Understanding the Book of Revelation - Chapter Three, Kinsman Redeemer

Chapter 3 - Kinsman-Redeemer

Have you ever heard the term kinsman-redeemer before? Even if you have, I think it would be safe to say that you might not understand exactly what a kinsman-redeemer is or what a kinsman-redeemer does. And what on earth does it have to do with Revelation and the questions we have raised? Let’s find out.

There are three Scripture passages we need to look at to better understand what a kinsman-redeemer is and the circumstances in which a kinsman-redeemer would be necessary. The first is Leviticus 25:23-25, and has to do with land ownership and its redemption.

“The land shall not be sold into perpetual ownership, for the land is Mine; you are [only] strangers and temporary residents with Me. And in all the country you possess you shall grant a redemption for the land [in the Year of Jubilee]. If your brother has become poor and has sold some of his property, if any of his kin comes to redeem it, he shall [be allowed to] redeem what his brother has sold.”

Here we see that the Lord God is the rightful owner of the land of Israel. The people who “owned” the land and subsequently sold it were not selling the land itself, but the right to use the land. And we see that God provided for the original party – or one of their kinsmen – to redeem the land and take possession of it once again after it had been sold.

The next passage is Leviticus 25:47-50 and outlines the redemption of a person who has sold himself to a stranger or sojourner and the conditions for his redemption.

“And if a sojourner or stranger with you becomes rich and your [Israelite] brother becomes poor beside him and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner with you or to a member of the stranger's family, after he is sold he may be redeemed. One of his brethren may redeem him: Either his uncle or his uncle's son may redeem him, or a near kinsman may redeem him; or if he has enough and is able, he may redeem himself. And [the redeemer] shall reckon with the purchaser of the servant from the year when he sold himself to the purchaser to the Year of Jubilee, and the price of his release shall be adjusted according to the number of years. The time he was with his owner shall be counted as that of a hired servant.”

The final passage we’re going to look at is Deuteronomy 25:5-10 and addresses a brother’s duty to his widowed sister-in-law. It also speaks to the man who would refuse this duty.

“If brothers live together and one of them dies and has no son, his wife shall not be married outside the family to a stranger [an excluded man]. Her husband's brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. And the firstborn son shall succeed to the name of the dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. And if the man does not want to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate to the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuses to continue his brother's name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother. Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him. And if he stands firm and says, I do not want to take her, then shall his brother's wife come to him in the presence of the elders and pull his shoe off his foot and spit in his face and shall answer, So shall it be done to that man who does not build up his brother's house. And his family shall be called in Israel, The House of Him Whose Shoe Was Loosed.”

From these passages we can see that a kinsman-redeemer is a person who is willing to set aside their personal interests in order to restore a relative to their rightful position, to restore the family’s land, or to ensure that the name of a brother will not pass away.

Now, let’s take a look at Revelation 5:1-5 – “And I saw lying on the open hand of Him Who was seated on the throne a scroll (book) written within and on the back, closed and sealed with seven seals; And I saw a strong angel announcing in a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll? And [who is entitled and deserves and is morally fit] to break its seals? And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth [in the realm of the dead, Hades] was able to open the scroll or to take a [single] look at its contents. And I wept audibly and bitterly because no one was found fit to open the scroll or to inspect it. Then one of the elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] said to me, Stop weeping! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root (Source) of David, has won (has overcome and conquered)! He can open the scroll and break its seven seals!”

It becomes apparent rather quickly that this scroll plays a crucial role in what’s taking place in the book of Revelation. Every time a seal on the scroll is broken something momentous occurs; judgments are poured out on the earth, signs and wonders take place, angels fly and demons are let loose. Considering the important role this scroll plays, I think it might be a good idea to try and find out what it is exactly. And for that we’ll need to take a look at the Book of Ruth. The Book of Ruth is a relatively small book, only four chapters long. But in those four chapters God unfolds a beautiful story, not only about Ruth, but about our Messiah and one of the roles He plays in our lives.

