Revelation 1:1-6 - A Bible Study

** This post is the first in a series of bible studies on Revelation **

  

In many of our Bibles, the book of Revelation is given the title "The Revelation of St. John the Divine."  And yet the first verse clearly states, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ."  We need to remember that these titles are not part of scripture but were merely added to identify the different books of the Bible and to also identify the human writer whom God used to pen His Word.  

The word "revelation" comes from the Greek word "apokalupsis" or "apocalypse"  and means to uncover or unveil.  It is the unveiling of Jesus Christ.  Through the book of Revelation we will see the unveiling of Jesus Christ, His return to this earth and His reign on this earth for a thousand years, also know as the Day of the Lord.  

Rev. 1:1 "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:"

The revelation was given from God to Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ  then sends it to John via His (Christ's) angel.  Notice that it is "signified" by the angel to John.  In other words it is given in symbols.  Now, I've always believed and taught that the Bible should be taken literally.  For example, when the Bible states "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." in Romans 3:23, we can take God's Word literally.  It says "for all."  This literally means all or everyone.  And when it says "sin", well that literally means sin.  "Come short of the glory of God" will literally mean that when mankind sins, we fall short of God's glory.  It's just that simple.  I take the Bible literally.  Now when the Bible uses symbols or signs, I believe there is still a literal interpretation for those symbols or signs.  God has a literal interpretation, and sometimes we humans get it right and unfortunately we often get it wrong.  Although the book of Revelation was given to John in symbols or signs, we can still receive a literal interpretation from these signs.

Rev. 1:2 "Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw."

The "who" in verse two is referring to the Apostle John.  John had been exiled to the island of Patmos for his testimony of Jesus Christ during the reign of Domitian sometime between A.D. 91 and 96.  It was during this time that John penned the book of Revelation.  Here we are told that John bare record of the Word of God or the scriptures.  John also bare record of the testimony of Jesus Christ.  Just what is the testimony of Jesus Christ?  This question is answered in chapter 19 and verse 10, where we read "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."  The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.  The book of Revelation is a prophetic book.  Chapters four through twenty-two all deal with future events.  Lastly, we see that John bare record of all things that he saw.  This is past tense and does not refer to the book of Revelation but to the life of Jesus Christ, His death and His resurrection.  John bare record of Christ and was exiled for doing so.  

Rev. 1:3 "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."  

The book of Revelation begins with a blessing and will end with a curse, see Rev. 22:18-19.  God promises a special blessing for all those who read and to those who hear the words from the book of Revelation.  Also a blessing to those who will "keep those things which are written therein."  I believe this means to memorize and meditate on those things written in the book of Revelation.  You will notice that it doesn't say anything about understanding the book.  God promises a blessing for all those who will read, hear, and keep on the things written in the book of Revelation without necessarily understanding all that is written within.   Don't let the fact that you don't understand the book keep you from reading it.  Satan doesn't want us to read the book.  Satan doesn't want us to see his final judgement.  God wants you to read this book.  Every time you read it you'll receive a new gold nugget.  You're going to find doctrine in the book of Revelation, you'll find answers to questions asked from the time of creation.  Read it and receive a blessing from God!

Rev. 1:4 "John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;"

The number seven in scripture means completeness and we are going to see it used throughout the book of Revelation.  John addresses his letter to the "seven churches which are in Asia."  Although there were at least ten churches in Asia during John's time, the letter is addressed to only seven.  We are going to see when we get to chapters two and three that these seven churches represent and share certain characteristics of the seven periods of church history.  We will talk more about these seven periods of church history, the church age and Daniel's seventy weeks when we get to chapter two of Revelation.  

John uses a greeting that is common in the New Testament and was often used by the Apostle Paul, "grace and peace."  Grace was the greeting used by the Greeks and Peace was that used by the Jews. The early churches were often made up of both Jews and Greeks.  Paul tells us in Galatians 3:27-28 "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."  When we are baptized (immersed) into Christ, we become new creatures, we become the body of Christ.

"The seven Spirits which are before his throne," refers to the Holy Spirit aka Holy Ghost.  The Holy Spirit is one.  The "seven Spirits" refer to seven characteristics of the Holy Spirit as given in Isaiah 11:2.  I will talk more about the seven Spirits when we get to verse twelve.  

"From him which is, and which was, and which is to come," refers to God the Father.  Although it may appear to refer to Jesus Christ, it would not make much since as we see in the very next verse "And from Jesus Christ."  It wouldn't make sense to say in verses 4&5, "Greetings from Jesus and from the Holy Spirit and from Jesus."  It would though make since to read it "Greetings from the Father, the Holy Spirit and Jesus."  "Him which is, and which was, and which is to come," signifies the past, present and future, the eternal being of God.  

