Vickie

Jesus is with us (His Church) always, walking among us (Holy Spirit). He is not only among us, but also "keeps our light burning" (tending to the lampstands) by edifying us through the Holy Spirit, because we are His and He cares for us.

Jesus is the Head of the Church. Here His sovereignty is shown to John to prove He is Lord, not just a teacher. We are to be encouraged and elated to know that He reigns over our lives! We must recognize and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, because that is the basis for our whole faith--without Him, we have no communion, or right to commune, with the Father!

The continents of Africa, Asia, Asia-Minor, and parts of Central/South America are experiencing the worst of Christian persecution. Revelation shows that we will triumph through ALL tribulations and will prevail with Jesus!

The Father is eternal--Creator of all things from the beginning of time to the end of days. Jesus, too, proclaims He is eternal--beginning and end of all time--in other words, He IS God, Creator, Sovereign Lord.

To witness to others in times of persecution, especially, proves Who Jesus is--Savior of the World, Lord of Lords, King of Kings, for why else would ordinary people put themselves at risk to proclaim Him? Take the disciples, for example. As disciples, they were weak, emotion-driven and fearful. After the Resurrection and the Day of Pentecost when they were filled with the Holy Spirit (Jesus' Helper), they went forth boldly, proclaiming Him even to the death. So should we, as frail, fallible humans go forth boldly to proclaim Him, not being afraid of what others may think, say or do. For, after all, He has already won the war...we just have to fight the battles! I pray for the boldness and conviction to tell everyone about Him. And, as for us (the United States) not being persecuted: we may not be in danger of being beaten or martyred (yet), but it IS persecution when we are no longer able to pray in our public schools, in our courts, or display our Lord's name and commandments!

Hi! My name is Vickie, I live in New Mexico (yes, that is in the United States!) with my wonderful husband and 4 kids (15, 9, 7 and soon to be 3). We are active in our small Southern Baptist church. I participated in the Gideon study in the spring, but had to drop out at the end because of time constraints (we have an internet business, kids/school, I do the church newsletter and church website, and I am in charge of one of our women's ministries...making sleeping bags for the homeless...not much free time! Think I need to cut back somewhere...maybe sell the children LOL! ) I am looking forward to this study. I read Revelation when I was a Christian newbie, and it was difficult at best! It is hard to understand it all when we know that God's Word is infallible and inerrant, but Revelation is so full of hyperbole and imagery that it is hard to know what it is saying to us!

Well, I feel like I'm just repeating myself. Well, I feel like I'm just repeating myself. But, again I want to say I believe God wanted to show the Israelites that no matter how many animals were sacrificed, the sin was a continual problem. The priests had to sacrifice hour after hour, day after day, for hundreds years. That is an awful lot of blood shed! In requiring a payment for sin, the Israelites were to learn that there is always a reaction to their actions. God is just, God is righteous and holy, and he cannot look upon His unholy, unrighteous, unjust people without an atonement. I think this shows us that God is not only just, but also forgiving...a God of second chances, a God of a million second chances! Thank You, Father, for being so loving and kind. Thank You SO much, Jesus, for saving us!

Hi, Everyone! I'm Vickie, from New Mexico, and happy to be back with another of Pastor Ralph's studies. My husband and I, along with our 4 children, are active in a First Baptist Church near our home. I am in charge of the church newsletter, am developing a website for the church and have just started a homeless sleeping bag ministry ("My Brother's Keeper"). My husband teaches the RA's (Royal Ambassadors...young boys 6-12 years) at our church and is a Yokefellow. We have a home internet business selling toys and my husband is finishing his 25-year career with the Army. Thanks for sharing your interests and I look forward to "hearing" what all of you have to say about our Lord and His Word!

