea, and people think it’s their idea but there are many thousands of ideas out there that many thousands of people want you to belong to. Those ideas promise to give you what you want for yourself, but it is what they want for you.    Who is they? They are the powers of darkness that work through the minds of influential people who are blinded from what God’s idea is for us. They persuade people to want to belong to their ideas and belong to their values. The problem is that if people are not sure about belonging, they will seek to pressure them to belong in various coercive ways, financially, personally or ideologically or threateningly because they want their ideas expressed through people’s lives so that they have control over their lives.  You fill in the blanks – it’s for everyone  For Christians it’s not about which denomination or which church we belong to. God simply says you belong to him – we belong together with him. He has his unique idea of you which he implanted into your spirit before the foundation of the world –his logos DNA seed word spoken into us by Jesus through the Holy Spirit the Spirit. Jesus said That you might have life and life more abundantly’ John 10:10. Jesus also adds that the thief comes to rob and to kill and to destroy that life. God’s idea for you is that you come to know him and express his life through your soul and live his values into this world. He draws you by his love and truth and grace – not by coercion - and you receive willingly and thankfully. This is where today’s word from revelation Episode 10 begins and ends as we also belong with the two witnesses we’re discussing today. Revelation chapter 11 to chapter 19 deals with all the events within the final 3½ years. But the events are not all presented as a single uninterrupted chronological sequence. Some sections are explanatory “close-ups” or parallel perspectives on the same period. And from Revelation19 we then move progressively toward Christ’s return.  It is like watching a movie and you think you’ve arrived at the end of the story where everything is about to be resolved then a caption comes up on the screen saying ‘Three and a half years earlier’. I think the movie producers learned this technique from the Apostle John. We are watching the same final act of the movie from several different camera angles. The story keeps returning to the same final period, but each “camera angle” reveals another dimension of what is taking place until the return of Christ brings the whole story into the open. Everything belongs in its order to the one narrative, and we belong together to that narrative wherever it is up to now, every day of our lives.   So in Revelation 11 the two witnesses are introduced, Moses and Elijah, who minister during this final three and a half year period and bear prophetic testimony in the midst of a rebellious world.    The seventh trumpet then announces that the kingdoms of this world are becoming the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.   Then Revelation 12 depicts a woman representing the church, being pursued by the dragon, Satan. She is given wings like a great eagle and protected in the wilderness for 1,260 days—three and a half years.   Revelation 13 then introduces the beast from the sea and the beast from the earth, and They exercise authority during this same final time period and demand allegiance from the world.   But Revelation 14 gives us a contrasting picture. While the beast gathers his followers, the Lamb stands with a select group of 144,000 people, and three angels proclaim God’s warnings to the world:  Then comes the harvest of the earth—a picture of the gathering of humanity for judgment as the age reaches its climax.   Revelation 15–16 then brings seven final plagues and seven bowls of God’s wrath of divine judgment upon the kingdom of the beast - preparing the way for the final confrontation.   In Revelation 17–18 , still within the same time frame, from another camera angle as it were, we see Babylon, the great harlot, riding the beast—a picture of the corrupt spiritual, economic and political system that has allied itself with the beast. Babylon ultimately collapses under God’s judgment.   In Revelation 19, the narrative catches up with itself, with the announcement of the Kingdom of Christ - heaven rejoices, the marriage of the Lamb is celebrated, and the Bride is prepared then Christ appears as the rider on the white horse. He comes as King and Judge, defeats the beast and the false prophet, and brings the Antichrist’s kingdom to its end. Rev. Ch. 19 and Rev. Ch. 20 concern the second coming of Christ and the first and second judgement seats, separated  by the one thousand years millennium. Rev. Chs. 21 and 22 deal with the heavenly Jerusalem.  The purpose of these repeated perspective from chapters 11 to 19 is to show us not merely what happens, but what is happening simultaneously from heaven’s perspective, Israel’s perspective, the Church’s perspective, the Beast’s perspective and God’s judgment perspective.  Before the Two Witnesses are introduced in Revelation 11:3 , which I’ll be focusing on in a moment, an Angel is commanded to measure the Temple and Altar and Worshippers, with the measuring rod, (Revelation 11:1,2). Measurement is an important principle of God for us in the Bible. Paul tells us to examine ourselves to see whether we are ‘in the faith’. (2 Corinthians 13:5), and he mentions four area of measurement (metron) that we need to attend to, because whatever is not measured will never get changed, and be neglected.  Firstly, there is measure of faith for the operation of his spiritual gift for serving God and others (Romans 12:3). Secondly, there is the measure of grace for the operation of that gift (Ephesians 4:7). Thirdly, the measure of our stature (character) in of Christ – (Ephesians 4: 13). Fourthly, the measure of our sphere of influence. (2Corinthians 10:3).   The measuring of the Temple here in Revelation is for the ultimate measurement that Christ has for his church Ephesians 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; Eph2: 21 - being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, This refers to Christians who are the temple of God and are living in the truths of  worship, intimate relationship with God in Spirit and in truth, and ‘going on to perfection (telos – completion, salvation/healing of the soul) – a bride being made ready. NB. There is speculation about a rebuilt last days actual temple which would require additional interpretation and application for Israel (a known or an unknown unknown)   The outer court is not measured, but these people belong to God, and they must experience persecution by being trodden underfoot by unbelievers (ethnos/ nations) during this time of tribulation (forty two months);   Some of these outer court people are Christians who have already heard the Gospel, and the call to the Marriage Feast (Matt 22: 1-14), but who have not pursued that promise. Matt 25: 1-13 tells the parable of those who were not prepared for the wedding feast who did not keep oil in their lamps, perhaps like the five foolish virgins and they found the door shut to them from the Marriage. These outer court people are referred to later in Rev. Ch. 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (see also Matt. 8: 12, Matt 5: 13). It is God's people, Israel who are the main constituent of the outer court in this chapter who have been preserved for this time, to hear the testimony of the two witnesses and believe and be saved  Rom. 11: 25-27 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved   TESTIMONY OF THE TWO WITNESSES. These are two actual people, who bear testimony to the work of Jesus during His three and one half years of ministry (sometimes seen as ‘the Two men in White) . They will be known and recognised by the people of Israel, and they will be believed and trusted, and tell of things that describe The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven (Acts 1: 10) The resurrection of Jesus from the dead (John 20: 12) The transfiguration in Glory of Jesus before Calvary (Luke. 9: 28-31) d)   and possibly other major events in Jesus’ life. EG The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (Matt 4: 11)      ANOINTING OF THE TWO WITNESSES. Rev. 11: 4    "These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth." The mention of olive trees refers to the anointing of the Holy Spirit that these men have, (Zech 4: 3), and the olive trees now speak of both Israel and Christians. They are called candlesticks also, because the Church has also been the candlesticks for the world.    PARALLEL MINISTRIES OF MOSES AND ELIJAH. Rev. 11: 5,6   "And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies; and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy; and have power over waters to turn them to bl

