Living Word Magazine July 2012

Living Word Magazine

Every Nation, Family, Tribe and Language (Revelation 7:9-10).

Going Deeper into God’s Word Issue 12 July 2012

Bible Studies by: Daniel Kolenda, Ken Legg, Mathew Bartlett, Edwin & Lillian Harvey & more!

www.biblestudiesonline.co.uk GOD WILL HAVE ALL TO BE SAVED, AND TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH. 1TIM 2:4 (AV) ©Photos above Marafilm CoverDanilo Ascione photo Back cover Peter Saharov

In this month’s issue: 2.

God’s Awesome Characteristics

3.

Rebuilding the Walls Part 5

5

The Departing Mandate of Jesus Christ

7.

The Keys to the Kingdom

8.

The Year of Jubilee

9.

Forward to Glory

10.

The Flesh: Arch-Enemy to Prayer

11.

The Prophecy of Amos Part 3

13.

Prayer That Releases the Miraculous

15.

Together from Every Nation

Mathew Bartlett (UK)

17.

A Fountain Opened for Cleansing

Mathew Bartlett (UK)

19.

The Prophet of the Reformation

Derek Williams (UK)

21.

In Depth Study – Revelation Chapter 17

Derek Williams (UK)

Lewis Armstrong (USA) Arfon Lloyd Thomas (UK) Carl Whorley (USA)

James W. Peeler (USA) Mathew Bartlett (UK) Ken Legg (Australia) Edwin & Lillian Harvey (USA) Mathew Bartlett (UK) Daniel Kolenda (CfaN)

©Photos Above © Joyce Geleeynse. Cover: © Kbuconi Left © from top: Stephen Coburn, Eugene Ivanov, Intoit, Photofit, Propix. Back Cover: Eugene Ivanov.

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IN THIS ISSUE

July Reader’s Article

By Lewis Armstrong USA

God’s Awesome Characteristics Omnipotent (all Powerful)

Omniscient (All Knowing)

Genesis 1:26-27

Hebrews 4:13

In What way was man made in the Image of God? ______________________________

How would you describe God's eyesight?

______________________________

_____________________________

WRITE IN THE GAPS

Omnipresent ( Everywhere at Once) Psalms 33:20-22 How is God described? ______________________________ ______________________________

Jeremiah 51:15

Mark 13:32 Why can't man know when Christ will return. ______________________________

Psalms 139:7, 8-12

b. ___________________________

Isaiah 40:28

______________________________

c. ___________________________

What are the strengths of the Creator?

______________________________

What are the three things that God did? a. ___________________________

Romans 1:20 What is known since God created the world?____________________ _____________________________

______________________________ ______________________________

Why can one never get away from God?

Jeremiah 23:23-24 Explain God's capacity. ______________________________

Romans 10:21

______________________________

What does God do?

Psalms 19:1

______________________________

What shows God's glory and His handiwork?

______________________________

a. ___________________________ b. ___________________________

1 John 3:20

Daniel 2:19-23 How did Daniel explain God's contribution in his world? _____________________________ _____________________________

What does God know?

Psalms 62:11

_____________________________ Psalm 68:4 ______________________________ What belongs to God? John 21:17 What does Jesus know? ______________________________

______________________________ ______________________________ 2

What is it that man should do in relation to God? ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

A GODLY CONCERN NEHEMIAH chapter 5 verses 1-13

By Arfon Lloyd Thomas Photo © Paul Prescott As we read this chapter we soon discover a sudden change in perspective.

There is a more pressing problem than rebuilding – an internal dissension has taken place, and thus, Nehemiah is forced to call the people together.

It seems to me that when the enemy fails in his attack on the outside he begins an assault on the inside.

The internal dissension was caused by famine, heavy taxation and exploitation.

This in turn caused tension, which was difficult to resolve.

The Bible tells us that the rich were commanded by God’s law to lend to their poor brothers without interest and this was being ignored.

I believe that, whenever we disregard any of God’s rules for living, we expose ourselves to trouble that eventually leads to ruination.

Scripture quite clearly reveals that the Children of Israel had a covenant with God. His commission to them was that in the year of Jubilee they were to give back all lands and buildings so as to address the balance of the economic system that God set in place. (Leviticus 25)

The cry that was heard was not against the enemy or the Ammorites or Arabs, but against their own kinship.

The first group of people were those who owned no land and were in need of food. Because of their difficult position they could not help themselves and thus they cried to Nehemiah.

The second group were those who were the landowners who had mortgaged their property in order to purchase food for their families.

The third group were those who were heavily taxed and this forced them to borrow money. In order to do this they had to use their property as collateral.

The fourth group were of course the very wealthy, who used their position to exploit their own people.

Therefore Nehemiah called a sacred Assembly.

It’s one thing to confront the enemy, but something very different to confront your friends and family. We recall how Moses learned that it was easier to dispose of an Egyptian leader than reconcile two Jewish brothers.

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Nehemiah was very angry, however, this did not mean that he flared up uncontrollably. He just wanted to do what was righteous in the eyes of God. This was a Holy anger against sin.

Moses showed that same anger when he broke the stone tablets. Likewise, Jesus cleared the Temple in a similar manner.

Nehemiah appealed to the Assembly by reminding them that they were called by God to be a light to the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6).

But their conduct was not a good witness to their pagan neighbours.

I wonder, do we take up the commission from Paul to shine like the stars in a wicked and depraved generation? (Philippians 2: 12-18)

Prayer: O God, open my eyes to see that when I go Your way I receive the benefits and rewards. When I go against Your way I suffer the consequences. Help me to follow the right principles the next time I feel angry. Help me to confront issues that need confronting and strengthen my resolve to deal with things in a righteous manner. Help me to forgive trespasses and ensure that my life is in line with Your Word. Amen.

Rebuilding walls do not always create problems, but they certainly reveal them. Likewise, when any Church seeks to rebuild her broken walls all sorts of problems come to the surface.

A programme of restoration will perhaps test faith, but will also bring out the best in each one involved.

Therefore, let us see each problem as an opportunity for the Lord to work.

Solving problems is a wonderful spiritual exercise. If we only depend upon the wisdom of the World then we will only receive what the World has to give. However, if we rely upon the wisdom of God then we shall receive all that God has.

What a wonderful and encouraging ending we find in verse 13. The nobles and officials returned the fields and houses to the people and praised God with a loud Amen! Thus, the day that began with crying and sorrow ended in spiritual rejoicing.

May we too experience.

know

this

Building the Walls Worldwide Pastor Arfon Lloyd Thomas is an experienced minister with the Baptist church in the UK and is willing and available to conduct short term mission trips and revival schools both in Great Britain and overseas.

If you would like to invite Pastor Arfon Lloyd Thomas to your church or conference anywhere in the world, we would be pleased to hear from you.

Contact the Bible Studies Online International office at: admin@biblestudiesonline.co.uk

same Our New Book out now at Amazon!

Prayer: O God, give me today a fresh vision of Your Holiness so that I truly understand what it means to revere You and live in awe of You. May that reverence show itself in all I say and do.

