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==What is the Prayer of Faith?==
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==The Book Of Revelation==
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'''Advanced Topics'''<br><br>
  
What is the Prayer of Faith?</font><font size="7" color="#440000"><br>
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'''Daniel's Prophecy And Timing'''<br>
</font><br><br>
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'''Of'''<br>
<font size="4" color="#AA0000">"And the Prayer of Faith shall save the sick, and the LORD shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him"</font><br>
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'''Jesus' Second Return'''<br><br>
(James 5:15)<br><br>
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Did Daniel prophecy the date of Jesus' second return?  He prophesied that "the end would come" and gave us the date to be somewhere between the years 1967 ad and 2012 ad.<br><br>
<font color="#002200"><br>
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No, we are not predicting the year 2012 as our Lord's return, but there appears to be a grace period of 45 years from the year 1967, prophesied by Daniel, during which our Lord may return. <br><br>
</font><font color="#000000">by Katie Stewart</font><br></p>
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As we look at all the signs predicted in the Bible about the condition of the world when our Lord returns, we realize that all those signs have now taken place and there is nothing left to fulfill in Bible prophecy<br>.<br>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">T<font size="4" color="#000000">he only verse in Scripture that contains the phrase,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">, is James 5:15. Though spoken of only once, the prayer title conveys an assurance of success in prayer. The conviction that life, if lived with Faith in God, rewards with an Eternity spent in God's presence, encourages us to believe that Faith accomplishes whatever it sets out to do.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our Faith</b>"</font><font color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>(1John 5:4)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">. With the Promise of victory beforehand, prayer linked by Faith that is founded in God assures itself to be both rewarding and exciting in</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"exploits"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>for God.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"The people that do<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>know</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>their God shall be strong, and do exploits"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Daniel 11:32)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">.<br><br>
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Could our Lord return at any moment?  Yes, according to all the Bible warnings and signs. Could He wait until 2012 or thereafter?  Yes, only God knows the precise time. <br><br>
Many times prayer does not yield the desired results we yearn for.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Hope deferred maketh the heart sick"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Proverbs 13:12)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">. Hope precedes all prayer, but only when the answer comes do we recognize the difference that Faith makes in praying.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"But when the desire cometh, it is a Tree of Life"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(13:12)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">. Picture lightning. When God's will makes contact with our hope, Faith is established and grace races down the lightning rod of experience. Faith is the way you use God's grace. It's our part to exercise the Faith God authors, but its God's part to finish it.</font></p>
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Should we be preparing ourselves for that event?  Absolutely ! <br> <br>  
<blockquote style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
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  <p><font color="#000000">1.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">The<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>is prayer that ALWAYS GETS ANSWERED. If the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>is for the sick,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"the LORD shall raise"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>the sick up. If the</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>is Godly repentance, then sins<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"shall be forgiven"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">.<br><br>
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    </font><font color="#000000">2.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">The reason that the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>always gets answered is because of the very nature of Faith.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Faith is the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>substance</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>of things hoped for, the<b>evidence</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>of things not seen"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Hebrews 11:1)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Faith is... substance"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>and</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"evidence"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">. Faith can't be held in the hand, or gazed upon with the eye, but Faith in God and His character is MORE real than anything your bodily senses can physically verify. Faith based in the Word of God is as realistic as</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"substance"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>and</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"evidence"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>gets. Nothing in this world is more real. Therefore, Faith always produces fruit and the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>always gets answered. Faith IS ALWAYS SUBSTANCE!<br>
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<br>
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<font color="#000000">3.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">Since the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>is always answered, IT MUST ALWAYS BE ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL.</font></p>
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</blockquote>
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<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
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  <ul>
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<li><font color="#000000">Colossians 4:12</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Always labouring<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>fervently for you in prayers</b>, that ye may stand perfect and complete<b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>in all the will of God</b>."</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><br><br>
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</font></li>
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<li><font color="#000000">Hebrews 10:36</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"For ye have need of patience, that,<b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>after ye have done the will of God</b>, ye might<b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>receive the Promise</b>."</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><br><br>
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</font></li>
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    <li><font color="#000000">Romans 8:27</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"the Spirit... maketh intercession for the saints<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>according to the will of God</b>."</font></li>
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  </ul>
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</ul>
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<blockquote style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
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  <p><font color="#000000">4.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">Since the above points are absolutes, THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS to them. For the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">to be the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">, these elements must be present.</font></p>
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</blockquote>
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<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000">The<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">:</font></p>
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<ol style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
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  <li><font size="4" color="#000000">ALWAYS GETS ANSWERED<br><br>
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  </font></li>
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  <li><font size="4" color="#000000">IS ALWAYS SUBSTANCE<br><br>
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  </font></li>
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  <li><font size="4" color="#000000">MUST ALWAYS BE ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL<br><br>
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  </font></li>
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  <li><font size="4" color="#000000">THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS</font></li>
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</ol>
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<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000"><br><br>
