enid wrote:
I'll start with what you said last concerning the book of Revelation.In Revelation 10v4, the angel tells John to seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered and do not write them.
However, in Revelation 22v10, John is told to not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.
[i] That is correct. Revelations is very complicated. By no means claiming to be an expert in Revelations. It appear to me we did not get it all God had to say in Revelations as a matter of fact I can't even understand so much of it. I say we did not get it all in view of this passage. What makes things even more complicated books are in order and the passages many time in the books are not in a time line order.
Rev 10:7-11
7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, [b]Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.[/b]
11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
[/i]
But, moving on about persecuted Christians, we do forget about them, because it is not our problem.
The thing is, we should forget about our problems, and seek first the kingdom of God.
I'm not speaking concerning eternal things, but material things, let God take care of them.
[i]I agree, we are to seek his righteousness and all these things willl be added unto us. [/i]
Actually, where in Revelation are you refering to when you speak about 'that God has used his people in defense of the persecuted brothers and sisters in the past and will use it again as in the vision He have John in the book of Revelation.'
I'm not familiar with that scripture. Could you help me please? Thanks.
[i]I was referring to God pouring his wrath out in revelations. I should have been been a little more clear I gave two scenerios. God using His people to protect others and pouring out his wrath with what the world calls natural disasters. Revelations will fit the latter. God's people will be with him then, He will not need there help. He doesn't need our help now. He is plenty capable of handling everything on His own. He does include His people in on His plans and always has did that. I will copy and paste some Old Testament scriptural examples below in where God usd or involved His people to set others free. The victory we must be most thankful for is the victory that which was accomplished at the cross, in which one can be forgiven of their sins and receive an adoption into the family of God to serve in whatever capacity that God sees fit to give by His grace.[/i]
Jer 47:1-5
47:1 This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked Gaza:
2 This is what the LORD says:
"See how the waters are rising in the north;
they will become an overflowing torrent.
They will overflow the land and everything in it,
the towns and those who live in them.
The people will cry out;
all who dwell in the land will wail
3 at the sound of the hoofs of galloping steeds,
at the noise of enemy chariots
and the rumble of their wheels.
Fathers will not turn to help their children;
their hands will hang limp.
4 For the day has come
to destroy all the Philistines
and to cut off all survivors
who could help Tyre and Sidon.
The LORD is about to destroy the Philistines,
the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor.
5 Gaza will shave her head in mourning;
Ashkelon will be silenced.
O remnant on the plain,
how long will you cut yourselves?
Judg 6:13-18
13 "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian."
14 The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"
[b]15 "But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."
16 The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together."]/b]
17 Gideon replied, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. 18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you."
And the LORD said, "I will wait until you return."
Ex 14:1-4
14:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 "Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. 3 Pharaoh will think, 'The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.'[b] 4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." So the Israelites did this.[/b]
Jer 44:30
30 This is what the LORD says: 'I am going to hand Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt over to his enemies who seek his life, just as I handed Zedekiah king of Judah over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the enemy who was seeking his life.'"
Jer 46:25-28
25 The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "I am about to bring punishment on Amon god of Thebes, on Pharaoh, on Egypt and her gods and her kings, and on those who rely on Pharaoh. 26 I will hand them over to those who seek their lives, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. Later, however, Egypt will be inhabited as in times past," declares the LORD.
27 "Do not fear, O Jacob my servant;
do not be dismayed, O Israel.
I will surely save you out of a distant place,
your descendants from the land of their exile.
Jacob will again have peace and security,
and no one will make him afraid.
28 Do not fear, O Jacob my servant,
for I am with you," declares the LORD.
[b][/i]"Though I completely destroy all the nations
among which I scatter you,
I will not completely destroy you.
I will discipline you but only with justice;
I will not let you go entirely unpunished."[/b][/i]
[i] If I haven't cleared up everything you ask, please ask and I will attempt to answer further.
edit: Our primary mission as Christain is point people toward the Savior. It is our priviledge to be involved in that. I do see that the scripture teaches that our only mission on earth is that, primarily it is , but not the only one.
Matt 25:34-40
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
KJV
[b]I say this because Jesus cared about the physical, as well as the spiritual while He walked the earth in human flesh. His primary mission was the soul, but He cared for the physical needs. I often wonder how Jesus feels about His people debating some of the things that are debated and discussed about helping people in an earthly way.[/i][/b]