The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
There is only one Supreme God and there is only one Supreme Jesus Christ. But hundred of thousands of people still live on a different way. I just cannot understand and keep wondering why there are so many people acting like prophets, and nameing themselves as "ἀπόστολος", "Apostle". I just cannot understand, why in the name of God, some "religious people" still kill people saying that it was the will of God. And their followers believe it is true. Rather, we must say: 'This is the will of man' - a result of the common historic rebellion of mankind against the rightful authority and rule of God, who in His very first prohibition, identified death as the outcome of the human choice to sin (Genesis 2:17).
Our Father - is not, and never will or can be, an individually defined personal god - he is the one God for all us, whether we realize it or not. When we truly pray we are not praying to gods we have each created in our own minds; we are not praying to some mystical god concepts as varied as we are; we are not praying to any personal idea of god. We pray to him who is our God - the one true God for all people.
God is the one true God of the whole earth, with the concern and destiny of the whole earth in his hands; whether we like it or not we are our brother's keeper. God's concern for the whole earth should be mirrored in our praying. Because he is the Creator of all that is God is the Father of all. Every thing that exists exists because of God's creation and providence. He is the source of all life. He is the sustainer of all life. This sheer dependence on God for our physical life we share in common with all.
Our world today, perhaps more than any other generation, and especially in the 'western world', powerfully and increasingly displays the meaning of the word 'lost'. People don't know who they are or why they are here or where they are going. Individually and corporately there is a massive disintegration going on: Just look toward Midle East and Africa and you will see that it is stronger there than any other place.
Respect for human life is rapidly diminishing - evidenced in moves to legalize abortion, euthanasia - at both ends of life, embryonic stem cell research and cloning, as well as in the massive increase in the incidence of abuse and assault. This is also evident in the mentality that places the well-being of animals, forests, etc, on an equal par with, or above, the well-being of humans.
Moral standards are in rapid decline - boundaries formerly firmly fixed no longer exist, the whole idea of an absolute standard relevant for everyone at all times is not even considered, what is 'right' has become whatever the 'norm' or the consensus of opinion is, and this 'boundary' is consistently becoming broader and flimsier.
Personal meaning and significance (that is our inner security and identity) has crumbled - this is devastatingly evident in the high suicide rate and in the high incidence of depression and similar illnesses. Just look toward Midle East and Africa.
People of all nation, Jesus is the one and only source of complete spiritual satisfaction (John 6:35). He also claimed to be the one and only source of complete truth about God: 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life' (John 8:12), and 'I am ... the truth' (John 14:6). The clear inference is that if we do not follow Christ we are walking in darkness. Jesus said: 'whoever ever drinks the water I give him will never thirst' (John 4:14a) and 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty' (John 6:35).
Even so God works in our lives, in our circumstances. Just as He brought life out of death, even so can He bring hope out of despair, joy out of sorrow, meaning out of chaos.In His time. In His way. Such is His love. Such is the greatness of His power.
God's will is for our life - not our death (Deuteronomy 30:19-20; Isaiah 25:8; Ezekiel 18:30-32; John 10:10b; 2 Peter 3:9).
God's will is for us to live in peaceful relationship with Him, with each other, and within the inner recesses of our own individual being (Isaiah 53:5; Luke 2:14; John 14:27; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:14-18; 2 Thess. 3:16).
God's will is that love should rule, not anger (Matthew 5:38-48; Ephesians 4:25-5:2). God's will is that we should respect all human beings as potential bearers of His image, rather than treat human life with contempt (Genesis 9:5-6; Matthew 5:21-24).
Our current tragedy is not God's will: His will so supercedes this product of human will that He can and will take it and in keeping with His limitless love and power, He will use it to create good. The undeniable proof of that is the good He brings forth out of the extreme tragedy of the death of Jesus Christ his Son. Out of that death comes eternal life for billions.
So also in this current tragedy we can trust God to work for good (Genesis 50:19-20; Romans 8:28).
12/12/2012