Gracious loving Father, give me a prayerful spirit and a heart that lifts itself to You. Deepen my dependence – my awareness and my mind in You. Amen.

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THE DEPARTING MANDATE OF JESUS CHRIST

By CARL WHORLEY (USA)

Photo: Nant Coch Š Mathew Bartlett

ACTS 1:8... But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the Uttermost part of the earth.

In numerous locations of the Four Gospels, and in the subsequent Church Epistles of the Early Church Apostles, our Lord left for us an all encompassing mandate to be carried out until His return.

WHAT THE BELIEVERS WILL RECEIVE: But ye shall receive power First, look at the verses preceding Acts 1:8. In Acts 1:6-7, the disciples are asking Jesus concerning Eschatological articles. Perhaps they understood it, perhaps not, but they were asking Jesus concerning end time prophecy. They are asking Him about issues which will take place thousands of years in the future. In response, instead of going to the then and there, Jesus concerns Himself with the here and now.

That is, before the kingdom can ever be restored, there is much to be done. First, there is a world to evangelize.

supernatural ability that once was not there. And this supernatural power is sudden and activates this newly infused power.

Notice, that first Jesus makes global evangelism and missions, a very personal thing. Jesus is telling the disciples that "you" are going to receive.

And notice that it is personal. That being, Jesus is telling them that "you" personally will receive. Not someone else. "YOU" will. This tells us that our Lord does not place the ministry of global missions and evangelism on the shoulders of nameless faces on prayer cards on a bulletin board in a Church lobby. But that if you are a saved, born again believer in the person of Jesus Christ, then the mandate of global missions and evangelism rests squarely on "YOUR" shoulders. Jesus Christ, Himself, has personally selected "YOU," to go evangelize the world.

Dunamis is a Greek word which has to do with a supernatural infusion of power, talent and ability which was not there before. Jesus makes clear that it is given for a God- ordained purpse: to equip the believer for the work of global missions and evangelism.

The English word power comes from the Greek word dunamiV/dunamis.

This has to do with a sudden and miraculous infusion of a 5

WHEN WILL THE BELIEVER RECEIVE THIS NEW AND DYNAMIC POWER: after that the

Holy Ghost is come upon you: The Holy Spirit REGENERATES the sinner into a true born again believer. He baptizes the new convert into the Body of the Christ.

But let us not forget that He has come to ENDUE the believer with POWER for evangelism. It is not the latest gimmick which we need to make us successful in world evangelism, but the power of the Holy Spirit

THE MISSION OF BELIEVERS UPON RECEIVING THIS NEW DYNAMIC POWER: and ye shall

be witnesses unto me Whenever the Holy Spirit fills a believer, that believer becomes an active participant in the witness and testimony of Jesus Christ. He or she is at once an active participant in global missions and evangelism.

WHERE BELIEVER ARE TO GO WITH WHAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED: both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

At the time which JESUS issued the commandment for global missions and evangelism, Jesus and the apostles were on the Mount of Olives. For the Apostles, Jerusalem would mean for them to start where they were. The Apostles were not to travel to another region and begin, but to start right were they were at the time. Start where you are. Start right now.

Judaea would represent expanding out to regions beyond Jerusalem. It would mean not to limit yourself to just the here and now, but to expand out to other regions.

Samaritans represent the outcast of society. Today we might think of prisoners, street people, homeless, chemical dependants, those in homes and hospitals in teh same way that the Jews thought of the Samaritans. Samaritans are those that perhaps society has cast off.

The English word uttermost, comes from the Greek word eschatos. This is the Greek word which gives us the

theological Bible doctrine of Eschatology, which concerns Bible prophecy and the end times. It has to do with finality, or completion.

What Jesus is conveying, is that believers are to not only busy themselves with missions and evangelism in their home area, surrounding areas, or to societies outcast, but to continue on until they either run out of evangelistic opportunities, or run out of time.

Upon considering how much is yet left to be done globally, before the appearing of our Lord, believers may run out of time, (i.e at the coming of the Lord) but they will never run out of places that need evangelism.

Church takes place.

We must embrace this moment of opportunity now and busy ourselves getting the Word of Salvation out while there is still time.

Are you one of those who realises that because Christ IS COMING SOON there is work to be done!

Jesus wants to see His Church busy when He comes. Not standing on top of a mountain waiting for Him. GET BUSY, BE BUSY, STAY BUSY!

Some will go to 'Judea', by their interest in state or national missions - perhaps to college students or the military, or giving out gospel tracts and various Christian literature. As before, embrace this and encourage this vision also

Some Christians today are taken up with the study of end times events.

Whilst this is not wrong in itself, we see from Matthew, as Jesus gives a chronological breakdown of End TImes events, that he emphasises in verse 14 'And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come'.

Christ's own priorities are plain.

Missions and evangelism come first, then an interest in the end times.

Then there are those who go to the 'Samaritans'.

These want to volunteer at the local rescue missions, half-way houses, jail/prison ministries, drug adicts etc. Let's do all we can to supply these missionaries with all the support and help they need.

It is my belief that the Lord Jesus Christ is going to demonstrate His infinite mercy and grace by extending to mankind one last evangelistic opportunity for the world before the rapture of the 6

As local pastors we must all be careful to maintain a global vision of world missions and evangelism in our churches. For it is from them that God will send out His children: Some will go to their own 'Jerusalem', near the church area, town or city. In some circles such people are called local or 'home' missionaries. We desperately need to embrace these believers and encourage their vision.

Lastly are the international missionaries who have received a vision the world, a call can only come from Christ Himself, whom we must support in their mission.

Each and every believer sitting in local churches each Sunday can become a blazing torch of witness both at home and globally! We have the commission - so let's get going!

The Keys to the Kingdom

By James W. Peeler (USA)

In Matthew 16:19 Jesus told Peter, I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven; and whatsoever you bind on earth, I will bind in Heaven, and whatsoever you loose on earth I will loose in Heaven.

Peter was given the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven; and he used those Keys in Acts the Second Chapter, to open the door to the Jews on the day of Pentecost.

And in Acts the 10th chapter He opened the door to the Gentiles (see Acts 10:44-48).

While Peter was preaching in the household of Cornelius, the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the Word. Peter used the Keys to open the door of Salvation to the Gentiles.

And they of the circumcision, or those Jews that went with Peter were astonished, because that on

the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Notice how they knew that they had received the Holy Ghost. ‘For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God’.

Then answered Peter, can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord.

In the eleventh chapter of Acts, when Peter gets back to Jerusalem, he was brought on the carpet for going to uncircumcised Gentiles.

But Peter rehearsed the story of Acts 10. How that God had shown him in a vision a sheet let down from heaven with all manner of four footed beasts, showing him that the Gentiles 7

were cleansed. Acts 11:15-18. In verse 15 Peter said, as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning, or as in Acts chapter 2. Then I remembered the Word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed Baptized with water; but you shall be Baptized with the Holy Ghost.

Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift, as He did unto us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Peter knew they had received the Holy Ghost when they spoke with tongues.