  4. 20 août

    REVELATION EP 9 Escalation of Judgment of the Satanic Kingdom

    As we continue our journey through the Book of Revelation, we are moving into one of the most dramatic transitions in the entire prophetic narrative. The first four trumpets have progressively affected the created order—the earth, the sea, the rivers and waters, and the heavenly bodies. But when we arrive at the fifth and sixth trumpets, something fundamentally changes. The judgments are no longer primarily directed against creation. They are directed against humanity itself. And even more significantly, Revelation begins to pull back the veil and show us what lies behind the rebellion of humanity: a supernatural kingdom of darkness, a counterfeit kingdom that seeks to imitate, corrupt and ultimately replace the Kingdom of God. We saw how trumpets one to four struck creation – the trees, the seas, the rivers and the darkening of the sun and the moon and the stars. And now the fifth trumpet releases supernatural powers that torment humanity. Revelation 9:1 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fall from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only to harm those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads – they had no authority to kill those people, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. In those days those people will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them. THE FIFTH TRUMPET — THE ABYSS IS OPENED Then the fifth Trumpet sounds. John says: I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth. And to him was given the key to the bottomless pit. He says “to him.” The star is a personal being identified as Abaddon, in Hebrew, or Apollyon, in Greek. Both names mean Destroyer. This is therefore a supernatural ruler of the abyss. The abyss is opened, and smoke rises from it like the smoke of a great furnace. Then something terrifying emerges. Locust-like beings appear. But John repeatedly says they are “like” something. They have human-like faces. They have hair like women’s hair. They have teeth like lions. They have breastplates like iron. Their wings sound like an enormous army. And they have tails like scorpions. The picture is deliberately unnatural and chilling. These are supernatural demonic powers released from the abyss, a demonic army under the authority of Apollyon/the destroyer. But what is extraordinarily important is that God remains sovereign, and the demons are not given unlimited authority. They are told what they may do and not do. They cannot destroy the vegetation. They cannot harm those who possess the seal of God. And their period of torment is limited. They are given five months. This does not necessarily mean that believers experience no challenge of suffering, but it tells us that God’s people are never outside His protective care. The five-month period is significant - 150 days the same as the 150 days during which the floodwaters prevailed in the days of Noah and God’s people were preserved. The days of Noah were characterised by corruption and judgment, but God preserved Noah and his household. And Revelation here again presents humanity facing a world of escalating judgment while God continues to preserve those who belong to Him – It’s Psalm 91 again. And next is the sixth trumpet - unleashing an unprecedented force of destruction in which one-third of humanity dies. Then, between the sixth and seventh trumpets, Revelation chapter 10 gives us a remarkable prophetic prelude to what will happen in the Tribulation. John is shown that God’s apparent and puzzling delay in revealing the enigma of the history of the world is coming to an end. The history of mankind while blessed with the goodness of God is a confusing and often unhinged narrative of human disasters. But the mystery of God in all this is approaching its unveiling and fulfillment. And finally, with the seventh trumpet, the great declaration is made: The kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. So Revelation 9–10 is not simply a catalogue of frightening events. It is a movement toward the final confrontation between two kingdoms—the counterfeit kingdom of Satan and the true Kingdom of God. THE UNVEILING OF THE SATANIC KINGDOM To understand Revelation 9, we must understand the biblical story of human rebellion. Behind the visible structures of human civilisation lies a deeper spiritual conflict, describing the development of what can be called the satanic kingdom—a kingdom born from Lucifer's rebellious ambition. The rebellion is therefore not merely evil behaviour. It is usurpation/overthrow. And that same ambition