Rev. 14:4 WHY "DEFILE"

"These are they which were not defiled with women; for they were virgins." (Rev. 14:4)

This passage bothered me no end. I've heard it taught by really smart Bible Teachers in several different ways, and I think my brain's not fast enough to understand the explanations. Please don't accuse me of being insubordinate or rebellious; I'm not intentionally disagreeing or trying to be contrary. I'm just one of those silly old women who wants to know what the Bible says; honestly doesn't get it. Anyway, here are some thoughts...

"Defiled." It feels like the verse says women are like bacteria, like men having wives are exposed to COOTIES. People are not "blessed" with females or "endowed" with their addition, but rather, the word "defiled" is used.

(This photo was taken at our honeymoon site!)

I checked other translations: ESV, NKJV, NIV, NASV...and they all say "defiled". Even the 新改訳 says「汚された」。Why?

Would God, the Author of scripture and Creator of humanity, view the physical union between man and wife as a defiling mechanism? I'm sure He doesn't! Then why is this word used? I could not really enjoy intimate time with my husband without getting a handle on this. It made me feel scripture itself was saying I was participating in 汚れるing my husband! God, please help!

I kid you not, it took maybe several SECONDS, and GOD answered almost audibly: "Right. Try to get something as humanly dirty as you can, and see if I can't make it PURER than SNOW, make it PRECIOUS! "

I FORGOT it was God Who permitted sufferings of injustice, torture, shaming at the Cross, to transform them into joys of Redemption of the World. He is the Creator that chooses an insignificant grain of sand and coats it to form a priceless pearl; He is the Master Designer Who causes moisture to crystallize around a dirty speck of dust to form the exquisite snowflake.

The Holy Spirit showed me something else. Would the wife hesitate to do something to "defile" her husband? Actually, God can cause anything to empower and glorify Himself; to further His purposes as well. Cannot the WOMAN'S WORDS/ACTIONS be used to tear down, belittle, discourage OR to build up and encourage; to be the helpmeet God intended? Wives can have a humongous impact on their partners.

Women may have such a strong influence on men, in fact, that the servant of God, when walking with a wife, finds His virgin fire to serve God cannot be rightly described as something solely between himself and God anymore, but it involves his partner too, and as long as they are both seeking to live for God are one in God's eyes. I believe He smiles on this.

When God took Eve out of Adam, let us make no mistake about it: He Himself brought woman to man (Gen.2:22). He declared it was good that man no longer be alone. My God doeth all things well. I've heard woman is "dust twice refined" (God formed Adam from the dust of the ground, so it was refined once; He then took Adam and refined it again, forming Eve!)

But when the "other half", who is supposed to be a helpmeet--even if she is born again--scolds/belittles; stokes fuels of ambition; aggravates hostilities; adds to lust and problems...can it not be said the Christian has lost the God-and-me innocence he once had, that it has now been "defiled"? 

Maybe another way of looking at that verse would be to read it thusly: "These are they who would not be turned away from God by women because they depend too much on them for self-image, zeal, and outlook."

Like I keep saying, I'm NOT claiming to teach these as actual interpretations of the passages; these are just thoughts derived from the verses! For example, today's would be more or less along the lines of: women, let's pray for and keep supporting men of God positively, so we'd never earn the label "defilers"! 

Rev. 14:3 UNTIL IT'S A NEW SONG

"And they sang, as it were, a new song before the throne," (Rev. 14:3)

Just do the next thing, seems to be the instruction at every turn. It's not really New Age, New Thought, New -ism anything, (a lot of stuff was written here about what I'd finished and found myself "just doing next"). Just line upon line, precept upon precept. Mundane obedience. Do the thing that's supposed to get done, even if nobody notices or cares or seems to really need you to do it.

...digitalized (blogged) memories of "June Oshiro Saito" were written about in Japanese thru' the early Koriyama years...I'm thinking if I start writing in detail about those days, I'll recall how busy I was kept with community activity doing はんstuff (not just neighborhood teas and talks but also funerals, banana-peels for early Sunday AM school festival responsibilities, early Sunday AM neighborhood cleaning before church, ほうか後committee activities, including doing patrol car backseat announcements for safety week, dividing up parents for school grounds clean-up, talking with other mothers at restaurants, going to school for meetings.

People don't realize how stressed out I felt at every single encounter. I think they figure it's perfectly fine for me because I understand both languages, but I feel so lacking and nervous the entire time--ONLY GOD REALLY KNOWS IT FEELS LIKE I'M HAVING A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN ALTHO' I MAKE MYSELF WEAR A SMILE THE WHOLE TIME. Personality too, probably. I'm not a people person to begin with, so even if it were English, I'd feel uncomfortable. Anyway -

I do this at church too. I can't wait for Heaven when I can really "let down my hair" and relax, be myself, and smile from the inside completely. The memory work today says we'll be singing a new song. I wonder what that will be like. Even so come, Lord Jesus!

