Sunday, November 30, 2014

John ... Chapter 4 & 5

John 4

1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) 3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
 

4 And he must needs go through Samaria. 5Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 

10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 

11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 

15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. 17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said,  I have no husband: 18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. 

19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 

21Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 

25The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 

26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
 

27And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? 

28The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 

30Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. 

31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 

32But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 

33Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 

34Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 And herein is that saying true,  One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. 

39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified,  He told me all that ever I did. 40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his own word; 42 And said unto the woman,  Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
 

43Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. 44 For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country. 45 Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast. 

46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.  47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. 48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. 49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. 50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. 

51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying,  Thy son liveth. 52 Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him,  Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him,  Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. 54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee. 


Jn. 5

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.  3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 

5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. 

10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. 11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. 12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? 13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.  

14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. 

15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. 16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. 

17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 

18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 

19Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 

20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. 

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you,  He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 

25 Verily, verily, I say unto you,  The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 

30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. 

31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. 33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. 35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. 37And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. 38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. 

39 (Ye) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 

41 I receive not honour from men. 42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 

44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? 

45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? 

Idols

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

There are many idols in the world today just as there were many idols in Paul's day when he wrote about idols.  In Paul's day, idols were often things like figures carved from wood stumps and set up and worshiped as a god and feasts to those gods.

Today some of the idols set up by man and worshiped by man are Christmas, Thanksgiving, football, love of country, even inordinate love of family can be an idol taking the place of God and causing a person to set aside a word from God to please family, love of money, love of possessions, love of reputation, a "good" name among other men.  We have to be aware of these idols of today.

I Cor. 10, Paul said ...19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? 

20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. 22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
 

23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 

24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth. 25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: 26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof. 

27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 

28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof: 

29 Conscience,  I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?


We have to be careful where we put ourselves.

There is a woman here who calls me from time to time asking me to go to lunch with her.  I usually do this.  But if she called and asked me to go to lunch to celebrate Christmas, I wouldn't go with her for I don't want to be a part of this celebration of this idol.  (I don't even want to do birthday lunches.  It has always amazed me that people make so much of their own birthdays when they did nothing at all to cause the happening to take place.)

I just prefer not to put myself in a position where we are praising man.

And I do not want to put myself in groups where something is idolized ... Superbowl parties and such things...(I might watch football but I don't want to praise football.)

Basically this is the situation ...  Col. 3 ... 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.


Though once we did those things of the world when we were alive to the world, after we are enlightened we are made dead to the world and the world is dead to us so we go in another way.  And if we try to go in the excitement of the world, we will get there and wish we hadn't gone there for we who are alive in Christ will smell the death of the world and it is not a pleasant thing to smell death.


Saturday, November 29, 2014

John ... Chapter 2 & 3

John 2

1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. 6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. 11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
 

12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days. 13 And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; 16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. 17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. 

18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? 19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21 But he spake of the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
 

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. 




John 3

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 

9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 

10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 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. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
 

22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. 24 For John was not yet cast into prison. 

25Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. 26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. 27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.  28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 

30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 

31He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. 

32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.

33 He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. 

34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 

36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Green pastures and still waters

Pam Padgett - teacher

During this time of year when many are set on fire by the holidays, I find myself thanking God for how peaceful it is to not be caught up in the work and expectations of these holidays as I was much of my life such as ... needing to decorate and later removing decorations.  The pressure of deciding on and shopping for gifts for various people (not necessarily because it was put in my heart to give a gift to that person, but because it was "required" by the holiday traditions).  Feeling trapped in gatherings with worldly people and their talk. 

Heavy yokes, and not ways of peace.

It was very freeing to me some years ago when God opened my to see that HE has not told us to do these things.  These holidays are of men, not God.  

It is God I want to serve, not man-made traditions and expectations.  And God leads in ways of peace. 

Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Jesus lights every man who comes into this world

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

In John 1:9, we read that Jesus lights every man who comes into this world ...

People will say, "She got that from her mother" ... "He got that from his uncle" ... when a talent or characteristic surfaces.

John 1:9 causes me to question this saying of man ...

John 1:9 ... (Jesus) was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.


Talent in us surfaces when we show interest in certain things and especially when that interest doesn't burn out but continues through out life.

I have always been able to write.  I enjoy writing.  I believe I have a talent for writing.  I Jn. 9 causes me to have a firmer foundation for believing this talent was put there by God and not inherited from a human relative.  While the talent might be developed through use, the talent has to be there before it can be developed and I believe by Jn. 9 that Jesus put that talent in me.