In chapter one, we are introduced to Naomi (which means beautiful or agreeable) and her husband Elimelech (which means my God is king). They are forced to leave their home in Bethlehem, sell their land (the use of the land, not the land itself), and journey to Moab because of a famine. They take with them their two sons, Mahlon (which means invalid) and Chilion (which means pining). While living in Moab, a heathen nation and enemy of Israel, Elimelech dies. Naomi stays in Moab with her sons who eventually take wives for themselves from among the Moabite women. The women’s names were Orpah (which means neck or skull) and Ruth (which means drunk or satisfied). After ten more years in Moab, both of Naomi’s sons die, leaving her alone with her daughters-in-law. At this point Naomi, Orpah and Ruth head out for Bethlehem because Naomi had heard that the famine was over. But rather than sentence the young women to a life of widowhood, Naomi urges them to each return to their mothers’ house and then she blesses them. The young women refuse, but Naomi is insistent. At this point Orpah does indeed return to her mother’s house. But Ruth will not be deterred and stays with Naomi. It is here that we find what I believe is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible.

“And Ruth said, Urge me not to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts me from you.” – Ruth 1:16-17

So off the two women went, back to Bethlehem, where Naomi then tells people to call her Mara (meaning bitter) rather than Naomi because God had afflicted her.

The second chapter begins by telling us that Naomi had a kinsman-redeemer (a relative of her late husband) named Boaz. When she and Ruth had returned from Moab at the end of chapter one, it was the beginning of barley season. By this time several months have passed as Ruth is now asking permission of Naomi to go to the fields and glean what she could. (It was the custom in those days that when a field was being harvested, the reapers could only make one pass in the field, thereby leaving grain behind for those who were in need of grain for their sustenance – a sort of welfare program, if you will.) So Naomi sends Ruth off to the fields with her blessing, and before long Ruth finds herself gleaning in a field belonging to Boaz.

When Boaz returns to his home in Bethlehem he notices Ruth in the field and asks his servant who she is. Learning that she is Naomi’s daughter-in-law, he tells Ruth to stay in his field as she will be safe there. Ruth is amazed that he has taken notice of her, but Boaz says that he knows of the kindness she has shown his relative, Naomi. Boaz then instructs his harvesters to purposely leave grain on the stalks and handfuls of grain on the ground for Ruth. In the evening, after Ruth had beaten out the grain she had gleaned, she went home and told Naomi of her good fortune that day. Naomi praised God at the good news of Ruth meeting Boaz, and told Ruth of his relationship to them. Naomi then instructed Ruth to stay close to Boaz’ handmaidens in his fields so that she would not be molested. We are then told that Ruth worked in Boaz’ fields until the end of the barley and wheat harvests and that she continued to live with Naomi.

The faithfulness Ruth showed her mother-in-law certainly did not go unnoticed. In chapter three we find Naomi stepping into the role of matchmaker. She instructs Ruth, then sends her off all primped and perfumed, to present herself to Boaz making sure she waits until after he is finished eating and drinking and has lain on the threshing floor (the grain had to be guarded from thieves during the night). Being the obedient young woman that she was, Ruth does just as Naomi says.

After Boaz lay down at the end of the heap of grain, Ruth sneaks in, uncovers his feet and lies down. When Boaz wakes during the night he is startled to find a woman lying at his feet and asks who she is. Ruth identifies herself, and then asks Boaz to cover her with the corner of his garment since he is a kinsman-redeemer.

Wait a minute! That sounds a little risqué to most people, Ruth asking Boaz to cover her with his garment. Is she trying to initiate a little hanky-panky to secure the deal with Boaz? Heavens no! In ancient times a man’s authority was displayed in the hem of his garment, which identified his family and tribe. Far from being naughty, Ruth was abiding by Jewish law in asking Boaz to step into his role as kinsman-redeemer on behalf of herself and Naomi.

Boaz, who had obviously already taken an interest in Ruth to a certain degree, is now completely flattered and overwhelmed by her approaching him in this matter. He reassures her that he will look into the matter in the morning. Boaz knows of one kinsman who is closer to Naomi than himself, but vows that if the other relative refuses to perform for Ruth, then Boaz will gladly do so. Boaz then fills Ruth’s mantle, or shawl, with six measures of barley and sends her back home to Naomi, where the women wait to hear how the matter will be settled.

Chapter four opens with Boaz entering the city gates, finding the nearer kinsman of Naomi and filling him in on the details of what has taken place, all in front of ten witnesses. Initially the nearer kinsman agrees to redeem the land, but upon hearing that redeeming and marrying Ruth and perpetuating her late husband’s name are part of the bargain he reconsiders and declines the offer. And just as Deuteronomy 25:5-10 mandates, the nearer kinsman pulls off his sandal and tells Boaz to buy it for himself. At least nobody spit in his face!

