King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Sunday, December 31, 2023
Chapters: REVELATION 19-22
Message: Rejoice Of A New Beginning
Hello My Brother/Sister/Friend,
Happy New Years Eve! We finally made it to the last day of this year and I tell you what it has been sweet, but also very bittersweet. In one year I met and married my husband, learned the value of family and just how quickly life can take a turn for the worse in the blink of an eye. My own health, my husband’s, and mother ‘s has been a struggle, along with jobs, finances, and a house that is actually sinking as we speak. Perhaps the saddest thing of all was that I had learned of three churches that I attended this year that I love that are doing things that are not biblical. We have dictators, sell outs, and out of control members running churches for their own agenda or out of fear of the man, and they wonder why God is so angry. When biblical sound churches have lost their first love that is when not only the church, but the community becomes desolate.
[Revelation 2:2-5 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.]
As we come to the end of the reading of Revelation, we can rejoice in the fact that we have read through the entire Bible this year. We can rejoice in the fact that we who are faithful, and we whom have tripped, fell, and got back up a few times this year still have our Father’s favor. We can rejoice in the fact that backsliders have returned to Christ and souls have gotten saved. We can also rejoice in the fact that some of our loved ones are celebrating New Years Eve with Jesus, [1 Peter 4:13-14 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.]
While pain is never easy, while suffering is never easy, while hardship is never easy, while persecution is never easy, while grieving is never easy, and while famine is never easy, the one thing that is easy is our faith in Christ. Yesterday we read about the destruction of the earth as God’s vials of wrath were poured out, but now comes a new beginning.
[Revelation 19:1-2,5-7 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: 2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.]
[for the marriage of the Lamb is come,] As I am reading this it reminds me that I was supposed to be getting married today. It was always my dream of getting married on New Years Eve, but that all changed when I met my husband. There is a part of me that wonders where I would be right now if we had waited, I believe that some of the things that we faced this year would have happened regardless, but some of them may not have. While some things are destined for us, others come from the choices that we make, even though God already knows what will happen, [Romans 8:28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.]
[and his wife hath made herself ready.] This wedding will be like no other, the only people who will be attending are Christ’s saints, and she made herself ready by covering herself in His blood. It only took one drop of His blood to make herself ready, that was enough to make herself clean and white as linen, which she will be arrayed in for the marriage supper, [Revelation 19:8-10 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.]
[for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.] When all the pain and sorrow has come to pass, after we shed our souls of this flesh and get our new glorified bodies, there will be the expected end of eternal life, which will only be the beginning of our new lives with Jesus, [1 Corinthians 15:52-53 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.]
[I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren] At this point an angel was showing John these things, and as great as this angel was, John could not mistake him for Jesus or God our Father, but his bowing down to him was merely an act of reverence. Nevertheless, the angels are just like us, which is why he told him that the only person we are to worship is God. Now as this is taking place Jesus returns to earth.
[Revelation 19:11,13-17 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;]
[Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;] While Christ’s saints are feasting at the marriage supper, those who are not saved and on the earth will be devoured by so many birds that there will be nothing left of them. Jesus, might have come here the first time as a lamb, but when He returns He will be a ferocious lion and all who attempt to fight Him will be the death of them along with the false prophet and Antichrist, [Revelation 19:19-20 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.]
[These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.] This is the second death for all whom have never accepted Christ as their Saviour or their faith was not counted as righteousness as they awaited Christ. Regardless of whether or not we were brought on this earth before Christ’s passion or after, salvation has never been about ones works, it has always been about ones faith in the LORD as their Saviour, [Romans 4:2-3 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.]
Jesus Christ Himself, the Word of God made flesh, after He casts the Antichrist and false prophet into the lake of fire will cast the devil in prison for a thousand years, and remove every bit of evil from the earth. This is when the bottomless pit will be opened and Jesus would reign.
[Revelation 20:1-5 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.]
[but the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years] This can be a little tricky to understand, these are not Christ’s saints as they will have already been resurrected and will actually reign with Him along with those who were martyred during the tribulation. This can be called the first phase of resurrection of the dead, where those who died during the tribulation will be judged along with the wicked who killed them. There will be the second phase of the resurrection of the dead, which will be the final judgment of all the dead. We who are saved can rejoice in the fact that the second death has no power over us, [Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.]
Yes, all of Christ’s saints will become priests and ministers of the people who survived the tribulation, and this will actually be the only time since the fall of man that there will be peace on earth. However, after the thousand years are over, Satan will be released and one final battle will take place.
[Revelation 20:7-10 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.]
[and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.] Eternal death, it is nothing to rejoice over, and we should be fearful of going there, that should be what brings us to believe in Christ and receive Him as soon as we know about Him. During this time will be the second phase of the resurrection of the dead and their judgment.