"no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand who were redeemed" (Rev. 14:3)

Heaven does not define the most "gifted voice" or "musical mind" the same way Talent Competitions do. Million-dollar winners and gold-buzzer recipients, if unregenerate, cannot "sing by heart" even the most basic gurgles of praise offered by babes in Christ.

Only the redeemed can sing, "HE HAS FULLY PARDONED ME; HALLELUJAH!"

Rev.14:2 MEPHIBOSHETH

"And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, like the voice of a great thunder, and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps." (Rev. 14:2)

Heaven. A lot of people picture it with people sitting around playing harps for eternity. Today's passage spoke of a voice of many waters and thunder, distancing it even more. I remember this story from the Old Testament and the unexpected perspective of Heaven it gave me.

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When news of King Saul's and his son Jonathan's being killed in battle reached the palace, Jonathan's little boy's nurse panicked and decided to run away with the baby. Why? Well, in those days, whenever a new king sat on the throne, all possible threats to the crown were eliminated.

  

Everyone knew David was the next king, meaning Jonathan's baby (and all other of King Saul's male heirs) would be executed. In her hurry, the nurse dropped the child before managing to smuggle him away. By the time David found Mephibosheth (Jonathon's son), he'd grown up crippled in both feet.

Mephibosheth expected to be killed when discovered but found himself invited to dine at the king's table--a result of a promise between David and Jonathon decades earlier. Then he was given property as well as assigned a servant to manage it. Mephibosheth couldn't believe the favor King David extended him; royalty usually despised the handicapped; he had in fact seen himself as a dead dog.

Years later, an uprising occurs, and the depth of Mephibosheth's gratitude fully shows itself. The king had been temporarily driven from the castle and was leaving the city when met by Mephibosheth’s servant, who slanders him, saying:

Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem; for he said, “Today shall the house of Israel restore to me the kingdom of my father.” (2 Sam. 16:3)

At this news, all property once given Mephibosheth is declared the servant's.

However, when the tide turns and the King is able to return to Jerusalem, he finds Mephibosheth at the outskirts of the city not having washed or changed since the day David fled the palace--he'd been heart-sick the king could get kicked out of his own home. Clearly such a man could not have been planning to take over of the country!

But it was Mephibosheth's words that got to me.

When David saw he had been wrong in believing the other servant's words so said they could divide the property in half, the natural human response would've been: “Only Half?”

After all, It had been ALL his before the FALSE accusation and David's WRONG judgment to take it away, right? But no. Mephibosheth said, “Oh, LET HIM KEEP IT ALL--THAT DOES NOT MATTER! I'M JUST GLAD YOU'RE BACK SAFE AND SOUND!” I think I wanted to cry when I read that.

“Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord. The king, is come again in peace unto his own house.” (2 Sam. 19:30)

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Recently, I was thinking about how Heaven isn't that real to a lot of people anymore. But even to Christians who find it real, in order to talk about it, we often speak of the following: our new, sinless hearts; the restored, unbroken world; how sin-suffering-parting-death will be no more; perfect love and light will be for eternity, etc...(I am starting to get giddy.)

But that's a bit like the “rightful property” Mephibosheth said he wasn't as interested in as the KING that came back to Jerusalem.

It hit me: would I be just as quick to find myself saying naturally; FORGET ALL THAT: I JUST WANT TO SEE JESUS! 

Fanny Crosby wrote a song that says, “Take the World, but Give Me Jesus”. I wonder if it should be retitled, “MEPHIBOSHETH 2”(I mean, I know technically, he didn't even know the Name of Jesus at the time, but...)

Rev. 14:1 FOCUS, PAUL; THEN JUST CORRESPOND!

"And I looked and, lo, a Lamb stood on Mount Zion" (Rev. 14:1)

O that every Christian would remember that the focal point of Revelation must be Jesus Christ the Lamb, not the prophecies, judgments, beast, tribulation, etc...; for which some avoid reading the book! In a similar way, people stay away from Christianity or church because of some judgmental hypocrites who've hurt them before and given them a bad time, etc..., not realizing Jesus Christ must be kept central, and Satan has succeeded in having men take their heart-eyes off that.

Jesus should be everyone's last hope. Instead, some minds have been conditioned, like Pavlov's dogs, to hear the Name of Jesus, and lose interest in things of God.

"and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's Name written in their foreheads." (Rev. 14:1)

These were Jews bearing the Name of Yahweh, gathering at last on Mount Zion, where David lifted his hands toward Heaven, and it had been foretold that the people of God would assemble before Him again. How thrilled the woman of Sychar would feel to see this, I thought: Jesus told her one day they would worship Him in spirit and in truth, and a multitude had come!