I must be on Pastor Ralph's sheet of music...I already submitted my answer to this question in Q4! To reiterate: no animal sacrifice, no matter how perfect the animal, no matter how many were offered, no matter how sincere the offering was given, would ever be enough to cover our sins. God was trying to show the Israelites (and us, through the Scripture) this. Only the one, truly PERFECT sacrificial Lamb could atone for all our sins! Thank you, Jesus!

Greetings, everyone! I could offer an animal every hour in the day to atone for my sins, and it would never be enough. I think this is the point God was trying to make to the Israelites: it's never going to be enough; we are sinners and will always be sinners; there aren't enough animals in the world to offer as sacrifices to cover all our sins. So, He, in His Awesome Grace, sent His only Son to be the final, ultimate sacrifice, that we might ALL lay our hands on Him in His perfection, giving our sins to Him, allowing us to be perfected through Him! That is the element of true sacrifice!

Thanks, Patty, for the great insights! Wonderful! Many (many ) years ago, when I was 12, I went with my uncle to a meat packing plant. I was so incredibly repulsed by the overwhelming smell of blood, the sight of the stripped carcasses and the sound of the cows in the distance (I was sure they were screaming in pain) that I couldn't eat meat for years after. It wasn't until I became physically ill from my poor eating habits that I again ate meat. As a Christian, I now know that God gave us animals for our use. And, it has been speculated that He never intended man to be a meat-eater, but, of course, He knew from the beginning of our creation that we would be eating meat after the flood. It has also been proven that vegetarians live an average of 12 years LESS than those who choose to add meat to their diet. I'll stick with my steaks. I think God intended for us to be repulsed by the sacrifices...knowing that was the end result of our sins, I believe it was intended to be a deterrent. Of course, Jesus, being the ultimate and final sacrifice, has released us from the bondages of continual atonement slaughter, giving us GRACE instead!

Hi, Everyone Anger is an appropriate response to sin for GOD, but not for us. He created us to be like Him, and when we fail, as we always do, He has perfect justification to be angry. Praise Him that He is long-suffering, loving and forgives us! We have no right to be angry at another's sin, as we are all sinners. We must first look at ourselves (I can't see the speck in your eye because the lumber yard in mine is getting in the way!) Otherwise, we are being self-righteous. The only person who was ever justified in His anger, was, of course, Jesus, being wholly man and wholly God, and perfect in every way. Of course, I think it is righteous and just for us to be angry at the world's sins in general. It is our duty to proclaim the Word for the truth. The only time I think we are justified in our anger over sin, is when it is directed at our own shortcomings. Of course, it would be nice if I could say I'm never angry ...

It's great to be back with you all, and to see so many new faces! You all have so eloquently answered the questions, so I would just like to say thanks for the insights! Blessings to you all!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! In his humble beginnings as a judge, Gideon was able to abolish Baal and Ashtoreth from "their" hold on the Israelites. Of, course, we know of the mistake he later made with the ephod. No leader is perfect, especially in our world today with all the evil complications, but we can only pray that they will be wise in their decisions. I think Gideon's most positive influence on the People Israel was his refusal of kingship. His answer to the people that God is their king must have opened the eyes of at least a few...if a man who could have "everything" (materially, at least) could refuse it to serve his God, then perhaps there was "something to it"! I look at many of the TV "Evangelists" with their $1000 Armani suits, surrounded by gilded furniture, asking for money for their ministry, and am saddened to think of the influence they have on so many people. I have to remember Jesus' words: "Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:33-34 (NKJ)

"Spiritual unfaithfulness is turning love to another source just as prostitution and adultery do. Love is drawn from God to a substitute and attention is focused in places other than God." That was perfect, Darlene! I have nothing to add to that, except that Jesus called His church His bride! As for my adultery, I get too wrapped up in our businesses and the family, etc., to focus my attention on God. I oftentimes fall asleep exhausted at night without even so much as a "good night" to Him! Our pastor discussed last night how God wants us to rest so that we may reflect on our day and on Him...that hit home! When I'm too tired, hungry, etc., I get angry and cannot turn my attention on Him!