To me this belief is important for it causes me to be grateful to God.  It puts down pride of man that will try to surface over that "talent".  When we believe the talent is from God, then we will praise God and not another.

Also "Jesus lights every man that comes into the world" ... when we see something and understand, I believe it is because HE gave us that light so we could understand.  Again this would fight pride of man.  The understanding would not be of ourselves where we could pride in ourselves.

All understanding is from God.

My aunt was a truly great cook and seamstress.  No one else in the family was like her.  We often gloried in her.  But our glory should be in the creator who created my aunt.  When we think of her it would be more proper if we thanked God who gives that talent to men and women.

The world likes to praise humans.  Flesh delights in flesh.

I believe "light", understanding, talents are put in us by God and not by inheritance from man.

To one God gives this ... to another God gives that ... and to some, who are called, God gives salvation.

Heb. 10 ... 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

No one gets there by his own will ... It is a gift of God for those chosen by God, as God wills.

Humans don't like to think of an "elect" of God but we read often in the New Testament of an elect of God.  Paul devotes a whole chapter on the subject of the elect of God.  Romans 9

We who are of God just accept it.  Those who are religious and filled with themselves will often reject it or reason it away with their own mind.  By doing such they become god.  For to follow God is to give up yourself and agree with HIM.

But we who are of God accept that which God allows us to see in Bible.  Often we have to give up our own thoughts about the matter in order to accept HIS thoughts for our thoughts are often contrary to HIS Word.

Friday, November 28, 2014

John ... Chapter 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
 

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.  

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
 

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 

18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
 

19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed,  I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.  22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
 

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.  30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John bare record, saying,  I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. 

35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?  39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.  40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.  42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
 

43The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. 

44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. 50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. 51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Evil in creating a similitude unto God

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Deut. 4 ... 7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? 8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? 

9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; 10 Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children. 

To create something that is supposed to represent God while being visible to the eye of man goes against God.  This passage of scripture shows us that God "makes us hear HIS voice" ... no man has seen God ... God is a Spirit (Jn. 4) ... you cannot see a Spirit ... to represent God visually would be a sin as we see from this scripture in Deut. 4.


11 And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness.  12 And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.  13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. 

14 And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it. 

15 Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: 16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, 17 The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air, 18 The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth: 19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.


Jesus said ...

 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Jn. 4


God is a Spirit.  Jesus is a Spirit.  To try to represent either God or Jesus in a physical way which the natural eye of man can see would be a sin.

God represented HIMSELF by HIS voice, not by images seen by the human eye.

God spoke ... The Word created all.

Certainly we who are of God must avoid "similitudes" which supposedly represent God.  All such "images" are evil works done by man.  We must recognize them for what they are.

At the appointed time, Jesus (The Word) who was first a Spirit, was made flesh and appeared as a human appears.  This was so Jesus could suffer all things flesh suffers yet without sin and be sacrificed to pay for our sins.

There were no images of Jesus when HE was in the flesh.

Later someone got another human to poise as Jesus and made a picture of this actor and sold it as a picture of Jesus.

But there are no real images of Jesus today.  Nor have there ever been images of HIS flesh.

This is because God is a Spirit ... and to be worshiped in Spirit and not in flesh of man.

Today Jesus is a Spirit, in spirit at the right hand of God who is Spirit.  We are born again by HIS Spirit.  We are connected to HIM and to those who belong to God by Spirit.

We must keep all things of God in Spirit ... never in flesh.

Promises of God to those who serve HIM

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; 
his leaf also shall not wither; 
and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 
 

4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Set apart by truth from God

Before Jesus was betrayed He prayed to the Father for those who belong to Him ...

 John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify (set apart to holiness) them through thy truth: thy word is truth.


Comments by Pam Padgett


As we live on this earth, we see evil done around us in the world and we face various temptations.  Jesus prayed that we be kept from the evil. 

Truth from God separates us from evil works as we believe the truth God gives to us about a matter and conform ourselves (what we think, do, and say) to that truth.

And those doing evil think us to be strange as we speak and do according to the truth God gives to us, and they often separate from us.

An example:   When I was working and there was deception going on around me in reporting project status, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the following which showed me truth from God and kept me from joining in the deception:    1John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Revelation: Chapter 22

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.
 


6 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. 

8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 

9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: 

worship God. 

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. 

13 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. 

18 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. 

21The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. 

Amen. (Let it be so)



Life for us is of God, not of man

Pam Padgett - teacher

Recently while thinking of the holiday traditions of families and other people gathering for a big holiday meal and often spending an entire day (or days) together, I kept thinking of how dead these gatherings have seemed to me when I have gone to them.  Almost immediately I wanted to get away.  Advertisements show these gatherings as being full of life, but in reality they have seemed dead to me. 

