WGOD Radio: All Truth, All the Time.
WGOD Radio, with Bible teacher and translator Dr. Paul W. Esposito. We teach the New Testament verse by verse through a daily, 30 minute radio broadcast and podcast. The sermons originate from Island Community Church, in Merritt Island, Florida (www.islandcommunitychurch.net)
 

Today we look at chapter 18 of Revelation.

Direct download: Rev_81_18_1-14_podcast.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:23am EDT

Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. (Rev 17:9)

And there are seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And whenever he comes, he must abide for a short time. (Rev 17:10)

And the beast which was, and is not, is also an eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition. (Rev 17:11)

And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet have received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings for one hour with the beast. (Rev 17:12)

These have one purpose, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. (Rev 17:13)

These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, and elect, and faithful." (Rev 17:14)

Direct download: Rev_80_17_9-14_podcast.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:16am EDT

And he led me away in the Spirit, into a deserted place. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. (Rev 17:3)

And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, gilded with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup being filled with abominations and the filthiness of the fornication of the earth. (Rev 17:4)

And on her forehead a name was written, a mystery: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Rev 17:5)

I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. (Rev 17:6)

But the angel said to me, "Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast carrying her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. (Rev 17:7)

The beast which you saw was, and is not, and is about to ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth shall marvel, whose name is not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and shall be present. (Rev 17:8)

Direct download: Rev_79_17_3-8_podcast.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:12am EDT

Then one of the seven angels having the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, (Rev 17:1)

with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and those dwelling on the earth became drunk from the wine of her fornication." (Rev 17:2)

Direct download: Rev_78_17_1-2_podcast.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:06am EDT

Why trials?

I've heard it said too many times, unfortunately, that God does not cause, or bring, trials into the life of a believer.

However, Psalm 66:9-10 sheds some light on this question:

Psa 66:8-12  Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard,  (9)  Who keeps our soul among the living, And does not allow our feet to be moved.  (10)  For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.  (11)  You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs.  (12)  You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.

Notice some of the things that the Psalmist says that God does in the life of a believer:

1. He does not allow our feet to be moved.

2. God tests us.

3. God refines us, by turning up the heat in our lives, to burn away any impurities from us, to make us more like Jesus Christ.

4. He leads us into the net--that is, into the trial of affliction.

5.He causes men to ride over us. Perhaps to totally rid us of ourselves, and any pride.

6. He causes us to go through the fire (Dan 3:21)

7. He delivers us in due time.

This shouldn't surprise us. The Bible said that this was part of the sanctification process:

Romans 8:29 says, "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."

Why trials?

To make us more like the Son of God!

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not permit you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation, He will also make the way out, so as for you to be able to bear it." (1 Cor 10:13)

God is sovereign. He reserves the right to use any means necessary to bring about His will.

God is the One who refines us. Not Satan.

Category:general -- posted at: 7:45am EDT

After intense study for many years regarding this verse, I have come to the educated conclusion that the Byzantine Majority Text has the correct reading in Revelation 13:14.

Here it is:

"And he deceives my own people who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived."

 The Majority Text just adds the personal pronoun to this verse, enhancing this verse from "he deceives those" to "he deceives mine." (literally, those belonging to me, or, tous emous in Greek.)

Now humor me for a moment, and agree with me, that this is the correct reading...

In your opinions, what would that mean, the phrase, "My own people"?

1.  Jews

2. Christians

 14 And he deceives my own people who dwell on the earth by the signs which were given to him to do before the beast, saying to those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the woundand came to life! from the sword. 

 Notice this is John speaking, not God.

Please send your thoughts and comments to: paul@gospelstudy.net

Category:general -- posted at: 8:18pm EDT