Rev. 1:5-6 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

Although John has penned the letter, it becomes obvious that it is from the Godhead: the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  Now within verses five through six we see seven descriptions or references to Jesus Christ.  

1. "The faithful witness."  Since the book of Revelation is the unveiling of Jesus Christ, who better to testify of those things.  Christ is our faithful witness.  In the gospels we saw Christ in his humanity, we saw Christ as the Lamb of God, we saw His sacrifice for our sins.  In the book of Revelation we will see Christ as judge and as king.  Christ's testimony is faithful and true.
2. "The first begotten of the dead."  Christ certainly wasn't the first person to be raised from the dead.  Christ resurrected Lazarus from the dead as well as Jairus' daughter and the widow's son.  Christ is the first to rise from the dead not to ever die again.  The first to rise in an incorruptible, immortal body. 
3. "Prince of the kings of the earth."  In verse six we see that Christ has made "us" kings.  We are also told that we will reign with Christ on this earth Rev. 5:10, 20:6, 22:5.  This is a literal earthly kingdom as we will see as we further study the book of Revelation.  
4. "Unto him that loved us."  Christ loves "us" and this is why He was faithful to death on the cross.  Since Christ loves "us" there should be no reason to be frightened when we read the book of Revelation.  When speaking about the rapture, the return of Christ and the Day of Christ, Paul tells us to "comfort one another with these words," 1 Thessalonians 4:18 and "That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or troubled by our gathering together unto him."  2 Thessalonians 2:2.  Unto him that loved "us."  When we read that little word "us" in Revelation as well as in first and second Thessalonians, it refers to the church, the body of Christ.  Christ loves his Church and this is why Paul can tell us in 1 Thessalonians 5:9b "For God hath not appointed us to wrath..."  Click HERE to read about having confidence in Christ's return, and click HERE to read about the day of the Lord.
5. "Washed us from our sins in his own blood."  Notice that little word "us" again.  Have you put your faith in Jesus Christ?  Have you been washed in the blood?  The blood of Christ has washed (separated) us from our sins!  You see that there is spiritual circumcision (separation) that takes place when we accept Christ as our personal saviour.  Colossians 2:11 "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:"  Although I will carry around this body of sin until I die, I have been circumcised (separated) from it through Christ.  It's the blood of Jesus Christ that has washed (separated) us from our sins. 
6. "Hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father."  In the Old Testament tabernacle and temple worship, only the priest was aloud entry into the most holy place, and only with the blood of the sacrificial lamb, goat or ram.  "Us" the church, have been made priests and as priests, we can enter into the holy place or the Throne of Grace boldly.  See Hebrews 4:16.  Again in Rev. 5:10 "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." This ought to excite the child of God.  We are going to reign as kings and priests (in our glorified bodies) on this earth!
7. "To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever."  All the kingdoms and dominions of this earth are temporary, but the dominion of Christ will be forever.  Christ will reign on this earth for a thousand years and then Satan will be loosed from his prison to deceive the nations once again.  Revelation 20:10 tells us "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."  The last two chapters of Revelation tells us that there will be a new heaven and a "new earth" as this earth will pass away and that we will reign with Christ forever.  

In concluding this article, I would like to take this opportunity to say that this is not intended to be a super in-depth study on the book of Revelation.  We on the contrary will just do some "water skiing" through the book or Revelation.  I hope and pray that each article will be a blessing to the reader.

This is part one in a series.  Stay tuned for part 2.

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The Rapture (Part 2) -The Day Of The Lord

** This is part 2 in a series on the rapture.  For part one click HERE. **

This is the second of three articles dealing with the rapture of the church, the Day of the Lord and the return of Christ.  It is my intention to show that the child of God needs not fear the return of Christ, but should look forward to His return.  2 Timothy 4:8 promises a crown of righteousness to all who love his appearing. 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 tells us that, "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." 

So what is "The day of the Lord?" In 2 Peter 3:8-10 we read "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."  The day of the Lord is a thousand year period of time which includes the Great Tribulation period and the return of Christ as well as His earthly Kingdom.  The Day of the Lord is described in great detail in the book of Revelation, chapters six through twenty.

According to both 1 Thessalonians 5:2 and 2 Peter 3:10, The Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.  Over the years, I've heard many good intentioned folks make predictions as to the time of Christ's return.  Christ Himself told us that,"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only," Matthew 24:36.  Christ clearly tells us that no man knows the time of His return.  1 Thessalonians 2, tells us that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.  Just how does a thief arrive?  A few years ago, a thief broke into our home while we were out.  I checked the answering machine and there was no message from the thief.  No, he didn't call in advance of his coming to our home.  He didn't send us a letter confirming the time he would break in and rob us.  A thief will never announce his coming.  The Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, unannounced.   