Today I was reminded of ...

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

God has given us the Holy Spirit living in us leading us by His Word.  Life for us is in hearing what God speaks to us and going in that way, and in having access to turn to God in prayer. 

Things of the flesh, even the best-planned events authored by man, are dead in comparison to the life we have been given. 

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Revelation: Chapter 21

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. 

5 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.

9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, 

Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 

10 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: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 

15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 

18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: 

and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 

19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 

21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: 

and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 

22 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.

Power of the upcoming holidays

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are extremely fleshly and have a power over the flesh which for us can produce unnecessary trouble unless we are alert and sober in thinking.

There is so much before us on television showing what we are supposed to be on this earth to have a full life.  It is easy for wrong thinking to creep in giving us some vain imagination concerning doing something that can seem right but have wrong consequences.

This is what God used this year to sober me up.

Col. 3 ... 1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.


The life of the worldly people is on this present earth.

But my life is not on this present earth with them.  I'm dead with Christ and my life is hid from their view.  My life is even hid from my own view when compared with the fun and celebration the people have here during these festive months.  It doesn't seem I have a life, but I do.  It is just remembering that my life is in Christ, not in the activities of this world.

Do not underestimate the power of the flesh during this season for the pull of the pleasures of this world can be very strong for the next few weeks.

If you find you have slipped into a little depression then realize you have let the influence of the world get to you.

When we belong to God, we are new creatures.  The old man is now dead to this world.  We keep the flesh crucified by refusing to allow it to reign as it would desire to do, and by focusing on the concept that we are buried with Christ now, dead to this world.  We are now in Christ.  Our life is in HIM.  As a woman's life is in her husband, our life is in Christ.

Romans 6 ... 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7For he that is dead is freed from sin.  8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.  14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 

The Bible is our guide.  God did not tell us to celebrate the birth of Christ as the world (who knows not the Spirit) tries to do.  All these celebrations are without the Spirit of God.  They are born of the flesh of man and have a puffed up vision attached to them.  And no matter how hard humans try to live up to that vision it falls short and there is a little let down.

It just won't work for it is not authored by God but has been set up by man.

Remember, we are dead to this world ... our life is hid in HIM.


Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Revelation: Chapters 19 & 20

1 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. 

3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. 4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
 

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. 8 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.
 

11 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. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  

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; 18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 

19 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. 

21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.




Revelation 20

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. 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. 

7 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. 

11 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.

I Cor. 1:8-9

our Lord Jesus Christ:  8Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

confirm:  

- establish the truth and correctness of that which you have heard from HIM
- state with assurance that a report or fact is true
- reinforce you in an opinion, belief, feeling
- make your appointment formally valid
- strengthen you

God chooses foolish and despicable things to confound the wise

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

The flesh of man likes to see other flesh as worthy.  Men honor other men in various ways and delight in exalting flesh among themselves.

But God chooses the foolish and despicable things to confound the wise.

Often the least worthy person is singled out for salvation.  And people are confounded when this unworthy person begins to speak of things of God.  And the religious people who thought themselves to be worthy are confused when such happens.

I Cor. 1 ... 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 


My cousin was a Church of Christ member all her life.  She saw herself as a Christian.  She saw herself as a very moral woman.  She saw herself as religious.  She married a pillar of the Church of Christ.  They were the aristocracy of their church group.  Her husband was also a medical doctor. They were held in esteem by others around them because of their fleshly achievements and their professed religion.  Both of them fought me greatly after I became a Christian and shared things of God with them.  To the end of his life, the husband spoke evil of me.  After his death, his wife (my cousin) continued to share the evil of me spoken by her husband.  They were greatly confounded by me.   (surprised and confused for this was contrary to their expectations concerning me)

I was not a desirable person before I was born again.  My cousin once said to me, "Well ... I know you are a Christian ... I just don't see how you can be."

Many people in church groups think themselves to be wise and at the top of religion.  But they are actually like Jesus described them in Revelation 3 ... 17 Because thou sayest,  I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

And God chose the base things and things that are despised to confound the flesh.

Drunkards, fornicators, adulterers, homosexuals ... are among those chosen by God to confuse man who is trying to be religious of himself.  How can these people be Christians?  bewildered onlookers ask.  It doesn't make sense that such could be of God.  Nice people are the ones who should be Christians, they think.

But God's ways are very different.  Salvation is not going to come by works but by faith in the works of Jesus Christ.  And God confounds the wise in their wisdom of what should be. And exalts the most unlikely people.