Like repentance and baptism, so receiving the Holy Ghost is an essential part of our Christian Experience.

This June, people all over the British Isles were marking the Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth the Second. Only one other British monarch has achieved a 60 year reign and that was Queen Victoria.

The Year of Jubilee!

All over the country, Union Jacks suddenly appeared, and there was an extra day's public holiday as tea parties and celebrations began springing up everywhere with seemingly little planning.

Photo: © Intoit Flag: Propix

But the idea of a jubilee celebration is not unique to Britain, nor to its monarchy.

The principle of Jubilee is found in the Bible (see Leviticus chapter 25).

God commanded the nation of Israel that every 50th year they were to proclaim a Jubilee celebration. All debts were forgiven and all slaves set free. Everyone had a holiday - even the land had rest from being ploughed and farmed. This Old Testament Jubilee celebration was pointing ahead to the great days of Jubilee for our king Jesus. At the beginning of His ministry, Christ announced that the present time is ‘the time of the Lord's favour’ – in other words it is the time of jubilee! It is the time when our great debt of sin can be forgiven because Jesus died for our sin on the cross. It is the time for slaves of sin and Satan to be set free by the power of him who rose from the dead and is alive for ever more, with all power given to him in heaven and earth.

Whenever someone believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, their debt of sin is cancelled and they are set free from their slavery to sin and Satan. But that is not all. The whole universe will enjoy its Jubilee of Sabbath rest when Jesus comes to earth again to reign as king of kings and lord of Lords. The curse will be lifted from creation, no more thorns will grow, the lion will lie down with the lamb, as creation is restored to its original beauty and purpose.

Are you going to be joining in the celebration of that Jubilee? All those who trust the Lord as their Saviour are invited to join the celebration and reign with Christ on earth. It will be better than any tea party! If you are waiting with expectation for the coming of the Lord to inaugurate this Jubilee celebration, then pray with me, and mean the words:

Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen.

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Forward To Glory

By Ken Legg.

An Extract from Ken’s monthly e-zine Grace Roots (#75) when he said that where sin abounds God’s grace abounds more.

Image: © Dana Rothstein

Probably the most common objection connected with the teaching of grace is that it just gives people a license to sin. Even Paul was “slanderously reported” as teaching this (Rom. 3:8). In Rom. 5:20 he says that the law can never deal with sin. In fact, it causes sin to abound even more (see Rom.7:5&8). The strength of sin is the law - not only does it place in our minds thoughts that were not previously there, the law also touches the point of our rebellion.

But the question in the minds of many is, “But what if someone hears the message of grace and uses it as an excuse to continue in sin?”

Before we look at Paul’s response to that in the second half of Romans 6, let me say two things. First, it is not only some who are under grace who choose to live in sin. There have been many examples of legalistic preachers who have secretly committed the very sins they preach against. Secondly, just because someone chooses to abuse the message of grace by using it as an excuse to live in sin, doesn’t mean we should stop preaching the gospel of grace. That's what the enemy wants, because grace is the only thing that can empower against sin!

Sin will always ‘out-sin’ the law. But where sin abounds God’s grace abounds much more. You can never out-sin grace. Now that’s the sort of language legalists cannot handle.

And they accused Paul of actually teaching: “Let’s sin more so that grace might abound!” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said that if a preacher has never been accused of teaching that, or something similar to it, he has probably never preached the true gospel of grace. A faithful presentation of grace will al ways lead people to conclude that you are saying that sin is OK because grace has got it covered.

Anyone who chooses to live in sin will experience three consequences:

In fact, Paul taught the opposite. He said that grace is the only thing that can deliver us from the power of sin.

Sin will not have dominion over us because we are not under law but under grace. That’s what he meant

Probably most of us have done shameful things in our past, which nobody knows about because we

Bondage (Rom.6:16) Sin always takes us much further than we want to go. That’s the deceptive power of sin. It makes you think you are getting what you want. In fact, you lose control the moment you give yourself over to its power. Jesus said, “Whoever commits sin is a slave to sin” (Jn.8:34). Whenever a person chooses to sin he is no longer in control of what will take place.

Shame (Rom.6:21a)

have been too ashamed to speak of them. Thankfully God has forgiven 9

and forgotten those things! One of the wonderful things about our salvation is that shame is replaced with glory. We have been saved in hope of the glory of God. Then why, like a dog ret urning to its vomit, would we want to go back to those shameful things God has delivered us from? The grace of God does not take us back to shame, but forward to glory.

Death (Rom.6:21b&23) Sin and death are inseparable. Sin kills joy, peace, dreams, relationships, ministries, etc. Let’s be clear, it is not that God brings judgment upon sin for the believer because their sin has already been judged. But, the law of sowing and reaping reminds us that there are always consequences for sin.

In contrast to sin’s fruit of slavery, shame and death the blessings of righteousness are freedom, glory and life. The Christian’s freedom does not mean that we are free to do what we want to do. That’s the bondage we are saved from! Real freedom does not exist outside of being one with Christ. It is like flying a kite. The kite’s freedom to fly is related to the string to which it is tied. The very thing that holds the kite to its owner is what keeps it i n the sky. If the string is cut the kite will crash to earth. The string, which seems to bind it, gives it the ability to fly. Our freedom is being held tightly in the grip of God’s grace.

We, who once were slaves to sin, by God’s grace are now slaves of righteousness.

That’s the outworking of our true identity; and that’s true freedom!

The Flesh— Arch-Enemy to Prayer An extract from “Kneeling we Triumph” by Edwin & Lillian Harvey ISBN 1-932774-08-4. 128 Pages Price $6.00. Image © Margaret M. Stewart Reproduced by kind permission of Harvey Publishers. www.harveycp.com

(Gal. 3:3). Their service lay in fleshly outward performances.

They did not understand that where “the flesh” is permitted to influence their service of God, it soon results in open sin. . . .

Photo © Keeweeboy

A life lived according to the flesh, and not according to the Spirit— it is in this that we find the origin of the prayerlessness of which we complain. A brother once said to me: “That is the whole difficulty; we wish to pray in the Spirit, and at the same time walk after the flesh, and this is impossible.” . . .

Adam was created to have fellowship with God, and enjoyed it before his Fall. After the Fall, however, there came immediately, a deep-seated aversion to God, and he fled from Him. This incurable aversion is the characteristic of the unregenerate nature, and the chief cause of our unwillingness to surrender ourselves to fellowship with God in prayer. . . .

Scripture teaches us that there are but two conditions possible for the Christian. One is a walk according to the Spirit, the other a walk according to “the flesh.” Paul writes to the Galatians: “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”

There is no means of dealing with “the flesh,” save as Christ dealt with it, bearing it to the cross. “Our old man is crucified with him” (Rom. 6:6), so we by faith also crucify it, and regard and treat it daily as an accursed thing that finds its rightful place on the accursed cross. . . .

Would that we might understand God’s counsels of grace for us! “The flesh” on the cross—the Spirit in the heart and controlling the life!

Here then we have the deep root of evil as the cause of a prayerless life.