eventually appears here in Revelation in its fullest form to construct a counterfeit of God’s Kingdom. The biblical picture becomes almost like a dark mirror. God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The satanic kingdom is portrayed through the Dragon, the Beast and the False Prophet. The Dragon represents Satan. The Beast receives worship. The False Prophet directs humanity toward that worship. The result is a counterfeit kingdom with a counterfeit ruler, counterfeit worship and counterfeit authority. This is a counterfeit trinity, with the Beast receiving the worship that belongs to Christ and the False Prophet directing humanity toward worship of the Beast and global economic control. This is why Revelation is so concerned with worship. The final conflict is therefore spiritual before it is political. FROM TORMENT TO DEATH — THE SIXTH TRUMPET So the fifth trumpet brought all that torment without death. Now the sixth trumpet brings death on an unprecedented scale. Four angels are released at the Euphrates. The Euphrates is not an arbitrary detail. It represented the boundary of the land promised to Abraham. It was associated historically with the great enemies of God’s people, and the Euphrates also becomes significant because of its association with the ancient world of Genesis and the traditions surrounding the angelic watchers and the Nephilim giants, and the Mesopotamian traditions represented by the Epic of Gilgamesh. GILGAMESH, THE NEPHILIM AND THE ANCIENT REBELLION This brings us to a fascinating theological connection. There is a Biblical account in Genesis ch. 6 that speaks about angels coming down and procreating with women in the earth. Genesis 6:4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. This is also mentioned in Jude And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day (Jude 1:6). The Bible records this as ‘evil crossing divinely established boundaries’ which led ultimately to the corruption of humanity and the judgement of the flood of Noah. But another reality reverses that claim and establishes a deliberate and deceptive ancient Mesopotamian worldview of surrounding nations in the Middle East that were not only corrupted by these angels, but who admired and eventually recognised them as demi-gods. The ancient Mesopotamian world produced stories of supernatural beings, superheroes and angelic-human interaction. One of these superheroes named Gilgamesh was praised in a document called ‘The Epic of Gilgamesh’ which presents Gilgamesh as an extraordinary figure, described in Mesopotamian tradition as partly divine and partly human. This occultic worldview is being adopted by many in today's culture. Documents and scrolls have been found that draw upon the Book of Giants traditions associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls, where Gilgamesh and Humbaba are identified in connection with the Nephilim tradition. The tomb of Gilgamesh has become a place of real interest and artifacts have been taken from the area surrounding his tomb and the US government officially handed it back to Iraqi authorities during a repatriation ceremony in Washington, D.C. in September 2021. It is interesting that there has been a rise in occultic practices and satanic rituals being practised globally in recent times but as these things get called out and exposed the hearts of the people involved in these things are becoming even more hardened. This is what is called theological inversion. Mesopotamian culture celebrated supernatural heroes and beings as the bringers of wisdom, civilisation and political power, and magical crafts. They were traditionally viewed as supernatural semi-divine philosophers and sages. But what humanity celebrated as greatness actually represented Satanic rebellion against God. But the Bible in Genesis 6 presents what the ancient world calls “divine wisdom” as corrupted supernatural knowledge, and what is celebrated as heroic power was actually part of humanity’s descent into violence and corruption that brought on Noah’s flood. This provides an important backdrop for Revelation. The final conflict is not simply about modern politics. It reaches back into the ancient spiritual rebellion and overcomes it, and Revelation presents that rebellion and its final expression. THE TWO HUNDRED MILLION John then sees an army of extraordinary magnitude. Two hundred million. Humanity is confronted with a force of unprecedented destructive power. One-third of humanity is killed. First, creation is struck. Then humanity is tormented. Then humanity is killed on a massive scale. So the judgments are escalating.