Mortify deeds of the flesh

Pam Padgett - teacher

Romans 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

The flesh sets out to get what it desires with no thought for what is right in the sight of God. 

I recently saw a television show in which a married man was attracted to a women at work.  He and those he spoke with focused on, approved, and supported how he felt and what he wanted.  But no one mentioned that he was not free to pursue such a relationship because he was already married.   The flesh seeks to please itself and the flesh of others without regard for how God views the matter. 

Even though we are born again, our flesh still seeks to please itself and others.  However, we no longer have to follow desires of the flesh which are contrary to the ways of God as we once did.   

Instead we have the Holy Spirit leading us and strengthening us in ways of God.  And the Holy Spirit is able to show us how to keep our flesh from ruling in the various matters we face in our lives.  We are able to mortify (kill) what the flesh wants to do which is opposite to the word of God, refusing to do those things.  

Years ago a man named Johnny told me that he and his high school girl friend had planned to marry when he finished college.  While he was in college, however, she married someone else.  When we spoke he was probably in his 30's and said he had never met another woman he loved as he had loved this high school girl friend, so he had not married.

Meanwhile his high school girl friend had decided she made a mistake in who she married.  She had divorced her husband and wanted to marry Johnny.  He said he still loved her very much but didn't want to do anything that would cause her to sin.  He wanted to know if marrying her would cause her to sin.  

Hearing his story, my flesh was stirred up wanting to approve and support him marrying this woman as he wanted.  But the Holy Spirit reminded me that God has told us in the Bible that they would commit adultery.  

Mark 10:12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

Matt. 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Clinging to the word of God and fearing God enabled me to refuse (kill) what my flesh wanted to do and to tell Johnny that they would commit adultery if they married and gave scriptures dealing with this to him.  

The Spirit leads us to uphold the word of God instead of casting it aside in order to serve flesh. 

Monday, November 24, 2014

Revelation: Chapters 17 & 18

Revelation 17:  

And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, 

Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 

3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:  5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.  6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
 


7And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. 

8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 

9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. 12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
 


14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. 

15And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.




Revelation: 18  

And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 

2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, 

Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.  

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, 

Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 

6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. 

7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 

8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. 

9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! 

for in one hour is thy judgment come. 

11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,  13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.  

14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. 

15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! 

17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. 

And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, 18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! 

for in one hour is she made desolate. 

20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. 

21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, 

Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. 22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; 23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. 

Don't miss revelation from God

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Sometimes God will speak through us a "revelation" but it may be so subtil there is a chance we will miss the whole concept unless we pay very close attention.

Recently my attention was drawn to this truth:  God is a spirit.

So if we are to be a child of God we must be born of HIS Spirit.

We cannot be a child of God unless we are born of HIS Spirit.

Since God is a spirit those born of God are born of HIS Spirit.

Many think they are born of God while they are born of the flesh of man.  They do those things flesh tells them to do to be spiritual.  They are baptized in water.  They attend church.  They read the Bible.  They do many good works told to them by other humans.  But unless we have the spirit telling us to do these things all we are doing is works of the flesh.

The flesh of man says, "Do this."  We do what he says.  We are born of the flesh of man.

But we must be born of the Spirit to be of God.  It must be God authoring the action by HIS Spirit to be of God.

God is a spirit ... It is a Spirit that causes us to be born of HIS Spirit... and unless that is the case, we can not belong to God.

Romans 8 ... 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.


A "religious" mother takes her child to church.  The mother tells the child to do something.  At church the child hears from pastor to do something.  She does those things thinking she is religious.  She is born after the flesh in such.  It is only when the Spirit of God speaks to her that she is truly of God, born of the Spirit.

Romans 8 ... 11 But if the Spirit of HIM that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, HE that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by HIS Spirit that dwelleth in you. 


Example:  A few days ago, a woman spoke to me of the "fullness" of her life on this earth.  She is having 25 people in for thanksgiving dinner.  Her grandson just married.  She and husband are going to her daughter's house for Christmas.  All these show her life on this earth and how important her life is on this earth.

But I have no visible life on this earth ... no children ... no grandchildren ... I will be home alone on thanksgiving day and on Christmas day ... no visible life on this earth ...

But Holy Spirit says:  But you are dead and your life is hid in Christ in God and when Christ appears you will appear with HIM

That is correct. 

My life is not on this present earth as people of the flesh see.  My life is hidden with Christ.  They can't see my life.  But I know I have this life in Christ.  I may seem alone on this earth.  I may seem pitiful on this earth.  But I know differently.  My life is hid in Christ in God.