“The flesh” can say prayers well enough, calling itself religious for so doing, and thus satisfying conscience. But “the flesh” has no desire or strength for the prayer that strives after an intimate knowledge of God—that rejoices in fellowship with Him, and that continues to lay hold of His strength.

So, finally, it comes to this—“the flesh” must be denied and crucified.

The Christian who is still carnal has neither disposition nor strength to follow after God. He rests satisfied with the prayer of habit or custom; 10

but the glory, the blessedness of secret prayer is a hidden thing to him, till some day his eyes are opened, and he begins to see that “the flesh,” in its disposition to turn away from God, is the archenemy which makes powerful prayer impossible for him. . . .

I had once at a conference spoken on the subject of prayer, and made use of strong expressions about the enmity of “the flesh” as a cause of prayerlessness. After the address, the minister’s wife said that she thought I had spoken too strongly.

She also had to mourn over too little desire for prayer, but she knew her heart was sincerely set on seeking God. I showed her what the Word of God said about “the flesh,” and that everything which prevents the reception of the Spirit is nothing else than a secret work of “the flesh.”

Oh, my brethren, do not seek to find in circumstances the explanation of this prayerlessness over which we mourn; seek it where God’s Word declares it to be—in the hidden aversion of the heart to a holy God.—Andrew Murray.

In a garden Was a tree, Rich with fruit, a token given; Love’s free choice so soon abused; Still closer fellowship refused: In a garden. — C.M.C.

The Prophecy of Amos – A Warning for Today

should have delighted herself in Him - but she had left her maker-husband to seek other gods, idols that she called her "lords".

Having known the Lord, she turned away from Him - a far more serious sin than if she had never known God. Hers was not the sin of ignorance but of deliberate rebellion.

Amos 3:1-15. The Broken Covenant.

A Broken Covenant. v1 - 3.

1. Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt: Whilst God's message of judgment was addressed to the nation as a whole, it was to be acted upon by every individual in that nation. It is the same today: God not only wants all men to hear the gospel, He wants each one individually to heed and obey it so that they might be saved. Through Amos, God gave warning of impending judgment so that the people might have opportunity to repent. The people should have listened to God - He had the right to their hearing since He had redeemed them from slavery in Egypt. Sadly, history reveals that they did not listen, and that judgment fell.

2. You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

Israel's privileged position brought greater responsibility. When He brought them out of the land of Egypt, God made a covenant with them by which they became His own people. He had not done this for any other nation on earth. The word "known" denotes an intimate relationship, as between a husband and wife. God had taken Israel to Himself as a husband takes a wife to himself.

Israel should have been only for God, she

6. Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster befall a city, unless the LORD has done it?

It was generally true that if a trumpet was blown in a city, the people would fear, for they knew that it signaled the approach of a hostile enemy. Yet although God had sounded the warning trumpet by the lips of His prophets, the people remained unconcerned. They took no notice whatever of God's messengers. So when the warning trumpet actually sounded, it would be too late, for it would herald the approach of the 3. Can two walk together, unless they are Assyrian army, unstoppable, since they were agreed? (NKJV™). sent by God, who remains directly and completely in control of the affairs of God had brought Israel into a covenant individuals and nations. relationship with Himself, but the fellowship and blessings that came through that Daniel 4:17 - "the Most High rules in the covenant were conditional on obedience. kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He Since the nation had rebelled against God, will, And sets over it the lowest of men." disobeyed His commands and rejected His (NKJV™). covenant, their fellowship with God was "Unexpectedly indeed calamity comes, and broken. it is commonly ascribed to chance. But the The Prophet Defends His Office. v4 - 8. prophet here reminds us that God stretches His net, in which men are caught, though 4. Does a lion roar in the forest, when it has they think that chance rules and observe not no prey? Does a young lion cry out from its the hand of God. They are deceived, he says, den, if it has caught nothing? for the bird foresees not the ensnaring prepared for him; but yet he falls not on the Just as a lion does not roar if it has no prey, earth without the fowler; for nets weave not so God does not speak without reason. God themselves by chance, but they are made by never wastes His words. Israel had sinned the industry of the man who catches birds. and God pronounced judgment through So also calamities happen not by chance, but Amos. Israel, to its peril, had so far ignored proceed from the secret purposes of God." these warnings. If they thought that God John Calvin (Cited by Beeley, 1969) would speak without carrying out His words, they were very much mistaken.

7. Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, without revealing his secret to his servants 5. Does a bird fall into a snare on the earth, the prophets. when there is no trap for it? Does a snare spring up from the ground, when it has God wills to reveal Himself to men, that they taken nothing? may know Him. Nothing God does is ever done in a corner. In His long-suffering, God Disaster does not come by chance. It is gives all men opportunity to repent of their God's doing. A bird is not caught in a net sin. This fact is demonstrated by the way unless one is set for it by a hunter. God is that His judgments on Israel had been the hunter and Israel the bird. The Assyrian announced in advance, with many prophets army may be thought of as the net. It was sent to warn them of impending disaster. not coincidence or bad luck, but Divine God even sent the prophet Jonah out of judgment that would bring the Assyrian Israel to warn the heathen city of Nineveh invasion. The trap will not spring in vain. The a foretaste of a coming day when His mercy little bird will be caught and killed. Israel will would embrace all men through the gospel have no hope of escaping the judgment to of His Son. Today, as then, God gives men time and opportunity to act on the warnings 11 Christians are reminded of the seriousness of turning away from God after coming to know Him. (Hebrews 6: 4 - 6). It is our Christian responsibility, not to live as we like, but as He likes. Our relationship with God will not exclude us from His punishment for wrongs, as Peter reminds us, "Judgment begins at the house of God." (1 Peter 4:17).

Extract from best- selling book.

come. History records that it came less than thirty years later.

of future judgment given in the scripture within it, and what oppressions are in its and embrace pardon for sin through His Son midst."

Jesus Christ.

The picture here is of a law court. God calls Not only unbelievers but believers who two witnesses to the stand, enemies of continue in their sin are first given warning Israel. They are to observe the violence and before God acts to discipline and correct oppression which was taking place in the them. In Revelation 2:21 Christ informed the nation, so that they would understand God's local church of His dealings with an immoral punishment on His people. God was going to Christian woman, saying, "I gave her space demonstrate His justice on Israel in the sight to repent of her sexual immorality". This was of all nations and we may suppose that this not the space of silence, for God had spoken was meant to serve as a warning to them.

by His word to the individual concerned. But His warnings being unheeded, He was forced 10. They do not know how to do right, says to act. As Israel had learned years before, the LORD, those who store up violence and men must heed what God does, even if they robbery in their strongholds. refuse to heed what He says.

God's people were so practiced in doing evil 8. The lion has roared; who will not fear? The that they had forgotten how to do right. It Lord GOD has spoken; who can but was not that they did not know God's word; it was that they had refused to listen and prophesy? hardened their hearts until they became Any man who hears the approach of a lion deaf to God and enslaved by their sin. All of should consider himself responsible to warn us, before we came to know Jesus Christ as others and avert disaster. God had spoken our Savior were slaves of sin and unable to of impending judgment and so Amos felt free ourselves, for only Jesus can break the compelled to speak. The apostle Paul knew power of sin in our lives. (John 8:36). the same feeling. Knowing the truth of the gospel and having experienced the grace of The people were living the life of luxury, yet God who had saved him from sin, he felt their wealth had been obtained by unjust constrained to speak by the love of Christ. (2 means, and through extortion and violence.