  5. 12 août

    REVELATION EP 8 The Seven Trumpets and a Map of Time

    REVELATION EP 8- The Seven Trumpets and a Map of Time The book of Revelation is, in many ways, a summary of the unfolding work of God in redemption and redemptive judgment. It begins with the seven letters to the churches, moves into the opening of the seven seals, and then into the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. In the first four seals we see the release of forces that have shaped the world we know—conquest, war, economic scarcity and inflation, famine, disease and death. These events describe the progression of human history toward the final period of God’s dealings with the earth. We have already experienced many of these things in measure, including global pandemics, giving us a foretaste of what Revelation describes as ultimately coming upon the earth. But then we arrive at something extraordinary: the seventh seal contains the seven trumpets, and the seventh trumpet ultimately contains the seven bowls or vials of judgment. Revelation gives us a series of summaries within summaries. Seven speaks of completion and fullness. What we are seeing is not merely a sequence of catastrophes, but the completion of a divine process that brings God’s purposes for humanity to their appointed goal. “Receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.” —1 Peter 1:9 The final movements of Revelation therefore concern not simply judgment upon the earth, but the completion of God’s redemptive work in His people as Christ brings history toward His return. This brings us into the final three-and-a-half-year period that repeatedly appears throughout prophetic Scripture—a period culminating in the second coming of Christ. THE SEVENTH SEAL, THE CENSER AND THE DAY OF ATONEMENT Revelation 8 begins with one of the most remarkable moments in the book: “When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” —Revelation 8:1 It is the only explicit period of silence described in heaven in Revelation. After the worship, thunder, voices and activity surrounding the throne, suddenly everything becomes still. It is as though heaven pauses before the next great movement of God’s purpose. John sees seven angels standing before God, and seven trumpets are given to them. Before those trumpets sound, however, another angel appears with a golden censer. He is given incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne. The censer is then filled with fire from the altar and thrown to the earth, producing thunder, lightning and an earthquake. This gives us an important principle: the prayers of God’s people are not disconnected from the purposes of God in the earth. Heaven receives the prayers of the saints, and those prayers become part of the unfolding divine purpose. The golden censer is particularly significant because of its connection with the Day of Atonement. In the Old Testament, the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place once a year carrying incense and blood into the presence of God. Leviticus 16 describes him taking burning coals and incense behind the inner curtain, creating a cloud over the mercy seat, and then sprinkling blood before it. “Into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood…” —Hebrews 9:7 The imagery of Revelation 8 therefore takes us directly into the symbolism of the Day of Atonement. The seventh seal opens a prophetic picture of cleansing, sanctification and preparation, and connects Revelation with the prophetic pattern of Israel’s feasts. THE FEASTS — A MAP OF REDEMPTIVE TIME The Church has historically experienced the great movements represented by Passover and Pentecost, but we have not yet experienced the prophetic fullness represented by the Day of Atonement and Tabernacles. Passover speaks of deliverance. The blood was placed upon the doorway, marking out a people delivered from judgment and slavery. Christ is our Passover; His blood establishes the boundary of salvation and justification. Pentecost speaks of covenant relationship and the giving of the Spirit. What was external becomes internal. God’s covenant is written into His people, and believers learn to walk by the Spirit in conscious obedience to God. The Day of Atonement speaks of deeper cleansing, transformation and sanctification. Before Israel entered Tabernacles came Atonement, so prophetically it becomes the preparation for the fullness of God’s dwelling. Tabernacles represents the fullness of God dwelling among His people. So the movement is: Passover → Pentecost → Atonement → Tabernacles. The story is moving toward the completion of God’s dwelling with humanity. The final feast season begins with the Feast of Trumpets: “In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets…” —Leviticus 23:24 These initial trumpets are not the judgment