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===ALL Prayer Hinges On the Covenant===
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<dl style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
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  <dd><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"And I, behold, I establish My Covenant with you, and with your seed after you... Now therefore, if ye will obey My Voice indeed, and keep My Covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the Earth is Mine"</font><font color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>(Genesis 9:9; Exodus 19:5)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">.</font></dd>
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</dl>
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<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">O<font size="4" color="#000000">ur first prayer to God, the prayer of repentance that brought us into the family circle of Heaven, was our beginning to build upon the foundation, which is Jesus, for all our<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>future</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>prayers.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(1 Corinthians 3:11)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">. That first prayer was our promise (our affirmation of His Covenant) with God that we belonged to Him, and He to us.</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>All prayer, therefore, is valid and honourable before God if we've kept our<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">Covenant</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>with Him.</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Our walk with God is a binding "all or nothing" agreement-- Covenant-- it's black or white, Heaven or Hell. The LORD has given on the Cross, and continues to give, His infinite 100%. We give Him our finite 100%.</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Be ye therefore perfect</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>[your 100%]</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>[His 100%]</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"</font><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>(Matthew 5:48)<font size="4">.</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work"</font><font color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>(John 5:17)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">.<br>
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<br>
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He gives His 100%:</font></p>
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<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
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  <li><font color="#000000">Philippians 2:13</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"For it is<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>God which worketh in you</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>both to will and to do of His good pleasure."</font>
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<p></p>
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  </li>
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  <li><font color="#000000">Hebrews 13:20,21</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Now the God of peace...<b>make you perfect</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>in every good work to do His will,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>working in you</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ."</font></li>
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</ul>
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<blockquote style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
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  <p><font color="#000000">1.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4">The LORD<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">Covenant</font><font size="4">s (promises)</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"all or nothing"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>forgiveness</i></font></p>
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</blockquote>
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<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
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  <ul>
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    <li>1 John 1:9<font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"If we confess our sins, He is Faithful and Just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>all</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>unrighteousness."</font><font size="4"><i><br><br>
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    </i></font></li>
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    <li><font color="#000000">Titus 2:14</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>all</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."</font></li>
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  </ul>
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</ul>
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<blockquote style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
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  <p><font color="#000000">2.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4">The LORD<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">Covenant</font><font size="4">s (promises)</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"all or nothing" of</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>His Spirit</i></font></p>
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</blockquote>
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<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
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  <ul>
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    <li>Acts 5:32<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"The Holy Ghost, Whom God hath given<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>to them that obey Him</b>."</font>
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<p></p>
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    </li>
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    <li>1 Thessalonians 5:19<font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Quench</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>[literally, extinguish]</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>not the Spirit."</font><font size="4"><br><br>
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    </font></li>
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    <li>Ephesians 1:13<font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"Ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>Promise</b>."</font></li>
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  </ul>
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</ul>
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<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000">We give our 100%:</font></p>
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<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
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  <li><font color="#000000">1 Corinthians 15:10</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"But<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>by the grace of God I am what I am</b>: and<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>His grace which was bestowed upon me</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>was not in vain;<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>but I laboured more abundantly</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."</font>
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      <p></p>
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  </li>
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  <li><font color="#000000">Titus 3:8</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>be careful to maintain good works</b>. These things are good and profitable unto men."</font></li>
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</ul>
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<blockquote style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
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  <p><font color="#000000">1.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4">Our<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">Covenant</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>(promise) is</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"all or nothing"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>love</i></font></p>
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</blockquote>
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<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
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  <ul>
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    <li>Matthew 22:37<font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>all</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>thy heart, and with<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>all</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>thy soul, and with<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>all</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>thy mind."</font><font size="4"><br><br>
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    </font></li>
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    <li>1 John 2:15<font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"If any man love the world, the love of the Father is<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>not</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>in him."</font><font size="4"><br><br>
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    </font></li>