Corinthians 5:14). Since God was not willing As I write, the excesses of political leaders for any to perish, Paul did not withhold the and business executives are once again in the headlines. The problem is an old one, message of salvation from anyone. and so is the answer - not merely social We must again apply this to our present reform but a genuine repentance toward time. Christians are in possession of the God resulting in social reform. The scripture truth. Unless we speak, souls will perish. gives a blessing for those who remember There is no question as to whether God the poor, but God condemns those who are would have us speak. It is not a case of guilty of social and economic sins. "maybe we ought to do a bit of evangelism".

We are compelled by both a moral 11. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: An obligation and a Divine commission. God adversary shall surround the land, and strip described the prophet Ezekiel as a you of your defense; and your strongholds watchman. (Ezekiel 3:17). The watchman shall be plundered. was to look out for approaching enemies so Because of their sin, God would bring an that he might give prior warning to the enemy to invade the land and lay siege to people. Today, Christians are all watchmen, them (this meaning is better clarified in the for since we know what is to come (the glory NKJV™, which uses the phrase "sapping of of the redeemed and the judgment of the strength" - it would be a prolonged war of wicked), God will hold us responsible for attrition). The Assyrian army later did making it known. (Ezekiel 33:6). plunder and destroy the fortified towns of Israel just as Amos had predicted.

A Remnant Will be Saved. v9 - 15.

9. Proclaim to the strongholds in Ashdod, and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt, and say, "Assemble yourselves on Mount Samaria, and see what great tumults are

12. Thus says the LORD: As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who live in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed.

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God promised that a remnant of the people would be spared - a remnant chosen by His grace for the continuance of the nation, because of the promises He had made. The illustration given indicates that a very small number would remain in Samaria. The Living Bible reads: The Lord says, "A shepherd tried to rescue his sheep from a lion, but it was too late; he snatched from the lion's mouth two legs and a piece of ear. So it will be when the Israelites in Samaria are finally rescued--all they will have left is half a chair and a tattered pillow". Amos 3:12 (Living).

13. Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob, says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts: God is still figuratively speaking to the witnesses described in verse nine.

14. On the day I punish Israel for its transgressions, I will punish the altars of Bethel, and the horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground.

When God brings this calamity because of the peoples' sin, He will destroy the root of the nation's apostasy - the idolatrous altars at Bethel. By the "horns falling to the ground" we understand that God intended to completely remove the influence of pagan religion from among the people.

15. I will tear down the winter house as well as the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall come to an end, says the LORD. Despite earlier warnings, the nation remained unconcerned, largely due to the fact that they were comfortable and well off financially. Their wealth had become their security and the love of riches rather the love of God ruled their hearts. It was Jesus who said that no man can serve two masters. (Matthew 6:24). Not only would Israel have to learn that it could not serve both God and the calves at Bethel but also that it could not serve God and material wealth (mammon). Nor can we.

How relevant this is for Christians today, many of whom live in comparative luxury, and yet remain lukewarm in their love for God and unconcerned about the need of a world lost in sin. Material and financial security will be swept away in the day of God's judgment. All Israel had accumulated would be lost in a short space of time. This will always be the inevitable result.

Prayer that Releases the Miraculous

By Daniel Kolenda Image: © James Steidl

Experiencing the Gospel “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:” I Cor. 2:4 Because God has already rent the heavens through the Blood of Jesus and given us access to all of His resources through prayer, we can live and work under an “Open Heaven!" Because of this truth, the glory of God is our inheritance as the children of God. The word “glory” is found throughout the Bible. It can be used in several ways.

One example that is found in Scripture is when “glory” is used to describe honor, wealth, and power. This would be like a reference to the “glory” of a king or a person held in high esteem.

The second usage of the word is to describe God’s manifested or tangible presence. If we carefully examine this definition of “glory,” we will discover that it can be used to describe personal encounters that people have in which God’s glorious presence moves out of the supernatural realm into the earthly realm. It is experienced by people using one or more of their five natural senses: sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell.

Are we saying that God can be experienced in this way? Yes! Throughout the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, we find examples of times where ordinary people experienced God in these ways.

Approximately 2 million of God’s people saw His glory with their physical eyes by day as a “pillar of cloud” and by night as

a “pillar of fire.” This wasn’t a mystical or emotional spiritual experience. These people actually SAW the “cloud” by day.

They SAW the “fire” by night. Children who were born in the wilderness grew up never knowing that this manifested, visible revelation of the glory of the Lord was something that was out of the ordinary!

Moses saw and experienced this same holy “fire” when he stood before a burning bush in Exodus 3:1-6. God spoke to him in this place and even told him, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5 NKJV). Moses saw the “fire” of God and experienced something of His holiness as did Isaiah because the Bible says, “he was afraid to LOOK upon God” (v. 6 NKJV).

Another example of the revelation of the glory of the Lord occurred on the Day of Pentecost. This example involved people physically hearing the sound of His glory as the Holy Spirit was poured out upon those who had gathered. Acts 2:2-3 NKJV records: And suddenly there came a “SOUND” [they could hear] from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

Then there APPEARED [they could see] to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.

The miracles of Jesus were revelations of the glory of the Lord, because they were heavenly invasions that impacted people in ways that they could experience using their natural senses.

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In John 2, we find the story of the first miracle Jesus did at a wedding in Cana where something terribly embarrassing for the host family had occurred…they had run out of wine. Mary, the mother of Jesus, came to her Son asking Him to please do something. Jesus commanded the servants to take six large waterpots, each one capable of holding between twenty to thirty gallons, and to fill them with water. They filled them to the brim. When the master of the feast had tested the water, to his utter amazement it had become the finest of wine. This was the first miracle Jesus performed. John recorded the account this way, “This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and MANIFESTED HIS GLORY; and His disciples believed in Him” (John 2:11 NKJV).

God’s power flowed into the earth and six pots of water had been turned into the finest, most exquisite wine as a result of this heavenly intervention.

In Acts 4, we read the account of the intercession of the early Church as they prayed for more boldness to preach the Gospel and see powerful demonstrations of the Holy Spirit through signs and wonders. The Bible says, “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was SHAKEN; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31 NKJV).

When these people who had already been filled with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost prayed for the boldness to preach the Gospel without

compromise, the glory of God filled the place with such power that even the physical building where they had gathered was shaken! Heaven invaded the house! That’s power!

In we read the measure of God’s manifest glory was resting upon Peter in a great way: “And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least THE SHADOW OF PETER passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, AND THEY WERE ALL HEALED.”( Acts 5:14-16 NKJV) It is incredible to think that it is possible to walk in such a measure of the manifest glory of God that no sickness or demonic power would be able to stand in our presence any more than a snowball can withstand the blue flame of a welder’s torch!