trumpets of Revelation 8–11. They are prophetic trumpets announcing that something is about to happen. They call God’s people to attention and announce a season of preparation. Ten days later comes the Day of Atonement, followed by the Feast of Tabernacles: Trumpets → Preparation → Atonement → Tabernacles. This gives us a prophetic picture of the preparation of the Bride of Christ. THE BRIDE, THE BLOOD AND TRANSFORMATION Paul writes: “That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word… that she should be holy and without blemish.” —Ephesians 5:26–27 This is not simply about becoming better Christians. Paul describes a deeper work of transformation in the Bride. The Church is being prepared for union with Christ. “This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” —Ephesians 5:32 The Day of Atonement gives us a prophetic picture of this deeper cleansing. On that day, the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place with blood: “Then he must take some of the blood of the bull… and sprinkle it seven times…” —Leviticus 16:14 Seven speaks of completion. At Passover, the blood was placed at the doorway. At Pentecost, covenant relationship was established with God’s people. At the Day of Atonement, the blood enters the Most Holy Place. Doorway → People → Presence Deliverance → Covenant → Transformation The Day of Atonement therefore points toward the fullest application of Christ’s redemptive work in His people—not another sacrifice, but a deeper manifestation of the power of the one sacrifice already accomplished by Christ. The goal is maturity—the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. The Day of Atonement was also called a Sabbath of Sabbaths—Shabbat Shabbaton. Israel was commanded to “afflict” or humble their souls, but Isaiah 58 reveals that God was never interested in religious suffering for its own sake. The people were fasting while still oppressing others, fighting, quarrelling and maintaining bondage. “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?” The ultimate fast is therefore not simply abstaining from food. It is becoming free. It is allowing God to break the internal bondage that prevents us from loving God and others freely. God is not trying to crush the soul. He is trying to heal it. THE TRUMPETS AND THE WITNESSES Numbers 10 says: “Make two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece you will make them.” Silver is associated with redemption and atonement. There are two trumpets, yet they are made from one piece of silver. This gives us a picture of Christ and His people—the one new man created in Christ. The trumpet represents the prophetic voice of God. God speaks to His people, and He also speaks through His people. This imagery provides a fitting parallel with the two witnesses of Revelation 11, who prophesy for 1,260 days. Their ministry belongs to this final prophetic period and corresponds to the ministry of Moses and Elijah. Their witness becomes part of God’s final testimony before the culmination of the age. SABBATH REST The Day of Atonement also opens another major biblical theme: rest. The Sabbath was never merely about stopping work one day each week. Israel was commanded to allow the land to rest every seventh year. Leviticus 25 describes six years of cultivation followed by a seventh year in which the land was not cultivated in the ordinary way. The people had to trust God. They had to stop striving to produce and believe that God could sustain them. But Israel failed to fully enter this dimension of Sabbath rest. 2 Chronicles 36 says Israel went into Babylonian captivity: “Until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths… to fulfil seventy years.” The seventy years correspond to seventy unobserved Sabbath years—a period traditionally calculated against 490 years: 490 ÷ 7 = 70. Hebrews takes this principle beyond agriculture and national history: “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God… He who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” This is the spiritual reality behind Sabbath. The issue is not merely whether we stop working. The issue is whether we have learned to trust God. Rest is faith. Rest is the cessation of self-powered striving. Rest is learning to live from the faith of Christ and the flow of grace. Sometimes the very thing we call spiritual activity becomes a substitute for spiritual rest. We can become so busy trying to manage ourselves, fix ourselves, control ourselves and prove ourselves that we never become still enough to allow God to transform us. FROM PASSOVER TO TABERNACLES The journey from Passover to Tabernacles can be understood as the journey of a building becoming a home. At Passover, the people come through the doorway. At Pentecost, they learn covenant relationship and Spirit-led livi