My sister's Jewish classmate at Oak Park High who sincerely sought the One True God would've been startled that 144,000 Jews could affirm the Redemption by Jesus Christ for the sin of the world. She married a man by the name of Jacob who trained to be a rabbi, not unlike a young religious genius and scribe by the name of Saul. However, after converting to Christianity, Saul found himself ousted by the group that once treated him as the rising hope.

But he didn't mope around waiting for God to vindicate him and write His Name on his forehead (which might've happened later), but just began writing, encouraging believers here; instructing others there; sending warnings to groups of disciples in a certain area. They found his epistles helpful and widely circulated them among themselves. By the time he died, Paul (his name had been changed) had written about half of the material of what we have as the New Testament today.

The focus of each of our lives today MUST be Jesus Christ. We can't sit around waiting for God to "write His Name on our foreheads"...I mean, we can't hope for vindication in any way, when we feel we have been offended, just need to get moving, as Paul did.

"Arise, and let us go from here." (Jn 14:31)

Jer. 29:11 NOT THAT KIND OF HOPE

The YouTube Speaker said misuse of Jer. 29:11 sometimes "gets to him", and I wanted to hear what he had to say. I knew God's purpose and plan was held out for the Christian...but what's wrong with that, I wondered.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD: thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jer. 29:11)

We need to see when and to whom those words were spoken, it was explained. We went back with Jeremiah to chapter 29 verse 11. God was speaking to the Israelites, whom He had to reassure He would not forget, because He had just told them in verse 10 THEY WOULD BE GOING INTO CAPTIVITY FOR 70 YEARS!

(Illustration: Old man showing grandchild Century Plant: its flowers bloom every 70 years!)

Jer. 29:11 was not meant to be a "bright, positive-minded" verse for a promising future! No--it was meant to give STEADFAST LOVE TO CLING TO THRU' FUTURE DARKNESS!

But that's not the way we usually hear it presented.

What kind of promise do I want to claim/share? Maybe I better think twice the next time I quote this passage.

As that pastor said, God does promise bright blessings for closer tomorrows...through other scripture; that's NOT what this one was intended to say.

Rev. 13:17-18 Behold the Human 666 vs. the MAN 777

"or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man." (Rev. 13:17-18)

Seeing the beast, my eyes wide open. I suppose when one sees God in His Perfection, he can't help but be awed and ends up standing with his mouth open. But with the beast, well, the longer you look, the more you see HE IS HUMAN. He is 6, not 7.

"I am a worm, and no man." (Ps. 22:6)

This was the Savior's cry on the Cross.

A person can see himself to be more than he really is. (That was, after all, what got the enemy in hot water in the first place: he was the first archangel saying "I will be like the Most High!")

Or, a person can feel less than his potential, as most individuals in depression would feel. The negative thoughts of "I just can't do it" or "I'm no good" or "Things will never change"...Really?

Jesus knew, down to His bones, what that felt like, as He hung on the Cross, alone. He'd felt abandoned by the closest relationships, torn apart and reversed in situations, battered physically and mentally. He's been made to feel like a worm.

"Here is wisdom." She cries, "Behold, the Man!"

What does Jesus do? Jesus, Who Himself was drowning in pain and needed to be rescued, does something another man did, recorded in an ancient historical account.

He'd been a wealthy man but found his material possessions swept away; then his children died; and his own body was ravaged by a painful disease. Initially, close friends were willing to come sit with him and just shed tears to share and ease his pain.

But then they too turned on and began accusing him! After days of this, you'd think he'd have exploded...BUT THEN HE PRAYED FOR THEM! And Jesus did that too. On the Cross, when the most natural thing would've been to hear, "God, kill those crummy no-gooders who put me up here, and get me down, ease my life please!"

JESUS' CRY WAS: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!" And he prayed for his earthly mother Mary to receive a new earthly son John. Oh, can't forget the thieves on the crosses on either side of Him; they were extended the way to Heaven. And Jesus had told the mothers of Jerusalem not to cry for what was happening, but that there would be a greater lament to follow. ALL THIS WHILE JESUS WAS IN UNBEARABLE PAIN!

"Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man." (Luke 23:47)

Isn't that what I want God to do with my life: glorify Himself somehow? In fact, it rather gives me goosebumps to think that He might. But I know He has offered to do so, if I would be willing, just willing, to offer myself to Him. Like the woman at the well in Sychar, I think I'd throw down my pot and go running with glee. "He's going to use me! He's going to use me! He knows everything about me, and still He's going to use me! Hurry, you must meet Him too!"

What happened to those men in that first record? Well, "the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends; also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before." (Job 42:10)

His disease was cured; he ended up with several thousand sheep, camels, oxen, asses, ten beautiful children, and Job lived another 140 years after that.

Rev. 13:16-17 BIG MAN, BIG DEAL

"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark...And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark." (Rev. 13:16-17)

Let's move on, God says. Altho' man may think of himself as important, there really is no need to spend much time here. (Quite the opposite of what happened a few verses earlier, when GOD wanted to STOP, and it was the humiliated beast that wanted to move on. カッコワルイところはhe didn't want to have people really see. I wouldn't either!

