Craig

Jesus participated in our nature and in our suffering as a human being on earth so that He could be a sympathetic Mediator between God and humanity. Jesus understands our weaknesses and intercedes for us in the presence of God the Father. He is a merficul and faithful High Priest.

Jesus' death destroyed satan' power to hold death over our heads. Jesus has destroyed satan's power of death. Ultimately, satan himself will be destroyed in the Lake of Fire. By placing our faith and trust in Jesus, He frees us from the influence and grasp of satan and everything that goes with that. Jesus frees us to follow Him into eternal life and freedom.

Jesus' endurance of sufferings on this earth makes Him our leader. He has already experenced the sufferings we must go through on this earth. He not only endured them but triumphed over sin, death and satan through them. His sinless life has blazed a path to God, a path we must follow. Jesus is our model, our leader, and our captain. He understands our pain because He Himself went through suffering. As a Christian I must permit Jesus to be my leader; my captain; my model.

Jesus bore the full weight of human sin and God's wrath/punishment of sin upon the cross. This could only have been done through the grace of God Almighty -- God the Father. Humanity isn't capable of saving itself. As a result of what Jesus did for me on the cross I owe Him everything. I must give Him everything I have. All for Him.

Jesus suffered insult; slander; denial; humiliation; physical suffering and pain; emotional and spiritual suffering and pain; betrayal; loneliness; sorrow for the Jews; temptation and suffering that we might not know or understand. We are likely to suffer sorrow for the unsaved; insult; slander; persecution for Christ's sake; bertrayal; temptation; loneliness; physical suffering and pain; humiliation; and even death. Suffering helps to identify with Jesus. Suffering is a form of giving of one's self for something greater that our selves. Suffering humbles us and acts as a means for developing a closer relationship with God. Suffering helps us to be more merciful and empathic to others. Suffering leads to spiritual growth and a greater capacity to give love to others around us. By avoiding all suffering we miss the opportunity for important spiritual growth and a closer relationship with God and what he purposes for us. Suffering in general is actually good for the soul - it helps fuel love for others.

I have repented to God for my sins in the name and blood of Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord. I have invited Jesus into my life. I have given Him my life. I trust and have Faith that by calling upon the name of Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord my name will be in the Lamb's Book of Life. I trust and have faith that what Jesus said regarding salvation, Jesus means. However, it is only by the grace of God Almighty that I am saved and I believe that.

Like Eve, the vast majority of humanity has believed the great lie pedaled by satan -- God surely wouldn't punish you for disobeying Him. Self-centeredness has blinded people to their spiritual condition and they just do not want to believe that God will punish them or that there is a judgment day. Finality is also difficult for many to handle. That's probably why reincarnation is so popular in many religions throughout the world. People want do-overs.

Jesus should be my Lord and King totally. With no other influence and loyalty. I have committed my life to Him and He is my Lord and King. My faithfulness to Him is in constant growth. Whether the world around believes or agrees with Revelation 19, it doesn't change who Jesus is or what is going to happen in the future. Think Noah and the flood.

As I reflect upon these two themes I am truly admonished and encouraged. I'm admonished in the sense that, does my life reflect the committment to Jesus Christ that a bride would have? Am I honoring and giving myself completely to Jesus in light of what He did for me on the cross and what is going to do for me in the future? These themes cause a desire within me to give more to Jesus daily. I'm encouraged because of God's patient work within me in transforming me into the likeness of His Son. God is a great, loving and merciful God. He has done great things within my heart and my life. I will always love Him.

A Christian places God priorities and views above the worlds. A Christian should not buy into the commerical civiliziation at the expense of his/her Christian faith and what God has called them to do. Christians should live in this world following God's leadership. The world offers a lot of fine experiences, beauty, etc. Christians, however should place Jesus Christ into the center of everything we do. Daily Bible study and prayer will open Christians to God's leadership. Christians can enjoy life, and they should, on this planet and the many fine experiences it offers as long as Jesus Christ is at the center and we are following His priorities and not the worlds.

It seems that being in the direct presence of God brings out the joy, praise and worship of a saint. From my own experience it seems the closer I walk with Jesus, the more awesome changes God brings in my life and the more I see lifes change around me for Jesus the more I want to give Him glory. Praise and worship comes with experiencing God.

