Pastor.James

I see this as Jesus being the head of the Church. He gave His freely for the church. Like it has been said the church is not a building. The most important is that we worship God in spirit and in truth. The other importance is that he carries with him a two edged sword and He ready to bring judgment against those who do not choose to obey him or believe him. We have churches that both follow the commands of Christ but also churches who do not believe that Christ is part of the godhead. He gives forth final warnings to the church of what we are to do with the Word He has given to us. Christ became the Living Word. This is a wake up call to all churches. Those who are following God's Word this is an exhortation to continue in the works that they are doing. But a severe admonition to those who refuse to accept and follow the Word of Christ.

When Jesus walked on the roads of Galilee and Judea He was the Savior of the world. He had become the Lamb of God that took away the sins of the world. He came to seek that which was lost. He was a man filled with love and compassion. But that is the side of Christ that everyone wants to see. There is yet another side of Christ that is completely different than the one we see on the Roads of Judea. Christ still loves us but now we see his that he has all authority given to him. He holds the key to life and death. This is in reference to the beginning and the ending. This is taken a little bit out of context. But life is the beginning and death is the ending. No one can come to the Father except through Jesus Christ. This side of Christ is one that we must reverently fear for what He can do. He can destroy both our bodies and our souls. Most Christians do not like to look this side of Christ. He is now our righteous judge and we must take the warnings he gives seriously and purposely. This vision is to provoke both praise and glory to God through His Son Jesus Christ. We see this righteous judge as one deserving our reverent respect and honor. He has earned his rightfully place in the Kingdom of God. His name is above every other name in heaven or on earth. We need to understand the wrath of God when Christ returns. He will be the one that will give out the rewards whether they be good or bad according to the works of His creation mankind. This is how I see this Christ in this description.

The countries that I know that are brothers and sisters in Christ are being persecuted in is the following: Pakistan, Iraq, Eqypt, China, Arabia, Iran, Korea and probably some others that I am not aware of. The most cruel story I had heard a few months ago is that a Christian woman who was pregnant was stripped of her clothing and dragged by her hair in the streets where the public could watch. Then there were stories of pastors being attacked and even some were burned alive for preaching and teaching the Word of God. It is hard to imagine such cruelty when we live in countries where very little persecution exists among the Christians who are fortunate to be able to take advantage of living in countries that offer freedom of religion. Revelation is a book of comfort. We may not know what the future may bring for us but we do know that God is still in control. We know that when Christ comes, those who are faithful will receive a crown of life and our reward in heaven will be greater than we can imagine. Revelation gives hope to every Christian but especially to those who are suffering for the sake of Christ. These are the Christian who are drinking of the same drink that Christ drank of. Not everyone is chosen to suffer for the sake of Christ. But those who do will receive the greatest reward. .

Dear Lion of Grace, Some Bibles print verses in Red that would refer to God and Jesus as one. They do designate them 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Rev 1:7-8 (KJV)separate when they would refer to Jesus as God. So I can understand the confusion for you. But Pastor Ralph is right! Revelations 1: 8 refers to God 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Rev 1:7-8 (KJV) Jehovah Witnesses always refers to God as the Almighty God. They do not put Jesus on the same level as God. I hope this makes a little more sense for you.

Pastor Ralph this is a very important passage. For this confirms at least that Jesus and God are one. Jehovah Witnesses like to refer to God as the almighty. However, all of these texts clearly confirms that what Jesus told His apostles. Jesus said that God and him were one. This was one of the reasons that Jesus was crucified by the Jews. They felt Jesus committed the sin of blasphemy against God. However, after Jesus showed himself unto Thomas (which I mentioned in Q 1) he proclaimed My Lord and My God. Jesus never rebuked Thomas for saying this. Now here in Revelation both God and Jesus says I am the Alpha and the Omega the beginning and the end. Which also confirms Genesis 1:26 Let us make God in our own image. The word our is plural which means there is more than one. Who was the our image referring to? It could not be the angels for the Word of God says that we were made a little lower than the angels. And Jesus says that we will be made like the angels who are neither male or female. The only reference this could be to is Jesus Christ. These texts and references in Revelation confirms what Jesus was saying was the truth. The message He was teaching is all confirmed in the Word of God and now in the person in Christ as the faithful witnesses. All that was needed in the time of Christ was two or three witnesses. Which was another reason that the Pharisees brought in false witnesses in order to condemn Jesus. This proves to me that not only is God and Jesus one, but the message He has given us by forty authors is true. We can count on the Scripture being the inerrant Word of God.

I am not a very smart man really. There are those who are quite more advanced in theology than I am. I do agree with you that most Christians would lay there life for a friend and for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was involved in many of those things when I was living in the states. I am in a different culture and I am ministering mostly to students that go to our congregation. Things are done differently here but when I am asked to go somewhere I do not turn it down. There a language barrier here although most Filipinos can understand basic English and I work with many people who are English speaking. We definitely need to be living for Christ now more than at any other time in our life. Yes Jesus I thank you for this study and for the brothers and sisters that are in this forum. Lord help us to live for you in everything that we do and say I ask this in Jesus name amen

Considering the company I am in; I am the least among the brothers and sisters represented here in this forum. The faithful witness of Jesus Christ is very important in knowing that the book of Revelation is genuine and authentic. Jesus is the one that appeared to John, and Jesus told his disciples that God the Father and Him were one. Also when Jesus appeared to Thomas and after Thomas saw the nail prints in his hands and his and the scar from his pierced side, he proclaimed my Lord and my God. Jesus being identified as the faithful witness authenticates the book of Revelation. In Reference to 1:5 The book of Revelation is supposed to encourage us then if that is the case why are we afraid to be faithful witnesses when we do not live in a land of persecution. There are many factors that may be involved in those who do not want to be a faithful witness even in a land that does not persecute Christians. Some people just feel inadequate in witnessing to others. Some of been taught that this is why we pay our pastors. Some people just do not see the urgency in doing this. I live in the Philippines and we do have religious freedom in our country but many people are dying at the hands of terrorists and people filled with greed and hatred toward one another. So there has been no greater urgency of witnessing for Christ than now. The time of His appearing is fast approaching it is time for the Church to stand together and proclaim the good news that Jesus Christ is coming again and we need to be getting ready for His appearing.

Considering the company I am in; I am the least among the brothers and sisters represented here in this forum. The faithful witness of Jesus Christ is very important in knowing that the book of Revelation is genuine and authentic. Jesus is the one that appeared to John, and Jesus told his disciples that God the Father and Him were one. Also when Jesus appeared to Thomas and after Thomas saw the nail prints in his hands and his and the scar from his pierced side, he proclaimed my Lord and my God. Jesus being identified as the faithful witness authenticates the book of Revelation. In Reference to 1:5 The book of Revelation is supposed to encourage us then if that is the case why are we afraid to be faithful witnesses when we do not live in a land of persecution. There are many factors that may be involved in those who do not want to be a faithful witness even in a land that does not persecute Christians. Some people just feel inadequate in witnessing to others. Some of been taught that this is why we pay our pastors. Some people just do not see the urgency in doing this. I live in the Philippines and we do have religious freedom in our country but many people are dying at the hands of terrorists and people filled with greed and hatred toward one another. So there has been no greater urgency of witnessing for Christ than now. The time of His appearing is fast approaching it is time for the Church to stand together and proclaim the good news that Jesus Christ is coming again and we need to be getting ready for His appearing.