WRAPPED UP: THE BOOK OF ENDINGS

The last book of the Holy Bible begins, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ..." (Chapter 1: verse 1).

Eight key themes, which are woven into the whole bible (old testament and new testament Scriptures, are summarized in Revelation Chapter 1. Interestingly, they all begin with "S":

SCRIPTURE (see verses 1-3) - The Bible and the Bible only (Sola Scriptura); "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17); "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15);>"...the truth of the Lord endureth forever..." (Psalm 117:2).

SALVATION (see verses 4-6) - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16); "Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live..." (Ezekiel 33:11).

SECOND COMING (see verses 7-8) - "...I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again* and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:2,3).

*He didn't say that we would go to meet Him before He returns (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17)

SABBATH (see verse 10) - "And on the seventh day God ended his work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all his work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all his work which God created and made" (Genesis 2:2,3); also see Exodus 20:8-11; Isaiah 58:13,14; Hebrews 11:1-4 & Revelation 14:7.

SANCTUARY (see verses 12-13) - "Thy way O Lord is in the Sanctuary, who is so great a God as our God" (Psalms 77:13); [Everything in the Jewish Sanctuary and its corresponding services pointed forward to Jesus Christ and the mystery of SALVATION]

STATE OF THE DEAD (verses 17,18) - "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23); Death is a sleep (see Job 7:9,10,21; The dead know not anything (see Ecclesiastes 9:5); The righteous dead will be raised at the SECOND COMING of Christ, before the 1000 years, to receive their reward [life without end], and the wicked dead will be raised after the 1000 year, to receive their reward [death with an end] (see Revelation 20:1-6,14,15).

SPIRIT OF PROPHECY (verse 9) - "The Lord will do nothing but He revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7); "I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily raising and sending them..." (Jeremiah 7:25); also see Revelation 19:10 & 22:9,10.

SAINTS (see verse 20) - "Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as we see the day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24,25); "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love" (1 John 4:7,8); also see Luke 6:27,28 and ending at v. 36); "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galations 3:29); "...that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through* Jesus Christ: that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3:14).

*And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 12:2,3).

Look up the fascination Geneologies of:

Judah (the son of Israel) to David, the King (Ruth 4:12-22)
Abraham to Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-17)
Jesus to Adam (the first man made in the image of God)(Luke 3:23-38)

A NEW CREATION

SEVEN SMALL LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

1. Live on a schedule (sleep times, eating times, work times, recreation times, etc.)

2. Increase your intake of plant based foods (grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, fresh herbs) and decrease your intake of animal products (meat, milk, eggs and cheese)

3. Eat a hearty breakfast and lunch, skip snacks between meals and eat a light supper at least 3 hours before retiring for bed

4. Spend time outdoors getting sunshine, fresh air and exercise

5. Boost your immune system by increasing your intake of pure water between meals (add fresh lemon juice for a great cleanser) and decreasing refined and artificial sugars and foods containing them

6. Get your rest by going to bed early, rising early in the morning and leaving the Sabbath for mental, physical and spiritual rejuvenation

7. The most important to complete the list--Gain strength by beginning your day with prayer to the Living God and personal study of His will through His Word

JEHOVAH'S REST #654

HOLY DAY, JEHOHAV'S REST
Written by F.E. Belden
Copyrighted 1886

1. Holy Day, Jehovah's rest, of creation's week the best;
Last of all the chosen seven, Blessed of God, to man 'twas given.

Refrain

Welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome
Glad we hail it's presence blest, 'Tis the great Jehaovah's rest

2. First His six days' work was done, then the Sabbath was begun;
thus He blessed the seventh day, thus in resting we obey.

3. Thousands have His plan reversed, resting now upon the first;
Search the Book and you will know, there’s no scripture tells them so.

4. All who speak the truth must say, it was man who changed the day;
In God’s word no change appears, through the whole six thousand years.

5. Thus I searched; and when I saw; only one great Sabbath law;
then I hastened to obey-- plainy 'twas the only way. – F.E. Belden

If you have questions about these and other truths from God's Word, the Bible, please call or email me at 202-437-4867 or email me at leuannam@qis.net.

Leuanna

FANNIE J. CROSBY (1823-1915)

#388 Don't Forget the Sabbath

Words by Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915)

Music by William B. Bradbury (1816-1868)



Don’t forget the Sabbath,

The Lord our God hath blest,

Of all the week the brightest,

Of all the week the best;

It brings repose from labor,

It tells of joy divine,

Its beams of light descending,

With heav’nly beauty shine.



Refrain

Welcome, welcome, ever welcome,

Blessèd Sabbath day,

Welcome, welcome, ever welcome,

Blessèd Sabbath day.