God has confirmed the truth of salvation in my life by the great and many changes He has made in my life. In todays culture signs and wonders would be explained away by many. I think the most powerful testimony of the Living God is through the reality of changed lifes -- changed hearts -- when people begin to take on the characteristics of Jesus Christ. It is hard to explain away changed hearts for Jesus Christ. The signs and wonders God has performed throughout the Bible has had equal influence in my opinions of signs and wonders today.

Christians need to be daily focused in the Word of God and in prayer or their is a tendency to break fellowship with God and other believers and drift into selfishness and the world. Jesus' describes this phenomenon of drift in the Parable of the sower in that satan; the cares of this world and a shallow spiritual life can snatch a person away.

From Genesis to Revelation, God has revealed to humanity that there will be individual judgement and reward based on our behavior. Like Eve, many Christians just cannot believe that a loving God could possibily punish anyone. However, God has always laid out His plan of salvation for humanity along with the consequences of rejecting Him. God is loving and just. Is it just for God to have sacrificed His only begotten Son, Jesus, on the cross for a sinful and mostly ungrateful people? God has made it clear and fair across the board -- Jesus is the way, the truth and the life -- no man comes to the Father, but through Him. Equal access to all. I get what I accept and I get what I reject.

The 144,000 are characterized as sexually pure; follow Jesus wherever He goes; did not lie; and are going to be found blameless before the throne of God. These are all traits Christians need to practice daily.

The Son is described as being the brightness of God's glory and His express image. Thus Jesus is as divine as His Father. Jesus upholds all things in the universe by the power of His words. Jesus' word expresses His power. Jesus carries out the will of God because they are one.

Jesus is the unique Son of God. God fully expressed Himself through Jesus, calling Him His son. Jesus is God the Father's supreme revelation of Himself to humanity. God, expressing Himself in Jesus, taught humanity how to have a real and practical relationship with Himself and one another. All through Jesus' ministry people of all walks of life were amazed by the authority and power of Jesus' teaching. This is reflected in the fact the Jesus as the Son of God, the Christ, the God-Man had all of the aurhority of God the Father.

In the last days a ruler (the beast) will gain world-wide power backed by satan. A false prophet will come on the scene backed by the beast to deceive the world and wage war upon the Church and God. God will permit them power for a season. Then he will bring them down.

This sign represents the whole family of Israel out of which Jesus Christ is born. This vision represents the dominion of the Church, with Jesus Christ at its Head over all things. Godly men and women of all ages will overcome satan and this world system in and through Jesus Christ. Even if the saint dies in the process of standing against satan in the name of Jesus Christ, he/she will have overcome satan and gained victory in not allowing him to dominate them. All saints claim forgiveness of sin and victory over satan in the life giving blood of the lamb -- Jesus Christ. If the saint is not willing to give everything he/she has, including their life, there is no spiritual victory; only selfishness.

This vision of the woman and the dragon testify to the fact that satan since Genesis 3:15 has been looking to destroy the messiah as well as those men and women that follow, serve and call upon the name of the Lord -- the Living God. Until God brings His plan to a conclusion, God's people, of any age, will face the wrath and anger of satan. However, God always provides strength and refuge for His people. He will bless and reward them in His time.

They boldly preached the gospel without compromise which offended many. They preached the gospel even though they might lose their lives. They had a close, vigorous connection with God. They were faithful witnesses as Christians today should be regardless of who we might offend or what the consequences might be.

What is bitter is all the death and destruction. What is sweet is that God will seal and take care of His own. People reject what they cannot wrap their minds around.

The kind opf people who make up the great multitude are of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues. They came out of the great tribulation. They are praising, blessing and worshipping God. There is salvation in the blood of the lamb.

Before the judgments are unleashed, God prepares to seal 144,000 of His servants on their foreheads. Seals are signs of ownership or authority. God doesn't hang His people out to dry. He loves, protects and rewards them accordingly. The mark will protect the 144,000 from judgment and the wrath of God.

We learn that the Church is under heavy persecution. These martyrs' souls are under the altar because sarificial blood was poured beside the base of the altar in the temple (Ex. 29:12). They were killed as a result of professing Jesus Christ, ultimately to fulfill God's plan. They are calling for vengeance that justice might be rendered and yes it is a Christian prayer. Christians seek justice, truth and accountibility. The white robe was given to those slain for Jesus Christ. A lesson for all Christians in this passage is to have patience. God is in control of events in fulfilling His will and plan. All things will come in God's perfect timing.