At this point Boaz marries Ruth and returns Naomi to her land. Then Boaz and Ruth have a son, named Obed, who goes on to father Jesse, and Jesse fathers David, who becomes the king of Israel and the ancestor of the Messiah. In fact, it could have been the very fields that Ruth had gleaned where the angels appeared many years later to make their announcement of the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem!

One thing that we need to understand is that prior to all the festivities of redeeming the land and marrying Ruth, Boaz would have been the recipient of a sealed scroll which would have had the terms of redemption written on the outer portion of the scroll so that these terms could be met prior to the seal being broken and the redemption being completed. Does that sound vaguely familiar?

It seems we find a similar situation in chapter five of Revelation. Father God is holding a scroll – a deed – which is subject to redemption. Now a kinsman-redeemer, one who is qualified to perform in that role, must be found. The only one found in heaven or on earth that is able to fulfill the conditions written on the outside of the scroll mentioned in this chapter is Jesus the Messiah. But if this is in fact a deed subject to redemption, what is it the deed to? And who allowed the subject of the deed to lapse into this state? And why is Jesus the only One able to redeem it? For the answers to these questions we need to go back to Genesis and the Garden of Eden.

Understanding the Book of Revelation - Chapter Two, The Last Shall Be First

Chapter 2 - The Last Shall Be First

Do you enjoy a good mystery? Have you ever taken a look at the last chapter of a book to see how the story is going to turn out before you begin? Well, that’s what we’re going to do now.

One of the most Jewish books in the Bible is The Revelation to John, the last book in the New Testament. I believe it is also one of the most misunderstood. Over the centuries it has been allegorized and misinterpreted in the worst ways. Because of a lack of understanding of the Old Testament and by not taking the whole of Scripture into consideration, multitudes have been stymied at the mere mention of Revelation. But the key to unlocking the marvels of this book does not lie in popular theories or bending the latest news headlines to make them fit a popular scenario. The key lies in the whole of Scripture. Before diving in, let’s look at the name of the book and what it means.

The Revelation of John, usually simply called Revelation (always singular, never plural), is just that – a revealing or unveiling of information. In chapter one, verse one, we are told exactly what this is a revealing of – the revelation of Jesus Christ, given to Jesus by Father God in order that Jesus could then make it known to John the apostle, who subsequently made it known to Christians throughout the world down through the centuries.

First, Father God had to give this revelation of Jesus to Jesus. But since Jesus is part of the Godhead, wouldn’t Jesus have full knowledge just as God the Father does? Well, it seems that when Jesus chose to step out of heaven to be born a human child He temporarily laid a few things aside for our sake.

In Matthew 24:36, Jesus Himself said, “But when that day and hour will come, no one knows — not the angels in heaven, not the Son, only the Father. ” We also see Jesus’ temporary position described in Hebrews 2:9, “But we do see Yeshua — who indeed was made for a little while lower than the angels — now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by God’s grace he might taste death for all humanity. ” From these statements we can conclude that at that time, while Jesus was on earth He was not privy to the fullness of knowledge that Father God was, but when we get to Revelation, God the Father has unveiled that which had been hidden from Jesus until that point. Then Jesus is ready to tell the world!

In the remainder of the first chapter we are given magnificent descriptions of the Messiah, of His Name, and of His purpose: the One who is, who was and who is coming; the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the earth’s kings; the one who loves us, who has freed us from our sins at the cost of his blood, who has caused us to be a kingdom, that is, cohanim (priests) for God, his Father ; the ‘A’ and the ‘Z'; God of heaven’s armies; someone like a Son of Man, wearing a robe down to his feet and a gold band around his chest. His head and hair were as white as snow-white wool, his eyes like a fiery flame, his feet like burnished brass refined in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, out of his mouth went a sharp double-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

On first reading this chapter it can feel quite intimidating, but you must remember that the writers of the New Testament – under direction of the Holy Spirit – were writing with the assurance that their readers were either well versed in the Old Testament or under the discipleship of someone who was. Why did they make this assumption? Because at the time that the New Testament writings were being penned there were no other Scriptures aside from the Old Testament!

Here are a few examples from the first chapter of Revelation showing the verse from Revelation, then the Old Testament passages that correspond to them. I have italicized or bolded the corresponding text in each set of verses.