In the previous article, we read about the rapture in chapter four of 1 Thessalonians.  Now in chapter five, we are introduced to the Day of the Lord.  It is no mystery as to why Paul would introduce the rapture in chapter four and the Day of the Lord in chapter five.  Now, I'm no theologian, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that chapter four comes before chapter five because the events of chapter four take place before the events of chapter five.  Remember Paul told us that "God is not the author of confusion..." in 1 Corinthians 14:33.  There are some Bible teachers out there that want you to believe that the events described in chapter four of 1 Thessalonians will take place in the middle or at the end of those events described in chapter five.  At the risk of publishing a lengthy article, I'm going to print here the last six verses of chapter four and the first three verses of chapter five.  I want you to notice closely the wording in these nine verses.  1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:3 "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape."

Did you notice the wording of these verses?  The "we" of chapter four is the church, the body of Christ, those who have accepted Christ as their personal saviour.  The "they" and "them" of chapter five are those who rejected Christ. Sudden destruction will fall on them not us and they shall not escape. Let's look at Revelation 6:2-8 "And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny (a penny was a day's wages); and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth."  Chapter six of Revelation begins recording the events of the Great Tribulation which continues until chapter nineteen of Revelation. "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape," 1 Thessalonians 5:3. This is the Great Tribulation. 

Now lets look at 1 Thessalonians 5:4 "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief."  Now why won't the day of the Lord overtake us as a thief?  Because we were taken out in chapter four of 1 Thessalonians.  

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 tells us "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."  Paul tells us to comfort ourselves and to edify one another.  The reason we can take comfort in this passage of scripture is because "God hath not appointed us to wrath."  In a study of the book of Revelation we see that God's wrath is poured out on the people of this earth during the Great Tribulation period.  We my friend are not appointed unto wrath.

The book of Revelation details certain event such as:

1. Church history - chapters 2 & 3
2. The rapture - chapter 4 verse 1
3. The church in heaven after the rapture - chapters 4 & 5
4. The Great Tribulation period - chapters 6 - 19
5. Christ's return and earthly kingdom - chapters 19 - 20
6. New heaven, new earth and the eternal reign - chapters 21 & 22

If we take these events and keep them in the order which God gives them to us, we'll have a clear understanding of the rapture, the Great Tribulation and the return of Christ.  Just as we can see the order of events in Revelation, we can see the same order of events in 1 Thessalonians 4 & 5.  In chapter four of 1 Thessalonians, we see a beautiful description of the rapture.  In chapter five of 1 Thessalonians we see the Day of the Lord coming as a thief in the night.

So in conclusion of this article, I would again like to quote the Apostle Paul "Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

This is part 2 in a series.  Stay tuned for part 3.

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New Christian Merch E-Store

We've been working on a new e-store that sells Christ honoring apparel, skateboards, and other merchandise and it's finally ready to share with you all.  Jesus Wore Cotton Co is dedicated to selling Christ honoring merchendise.

"It can be difficult living as a Christian in today's world, constantly surrounded by worldly things and always being pressured by the world to put away our faith and never speak about it.  As Christians though we know there's a better way, and that we're to live for Christ, never being ashamed of Him."

Check out Jesus Wore Cotton Co today!

Proceeds from sales go to supporting the artists who have made it their mission to bring Christ honoring merchandise into the world, and to the family who runs CBSB.

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Love Quotes From The Bible

Sometimes it's helpful to have a collection of verses to fall back on in specific topics when putting together a Bible study, or researching for your own study purposes.  Today's post contains scriptures out of the KJV containing the word Love.  Whether you're making a Christian valentines day card, or putting together a study for yourself or others, we hope this collection of verses helps you.

Note: This list does not contain every single mention of the word 'Love' in the KJV, but does contain a good portion of them.  Scriptures are in order starting in the old testament and going all the way to Revelation.

Exodus 20:5-6 "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments."

Leviticus 19:18 "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD."

Leviticus 19:34 "But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God."

Deuteronomy 5:10 "And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments."

Deuteronomy 6:5 "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."

Deuteronomy 7:7 "The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:"

Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;"

Deut. 10:12 "And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,"

Deut. 11:1 "Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway."

Deut. 30:20 "That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."

Joshua 23:11 "Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God."

2 Chronicles 9:8 "Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice."

Psalm 5:11 "But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee."

Psalm 11:7 "For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright."