Now this verse deals with man: small/ great, rich/poor, free/enslaved. Today, a great deal of talk is heard of equality and individualism; of how everyone needs to be allowed to reach his full potential. Yet sinful man doesn't know how to help him do that, without somewhere in there, corrupting the entire thing with oppression and power play. Often, we end up thinking "It wasn't supposed to be this way."

"My soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from him." (Ps. 62:5)

"But Jesus did not commit himself unto them...for he knew what was in man." (Jn. 2:24-25)

Readers who have just jumped in may need to be told: this series is NOT a book study of Revelation. It's just that when scripture memory was being done of the book, these were some of the thoughts journaled while reading through passages being learned.

Neither is it a "Spiritual Historic Interpretation of Revelations" (that says concrete interpretations are not important but their spiritual applications are the only important thing). It is not an interpretation at all!

If you want to study the book of Revelation properly, please do it in Bible School classes or church Bible Studies set aside to teach it, ok? These journaled musings cannot give you anything near what those lessons can!

Rev. 13:15 SO...WHAT'RE THE PRICE TAGS LIKE？

"And he hath power to give" (Rev. 13:15)

Ron Sisco is the one that mentioned this: the beast can so often be seen as the one who  is richer; able to give, whereas we need to be willing to sacrifice for God and suffer the loss of all things for Him. Well, I suppose it does make sense, to serve a master that benefits, that will give you only profit; but if, when it seems disciples are willing to trade all things, and it seems like they're willing to DIE and LOSE REPUTATION, PROMOTION, COMFORT, DREAMS, RELATIONSHIP, MATERIAL PROPERTY for HIM...that simply points to the Lord's WORTHINESS!

"Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of everlasting life." (Jn. 6:68)

Exposed, Unkempt Roots

"give...life

unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the beast should be killed." (Rev. 13:15)

That is man. "I will guarantee a method of profit," says the scammer, then exacts great losses of victims. Televangelists offer freedom while enslaving disciples. Be a top athlete in history, a trainer challenges a budding youth, enlisting him in strict regimen. Latter years find him, discarded and forgotten by society, needy in meaningful relationships and broken in body. Human offers of "best" often end in "empty".

Wasn't it Jim Eliot who once said, "He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep in order to gain that which he cannot lose"?

Daddy Hospitalized in Nakagami

Those who claim to offer life in shining images of logos in shining several-hundred-storied building corporations boasting salaries in the six figures; others who claim worthy causes for millions of needs; in the end will be terminating any who do not go along with their agenda.

Rev. 13:14 WOUNDED IMAGES

"that they should make an image of the beast that had the wound by a sword, and did live." (Rev. 13:14)

Why does man desire image?

I look at that verse, and right away see the Creator has built in us the desire to make something. No other creature makes as man does; they may construct things to be useful as in abodes, shelters, or for purposes of eating and necessary preservation/hiding, etc.; but when it comes to visual beauty, that is a function seen only, it seems by the crown of creation.

Maybe that is why God's prohibition of making an image of God is so clear too. That should've been a special blessing reserved for the Creator! When I see it in this light, I see now why it seems kind of almost foolish that the created being would want to spend time working on designing his own trademark, coming up with letterheads, thinking of nicknames/pennames/screennames/logos, etc....; making "graven images," actually; while practically forgetting his Creator watching him from the sky!

Any concept of the divine, for some reason, has been changed into an impersonal almighty power instead of a Loving Father. It is only one step, is it not, to have people go one more step farther into worshipping a beast if they believe a true God is such?

And the common denominator of all humans, it seems, is the experience of being wounded. Since the beast boasts a counterfeit hurt-and-heal deal, he holds a sure grip over the majority of the people of the world.

What life does he then offer them? Well, the temporary, at best. There may be a spark to bait them, but then they would be discarded. And of course, an eternal hell awaits.

Father, those of us who are Yours and have been saved out of the grasp of this beast can only praise You for Your merciful grace to have rescued us. We feel so helpless in warning so many others who are going the same way and being ensnared, picked off like flies by the enemy.

Would You not continue to work, to use us as You will to pull others out of the fire?

Rev. 13:14 WORSE IS BETTER?

 "saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast," (Rev. 13:14)

Must say: messages to the earthlings will resonate with those who seek things of dwellings on earth, even beastly things appear attractive somehow. I do know that there is a strange occult for horror, for the macabre. The more grotesque something is, it is somehow spoken of as being higher up on the grading scale, and the person who can view it "brags" how bad he can take it, almost like the alcohol-embuing individual who "boasts" he can hold his liquor.

I am thinking the beast and his forces really laugh at the foolishness of human creatures who harm their biological bodies and then have made it praiseworthy! Demons, tho' invisible to human beings, must look at themselves, and shrug and laugh -- let them destroy themselves then talk about who can do it best! It makes their job that much easier. (Conformity to the image of the beast!)