“John to the seven assemblies (churches) that are in Asia: May grace (God's unmerited favor) be granted to you and spiritual peace (the peace of Christ's kingdom) from Him Who is and Who was and Who is to come, and from the seven Spirits [the sevenfold Holy Spirit] before His throne,” – Rev. 1:4

“And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him--the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord - ” – Isaiah 11:2

“And from Jesus Christ the faithful and trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead [first to be brought back to life] and the Prince (Ruler) of the kings of the earth. To Him Who ever loves us and has once [for all] loosed and freed us from our sins by His own blood,” – Rev. 1:5

“Also I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.” – Psalm 89:27

“And formed us into a kingdom (a royal race), priests to His God and Father – to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion throughout the ages and forever and ever. Amen (so be it).^” – Rev. 1:6

“And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation [consecrated, set apart to the worship of God]. These are the words you shall speak to the Israelites.” – Exodus 19:6

“But you shall be called the priests of the Lord; people will speak of you as the ministers of our God. You shall eat the wealth of the nations, and the glory [once that of your captors] shall be yours.” – Isaiah 61:6

“Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth shall gaze upon Him and beat their breasts and mourn and lament over Him. Even so [must it be]. Amen (so be it).^” – Rev. 1:7

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, on the clouds of the heavens came One like a Son of man, and He came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him.” – Daniel 7:13

“And I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace or unmerited favor and supplication. And they shall look [earnestly] upon Me Whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him as one who is in bitterness for his firstborn.” – Zechariah 12:10

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord God, He Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty (the Ruler of all).^” – Rev. 1:8

“For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6

These are just a handful of examples showing our need for greater understanding of the whole of God’s Word. Some things just won’t make sense without that firm underpinning, and when things don’t make sense that’s when we run the risk of interpreting things our own way – and that can lead to gross error.

In John 8:31-32, we read, “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” Then in John 14:6 we read, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” In these passages Jesus is telling us that if we know the truth we will be set free and that it is Jesus Who is the Truth. In Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (in other words, the Old Testament) (Matthew 5:17-18), therefore we must take into account every portion of the Word of God when studying the Bible. Now, back to Revelation.

Moving a little deeper into Revelation, in chapter 4, we begin seeing some wild things going on both on earth and in heaven. Over the years there have been equally wild speculations about what’s happening, why it’s happening and to whom it’s happening. But again, if you take the whole of Scripture into account – not just Revelation – you are able to set aside speculations and see God’s truth.

In chapter 4 of Revelation, John is shown a vision of the throne room of God in heaven. It is quite magnificent and is a perfect parallel to similar visions given to Daniel (Daniel 9) and Isaiah (Isaiah 6) centuries before, with one exception. In John’s vision there are twenty-four elders present in heaven. These elders are conspicuously absent in any Old Testament visions of the heavenly throne room, and we will explore the reasons for this later.

Then, in chapter 5, John sees Him Who is seated on the throne holding a scroll that has writing on it inside and out, rolled up and sealed. Unfortunately there was no one found in heaven or on earth who was qualified to open the scroll until the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (one of the titles for Jesus) comes forth and takes the scroll from Him Who sat on the throne (God the Father). Prior to Jesus stepping forward, John is so upset when no one can be found to open the scroll that he begins weeping bitterly. But why? What did John know about that scroll that is not plainly evident from the text in Revelation? Why is Jesus the only One able to take the scroll and open it? And what does His opening the scroll mean exactly? So many questions! But don’t give up. We’re going to take it one question at a time, looking only to God’s Word for our answers. Ready? Here we go!

Understanding the Book of Revelation - Chapter One, Where I'm Coming From

Chapter 1 - Where I’m Coming From

“Sh’ma, Yisra’el! Adonai Eloheinu,Adonai echad [Hear, Isra’el! Adonai our God, Adonai is one]; and you are to love Adonai your God with all your heart, all your being and all your resources. These words, which I am ordering you today, are to be on your heart; and you are to teach them carefully to your children. You are to talk about them when you sit at home, when you are traveling on the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them on your hand as a sign, put them at the front of a headband around your forehead, and write them on the door-frames of your house and on your gates.”

– Deut. 6:4-9

Before we delve into the Book of Revelation, I’d like to share with you my roots – where I’m coming from and why I am writing this book.

I was raised in a Conservative Jewish family, as opposed to Orthodox or Reform Judaism. (Orthodox Jews are very stringent in their observance of the Law; Reform Jews are quite relaxed in their observances, resembling more of a secular Jew; Conservative Jews are right about in the middle of the two.) Both my mother and father were Jewish, as were their parents, as were their parents, and so on and so forth. Because we were Jewish there were some traditions and customs we followed. These had absolutely nothing to do with Scripture, but rather with our culture, and these had been passed down from generation to generation – like having chicken noodle soup when you were sick or having a nice brisket on Friday night.