Psalm 18:1 "I will love thee, O LORD, my strength."

Psalm 31:23 "O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer."

Psalm 33:5 "He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD."

Psalm 37:28 "For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off."

Psalm 40:16 "Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified."

Psalm 91:14 "Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name."

Psalm 116:1 "I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications."

Psalm 119:97 "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day."

Psalm 119:127 "Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold."

Psalm 119:140 "Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it."

Psalm 119:165 "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."

Proverbs 3:12 "For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth."

Proverbs 4:6 "Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

Proverbs 5:19 "Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love."

Proverbs 8:21 "That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures."

Proverbs 10:12 "Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins."

Proverbs 12:1 "Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish."

Proverbs 16:13 "Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right."

Proverbs 17:9 "He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends."

Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

Proverbs  21:17 "He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich."

Proverbs 27:5 "Open rebuke is better than secret love."

Proverbs  29:3 "Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance."

Ecclesiastes 3:8 "A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."

Ecclesiastes5:10 "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity."

Ecclesiastes 9:1 "For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them."

Ecclesiastes  9:9 "Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun."

Song Of Solomon 1:15 "Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes."

Isaiah 38:17 "Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back."

Isaiah 63:9 "In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old."

Jeremiah 31:3 "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

Micah 6:8 "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."

Zechariah 8:17 "And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD."

Matthew 5:44 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"

Matthew 6:24 "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

Matthew 19:19 "Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Matthew 22:37 "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."

Mark 12:33 "And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

Luke 6:27 "But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,"

Luke 6:32 "For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them."

Luke 6:35 "But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil."

John 3:16 "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."

John 3:19 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."

John 3:35 "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand."

John 10:17 "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again."

John 13:34 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."

John 13:35 "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

John 14:21 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

John 14:23 "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

John 14:24 "He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me."

John 15:10 "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."

John 15:12 "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you."

John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:19 "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."

John 16:27 "For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God."

John 17:23 "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."

John 17:24 "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."

John 21:15-17 "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."

Romans 5:5 "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 8:39 "Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 12:9 "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."

Romans 12:10 "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;"

Romans 13:8 "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."

Romans 13:10 "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

1 Corinthians 2:9 "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

1 Corinthians 8:3 "But if any man love God, the same is known of him."

2 Corinthians 5:14 "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:"

2 Corinthians 9:7 "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

2 Corinthians 13:11 "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you."

Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

Galatians 5:6 "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love."

Galatians 5:14 "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,"

Ephesians 1:4 "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:"

Ephesians 2:4 "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,"

Ephesians 3:17 "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,"

Ephesians 3:19 "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."

Ephesians 4:2 "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;"

Ephesians 4:16 "From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

Ephesians 5:2 "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour."

Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;"

Ephesians 5:28 "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself."

Ephesians 5:33 "Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband."

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Colossians 2:2 "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;"

Colossians 3:19 "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them."

1 Thessalonians 3:12 "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:"

1 Thessalonians 5:8 "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."

2 Thessalonians 2:16 "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,"

2 Thessalonians 3:5 "And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ."

1 Timothy 1:14 "And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus."

1 Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

1 Timothy 6:11 "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness."

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

2 Timothy 4:8 "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."

Titus 2:4 "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,"

Hebrews 1:9 "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."

Hebrews 12:6 "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth"

Hebrews 13:1 "Let brotherly love continue."

James 1:12 "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

1 Peter 1:8 "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:"

1 Peter 2:17 "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king."

1 John 2:5 "But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him."

1 John 2:10 "He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him."

1 John 2:15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

1 John 3:1 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not."

1 John 3:14 "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."

1 John 3:16 "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."

1 John 3:18 "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."

1 John 4:7 "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."

1 John 4:8 "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

1 John 4:9 "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him."

1 John 4:10  "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

1 John 4:11 "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."

1 John 4:12 "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us."

1 John 4:16 "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."

1 John 4:17 "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world."

1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

1 John 4:19 "We love him, because he first loved us."

1 John 4:20 "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"

1 John 4:21 "And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."

1 John 5:1 "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him."

1 John 5:2 "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments."

1 John 5:3 "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

2 John 1:6 "And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it."

Jude 1:21 "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."

Revelation 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,"

Revelation 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."

Note: This is a selection of verses from the KJV Bible containing the word Love.  There are many more.  For the most part I left out verses that repeated other verses, or verses that were along the lines of, "so and so loved so and so..."

I hope this list of 'love' verses from the Bible has helped you in your Bible study endeavors.

 

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The Rapture (Part 1) - Confidence In Christ's Return

** This post is part one in a series of three articles studying the rapture. **

It was during our home Bible Study this last Sunday that I was teaching on the mysteries of God and we were looking at 1 Thessalonians chapter 4.  It was then that I decided that I wanted to share this with you.  Today we'll be discussing Paul's words describing how that we should have confidence and comfort in the knowledge that Christ will return for us.

1 Thessalonians 4:13, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." Paul is writing here and he tells us not to be ignorant of some things.  It's amazing to me just how ignorant of the things of God, we as Christians are.  In these few verses, Paul is going to teach us some things regarding the dead in Christ and what we call the Rapture.  Yes I know the term "Rapture" is never used in the Word of God.  The term "Rapture" is just the name given to the gathering together of the Church at the end of the Church age.  Notice that Paul tells us not to sorrow as those without hope. Do you know what the Bible means by that word "hope?"  When the word hope is used in the Bible it means confidence which comes by faith.  Romans 15:13 "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."  Hope means confidence!  When you read the above verse, replace the word hope with confidence.  It reads like this, 'Now the God of [confidence] fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in [confidence], through the power of the Holy Ghost.'  In today's English, the word "hope" means just the opposite, it means to have no confidence and merely wishing or hoping.  In today's English a verse like Romans 15:13 would have no power to it.  Lets look back at 1 Thessalonians 4:13, "...even as others which have no hope" or confidence.  If we have confidence in our salvation, then there is no reason to sorrow over the death of a believer. 

1 Thessalonians 4:14 "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."  Lets look at Romans 10:9-10 for a moment: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."  There is no salvation without a risen Saviour!  A person can't get saved without believing that Christ is risen from the dead.   Those which sleep in Jesus believed in his resurection during their lifetime and Christ will bring them with Him when He comes for His Church.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-16 "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:"  This is the rapture and not the return of Christ.  When Christ returns to the earth, every eye shall see Him.  Revelation 1:7 says "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him..."  Read more about Christ's return in Revelation 19. 

Back to our passage in 1 Thessalonians, notice that "the dead in Christ shall rise first."   Remember in verse 14 the term was "sleep in Jesus" now we read "the dead in Christ."  What's the difference between these two terms?  The term "sleep in Jesus" refers to the souls of those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ.  The "dead in Christ" refers to the bodies of those same folks.  Let me explain this:  When you place your trust in Christ, a spiritual circumcision takes place.  Colossians 2:11 says, "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ..."  Did you see that?  At the moment of salvation, this old flesh is separated from the soul.  Paul teaches us that sin dwells in the body, but we've been circumcised from that old body of sin.  Now at the time of  death the body is separated from the soul.  The body goes into the ground and the soul goes onto heaven.  Verse 14 said that "them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."  Verse 16 says "the dead in Christ shall rise first."  The souls are returning with Christ from heaven to be reunited with the bodies which are rising from the grave.  1 Corinthians 15:51-53 says "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."  Paul tells the Church in Corinth that the rapture is a mystery.  He goes on further to say that "we shall all be changed."  Why?  because this body of sin can't go to heaven.  It has to be changed before the soul can be reunited with it.  The body is changed to a body that is "incorruptible."   It takes place in a twinkling of an eye.

Let me take just a brief moment to explain the difference between the terms "trump" and "trumpet".  We should all know what a trumpet is, a musical instrument.  The Bible has several references to trumpets.  Revelation talks about trumpet sounds as well as trumpet judgments.  The term "trump" is the sound that the trumpet makes.  Its important that we not get the two confused.  When Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15, "at the last trump" he is not referring to the last trumpet call in Revelation, but to the last sound that this particular trumpet makes, this is the trumpet which is sounded in Revelation 4:1.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."  In the twinkling of an eye, the dead in Christ will rise from their graves, be reunited with their souls and immediately following we will rise and be changed from mortal to immortal.  And so shall we ever be with the Lord!  Now I don't know about you but the thought of spending eternity with Christ excites me.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 "Wherefore comfort one another with these words."  It just amazes me that Paul tells us at the end of this chapter to comfort on another with these words.  I've heard numerous messages preached on end times prophecy, the return of Christ and the rapture and every one of those messages were designed to scare Christians.  Yet Paul tells us to comfort one anther with these words.  The truth is that the believer is to find comfort in the scriptures that deal with Christ's return.  God even promises a special crown or reward to those who look to Christ's return.  2 Timothy 4:8 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."

Paul's writing this passage of scripture so that we can have confidence and comfort in the fact that we're going to spend all of eternity with the Lord.  If you don't have this confidence click HERE to learn more about salvation.,

This is part 1 in a series.  Click HERE for part 2 (The Day Of The Lord).

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