NO ONE is "his own person" but ENSLAVED when he has to sin, altho' he lives in denial of it and says he is free and choose to sin -- ha; he couldn't live righteously if he tried, not for 24 hrs.! (Otherwise, the outrageous sacrificial death of the Cross wouldn't have been necessary!)

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36)

MALFUNCTIONING EYES?

"sight of the beast; saying to them" (Rev. 13:14)

I wrote once about the malfunctioning mouth, that had been created to praise God but ended up blaspheming Him instead. Well, it seems another part is malfunctioning. The eyes were made to let in light, truth, and blessing; but seem to have been a large cause to lead the creature into temptation and lusts.

"he deceiveth them...by the means of those miracles" (Rev. 13:14)

So just as some believers operate by direct inspiration and claim they get messages from God Himself, are impelled to move by the supernatural and prophetic; here the beast is shown doing the same thing. He too is able to "do great wonders" (13:13) even causing fire to come out of the sky, making himself look like Elijah.

Those who would want to follow truth cannot be handicapped to rely on only miracles and wonders, the sensational and instantaneous, the visible and tangible. Again, we must learn to walk by faith, not by sight. Every word of God, mundane, tried, line upon line, precept upon precept, tried through life.

We should've learned to testify: GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS through them, not because of instant shouts sent out when marvelous performances are enacted. Those things can be manufactured for the moment and fizzle out. "The God before whom I stand" does not.

Rev. 13:10 "SAME DIFFERENCE" OR SAME WORDS BUT DIFFERENT？

"Here is the patience and the faith" (Rev. 13:10)

Patience and faith. We need to exercise care when we hear these sounds out in the world. If you really think about it, they are two words that unregenerate, modern man often mouth but actually despise, the real things, I mean. When the natural man speaks of "waiting", he usually has at the back of his mind, a set time limit considered "reasonable." True patience in waiting doesn't say: I have paused for long enough and want to return to normalcy now.

And altho' there are many who say they are people of "faith," what they often mean is they are people of their own belief systems, not the faith in the God of the Bible nor do they submit themselves to the demands of the Bible. 

The phrase "man of faith" means little more than saying Satan is a being of faith, which he is. As far as believing God from the bottom of the heart; knowing the Word inside out; knowing God is in control and answers prayer; Satan's faith is way above any of ours. It's just that this kind of faith does not have anything to do with loving the Lord Jesus, repenting of sin, or submitting to truth. I too can know a lot of facts about the Bible (even memorize it!) but not have a vital, loving relationship with the One speaking its words. I too, can be a "person of faith" ...like Lucifer!

The fallen angels, since the time they were cast out of heaven and hurled down to earth under Lucifer's command, did their work to tear this world apart. Their patience has continued to show itself for thousands of years too.

Patience and Faith. Is it a big deal that I don't want to be identified with these fallen, unregenerate created beings, and find myself asking God to constantly make me have a walk that would be DISTINCTLY, DEFINITELY HIS?

"...patience and faith of the saints" (Rev. 13:10)

Rev. 13:10 BIG DIFFERENCE!

"He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity" (Rev. 13:10)

The other day, I saw another video in which scripture was supposedly read from. It said "and next, the Promised Land." Altho' the portion referred to was Gen. 12:1, where Abram leaves Ur: "Get thee up out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house," I didn't know I'd gone over that passage so many times I'd memorized it. The next phrase is: "unto a land that I will show thee." NOT "and next, the Promised Land."

Some people will say, what's the big deal? It's the same thing, isn't it? That's what the enemy wants you to think. Eyes are quickly taken off the PROMISER. And the one really praised after that is the human recipient for courage and determination in the quest of the land promised. Attention is riveted to problems of injustices and matters of the heart, relationships, social situations needing change, etc.

The enemy will have succeeded in leading men to become captive to themselves and to earth's limitations instead of becoming "prisoners of Jesus Christ and shackled to His emancipation of all Heaven has to offer man: not only complete pardon and release from sin but full sonship to a Divine Father, and instant and permanent friendship with the most Faithful, Wise, Powerful, and Loving Confidant!

Rev. 13:9 GOLDEN SPEARS NEARBY

"If any man have an ear let him hear" (Rev. 13:9)

What expression is the most plentiful in the entire Bible, Ron Sisco once asked while teaching Revelation, and then informed the congregation it was this, not "God is Love" or the concept of our faithful obedience, or peace among brethren!

God seems to be more interested in our LISTENING TO HIM more than how we look, what we think of Him, or the service we give Him. Even our acts of OBEDIENCE have little meaning, unless they're caused as a result of what we've heard the Father speaking to us. Let me be careful how I state this...