We also had our religious traditions and customs. We had a mezuzah (a decorative cylinder containing the Sh’ma) on the front doorpost. In the Sh’ma (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, which is quoted at the beginning of this chapter) we are commanded to bind the Word on the doorposts of our house, so we put the Sh’ma in the mezuzah, put the mezuzah on the doorpost, and we’re good to go. But every time one of my friends came over for the first time they’d ask what that “thing” was on the front door jamb. After a few minutes of, “A mezuzah,” “A me-what-ah?” they would usually give up and we’d go about the serious business of play.

On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, we didn’t work or go to school, and we fasted and prayed all day long in the synagogue. Having a mezuzah and Yom Kippur stick out most in my memory because they were the two things that always marked the biggest differences between me and my friends.

Yom Kippur, which falls in late September or early October, was also the first time during the school year that my Jewishness was made public knowledge. This wasn’t always a pleasant thing. One year, I believe I was in the fourth grade, on the day I returned to school after Yom Kippur one of my classmates walked up to me and boldly stated, “You killed Jesus.” I told him that I had never met Jesus so I couldn’t have killed him. I probably stuck my tongue out at him, too. Those harsh words rang in my head all day and that afternoon I asked my mother what the boy had meant. This was the first time I was told about the contentious history between Christians and Jews. It made me wonder how people who said that they loved God could hate His chosen people.

During my school years God used every available opportunity to tuck His Word into my heart – everything from the liturgy in synagogue, to the Peanuts’ Christmas special, to our PTA Christmas program. As I stood in the choir with a grossly oversized red bow on the front of my crisp, white robe, I couldn’t help but hear the words I was singing – a baby born in Bethlehem, born to be the Messiah. Deep down I knew that Jesus was indeed the King of Israel, but at the same time I honestly believed that my being a Jew prevented me from ever accepting Him as my Savior. I felt that my King had been stolen from me and there wasn’t a thing I could do about it.

After a few more years of seeking God and actually reading the Bible (something most Jews – or Christians – do not do), I did something that I was certain no other Jew had ever done before – I asked Jesus into my life. That sounds so nice, doesn’t it? Well, here’s how it really happened. I was driving north on Interstate 5 in my powder blue Volkswagen Rabbit. I couldn’t shake the feeling that God was really trying to get my attention – I could feel a pressure on me physically. Then, in my own sweet, demure way, I asked Jesus into my life. “Okay, if you’re really there, come on!” At that instant I felt the weight of the world lift from my shoulders and I began giggling uncontrollably. I had no idea at the time what had happened, but whatever it was I liked it! I also knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was the Messiah, my Messiah, and now I was His.

While this was indeed a monumental decision, rather than feeling a part of Christian society I felt even more isolated. I wasn’t comfortable in synagogue because, while they are looking for the Messiah to come to earth to rule and reign, they don’t believe that Jesus’ time on earth was the first coming of the Messiah. Neither was I comfortable in church because, while the Christians seemed genuinely happy about my “conversion,” they were also expecting me to give up my Jewishness – something I could never imagine doing. And as for converting from Judaism to Christianity, I felt that all I had really done was become more Jewish since I had finally accepted the Jewish Messiah as my own. Unfortunately I seemed to be the only one who thought that way. So, in the midst of my frustration and ignorance, I threw out the baby with the bath water and set out in pursuit of God in my own way - again. I can see now that that wasn’t the brightest thing I’ve ever done, and it is only because of God’s mercy and grace that I didn’t fall away from Him completely.

During the years that followed I thoroughly convinced myself that if a person wanted to be a good Christian then he would in fact be a good Jew. Didn’t Jesus tell us to do as He did? Wasn’t He the perfect Jew? While I felt that I was on the right track I was still enormously confused. Did being a good Jew mean going to synagogue and following the modern Jewish traditions? If so, there seemed to be quite a bit that would be in direct conflict with Scripture. I finally came to the conclusion that it was just too much to sort out on my own, so I stopped trying. I knew that God was with me and that He understood my dilemma, so I simply walked away from all organized religion and tried to live my life the best I could.

As you might have guessed this didn’t work out very well and over the following thirteen years I ended up chasing every spiritual rabbit trail that came along. Part of my problem was the acceptance of worldly practices within the church at large. All sorts of non-Scriptural practices have been condoned and embraced by churches of every denomination. Throw in various New Age practices and Eastern religions that embrace Jesus as a legitimate path to heaven and my confusion was at an all time high. Since I didn’t have a solid Biblical foundation, I was delighted with the spiritual smorgasbord that was spread before me. Certainly, I thought, these choices were from God since He knew that I could never go back to the synagogue, nor could I turn my back on my heritage and become a card-carrying Christian.