And when Christ appears I will appear with HIM ...

Those who despised and rejected Christ will be greatly dismayed when they see HIM coming through the air.  "OH NO ..." they will shudder.  They rejected HIM, thinking HIM to be as nothing.  Now HE rules over all.  And we will be with HIM ... and those who despised and rejected us will see us with HIM and they will be greatly dismayed for we really are of God!

These concepts are revelations from God given to me and reported to you over the past few months.

Paul says ... 1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. 2 I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; 



Paul is telling them the same thing two or three times so his "witness" of these things shall be able to be established in them.  Those who missed the concept, the revelation, the first or second time have opportunity this time to focus on that which seemed unimportant the first time they heard the word on the matter.  Now they have opportunity to enter into the blessing by the repeating of the revelation.

Phil. 3 ... 1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

Hebrews 13:5

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

James 1:5-8

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Revelation: 15 & 16

Revelation: 15

And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; 

for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 

2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, 

Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.  

 4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
 

5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 

6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. 

7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. 

8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.





Revelation 16

And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, 

Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. 

2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. 

3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. 

4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. 5And I heard the angel of the waters say, 

Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. 

7 And I heard another out of the altar say, 

Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
 

 8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: 

and they repented not to give him glory.  

10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, 

and repented not of their deeds.
 

 12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 

13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.   

15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 

16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, 

It is done. 

18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 

19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 

20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 

21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: 

and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

Holy Spirit guides us into all truth

Pam Padgett - teacher

A few days ago while dealing with getting a new door to be installed between my house and garage, I first went to a home improvement store.  As I was leaving there, the Holy Spirit brought a thought reminding me of a handyman service who has done work for me in the past.  When I talked with them, they suggested a wooden door, which is what I had wanted but had been told by others was not available as a fire door.  I was grateful that the Holy Spirit reminded me of this handyman service. 

A short time after being reminded of the handyman service, however, thoughts came accusing me that I had failed to pray about how to deal with this project before starting.  At first I thought this was true.  But the Holy Spirit reminded me of exact instances when I had prayed, and even what I had prayed in dealing with this door.

The Holy Spirit reminded me of the truth, while the devil brought thoughts opposite to the truth which falsely accused me. 

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
 
The devil is the father of lies and often uses lies as he seeks to weaken, destroy and trouble us, sometimes twisting truth and sometimes speaking what is exactly opposite to truth. 

But the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and shows us what is true.  By truth from the Holy Spirit we are able to overcome. 

God is a spirit

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Recently I was watching TV comedy ... two men began argument about God.   Is God white? or is God black?  they argued.

God is neither black nor white for God is a Spirit.

Jn. 4 ... Jesus says ...  24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

It certainly makes sense when we understand no man has seen God.  How can you see a spirit?

In the beginning, Jesus (like God) was a spirit.  Then Jesus was made flesh.  Then Jesus was crucified and is now a spirit.

And God gives the Spirit of Jesus to those of us who are born of HIM.

We connect God as being a spirit with the following ... Jn. 3 ... Jesus said ... Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit


The children of the flesh are flesh.

The children of God (who is a spirit) are born of the spirit.  That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Jn. 3:6

Romans 8 ... 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.   7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
 

10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.  12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

For those who love the revealing of the Word of God

II Tim. 2:8 ... Paul says ... Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love HIS appearing. 

Comments by Joan Boney ... This crown of righteousness is laid up for all who love the revealing of the Word of God, thus "HIS" appearing.  Many say, "Jesus is Lord", but when you share something of the Word that God has revealed to you, they show no sight of rejoicing.  They just stare at you blankly, like dead people.  They have no life in them though they think themselves to be Christians.

Those people who are of God are truly excited when you share a revelation from God concerning scripture.  These are those Paul speaks of in II Tim. 2:8.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Revelation: Chapters 13 & 14

Revelation 13

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.  

2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: 

and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 

3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.  4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 

5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.  

6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, 
to blaspheme his name, 
and his tabernacle, 
and them that dwell in heaven. 

7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear. 

10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. 

Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
 

11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 

13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 

14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 

15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.  

16 And he causeth all, both small and great,  rich and poor,  free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:  17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 

18 Here is wisdom. 
Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: 
for it is the number of a man; 
and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.



Revelation 14

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, 

and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. 

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.  5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
 

6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, 

Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: 

and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 

8 And there followed another angel, saying, 

Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 

9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, 

If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; 

and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 

11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, 

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.  

14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 

15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.  

16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. 

17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 

18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 

19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 

20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, 

and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.