The "obedient Christian" needs to have, at the bottom of his heart, the desire to make his FATHER happy. When the Christian wants to exercise disciplines because they make him feel feel good about HIMSELF, GOD ABHORS THAT. The external actions could be IDENTICAL. But God sees the ears that caused it. He looks on the heart.

Are my ears bent towards him, as a loyal canine's might be? And would I be as quick to lunge at whoever would harm my Master? Do my ears work?

Rev. 13:8 WORTHY OF SO MUCH MORE

"of the Lamb slain" (Rev. 13:8)

Would people look to the Lamb of God? There are people who talk about "believing in God" or "a man of faith" or of "believing, you gotta keep on trusting," but...you rarely hear of people who are in love with, who are grateful for JESUS, who bled, was willing to be shamed in our place! No wonder Christianity is so weak today. And national citizenship means very little to most people; there is no way they would die for the president of their country!

I've heard there actually is a small nation, nomadic peoples ruled by a King. The world can call them backwards, but they are a happy people, and modern society may look down on them and insult them as still being in a feudal system, but it is an orderly country with a very low crime rate and high patriotism. Its residents do not seek emigration, are content. Isn't it possible they have something other countries do not?

A tourist to that country heard from every person in that land: he LOVED THE KING. He wasn't just glad to be its citizen. Isn't that vital to the strength of any conviction: loving a PERSON?

You can't just believe fate, trust metaphysical powers, and practice morality/religion...then really think that's going to hold any water when things get rough. No way.

Yesterday, I heard the retelling of a Bible story of a person who didn't just own a set of noble principles, but loved the Lord Jesus, and ended up radically breaking a container of high-end perfume to pour out on Jesus' head.

As nations look down on this nomadic country, some believers criticized this "wasteful" act. But Jesus saw something there they did not have. She gave, as a show of her love for Him, 300 denaris' worth -- a year's wages -- for Jesus.

In the very next chapter, one of those criticizing believers sells Jesus for 30 pieces of silver -- just the price of one slave. An intentional insult meant to point to the contrast. HE IS NOT WORTH 300 DENARIUS, it was clearly implied.

300 Denarius? Heaven knows Jesus is worthy of oh so much more! He had to be to be broken and poured out to pay for the souls of the world as He did!

Rev. 13:8 THEY WON'T TELL YOU, GOD'S LITMUS TESTS

"all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him" (Rev. 13:8)

So, in order to get all to worship the beast, the enemy will get people to stop worshiping God, right? Let's see...I used to think the United States was the country most mercifully blessed by God with lighthouses of truth, and I still do. But there are fakes all over the place as well.

Hundreds of videos on YouTube show characters "saying grace" by joining hands and bowing their heads while a cute little child recites a poem. G'zillions think "Amen" and "Dear Lord" and "Love God" means you're a Christian. The characters make no mention of Christ's death for us, our need to repent of our sins AND NOT JUST BELIEVE GOD LOVE US!

People can believe that God exists and that He made man and He is in control. They can "have faith" in all of this and still go to hell when they die. After all, demons believe all this. (They won't tell you they believe that too.)

The enemy knows that there are nations that teach about God freely. So he will make sure there is much stuff spread abroad about God that doesn't hurt him!

And of course, he will capitalize on "religious hypocrites." If there is a moment of stumbling in a truly born-again soul, he will broadcast and magnify that instance to make it look like a lifestyle, accusing the penitent of being a hypocrite when he'd just lost his balance for a moment. Then he will whistle and call over hired, completely unsaved cronies to imitate the believer in his wavering so it can be said "they are all alike, those Christians." (They won't tell you they are specialists at falling.)

GOD'S LITMUS TEST

"whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb" (Rev. 13:8)

I can almost see it:

"Just ask, and I will answer all your prayers, He says." As soon as the Father finishes speaking in soft whispers of His protective, providing love to the children in His arms and sets them down on the floor, Street Urchins bang open the door and rush into the room, claiming God has to keep them comfortable too, and if He doesn't "answer prayer," they have every right NOT TO BELIEVE HE EXISTS!

This is one of the funniest things I have ever heard. Is it reasonable to demand God's promises made to somebody else -- His child -- be kept to the street urchin? But we hear this all the time. The person who decides he doesn't believe God anymore usually says, "God doesn't answer prayer!" He doesn't even know for sure he's going to Heaven, one basic sign of being God's child -- to which the promise was made, yet he speaks like this.

No; the genuine child of God would never say such; the child loves a trustworthy parent; and even when it looks like he's been betrayed can know the parent is doing something in wisdom and trusts Him. A street urchin does not know him yet and cannot dare to do so.

Perhaps it is unanswered prayer that shows the clear difference between the two; I am beginning to wonder if God doesn't send even unanswered prayer situations, as uncomfortable as they may feel to us, as litmus tests to show humans, who cannot see the heart.