Thankfully, God never stopped prodding my spirit, challenging me with His truth, daring me to see things from His perspective. One afternoon I decided that I simply had to go to a church, any church, and give it another chance. What I didn’t know was that other snares had been set for me and over the four years that followed my fateful decision I think I stepped in every single one.

What exactly were those snares? That’s not important. What is important is why I didn’t see them and how they could have been avoided. Why didn’t I see them? Because I didn’t have the standard of God’s Word in my life. I had no way to know right from wrong, true from false. How could those snares have been avoided? By having a sure foundation. Jesus Himself spoke of having a sure foundation for our faith:

“So, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on bedrock. The rain fell, the rivers flooded, the winds blew and beat against that house, but it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the rivers flooded, the wind blew and beat against that house, and it collapsed — and its collapse was horrendous!”

– Matthew 7:24-27

I think it would be safe to assume that we would all prefer to have a house built on a solid foundation.

Is protecting ourselves from dubious characters and precarious situations the only reason for studying God’s Word? No! While keeping ourselves out of the jaws of deceit is a wonderful motivator for study, it should not be our sole incentive, nor should that be our main goal.

There are numerous passages in the Bible that encourage us to study the Word of God. Throughout Psalm 119 we see how vitally important studying and knowing Scripture is for us. The whole Psalm is wonderful, but verse eleven has always stood out in my mind:

“I treasure your word in my heart, so that I won’t sin against you.”

So here we see that keeping God’s Word in our hearts will aid us in not sinning against God.

Proverbs 25:2 says:

“God gets glory from concealing things; kings get glory from investigating things.”

God has indeed stored many wondrous treasures in His Word, each one just waiting to be discovered by His children.

In Proverbs 8:17-19 we find:

“I love those who love me; and those who seek me will find me.
Riches and honor are with me, lasting wealth and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, fine gold, my produce better than the finest silver.”

What a beautiful promise! Not only does God say that those who diligently seek Him will find Him, but that with Him are treasures better than gold and silver. As if finding the God of the universe weren’t enough, the Lord tells us that He will give us His riches and honor!

Another reason that I think it is important to study the Scriptures is to more fully know and appreciate the God in whom we place our faith. The New Testament, which not only chronicles the life and ministry of Jesus, but also brings us deeper insights into our walk with God, is built entirely upon the Old Testament. The two Testaments are not independent of each other as many believe and teach, nor has the New Testament replaced the Old Testament. The Old Testament isn’t the “Jewish Bible” and the New Testament isn’t the “Christian Bible.” They are both Jewish and both paint beautiful pictures of God bringing both Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews) into His family. Therefore, both should be included in our studies. Without having a working knowledge of the Old Testament, many of the passages in the New Testament just won’t make sense. No, our faith won’t be any less for not knowing. But if we take the time to diligently study the Word of God, there will be a richness added to our faith that is indeed more precious than gold or silver.

Another very important reason to study and understand the Word of God is to understand the times in which we live. These can be very troubling times, uncertain and just down right frightening. But if you study God's Word and understand what He's saying, His peace will be with you even in these times of upheaval. In fact, all of history will start to make more sense as we see God's purpose and plan unfold in His Word and our world.

Understanding the Book of Revelation - Preface

Understanding the Book of Revelation

Preface

How would you like to uncover the most precious treasure that ever existed? Can you imagine the untold wealth that would come with such a discovery? Fame, fortune and luxuries of every kind! But what if the discovery, rather than bringing with it the glory and wealth that people so desperately seek, brought with it challenges and hardships that people try to avoid at all costs? What if your treasure brought with it a great responsibility not only to the one who left it for you, but to those who will come after you? Would you still be so eager to find it?

If we have a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus, this is the scenario in which we find ourselves – overjoyed to have been brought into the family of God, yet given an awesome responsibility in return. Some Christians are unaware of this responsibility. Other Christians find it easier to simply be thankful for their salvation and live the rest of their lives as if nothing’s really changed. While there might not seem to be anything wrong with that, there is a richness and fulfillment that comes with our chosen faith that would be a shame to leave untouched, and if left untouched we could also leave ourselves open for deception and trouble.