By this definition, God, in all of His splendour, can and does move into the natural realm of human existence where He can actually be experienced by people. I believe that people everywhere long to be touched by God in a tangible way. A lost and dying world longs to see the Gospel, experience the Gospel, and be touched and healed by the power of the Gospel. They want to do more than to just hear the Gospel with their ears. A person who hears the Gospel should have an experience that needs an explanation, not just an explanation of something that is in need of an experience! The Gospel must be a life-altering encounter.

An Extraordinary Calling The Bible is full of accounts of how God has demonstrated His glory throughout history. Some people think that these are only stories that have been passed down for historical reasons and are only intended to entertain us and teach us allegorical lessons. They are wrong!

Others believe that these biblical stories are examples of God’s maximum ability.

This is also wrong! These testimonies are but a sampling of what is possible in God. With God, the supernatural is natural and the impossible is possible.

Christianity is intended to be a supernatural existence from beginning to end, and the demonstration of God’s power should be the norm.

Someone said to me, “What is your ministry gift?” They thought I would talk about being an apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher, or evangelist. Instead, I said, “I’m an usher.” The greatest calling that any of us can have is to usher the presence of God into a world that so desperately needs to experience it.

Through prayer, you have the privilege to usher in the glory of God, bringing Heaven to earth. Now that is an extraordinary calling!

Chukwudi (7). All three children were totally blind; Umeka for eight years, Chinwendu for two years, and little Chukwudi for one year. During the prayer for the sick, all three children received perfect sight at the same moment!

• In Sapele I received a word of knowledge about someone who had been wounded by a gunshot and had not been able to recover from it for years. In response to that word, a lady came to the platform to share her story.

She had been shot in the leg four years earlier and had been partially crippled since. That night, after prayer, she and I danced together on the platform…she was totally healed!

You can read eleven more faithinspiring testimonies, including one from a man who was raised from the dead in Chapter 7 of ((Your Kingdom Come by Daniel Kolenda!))

GET THE BOOK NOW! http://bit.ly/A0OmSW Be Blessed,

Miracles Today The manifestation of God’s glory is not just something that happened in biblical times. Right now, because of the prayers of God’s people, faith in His Word, and the declaration of the Gospel, we are seeing God’s glory manifested all over the world every day.

Here are a couple of testimonies that have come about as a result of prayer: • In the city of Nsukka, where more than 425,000 people gathered in the final meeting, Mrs. Regina Attah came with her three children: Umeka (12), Chinwendu (10), and their brother 14

Daniel Kolenda, Evangelist To find out more, or to support the work of CfaN visit their website: http://us.cfan.org/?lang=en-US Article reproduced with the kind permission of Christ for all Nations.

Image: Š Stephen Coburn

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As athletes from almost every nation in the world gather in London this summer for the world's great sporting spectacle the Olympic Games - this already international city will, for a brief time, become one of the most cosmopolitan places on planet earth.

The word ‘cosmopolitan’ can be defined as 'composed of people or elements from all parts of the world' (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cos mopolitan accessed 12/06/2012).

Athletes will soon arrive in the British capital from China, India, Pakistan, Russia, USA, Europe, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Africa ... the list goes on and on! Sporting representatives will be joined by their political leaders as many nations will assemble to compete in, or watch and celebrate, what will surely prove to be an occasion which shall witness some of the greatest victories in sporting history.

But did you now that an even greatest gathering of men and women from every nation of the world is yet to happen?

When God gave the apostle John a vision of heaven, he described the incredible scene in terms of the cosmopolitan crowd which he saw there:

After these things I looked, and here was an enormous crowd that no one could count, made up of persons from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb dressed in long white robes, and with palm branches in their hands. They were shouting out in a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God, to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" Rev 7:9-10 (NET) The extremely varied population of heaven proves once and for all that Christ's death truly was universal in its scope. None of earth's nations are especially favoured by God - every individual human being is loved equally. Jesus died to save all people and so whosoever wishes to do so may come to him by

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faith and receive the gift of eternal life.

From among the many nations and races of earth, God is creating one single body of people whose citizenship is in heaven. In that sense and in that sense only, believers are a special, peculiar people. But anyone is welcome to join this group! Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will become one of those who in the future will be seen standing around the throne of God in heaven, celebrating Christ's ultimate victory over sin and death and singing

"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were killed, and at the cost of your own blood you have purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

You have appointed them as a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

Rev 5:9-10 (NET.)

A Fountain Opened for Cleansing

By Mathew Bartlett.

"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the Lord, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isa 1:18) Colors are very significant in the Bible. The colours used by Isaiah to describe our sins are scarlet and crimson, the colour of shed blood. The Bible describes our guilt and the manner of our cleansing in these terms, for these colours can speak of the guilt of blood shed, and indeed, for the guilt of all sin, since only blood can make an atonement for our sinful souls. God has said 'The soul that sins shall die', and we have all sinned, and so are waiting in fearful expectation of the judgment of God. God's word says "the wrath of God remains on" - all those who reject Jesus Christ as Saviour.

The punishment we deserve for our sin is eternal separation from God in a place called hell. Jesus said that in hell, "the worm does not die", which means that the pain both physical and spiritual is unending for eternity. Jesus said that all who did not believe in Him would "perish" in this way.

But the above text from Isaiah introduces us to a way for sin to be removed. What is more, it is the ONLY way for sin to be removed.

Some people think their sin can be removed if they try to be good. They make a resolution to give more to charity and to do many other good deeds. But turning over a new leaf will not take away the sin which is already in our hearts. Some might decide to attend church and become religious; but whilst coming to church is a very good thing, it is not that which removes our sin. Let me explain: Suppose a little boy falls over in a field, lands in the mud and is filthy dirty. What does he need to do to be clean again? If he were to say 'I will be a good boy from now on', that won't make him 17

Image Š Maxfx Opposite: Misterbeautiful

clean. He might say 'I will go to church', but that will not make him clean either. The little boy must have a bath - he must be washed; and so with us - the only way to be free from the guilt of our sin is to be washed.

This is God's way to remove our sins: We must be washed.

(Zec 13:1) "In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.

Here the prophet Zechariah speaks of a fountain, or spring, in which we can wash away our sins. It was opened by the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, as he hung on the cross of Calvary.

As the blood flowed from his body, all our sins were laid on the Son of God, and He willingly took the punishment we deserved.

He died in our place, and it was his blood which has made atonement for our souls. The

Bible announces the good news: 'the blood of Jesus Christ God's Son cleanses us from all sin'.

In the book of Revelation, the apostle John sees a vision of heaven opened, and hears a voice asking the question 'how did these people get here'. The answer is then given: John is told

"They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb."

(Rev 7:14) The Lord Jesus Christ is described as: (Rev 1:5) Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, (Rev 22:14) Blessed are those who wash their robes (marginal reading) that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

In our house, some of the clothes on washing day can be very dirty.