  6. 5 août

    REVELATION EP7 The Millennium The Fig Tree, Olive Tree and Vine

    REVELATION EP7 THE MILLNNIUM THE FIG TREE AND OLIVE TREE AND VINE NOTES The Divine Strategist When we study the past and possible future of our planet, the sheer volume of global disruption often makes biblical prophecy feel like a chaotic sequence of stops and starts, failed drafts and last-minute divine corrections. But if we step back and view history through the word of God as the Divine Strategist, an amazing scriptural picture begins to emerge. At the centre of this divine/human earthly drama is the single glowing seed of Jesus, highlighted as the promised olive tree seed of faith made to one man called Abraham four thousand years ago - a master stroke, that through one lineage every family on earth would receive an eternal inheritance. And Jesus is also called the vine, and his followers are the branches So history is not drifting. It is an organised, predestined, calculated movement toward a specific and perfect goal. And by understanding God’s Divine Countdown, we are taken out of confusion into a dazzling and daring clarity. To recognise what God is doing, and where we are standing in this countdown, we need to understand the roles of Abraham, Israel and the Gentile nations under their codenames as God's plant life. Abraham’s plant codename is the root of the olive tree. Israel is both an olive tree and a fig tree. And then you have the Gentiles, the wild olive branches that are grafted into that olive tree. Now before we go any further, let's separate two of those trees, because they are not doing the same thing. Both the olive and the fig relate to Israel, but they operate in different spheres of God's administration. One is spiritual and covenantal - that's the olive tree. The other is national and geographical - that's the fig tree spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24 and the national fig tree provides the historical stage upon which the wider spiritual strategy of the olive tree unfolds. When Jesus first came to his people the nation of Israel was also the olive tree of spiritual Israel, and he was rejected by both. Let’s keep that fact in mind as we go because both the fig tree and the olive tree went through catastrophic change both spiritually and geographically. So we must first understand the nature of the olive tree we are compelled to read what Paul wrote in Romans - Romans 1I:1  ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin. No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realise what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, "LORD, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too." And do you remember God's reply? He said, "No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!" It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful (to Jesus) because of God's grace… And since it is through God's kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God's grace would not be what it really is - free and undeserved. Did God's people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles - the rest of the world. But he chose to have his own people become jealous and claim (his covenant favour) their own way for themselves. Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel rejected God's offer of salvation through Jesus, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it. The Olive Tree So I want to ask some questions here.  What does the olive tree speak of? Spiritual covenant Israel.  What is the root? Abraham - one man.  What is the seed? Jesus.  And who are his fruit? All who live a new covenant life with Jesus by grace and faith. So that's the olive tree picture: Jesus the seed, Abraham the root, some branches get broken off and others get grafted in. I’ll read those verses from Romans 11 shortly. But first look at The Fig Tree: the 1948 Prophetic Countdown Remember the fig tree speaks of National Israel now, not spiritual Israel, not the olive tree. Now in Matthew 24, as we discussed in the preceding episode 6 last week, Jesus gave us a specific marker for the end-of-the-age - when the fig tree begins to "put forth its leaves," the end is imminent. For two thousand years this tree was dormant -. But in 1948 things changed in the global landscape. When the Israeli flag was raised and the nation was physically restored to its land, the fig tree officially blossomed. So that historical event speaks of a ticking countdown clock. Jesus explicitly stated that the generation alive to witness this blossoming would not pass away before the fulfilment of all things. We are not just living in "interesting times." We are living in the final movement of a strategic timeline that began with that blossoming in 1948. The Divine Strategy: How Stumbling Led to Reconciliation So let's see how the stumbling of the original olive tree branches led to reconciliation. Israel's temporary fall was not a failure of God's plan. It became part of a larger strategy of judgement and mercy, and the hardening of their hearts was sovereignly repurposed to facilitate a wider reconciliation, not just for Israel but for the entire kosmos.  The original olive branches lost faith in Jesus as God, and the fig tree lost its identity as a nation and was dispersed, and the wild olive branches of us as humanity were grafted in through Jesus into a new covenant that Israel had rejected. A note on replacement theology Now I want to make a note on what's called replacement theology. Gentiles do not replace Israel. There is only one olive tree, with branches temporarily taken off and other branches grafted in, and we Gentile believers are wild branches sustained by the original Abrahamic root of faith. Paul says it very plainly, and he says it as a warning: Romans 11:16 If the roots of this olive tree are holy, the branches will be, too. But some of these branches from Abraham's olive tree (elaia) - some people of Israel - have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree (agrielaios - earthy/Adamic), have been grafted in. So now you also receive the Abrahamic covenant blessing God promised Abraham and his children, to share in the rich nourishment from the root of God's special olive tree. But you must not brag that you were grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just branches, not the root. Those branches were broken off because they didn't believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don't think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the original branches, he won't spare you either. Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong. So remember, the root is Abraham and we are the branches. And this grafting is tied to a physical timeline. The Unripe Figs of current national Israel Now that fig tree nation has had good times and bad times. And the good times are not good anymore, and the bad times are getting worse. And many of them may think they are a covenant olive tree - but they're not – not yet. And the book of Revelation makes this clear, because it speaks of the figs on the current fig tree in Israel, in Jerusalem, right now as unripe, immature figs at this present time since 1948. Revelation 6:12-17; 7:1-8 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its untimely figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Right now, let's look at that picture. The falling stars speak of believers losing their position with Christ through immaturity, lack of faith and compromise with the world, and the mighty wind shakes everything that can be shaken. That's the sixth seal. And we also have untimely figs, which speaks of the current National Israel - the figs are there, but they have not ripened. So the fig tree is not yet ready to occupy its promised land because it has maintained its rejection of the promised new covenant – and the olive branches are still broken off. And that promise was not vague. Let's hear what it was they turned down: Jeremiah 31:33 I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; A new heart, and the law written on the inside of the mind. That is the new covenant fulfilled through Christ and foretold in the Abrahamic covenant of faith. So the immature believers and the unripe figs both face that fierce wind, which speaks of spiritual forces of darkness drawing them into the world's corrupt. And Hebrews tells us what the shaking is for: Hebrews 12:27 ...the removal of those things that are being shaken, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. The Catalyst for Restoration: The Two Witnesses Now all of this loops around at the end, because Scripture says God will save all Israel. How? Who is going to come and preach to Israel? Well, two men called the two witnesses

  7. 26 juil.