Can we possibly know the fullness of what the God of the universe has for us? How can we truly understand the greatness of what He has done for us and what is expected of us as His children? The answer is simple – read His Word, the Bible. But that simple answer can bring overwhelming frustrations. Where do you start? How can you possibly understand what God is trying to tell you? Wouldn’t it just be easier to forget the studying, go to church on Sundays and let the pastor tell us what God is trying to say to us? God delights in His children, and I believe He is especially overjoyed when one of His sons or daughters begins to study His Word in earnest – seeking not only the will of God, but the face of God; seeking not His hand, but His heart.

The Bible isn’t just a collection of verses to read for devotionals to make you feel good, nor is it a manual to learn how to make God give you what you want. What is it? It’s God’s message to mankind wherein He reveals Himself to us so that we can come to know Him on an intimate basis. Throughout the pages of Scripture God points us to the only way that we can legitimately come to Him and have that intimacy – Yeshua, Jesus, the Messiah. He has also given us His Word to give us reassurance and hope in what can be a very troubling world. And the most beautiful thing is that the whole Bible – from Genesis to Revelation – is one work that is completely integrated.

One more thing before we move forward. It is vital that we never take verses from the Bible out of context. Each verse must be viewed in light of the whole of Scripture and its surrounding verses in particular. God’s Word, by its very nature, cannot contradict itself. If it seems to be, it is we who are missing a piece to the puzzle. Taking a verse or two out of context to prove a point of doctrine or a pet theory, or not looking at the Old Testament for meaning in the New Testament can only lead to error.

These errors can then lead us into legalism. Here are just a few examples that some people teach which stem from these sorts of errors: women should have long hair, keep their heads covered and not wear pants or make up; certain foods should not be eaten on certain days; particular prayers should be recited in specific ways; certain activities should be avoided on Sundays.

Remember, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says:

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living; thus anyone who belongs to God may be fully equipped for every good work.”

All Scripture is from God and the whole of Scripture – the Old and New Testaments - should be used for teaching and correction.

We must not pull a verse out of context to try and prove a point that is not at all related to that text. Again, if you are a follower or disciple of Jesus you have a great responsibility. Part of that responsibility is to keep God’s Word intact and to never mutilate the text to try to make it mean something it doesn’t.

Another very good verse to keep in mind is James 1:19-20:

“Therefore, my dear brothers, let every person be quick to listen but slow to speak, slow to get angry; for a person’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness!”

I have often heard this taught as meaning that we should be polite when someone is speaking and that we should control our tempers. While that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, that’s not what James was speaking of. He is telling us that when we hear the Word of God we should be quick to listen to what it says and slow to become angered by what the Word says if we disagree with it. Let me tell you, there have been many times when I didn’t particularly care for what the Word seemed to say, but knowing that God truly knows best, I had to allow Him to bring me to a place where I wouldn’t be angered over the Word. I think that today, in our society of “rights, freedoms, and privileges,” we are far too quick to judge God’s Word and become angered by it.

One last thing before we move on – and this is important – we must never go beyond what is written in Scripture. There are many who teach that a person can't understand the Old Testament without interpreting it through the New Testament, and that you can't understand the New Testament without a fresh revelation from God. While this may sound plausible, and even a little exciting, it is nothing short of gross error. By this method of Scriptural interpretation most of the Bible becomes spiritualized, allegorized, or turned into nothing more than “Christian” fairy-tales. I firmly believe that God says what He means and means what He says and there are numerous cases in Scripture that show that people like Daniel, Jeremiah, and Jesus Himself also took Scripture at face value. If they took the Scriptures seriously, I think we would be wise to do so as well.

Understanding the Book of Revelation

There's a project I've been working on for a while now. Until very recently I had assumed it was going to be published as an eBook, but after much prayer and seeking guidance from the Lord, I feel that it needs to be published here, for free.  The subject matter is far too important and the times in which we live are getting darker by the day, so I will be posting each chapter of my new book, Understanding the Book of Revelation, as a blog post.  It is my hope that you will be encouraged in these times, as well as encouraged to study the Word of God for yourself.  May God bless you as you seek Him!

Be A Disciple - Be A Berean

There are a lot of things going on in the world right now - crazy, scary things - but one of the most disturbing things that I see happening is what's going on in the church. Over the last almost thirty years I have seen the proliferation of many errant teachings in the church. When you couple those teachings with an insanely high Biblical illiteracy rate in the church bad things will happen – and they are.