We have a daughter who, like all other children, gets her clothes covered with juice and baby food. Sometimes there is blood or ink on my work shirts. So my wife applies a good stain remover to our clothes before putting them in the washing machine. Sadly, the stain remover does not always work, and I have had to turn more than

one damaged shirt into dusting cloths! It appears that, in spite of what the advertisements say, no washing powder will remove every stain.

Of course, no soap could remove our sin.

(Jer. 2:22) For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, Yet your iniquity is marked before Me," says the Lord God. But the prophet says in Isaiah 1:16 "wash and make yourselves clean". Thank God that the fountain opened for cleansing will remove EVERY SIN STAIN! The blood of Jesus Christ is a perfect sin and guilt remover.

Though as red as crimson they shall be white as snow. Sin is completely removed with its guilt and its consequences.

Since Christ has carried our sins in His own body on the cross, they have been completely removed - so much so that the Bible says "As far as the east is from the west so far as he removed our transgressions from us."

John the Baptist said of Jesus Christ, "Behold lamb of God who

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takes away sin of the world". And taken them away he has!

Jesus blood is the world's greatest stain remover! It will wash you completely from ALL sin. But first, you must accept, by faith, what the Lord Jesus has done on your behalf.

God, through Jesus' death, has provided the fountain for you to wash, but now you have to come and wash. Come to the cross of Jesus and kneel before the One who died for you. Believe that died to take your punishment in your place. Believe that he rose again from the dead on the third day. Ask him to forgive your sin, to cleanse and accept you. The Bible says "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved."

When we trust Jesus to forgive us, our hearts are cleansed by faith in his blood. The Bible says we are justified (made right with God) through faith in Jesus Christ and that we are saved from future punishment God's grace (His love for undeserving sinners).

Have been Come wash clean!

you ever to Jesus? now and yourselves

The Prophet of the Reformation Have you been to Jesus? Come now!

Wash and make yourselves clean!

The Book of Malachi Chapter Two A brief Bible study by Derek Williams.

Photos this page: © Photofit. Bottom Right: © Eugene Ivanov

Unfaithful Priests threatened with punishment.

V1.

The priests are particularly reproved because they were responsible for the spiritual welfare of the people.

They were to mediate between God and His people, to teach and instruct in the law, and reprove sin yet they had encouraged and led the people in sin. Under the New Covenant every member of the body of Christ is part of the "royal priesthood" (1 Pet. 2:9) and are therefore responsible to Christ our High Priest (Heb. 3:1).

However, those who are appointed as leaders within the Church of Christ are especially responsible for the spiritual welfare of believers (Heb. 13:17).

V2. The LORD gives the priests an opportunity to repent of their backsliding by warning them of the consequence of not doing so. This He did with the lukewarm church of Laodicea ( Rev. 3:19) and He does so with all those whom He loves (Heb. 12:6). If they did not listen and take to heart to give glory (honour) to His Name then He would send a curse upon them (Deut. 27:26) and the blessings that they had received will become a curse to them. In fact the curse had already gone forth and affected them.

V3. A curse was also pronounced upon the field. The seed would rot in the ground and not germinate and bring forth the harvest.

Although not farmers the priests were dependent upon the tithes of the people for their food, if the people were unfaithful then the priests would suffer. The offal of the sacrificial animals was burnt outside the camp (Exod. 29:14). They had brought before the LORD maimed and blemished sacrifices they would be thrown back at them with the refuse.

They will all be thrown away like dung (1 Kings 14:10). To the Laodicean church Christ said that He would cast it from Him (Rev.3:16).

V4. They will know that it is God who sent them this warning to give them an opportunity to repent.

The LORD admonished them so that they would return to the Levitical command and then He would continue His covenant with the tribe of Levi (Deut. 10:8).

The Covenant with Levi.

V5. God made a covenant agreement with the tribe of Levi to give them life and peace on His part. In return they were to have a reverential awe and fear of His Name and to faithfully serve Him (Num. 25: 12 -13) V6. When this

covenant was made the priests ardently fulfilled their duties in teaching the law of God (Deut.33:10), and 19 there was no

injustice, cheating or lying in their judgments (Deut. 19:17) They lived a righteous and holy life walking with God and having an inward peace (1 Pet. 1:15-16). By doing so they turned many away from sin (James 5:20).

V7. It was the duty of the priests to guard and keep the law of God and its doctrines. Paul requires that elders should do likewise (Tit. 1:9). It was the people’s responsibility to enquire and expect teaching from the priests as they are the messengers of the LORD.

False Teachers.

V8. In Malachi's day the priests had turn aside from the way of truth and life and fear of God. By their example and wrong teaching they caused many to fall into sin and spoiled the Covenant that God had with Levi. Today there are still those who turn from the way and pervert the Word of God causing many to fall into sin and heresy (1 Tim 4:1-2). Christ warned of this (Matt. 7:15) as did Paul (Acts 20:29 -30).

V9. Because of their godless life God had made them to be despised and degraded before the people. They were showing partiality in the law by interpreting it in a

Different way for rich and poor, favoring the rich (James 2:1-4).

Unequally Yoked.

V10. Malachi turns to another offense that both priests and people participated in - putting away their wives and marrying foreign women.

The prophet asks them three questions to remind them of their relationship with one another. They all had one common origin, the Almighty God as their Father (Deut. 32: 6, Jer. 31:9) meaning that they were brothers and sisters. God had also created them as a nation (Isaiah 43:1. In spite of this special relationship they were disloyal and faithless with each other by violating the covenant, divorcing and taking foreign wives (Deut. 7:2-3). God had set them apart as His peculiar people they were to keep themselves separate and holy (Exod. 19:6, 2 Cor. 6: 14).

V11. By putting away their Jewish wives they had committed an abominable thing and desecrated the LORD's sanctuary, (i.e. His people, "Judah had profaned itself as the sanctuary of God" Keil) which He loved, by marrying those who worshiped idols (1 Cor. 3:16).

V12. This was unacceptable to God and He would destroy every man. By uniting themselves with the heathen they had broken their covenant with God so He would sever His relationship with them.

V14. So blinded were they by their sin that they did not understand why God rejected their offerings! The LORD had witnessed the marriage vows they had made and their treachery in divorcing their wives who had been faithful to them through the years. The one who had been their companion and wife by a covenant made before God. It is clear that God intended marriage to be permanently binding (Gen. 2:24, Math 19: 5 -6). Divorce was introduced under certain circumstances because of the hardness of heart of the people (Deut.

24:1-4, Matt. 19:8-9)."In Malachi's day the people had adopted a process of easy divorce in order to satisfy their lust" (Tatford).

V15. In the beginning after God had made Adam He made Eve out of one of his ribs and gave her to him as wife and so, although individual persons, they were of one flesh (Gen 2: 23 - 24).

Having a remnant of the Spirit - having a part of the Spirit that made them a living soul (Gen. 2: 7). The purpose that God chose and separated to Himself Israel was that they should be an holy people to Him from which He would bring forth His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

He warns them to take heed to their spirit (Math. 10:28) and let none of them deal so treacherously with their wives.

Divorce V13. Not only had they put away their Jewish wives but they had added to their sins by marrying foreign wives. The tears they wept before the altar were "crocodile tears" not those of penitent hearts. God was not taken in by it He knew their hearts better than they did (Heb. 4:12). He disregarded their offerings and did not receive them.