    REVELATION EP6 Overcoming cosmic calamity and the Tribulation

    This episode explores Revelation chapters 6 and 7, focusing on the opening of the sixth seal and the distinction between human-made suffering and the wider calamities described in the biblical text. It begins with the instability, conflict and economic pressure affecting ordinary people, before considering how these conditions relate to the events described in Revelation. The sixth seal is examined alongside the words of Jesus in Matthew 24, with further connections to Daniel, Exodus and the story of Noah. The episode also looks at the repeated three-and-a-half-year period found throughout Revelation, the image of the church being carried on eagles’ wings, and the theme of protection during times of upheaval and persecution. Attention then turns to the great multitude in Revelation 7, the promise of comfort after suffering, and the meaning of Jubilee as a picture of release, restoration and provision. The episode closes with a reflection on patience, discernment and the importance of remaining steady and supportive of one another during uncertain times.

  8. 20 juil.

    The Spiritual Treadmill and the Life of Grace

    The Spiritual Treadmill and the Life of Grace Or Salvation: Our Two Identities Scott Kardash 19th July 2026 Introduction: Two Identities I named this talk "The Spiritual Treadmill and the Life of Grace," and today I want to contrast both of these. The song we heard talked about letting go. That represents the left-hand side... the treadmill that we're on. I had a little alternate title: "From Striving to Flow: Our Two Identities," because we all live out of two identities. It's a matter of moving from one identity, our old self, to our new self. In my view, that is in fact what salvation is all about. We have a bit of a different view of salvation which has been taught, particularly in the Western church. If we step back and think about it, what actually is the gospel? What is the good news? If someone asked you today, "What's the gospel? What's the good news?" your answer might be a bit different to what's commonly taught... or even preached... today. Let me give you an example, because some of us might have heard a version of it that goes a little bit like this: "God is sending you all to hell forever. Well, unless Jesus stops him, of course. And that's the good news." It's a caricature, obviously. No-one actually says it quite like that, but it's a little clip just to give you an example. It's a fear-based gospel presenting an angry God, not a God of love, but an angry and unforgiving God. Now, God tells us to forgive even our enemies, but this view says, no, God can't forgive. There's actually something wrong with this picture. The Impact of a Fear-Based Gospel I lived in Japan for three years. Some of you may know that Japan is only about 1% Christian. It's not because there haven't been missionaries going there; there have been. But it has something to do with the Japanese culture, and even the broader Asian culture, where they revere their ancestors. In fact, they have these ceremonies where they practice ancestor worship. When their ancestors were alive, they didn't hear this gospel, so they didn't know Jesus. For them to accept this modern Western gospel message is essentially to condemn all their ancestors to hell forever. So, it goes down like a bit of a lead balloon, as you can imagine. It's not well received. It can be experienced a little bit like this: picture Jesus knocking on the door of our heart... which is a misquote of Revelation 3:20... and the little guy inside saying, "Well, why should I let you in?" And Jesus replies, "Because of what I'll do to you if you don't." It comes across a bit like a threat. Where is this loving God that we're talking about? I think it's a complete distortion of what the gospel actually is. Paul's Gospel to the Gentiles If we look at Paul the apostle, his job was to go and preach the gospel to the Gentiles. Jesus preached to the Jews... His mission was for the Jews first, then the Gentiles. So Paul went and preached to the Gentiles. Not many people realise that Paul didn't even mention the word "hell." He didn't even mention it. He wrote most of the New Testament and didn't mention the word hell. He talked about judgment, and Jesus did warn the Jews about Gehenna... which is a physical place outside Jerusalem with a very shady past... and he talked about outer darkness, and John warned about the lake of fire. Paul... I'm sure he will cover the lake of fire in his upcoming Revelation series if he hasn't already, and talk more about its purpose. But there's a good example in Acts 17 where Paul is preaching on Mars Hill. You might remember when he talks to the men of Athens. He doesn't go up there and say, "Turn or burn forever." He doesn't say that. He says, and I'll quote, "God is not far from each one of us, for we are all God's offspring. The times of ignorance God overlooked. God now commands all men everywhere to repent"... which means to turn to him. "He has appointed a day in which He will be judging the habitable earth in righteousness by a man he has appointed"... which is Jesus. And listen to this: "...offering faith to all by raising him from the dead." I want to pick up on this phrase later... "offering faith to all." This is something very much in line with what Paul's been talking about. The Modern Transactional View vs. True Transformation The common, modern-day process of salvation goes something like this: you'll likely begin with a prayer. More often than not, before you know what's happening, you'll be asked to pray at the end of a meeting. You'll be asked to "repeat after me" and just say these words. The words might include a declaration of future repentance, but that's optional. But repentance isn't something we say we will do; repentance is something we do. It's not a verbal promise, it's an action. Once you say this prayer, you're then deemed to be saved. People will ask, "When were you saved?" and you'll say, "Well, I was saved on the day I said that prayer." It's a very common view, presenting salvation as a finishing point rather than a starting point. What I want to put to you today is that making that declaration is actually just the starting point. Here is a bit of a challenge. The proposition is: to be saved from hell, you say this prayer, and you're now saved from eternal punishment. Try to find a passage in the Bible that talks about hell where this is the criteria for not going there. It's pretty hard to find. I can tell you the passages that talk about hell don't talk about some sort of verbal declaration. Under that view, salvation becomes a legal transaction where God is now obliged not to send you to hell forever. You were just lucky enough to find the legal loophole before you died, whilst most won't find it. Unfortunately, this can lead to an attitude that sin doesn't matter, or "cheap grace," as it's known. Some of the most devastating moral failures occur in church leadership and congregations. I suspect this kind of mindset contributes to the problem. People think, "I said the prayer, I'm saved, I'm not going to hell, so what does it matter?" Sin does matter, because it damages us and it damages the people around us. As we will see later, it's evidence that we're operating out of the wrong, false identity. Unpacking John 3:16 and Perishing Here's the classic "ticket to heaven" verse, John 3:16. We can probably all recite it: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that everyone who is believing in him should not perish but have eternal life." A couple of things here. "Believing" is the translation, but Paul would have covered pistis with you... to have faith. It's talking about having faith. It's not a matter of, "Did I believe hard enough so that I'm not going to perish?" No, it's about having faith. Paul has talked about having faith in Christ to allow the faith of Christ to flow. People often conflate perishing with judgment and eternal punishment. But actually, this word "perish" in the Greek is apollumi. It's the exact same word used for "lost" in the stories of the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the prodigal son. It doesn't mean "destroyed beyond existence" or "beyond redemption." In Luke 15, which contains those three parables, the father of the prodigal son says, "Listen to this: my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost"... was perishing, same word... "and is found." To perish doesn't mean to cease to exist. People often conflate judgment with perishing and endless punishment in hell without any hope of redemption. But we're talking about God's righteous judgment, and God's judgment always has a righteous purpose. What is Eternal Life? What is eternal life? The picture many of us have had is sitting on a cloud in heaven playing a harp, thinking, "What am I going to do for the rest of eternity? Will it get boring?" Well, actually, your eternal destiny isn't up in heaven. Where is it, Zara? Where will we be eternally? Zara: New Jerusalem. Speaker: New Jerusalem, exactly... the new earth. Our destiny is actually here. Jesus will return here as King. Heaven is just a waiting room until he returns. We're not going to stay up there forever sitting on a cloud playing a harp; that is a waiting room. Fortunately, Jesus defined eternal life for us. He said, "This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." So, eternal life is not about the length of time. We have this Western mentality that eternal life means a long period of existing alive. No, it's about the quality of life. It's about knowing God. The word "eternal" is actually translated from the Greek term aionios, which means "of an age." It doesn't inherently mean endless. But when it got translated into Latin... which is where a lot of Western doctrine comes from... the Latin word used really did mean endless eternity. We've lost some of the nuances of the original language in our English translations. It is an age of life where God is the source of our life. In Jesus' view, salvation stops being a transaction to avoid punishment and becomes the process we go through to know God and experience this life. Salvation isn't just a one-time event or a prayer; it's a process. The Post-Pentecost Reality I think this leads to one of the most startling verses in the Bible. How can we actually know God? Paul tells the Corinthian church that he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. That's quite amazing. When did this become possible? It only became possible at a certain period of human history: after Pentecost. God said, "I will pour out my spirit on all flesh." We now have the Holy Spirit. Prior to Pentecost, they didn't have the indwelling Holy Spirit in the same way; they were dealing with rules, regulations, and laws to try to be good or obedient enough. After Pentecost, we are equipped with the Holy Spirit for a transformation process. We're moving way beyond the concept of just wanting to escape punishment or go to heaven forever. We're talking about a total transformation. Do

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Getting spiritual understanding

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  • Création
    Paul O’Sullivan
  • Années d’activité
    2016 - 2026
  • Épisodes
    479
  • Classification
    Tous publics
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    © Copyright 2016 All rights reserved.
  • Site web de l’émission
    Spiritcode

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