Is it possible trusted friends of wonderful character -- but not really born again -- might've been made spiritual heads (which would've ended up leading weaker Christians astray)? God in Wisdom sends a litmus test of unanswered prayer, and on their own, they openly declare they don't believe in God, so of course they're not considered for places of leadership...just one possible scenario; I'm not saying Providence always happens like this!

Rev. 13:7 I WISH I COULD DO MORE LINGUISTICALLY...

"power was given over him over all kindreds, and tongues" (Rev. 13:7)

Something just hit me HARD. I'd been seriously contemplating Greek and getting into the Greek testament...I know I've thought about studying Hebrew and plowing into Jewish manuscripts and the Old Testament too. (No; of course I'm not even imagining getting anywhere close to attaining the proficiency of someone who actually studies the languages in school!) And of course, I've always carried with me the urge to be more fluent in Japanese.

I don't know where, in my talk with God, it came, but He seemed to say to me: "June, if I'd wanted you to understand the Jewish mind and their longing for the Messiah, do you think it would've been that difficult for me to have you born back then and in that culture?"

"Similarly, if I wanted you to understand the Greek language -- and you have heard how difficult it would be for you, now an "American mind", to learn it at 68 years of age, especially -- to get a better grasp of New Testament writings in the first century church; don't you think you would've been one of the little daughters running around the cobblestone streets of the city back then...when Rome oppressed, when females, incidentally, were kept silent much more than they are today."

"If I'd wanted you June, to be super smooth in Japanese as well as English, I could've so easily had you be born in a family and environment where operating in those languages were your second nature."

"But do you not trust ME to be wise and sovereign to know that actually You would desire most to know a God in Heaven desires and has chosen you as you are because He wants you specifically as you are, not wanting to acquire another ability you do not have to better yourself (altho' at some time He may tell you to gain something for the sake of furthering some purpose for Him -- the way God equips men in the pastorate to edify the flock; the way He anoints missionaries to communicate the Gospel)."

"God needs to use someone humble enough to know GOD is the One supplying all the power, an instrument pliable enough to let Him choose how to do it. A born expert is less prone to be this way -- someone stumbling about is much more likely, wouldn't you say? It's the 'Stumbler' I really want!"

A bumbling idiot was one sure offer I could make, I thought.

Rev. 13:7 APPOINTED, OVERCOMING

"it was given unto him to make war with the saints" (Rev. 13:7)

Hm; so this "war" is appointed by God. People say you can't say a battle is anointed, but in the sense that it was sent by God as shown here, I guess you'd have no choice but to say HE DID ORDAIN IT TO BE SO! When we see wicked men rising to power and persecuting the redeemed, we need to look back at this passage -- sometimes, even our mighty Father would allow our enemy freehand to work mischief!

We cannot claim to understand the wisdom of God, merely know the greatness of the Father to the furies of hell at Calvary; and as Jesus "learned obedience by the things He suffered," so those of us who follow Him, tho' we do not fully understanding all these things, want God's purposes realized thru' our lives too.

O Lord, would You not cause the offenses in our lives, the unsolved puzzles and even oft-shameful blind spots we possess, to glorify Yourself?

Recently, a church worker mentioned seeing some misplaced emphases in the children's outreach ministry. God, I don't want to sow dischord among brethren, stepping in and planting negative remarks if the Holy Spirit Himself can teach and untangle snarls among those who sincerely love and want to serve God.

Even if they're "out of step," it's different from the completely unregenerate, who are looking for excuses to mess up the work in the church! Lord, let us perceive the difference between those who don't walk straight, "wearing braces and crutches, using wheelchairs" compared to those who stir up trouble "wearing brass knuckles and iron stirrups, and riding small carts thru' flower beds".

Until Your return Lord Jesus, we're to let the wheat grow with the tares in the church, so let us know how to move.

"...to overcome them" (Rev. 13:7)

...for the enemy to OVERCOME the righteous? Is that possible? Readers know that in a broken world, there have been innocent, perhaps even praiseworthy people, sentenced unjustly.

That should come as no surprise, especially to those of us who have at least once heard the Lord's voice saying, "If they have persecuted ME," they'll do it to you too. Even more to those who've continued to read His written messages to us, that the enemy WILL OVERCOME us! And the use of that same word?

"They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Rev. 12:11)

How?

Actually, the "how" was in the first clause: by the blood of the Lamb. That has to be the real "meat," the reason behind why we can "stand it"; the rest of the verse is what therefore shows up in life.

Rev. 13:6 ARRANGEMENTS

 Part of journal entry:

"And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven." (Rev. 13:6) 

The child of God sees God's dwelling and those who have gone on before in ways pretty distinct and impossible to understand to the natural mind. The contemporary "utopia" is merely a mental reference point, not actual place, to those who do not know God; while I can stay secure because I know it is.

I've heard people say of a deceased loved one, "he lives on in our hearts." Yes, but there should be more! "We can meet again." Yes, but there should be even more than that! There should be anticipation of surety of joining up with them when spirits are pure, will not misunderstand, hurt, reject, kill in any way, but will accept, listen, love, and work together to praise God together. That is filled with anticipation, and "let's just wait until we meet again" just doesn't do it!