Keep the Sabbath holy,

And worship Him today,

Who said to His disciples,

“I am the living Way”;

And if we meekly follow

Our Savior here below,

He’ll give us of the fountain

Whose streams eternal flow.



Refrain

Welcome, welcome, ever welcome,

Blessèd Sabbath day,

Welcome, welcome, ever welcome,

Blessèd Sabbath day.



Day of sacred pleasure!

Its golden hours we’ll spend

In thankful hymns to Jesus,

The children’s dearest Friend;

O gentle, loving, Savior,

How good and kind Thou art,

How precious is Thy promise

To dwell in every heart!



Refrain

Welcome, welcome, ever welcome,

Blessèd Sabbath day,

Welcome, welcome, ever welcome,

Blessèd Sabbath day.

THE PATIENCE OF THE SAINTS

HERE IS THE PATIENCE OF THE SAINTS: HERE ARE THEY THAT KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, AND THE FAITH OF JESUS (Revelation 14:12); See Rev. 12:17.

The Lord has ordained a special people to be a spiritual Israel for our time. In Deuteronomy 7:6, Moses records, speaking to the Israelites, "for thou art a holy [set apart] people unto the Lord thy God; the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people [treasure] unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth." [read to verse 11]

Why were the children of Israel special?

They would be the nation through whom Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Redeemer of mankind would come. Genesis 12:2,3 tells us, God speaking to Abraham, "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing; and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."

There are two characteristics that distinguish God's special people. Revelation 12:17 tell us "And the dragon was wroth [enraged] with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant [rest of her offspring] of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." [see Rev. 19:10]

In your searching for spiritual Israel, seek for a people who teachings have the same components that the physical Israelites have. These are all summarized in Revelation Chapter 1:

SALVATION (The Messiah, Jesus Christ, as the only way to the Father)
SCRIPTURES (God's inspired word to us and mirror of His character)
SPIRIT OF PROPHECY (God's guiding servants of reproof and instruction)
SECOND COMING (The eminent return of our Lord)
SABBATH (The day God sanctified as a memorial of His work during creation week)
SANCTUARY (The Jewish temple services that pointed to the Messiah)
STATE OF THE DEAD (What happens when a person dies)
SAINTS (The living servants of the Lord and their ministry on His behalf)

Since the Word of God is from the source of truth, it must be studied "precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:" (Isaiah 28:10). There is no contradiction in the Lord. Any seeming contradiction is in our misunderstanding. God's word make absolute sense. No prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation (see 2 Peter 1:19-21).

OBEDIENT SACRIFICE OR SINCERE IN DISOBEDIENCE

One Thusday, two co-workers were leaving work together and planned to get together on the weekend for lunch. The first (Bob) suggested Friday after work. "That's the Sabbath", the second (Jim) replied.

Jim: "Can we meet on Sunday?"

Bob: "That's my sabbath"

These two co-workers had known each other for a couple years, but never really explored the basis of each other's faith.

Jim asked: "Do you love the Lord?"

Bob: "Of course I do!"

Jim: "Do you believe that the scriptures are God's inspired word?"

Bob: "Without a Doubt!"

Jim: "Then let the Holy Spirit teach you through His word"

Jim pulled out a bible that he always carried with him and silently offered a pray to God for boldness, guidance and wisdom as he opened the scriptures to his co-worker.

Jim opened the scriptures so Bob could follow along and read from Exodus 20:8-11, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it."


Then he turned to Genesis 1:1 which read, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth," and read until Chapter 2:1-3, "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made", where the Sabbath was first instituted. He emphasized that it was the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, not the Sabbath of the Israelites, not my Sabbath and not your Sabbath.


Jim took him to Mark 2:27 to show him who the Lord's Sabbath was made for.

Jim: "Why did the Lord say, "Remember the Sabbath" " in Exodus 20?

Noticing the puzzled look on Bob's face, Jim went back to Exodus 16: 11-31 where the Lord proved (tested) the children of Israel in regard to the Sabbath.

Seeing the excitement and interest on Bob's face, Jim forged on in faith to Exodus 31:16-18, then to Revelation 14:6,7. He then turned to Matthew 24:14-20 in the New Testiment and closed out with Isaiah 66:22,23 and 58:13,14 in the Old Testiment.

Praise God!!! Bob cried out, his voice trembling with excitement and emotion.

There was silence for a moment, before Bob continued, "Sunday still open?"

Jim replied with a smile, "Always has been"

As they got up to leave, Jim asked if he could offer a word of prayer for Bob, then two friends left work together.


Psalm 117:;1,2 - The truth of the Lord endureth for ever