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V16.God had allowed them to divorce their wives in certain circumstances because of the hardness of their hearts.

It was not His Divine will, He hated it and all the heartache it causes. They excused themselves or tried to cover up their actions against their wives as they would cover their bodies with a garment (Prov. 28:13).

Again God warns them to watch out for their souls.

Complaining against God V17. They had wearied God with their incessant complaints. "They had departed from the law, they had no real desire for spiritual things, they defrauded God of the tithes and offerings due, and had reached the conclusion that there was no profit in doing His will" (Tatford). When God pointed these things out to them through His prophet and told them that He had loved them (Mal. 1: 2) they argued with Him. Even now they answer Him back in faked surprise "wearied Him, who us, when and where" ? They had done so by saying that evil was good in God's sight and that He delighted in them. They asked "if God was just why did He not judge the nations around them. They could see the speck in the eye of their neighbors but not the plank that was in their own (Luke 6: 41 - 42)

Our In Depth Study.

Revelation 17.

By Derek R. Williams. Photo © Godfer Scripture taken from the New King James Version®.

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Wickedness Personified: The Mother of Harlots - A False Church.

1. "Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters," One of the angels who had poured out one of the seven bowls came and spoke to John. He calls him to witness the judgment of the great harlot, who, seated on many waters has an influence over them. We are told in verse 15 that the waters represent nations, peoples and tongues. The terms harlot and harlotry are used frequently in Scripture to describe those who have turn from the true God to idols whilst still making profession to worship Him (Jer. 3:6). The harlot is the personification of idolatry and perhaps represents a false "world church" that will appear in the last times as an amalgamation of all world religions in one ecclesiastical power dominating the nations.

2. "With whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication."

The rulers of the earth submit to her seductions, joining and endorsing her spiritual adultery - idolatry. All the inhabitants of the earth become so intoxicated by sharing her idolatry that they are completely taken over by it (Jer. 51:7), for idolatry involves the activity of demon spirits. 1 Cor. 10:20.

3. "So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns."

The angel carried John away in the spirit to a solitary place in the desert. Tatford says this a reference to a spiritual wilderness. He was given a sight of this false world church sitting on a scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns who was full of all kinds of blasphemy.

This is the "beast" of chapter 13:1 who came out of the sea, a confederation of ten kingdoms. The vision denotes that the woman dominates this empire.

4. "The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication."

The harlot has gathered to herself vast amounts of this world's finery and riches and is extremely wealthy; she is dressed and adorned as the queen of harlots.

She has in her hand a golden cup filled with the disgusting, immoral filth of her idolatry.

5. "And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." She wore her name on her forehead, just as Roman harlots wore a label with their names on their brows. This name is composed of three parts: MYSTERY - as in occult mysticism, secret societies and devil worship that is typical of idolatry, 21

BABYLON THE GREAT - the source and centre of commerce, politics and religion.

MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS - she has given birth to all that is opposed to God and His Christ and fills the whole earth with her revulsions.

6. "I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement."

The woman was drunken with the blood of all those whom she had tortured and murdered, who belonged to the Lord Jesus Christ, implying that her sin was full and ready for judgment. When he saw this woman and the crimes that she had committed, John was astounded, not in admiration, but in horror.

The Meaning of the Woman and the Beast.

7. "But the angel said to me, "Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns."

Since John had not understood the vision, the angel explains what the woman and the beast she rides on represent.

8. "The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of

the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is."

The beast is the empire of ten kingdoms, or nations, signified by the ten horns. It had been in existence once but had since ceased to be. Yet it will ascend out of the bottomless pit i.e. it will come into being again. The author's view is that this refers to the Roman Empire, which came into being in 753 BC and still existed in John's time, only being ultimately destroyed in AD 476. It was and is not.... It will be brought into being again by satanic forces but it will be utterly destroyed and they (its originators) shall be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20). All who dwell on the earth, whose names were not written in the Lamb's Book of Life before the world began, i.e. all the unsaved, will be astonished when they see the rise of this empire. Here the empire and the instigator of it are seen together, for the empire is synonymous with its ruler and founder Satan.

9. "Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits."

What follows requires wisdom to interpret. The seven heads of the beast are seven mountains that the woman sits on. Many accept that this is Rome, built on seven hills. Yet there are other cities that claim seven hills: Constantinople, Brussels and Jerusalem.

The original Babylon was built on a plain but is referred to in Jer. 51: 25 as a destroying mountain. The seven hills on which the woman sits could possibly refer to seven powers, signifying complete power over the earth, given to her by Satan.

10, 11. "There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition."

These seven heads have a dual meaning.

The first has already been made known; the second is represented as kings or empires. Five of these empires had already fallen; the sixth was still in existence in John's time, the Roman

Empire. The seventh that is to come will be the revived version of the Roman Empire that will only last a short time.

The eighth is to be considered separately although it rises from the seven, for this "empire" is Anti-Christ himself, who for a time will rule the world, but who will ultimately be destroyed "without human hand".

12. "The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast."

It is to be noted at this stage that the seven heads and the ten horns are part of the same beast. Therefore, the heads and horns are interwoven with each other. The confederation of ten kingdoms has not yet come into existence - it will during the reign of Anti-Christ, an eighth empire. These ten will be given authority to rule as regents of the beast for a short time. It is quite possible that they will never have been world leaders before his time.

13. "These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast."

They will all agree to give the power and strength of their kingdoms over to the beast, in absolute devotion. He will be the dictatorial head of this confederacy, and indeed all the power of the regents will be derived from him.

14. "These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."

These kingdoms and their rulers will, in obedience to Anti-Christ, join with him to make war against the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, at the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 19:19), where the Lamb shall conquer them, for He is the Lord of lords and King of kings, having supreme power over all things. Those at His side are the redeemed of the Lord, the chosen and faithful ones.

15. "Then he said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues."

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The waters over which the harlot sits are the masses of people from every nation over which she has power and influence.

16. "And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire."

Once having risen to power, the confederacy of ten regents will turn against the harlot who until then enjoyed a worldwide dominion and will detest her. They will strip her of all her power and authority, take her wealth, kill her priests and destroy her temples etc... In this way Satan will rid the earth of all other "religion", paving the way for the direct Satan worship enforced by the beast.

17. "For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled."

This was not their own initiative, for God put into their hearts and minds to carry out His purposes. They surrender their power and sovereignty to the beast until all the prophetic words, the intentions and purposes of God, are complete.

18. "And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth."

The harlot not only represents the idolatry and false religion of the "world church", she also represents the city which is the center of this idolatrous scheme of worship. This city, the idolatrous center of the world, will be the headquarters of the false world church and as such, for a time, will be revered and feared by the world.

Some commentators assume this to mean that Rome, the center of the Catholic religion, will be the center of all false religions, dominating, from a religious viewpoint, the whole earth.

From The Revelation of Jesus Christ by Derek Williams (paperback ÂŁ6.99)

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