It is not just how a person lives when everything is honky dory that matters. It is how a person lives when he sees he may be approaching the gates of his eternal abode. And the measuring rod, to me, is not so much about what a person says about the living ones around him (anyone can put up a good front) but how does he feel about meeting them again in the afterlife? Would he be able to look them in the eye? Or would he be rushing into their arms for a long-sought-for embrace?

God's tabernacle. Would he be saying, "So this place really existed..."? or would he plop down all happy relief and weary, laying down arms, looking for the Lord of the Manor, though the body would no longer able to move, heart and eyes longing to see HIM?

IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL WHEN WE SEE JESUS!

Rev. 13:5 THEY ENVY US HUMANS WITH MOUTHS!

"a mouth speaking great things" (Rev. 13:5)

"Si yo hablase lenguas humanas y angelicas," I just wrote about. The writer of the first 5 books of the Bible wrote: "Who made man's mouth?" (Ex. 4:11), and ESPECIALLY thru' his life, we see it really does not matter what kind of mouth we have. Aaron was born with a mouth speaking well (4:14).

What "matters" is what we choose to do with what God gives us. God had given Moses only a long stick. What is that in your hand, he was asked, and learned to pick it up on the end (treating it as a serpent) or to divide seas or sweeten bitter waters. The shepherd boy David went into battle against a giant armed with a sling instead of the king's armor. Samson had the jawbone of an ass. Gideon had a torch and broken pitcher. A widow had a cruse of oil. A lad in a crowd of thousands had two fish and five loaves. A disciple found one coin in a fish's mouth. Yet another widow had two mites.

There is a song that says, "Little is much when God is in it." It is not referring to the original raw material, but the created handiwork that bears the inscription of God, which just about all things we possess. Yes, even those mouths speaking great things attributing origin to Him. It is, however, referring to the Intentional, conscious yielding to the Holy Spirit's control of those things, whatever they be.

As the farthest gleams of light can come from "GREAT" orbs in the sky, called sun, moon, stars; so can the ~nth microorganism reflect God's incredible wisdom: how He manages to pack so much perfect harmonic functioning of needs in this time/space for the mindboggling number of existing beings there are, and to do it with so much beauty and with no loss/waste/harm.

Maybe it's just me, but it just "feels like" all creation somehow senses its rightness in declaring the glory of its creator, and if it were given a will and could "declare the glory of God," it would want to shout out His wonders, want all to acknowledge Him!

In fact, it might even lean back in amazement and disgust at some entities who are given mouths to speak great things praising Him and do not; spend it elsewhere!

Rev. 13:5 THE WAY THE CREATOR GIVES

 "And there was given unto him" (Rev. 13:5)

I didn't like it when the preacher said the beast actually gives good gifts. But then he explained himself that what the beast really does is "gives" bait for his purposes. When God gives, unlike the "giving" of the dragon, which may be more like "scamming", or as Judge Judy raises her eyebrows when speaking of "those pyramid profiteering schemes;" God actually endows with blessing for He is Love. This is the way God gives:

• God can AFFORD to give. He owns all in existence; He is the originator of it. He wiill be no poorer in "giving," because He can always create and "replace" anything He has released.
• God is UNSELFISH,  wants our good. He's already at the very top and cannot better His own situation; can only seek the benefit of those below Him. That's not true of anyone under the Creator; no matter how well-meaning they are; they have to have a drop of self-improvement; it's only the Creator Who has the right to say "it doesn't get better than this."
• God has the WISDOM to know how to do it. Didn't even know how to write about this one. The adage "too much of a good thing" or the oft-seen humble, well-intentioned and hard-working person developing into a proud, powerful person who forgets friends, family, and former values when given too much is so sad. This kind of tragedy can happen to the once consecrated young man in the pulpit when success is handed him too early in his ministry.
• God LOVES. This one, I will take a lifetime struggling to understand, yet I will die not fully comprehending. God gives because He loves. He gave His only begotten Son in the covenant for our souls because He couldn't bear the thought of our being lost to the enemy's kilns. The dragon "gave" because he was looking for fuel, for something to toss into his flames and stoke the fires of his own greatness proclaimed by the bottomless pit. God somehow wants to make into His beloved sons that which the dragon displayed as fit for only ashes. "Give them back to Me," He says to the dragon, "and I will breathe into them love and life, paint them with incredible beauty, forever call them my Own."
• The kind of God my God is?  He gave not only:

1. to the Son (sign of a good Father, yes?);
2. to the angel host who worshiped and served Him (good Sovereign);
3. to created beings like myself who would repent and turn to Him (harder to comprehend); but even
4. to the dragon himself (Gotta be kidding!!!) But that's today's verse...

DRAGON...fly