[Revelation 20:11-15 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.]
[and they were judged every man according to their works.] All in one swoop, all of those unsaved will get cast into the lake of fire. This includes those who trusted their religion to save them, and those who were ignorant to the truth of the Gospel and refused to listen when they had several opportunities. It does not matter if we know Jesus as the Angel of the LORD, [Exodus 3:20], the Son of God, [Daniel 3:25], or Emmanuel, [Isaiah 7:14], we must know Him as LORD and Saviour or our names will not be written in the book of life. Now, Jesus shows John one more vision.
Remember when Jesus said that He was preparing a place for us? [John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 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.] Well, this is the new heaven and earth, and it will where we will remain with Him for eternity.
[Revelation 21:1-4 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.]
[And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;] And there you have it, we can rejoice in the fact that we whom have received Christ as our Saviour not only receive eternal life, we will live forever in our new bodies that will never feel one ounce of pain ever again, [Revelation 21:5-8 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.]
[But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable,] This is the expected end and new beginning to everyone who receives Christ as their Saviour, no more pain, no more sorrow, no more sin, and no more death. We cannot say that for the dead, they will be cast into the lake of fire. Without Jesus, none of this would even be possible, we would still be sacrificing animals and hoping that we have not missed confessing that one sin that could be the end of us, [Romans 5:8-9 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.]
This past Christmas really did not feel like Christmas at all, it was as though it was some ordinary day, with the exception of opening up gifts, but for the first time ever we had no gifts to give. The one thing that we did have, apart from Christ is that we had each other. The years are going to feel less and less like the true Christmas as more people move away from Christ being Christmas and toward secular celebrations that even Santa is not a part of anymore. We, who are saved need to remind the world of the most amazing miracle that ever took place and that was Jesus, who was born to die for us. That is something that we are to never take lightly. Well, the new earth will literally come down from the heavens, ready and prepared for His bride to dwell there forever.
[Revelation 21:10-12,14,18 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.]
[and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.] Have you ever seen a clear ice cube? There was no frost, it just looked like clear see through glass? This is a good image of what the city will look like. Since there will be no need for silver and gold, or even money as everything will be provided for us freely, there is no better place for gold. There is something else that will not be needed anymore and that is a temple.
[Revelation 21:22-27 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.]
[And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon,] Finally, the earth that God intended for His most precious creation to dwell will be a new place where we will live forever. This is where I always start to wonder what it will be like on the new earth, but as you can see the trinity of God will be there in all His three persons.
[Revelation 22:1-5 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.]
[and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.] This is not for the curing of diseases, it is for the preserving and continuing health of the people of God in this state. As the tree of life in Eden’s garden was for the preservation of the health and life of Adam, we will have the tree of life that will sustain us. We do not have to be afraid of what the future brings because Jesus is already there, and an everlasting state of perfect peace and happiness is reserved for all whom endured to the end.
[Revelation 22:6-7,10-12 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. 7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. 11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.]
[to give every man according as his work shall be.] This is why I say that those who received Christ as their Saviour, even if that is all they do, will not face the same judgment as the unbelievers. Since we all receive the same gift of eternal life and no one will be above one another, our judgment comes before we get to heaven. In fact, I believe it is the suffering that we face right now that will be our judgment.
[Revelation 22:13-17 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.]
[that they may have right to the tree of life,] When Adam broke his commandment, he was driven from the tree of life. Those who keep Christ’s commandments, meaning those receive Him as their Saviour while in our present state will have the right to eat from the tree of life. No one who is not saved will be able to enter this kingdom. God’s judgment and wrath upon the world is more than His anger toward sin, it is for vengeance on His people too. In this world we are always going to face challenges just for our faith, some with great force, but the pain we suffer in this life will all be over when Jesus reigns as KING.
[Revelation 22:18-20 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.]
[God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:] All who believe in and ask Christ to save them will get to be a part of Christ’s Kingdom. Praise God! There is a stern warning here to all those who have taken out or added words to His book, and there will be hell to pay for it. As much as we would all love to accomplish some things in this life before Jesus returns, the sooner He sends for us the better. I for one, with each passing year, realize that the best thing we can do in this life is to live for Christ, [2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for giving those who have truly accepted and received Your Son eternal life and victory not only over death, but the devil’s attempts to destroy our faith in You. To the world, the thought of being the bride of Your Son makes no sense, and even we can have a hard time comprehending that, but His bride is not a man or woman, they are the very souls who put their faith and trust in their Saviour alone. Lord, as we head into a new year, Lead us and guide us, give us Your power and strength to endure every struggle as we await the day Your bring us home, let us never give up on You, no matter what we face, strengthen our faith keep us true and faithful with the reminder that we will endure, we will resurrect, and we will live with You forever on the new earth. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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