Eastern religious practices such as yoga, centering prayer, and eastern healing techniques are embraces and promoted. New Age philosophies abound. And perhaps the most disturbing thing of all is that pastors and ministry leaders are justifying what's going on by using the Bible to suit their own needs. All of this has lead to church-goers and ministry supporters being left in a bad situation, believing that if they do the right things, if they say the right prayers, or just have enough faith then they will be richly blessed by God as evidenced by worldly wealth and happiness. Because after all, God wants us to be rich and happy, right?

God does care about us. In fact, he cares for us and loves us so very much that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him could be saved from eternal separation from God. That's love. But the Bible never states that God ultimate desire for us is to be rich or happy. Don't get me wrong. I don't believe that God wants us to be unhappy. I'm just saying that His Word, the Bible, isn't a manual on how to live a prosperous, happy life. But if we have accepted the sacrifice that Messiah has made on the cross on our behalf, and if we allow Him to be our Lord and we become true disciples, we will indeed experience a peace and joy that can only come from that relationship. How do we get there? It may not be how you think.

In Matthew 7:13-14, Yeshua (Jesus) says, “Go in through the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” I don't know about you, but when I see the words “hard road” I don't tend to get all warm and fuzzy on the inside. Let's look at another verse.

In Matthew 10:24, Yeshua says, “A talmid (disciple) is not greater than his rabbi, a slave is not greater than his master.” On the surface this seems reasonable and I think that most people would agree with this statement. But if we stop and think about it, and look at it coupled with the earlier verses from Matthew 7, I think we get an excellent idea of what a true disciple of Messiah can expect in their walk with the Lord.

If we look at the road that Yeshua walked when He was on the earth 2,000 years ago, if we look at the discipline He had to exercise and the hardships He had to endure – including His death on the cross – we see that He indeed traveled a narrow, hard road. If we are truly His disciple, if we are allowing Him to lead us and teach us, we will also be traveling a narrow, hard road. And if Yeshua is truly our Lord, who are we, as his disciples, to expect that our life would exceed that which He had. We need to get our eyes off of everyone but Messiah and allow Him to lead us down the narrow, hard road. We need to stop taking for granted that pastors and ministry leaders are speaking the truth of the Bible and learn how to study the Bible for ourselves. In return I believe that we will begin to experience intimacy with God much like Yeshua did. That is wealth beyond measure.

If we know God's truth, we won't be led astray or chase empty promises that leave us unfulfilled and hurting. I would challenge you to make a commitment to learn what the Bible really says and teaches. An excellent place to start would be at Ariel Ministries with their Come and See teachings.

Now the Bereans were of nobler character than the ones in Thessalonica; they eagerly welcomed the message, checking the Scriptures every day to see if the things Paul was saying were true. - Acts 17:11

Romans 1:20

For ever since the creation of the universe his invisible qualities — both his eternal power and his divine nature — have been clearly seen, because they can be understood from what he has made. Therefore, they have no excuse; - Romans 1:20 Complete Jewish Bible

Paul is addressing the problem of people suppressing the truth about God and the wickedness of that action because what is known about God is plain to them because God has made it plain to them. How? Through what He has made, and because of this they have no excuse.

One of the biggest affronts to God is the theory of evolution, and it is just that - a theory. It is not a law because it cannot be proven, but it can be disproved quite simply - through the law of entropy. In very simple terms, entropy is the natural tendency of the universe to fall into disorder. Have you ever cleaned out your garage or a messy closet? They don't stay nice and tidy very long do they? It takes effort and intelligence to get them into a state of order. If entropy is the natural state of the universe then it would be impossible to move from chaos to order, from minimal design (a single-celled organism) to a design that has a built in self-correcting digital code (humans). There had to be effort and intelligence to bring life to the world. The effort and intelligence came from God.

In the verses following Romans 1:20, Paul goes on to explain the consequences for not recognizing God as the Creator, the Maker of Heaven and Earth. Our nation, indeed the world, is seeing the fruit of this affront to God - they have become futile in their thinking; claiming to be wise, they have become fools; God has given them up to the vileness of their hearts’ lusts, to the shameful misuse of each other’s bodies; they have exchanged the truth of God for falsehood; men and women exchanging natural sexual relations for unnatural (men with men and women with women). Verse 28 says, "In other words, since they have not considered God worth knowing, God has given them up to worthless ways of thinking; so that they do improper things."

This is no trivial matter for debate in the public square or in your church. It is a very fundamental truth that has dire consequences when ignored, one for which we have no excuse. Let's give up futile thinking and stop claiming to be wise. Let's give credit where credit is due - to God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth.