Revelation 6 (résumé): The Seals

 "I watched as the Lamb opened the first seal... and I saw a white horse with a rider and a bow and a crown... and he rode out as a conqueror... then the Lamb opened the second seal and I saw a fiery red horse and its rider was given a large sword and was given power to take peace from the earth... when the third seal was opened I saw a black horse and its rider held a pair of scales... and I heard a voice which said a quart of wheat for a day's wages... and don't damage the oil and wine... then the fourth seal was opened and I saw a pale horse named Death, with Hades close behind... and they received power to kill a quarter of the earth by sword, famine, plague and wild beasts... when he opened the fifth seal I saw under the altar the souls of those slain for the word and their testimony... and they called out asking how long before their blood would be avenged... and they were given white robes and told to wait a little longer... then when Jesus opened the sixth seal there was a great earthquake... and the sun turned black... the moon turned blood red... the sky fell to earth and receded like a scroll... and absolutely everyone rich and poor hid in caves and among the mountains... and they asked the rocks to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb!"

Revelation 5 (résumé): The Scroll & the Lamb

Revelation 5 continues John's vision of God's throne in heaven when John sees a sealed scroll in God's right hand and only Jesus is found worthy to open the scroll of human history. "I saw in the right hand of the one sat on the throne a scroll sealed with 7 seals... and an angel asked who is worthy to open the scroll?... and no-one was found to do this... and this made me weep... but then one of the elders told me not to cry because the Lion of Judah had triumphed and was able to open the scroll... and then I saw a Lamb that had been slain standing in the centre of the throne... encircled by the 4 living creatures and  priests to serve God... and he had 7 horns and 7 eyes... and when he had taken the scroll from God's hand the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb and sang a new song saying... you are worthy to take the scroll and to open the seals because you were slain... and you made those purchased with your blood to reign on the earth... and tens of thousands of angels sang... worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honour, glory and praise... and then I heard every creature in heaven and earth sing... to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honour, glory and power forever".

Revelation 4 (résumé): The Throne in Heaven

John now says in chapter 4: "After this I looked and saw an open door to heaven... and I heard the invitation to come up here and I will show you what is going to happen... and I was in the Spirit and saw a throne in heaven with someone sat on it... and a rainbow encircled the throne... and surrounding the throne were 24 other thrones with 24 elders sat on them, dressed in white with gold crowns... from the throne came lightening and thunder... and in front of the throne were 7 blazing lamps which are the 7 spirits of God (sevenfold Spirit)... and in front and behind the throne there was a sea of glass... and in the centre were 4 living creatures covered with eyes... the first was like a lion, the second like an ox, the third had a face like a man and the fourth was like a flying eagle... and each creature had 6 wings... and non-stop they chanted Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come... and the 24 elders bowed before the one who sits on the throne... and worshipped him forever... and they laid their crowns before the throne... saying worthy is the Lord God to receive honour, glory and power because you created everything".

Revelation 3 (résumé): 3 more churches

First in chapter 3 John addresses the church at Sardis transmitting the words of Jesus: "I know your deeds and your reputation for being alive... but you are dead!... so wake up and strengthen what remains... remember what you received and heard and obey it and repent... but thankfully there are a few in Sardis who have not dirtied their clothes... these will walk with me dressed in white... and those who overcome will be dressed like them in white... and I will acknowledge them before the Father and his angels... listen to the Spirit... then comes the message to Philadelphia... when Jesus opens no-one can shut... and I have placed before you an open door that nobody can shut.... I know you are weak but you have kept my word and not denied my name... so I will make those of the synagogue of Satan to fall at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you... and since you have endured patiently I will keep you from the hour of trial which will come upon the whole world... I am coming soon so hold on to what you have so that no-one takes your crown... and he who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple... and I will write on him a new name... listen to the Spirit... Finally comes the message to Laodicea... to whom Jesus says that they are neither hot not cold and for this reason he is about to spit you out of my mouth... you say you are rich but you are poor, blind and naked... I counsel you to buy gold from me so that you become rich with white clothes to wear... for those whom I love I rebuke and discipline... and here I am at the door knocking... and if anyone opens the door I will go in and eat... for to the overcomer I will give the right to sit with me on my throne... listen to the Spirit".

Revelation 2 (résumé): Messages to 4 churches

Initially in chapter 2 John addresses "the angel (pastor) of the church at Ephesus... Jesus says... I know your deeds, hard work and perseverance... you can't stand wicked men... and you have tested and rejected false apostles... but you have not grown weary... however you have lost your first love... so repent or I will remove your lampstand from its place... but at least you hate the practices of the Nicolaitans which I also hate... so listen to what the Spirit says because he who overcomes will get the right to eat from the tree of life... Next comes a message to the angel of the church at Smyrna to whom Jesus says... I know your afflictions and poverty - yet you are rich!... I know you are suffering slander... but don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer... the devil will put some of you in prison and you will suffer 10 days of persecution... but be faithful even to the point of death and I will give you the crown of life... so listen to the Spirit because he who overcomes won't be hurt by the second death... Following this comes the church at Pergamum... and Jesus says that I know you live where Satan has his throne... yet you remain true to my name... and you didn't renounce your faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness who was martyred... however you have people aligned to the teaching of Balaam... and also you have those aligned to the Nicolaitans... so repent!... or else I will come to you with my sword... so listen to the Spirit because he who overcomes will be given hidden manna... and I will give a white stone with a new name written on it... finally in this chapter the angel of the church at Thyatira is addressed... I know your deeds, love, faith, service and perseverance... yet I don't like you tolerating Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess... yet she misleads people into sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols... and she won't repent... so I will place her on a bed of suffering and cause suffering to those who commit adultery with her... and I will kill her children... but to those who overcome I will give authority over the nations... and will give them the morning star... listen to the Spirit".

Jam & Honey

 One of the special attractions at EAB's annual celebration AGM is the sale of New Forest Homemade Jam and New Forest Honey with all proceeds going to the work of EAB. We thank those who provide this and we recommend everyone to pick up your annual supply of EAB jam and honey. The celebration is a week tomorrow.

We have received enquiries concerning the EAB toilet/shower units and value your prayers for this project for the very poor. The project constructs a two-and-a-half metre circular building with a water tank on top, cess pit beneath, sink to wash clothes outside, and a flush toilet, shower and hand basin inside. Please pray for this project. 

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and Pastor Murilo brought an excellent study on the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast.

Last night I concluded my reading and summarizing of the Bible's 65th book, covering 98% of the Bible, so just Revelation to go! 

Revelation 1 (résumé): One like a Son of Man

The Book of Revelation is the last book in the Bible which was written by the apostle John while he was on the island of Patmos. It describes Jesus Christ's glory, God's final victory over evil, the judgment of the wicked, and the promise of a new heaven and a new earth. The book is apocalyptic and full of visions, symbols (often hard to interpret), prophecies, and has messages for seven churches. Its central message is that Jesus Christ is victorious, God is sovereign, and those who remain faithful to Him have the promise of eternal life. Revelation presents us thus with the Biblical view of the end times of human history. 

John starts chapter 1: "The revelation of Jesus Christ about what must soon take place... and he made it known through an angel... blessed are they who read this prophecy and take it to heart... because the time is near... to the 7 churches in Asia... grace and peace from him who is, who was and who is to come and from the 7 spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ who is faithful witness, firstborn from the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth... to him who loves us, saved us and made us priests to serve God the Father... he is coming with clouds and every eye will see him... I am the Alpha and the Omega says the Lord... who is, was and is to come, the Almighty... I John was on the island of Patmos... and I heard behind me a trumpet... and I was told to write on a scroll what you see and send it to the 7 churches at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea... so I turned round to see who was speaking and I saw 7 golden lampstands... and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man... dressed in a robe... and his hair was white like wool or snow... and his eyes were blazing fire... his feet were bronze burning in a furnace... and his voice like rushing waters... and in his right hand he held 7 stars... and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword... and his face was like the brilliant shining sun... and I fell at his feet as dead... and he told me not to be afraid... I am the First and the Last... I am the living one, I was dead but now I'm alive for evermore... and I hold the keys of death and Hades... so write what you have seen, what is now and yet to come... for the 7 stars you saw are the 7 angels of the 7 churches and the 7 lampstands are the 7 churches".