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    <li>Matthew 6:24<font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"No man can serve two masters... Ye cannot serve God<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>and</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>mammon.</font><font color="#AA0000">"</font></li>
+
  </ul>
+
</ul>
+
<blockquote style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <p><font color="#000000">2.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4">Our<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">Covenant</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>(promise) is</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"all or nothing"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>obedience</i></font></p>
+
</blockquote>
+
<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <ul>
+
    <li>James 2:10<font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"For whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>offend in one point, he is guilty of all</b>."</font><font size="4"><br><br>
+
    </font></li>
+
    <li>James 4:4<font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Know ye not that the<b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>friendship of the world is enmity with God</b>? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>enemy</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>of God."</font><font size="4"><br><br>
+
    </font></li>
+
    <li>Galatians 1:10<font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"For do I now persuade<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>men, or God</b>? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>not</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>be the servant of Christ."</font></li>
+
  </ul>
+
</ul>
+
<blockquote style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <p><font color="#000000">3.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4">Even so, in our walk with God, our<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">Covenant</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>(promise) is</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"all or nothing"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>Faith in Him for everything in this world, and in the next.</i></font></p>
+
</blockquote>
+
<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <ul>
+
    <li>2 Timothy 1:12<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"<b>I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day."</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><br><br>
+
    </font></li>
+
    <li><font color="#000000">Psalm 62:8</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"<b>Trust in Him at all times</b>; ye people,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>pour out your heart before Him</b>: God is a Refuge for us."</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><br><br>
+
    </font></li>
+
    <li><font color="#000000">2 Chronicles 20:20</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"<b>Believe</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>in the LORD your God, so shall ye be<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>established</b>."</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><br><br>
+
    </font></li>
+
    <li><font color="#000000">Psalm 37:3,5</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"<b>Trust in the LORD</b>, and do good; so shalt thou<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>dwell</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>in the land, and verily thou shalt<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>be fed</b>... Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass."</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><br><br>
+
    </font></li>
+
    <li><font color="#000000">Isaiah 26:4</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"<b>Trust ye in the LORD for ever</b>: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>Everlasting</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Strength."</font></li>
+
  </ul>
+
</ul>
+
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000">Note: Only a clean heart-- that is, repentant and/or walking without known sin-- can offer to God the sweet-smelling sacrifice of prayer.</font></p>
+
<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <li><font color="#000000">Psalm 66:18-20</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"</font><font color="#000000">18</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><b>If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me</b>:</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">19</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">20</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me."</font><font size="4"><br><br>
+
  </font></li>
+
  <li>Psalm 18:40-41<font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies... they cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>he</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>answered them not</b>."</font><font size="4"><br>
+
        <br>
+
  </font></li>
+
  <li>Proverbs 1:28-30<font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"</font>28<font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">Then shall they call upon me, but<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>I will not answer</b>; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">29</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>For that<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD</b>:<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">30</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof."</font><font size="4"><br>
+
        <br>
+
  </font></li>
+
  <li>Proverbs 28:9<font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"He that<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>turneth away</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>his ear from hearing the law, even<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>his prayer shall be abomination</b>."</font><font size="4"><br>
+
        <br>
+
  </font></li>
+
  <li>Isaiah 1:15-16<font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>I will not hear</b>: your hands are full of blood.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>Wash you, make you clean</b>; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil."</font><font size="4"><br>
+
        <br>
+
  </font></li>
+
  <li>John 9:31<font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"Now we know that<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>God heareth not sinners</b>: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>doeth his will, him he heareth</b>."</font><font size="4"><br>
+
        <br>
+
  </font></li>
+
  <li>James 4:3<font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Ye ask, and<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>receive not</b>, because ye ask amiss, that ye may<b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>consume it upon your lusts</b>."</font></li>
+
</ul>
+
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000"><br>
+
<br>
+
<br>
+
===Two Kinds of Prayer===
+
<br>
+
The two kinds of prayer addressed here are basically the same, but differ in results.</font></p>
+
<ol style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <li><font size="4" color="#000000">The<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>always</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>secures the answer.<br>
+
        <br>
+
  </font></li>
+
  <li><font size="4" color="#000000">The Prayer That Demonstrates Faith by the mere act of asking, yet does<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>not</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>secure the answer.</font></li>
+
</ol>
+
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000">The Prayer That Demonstrates Faith</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>must be in the general will of God, for He will definitely not answer anything we know to be unscriptural<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Wherefore be ye not unwise, but<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>understanding</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>what the will of the LORD is</font><font color="#AA0000">"</font><font color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>(</font>Ephesians 5:17<font color="#000000">).</font></p>
+
<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <li><font size="4"><i>The character of God reveals His will.</i><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>Galatians 1:3-4<font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>gave himself for our sins</b>, that he might<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>deliver us from this present evil world</b>, according to the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>will of God</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>and our Father."</font><font size="4"><br>>br>
+
  </font></li>
+
  <li><font size="4"><i>The Word of God reveals His will.</i><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">Romans 12:2</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"And<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>be</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>not conformed to this world</b>: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may<b>prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God</b>."</font><font size="4"><br><br>
+
  </font></li>
+
  <li><font size="4"><i>The Spirit of God reveals His will.</i><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>Colossians 1:9<font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might<b>be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and Spiritual understanding</b>.</font><font color="#AA0000">"</font></li>
+
</ul>
+
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4">But the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>must be His<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>specific</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>will.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>
+
</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><br><br>
+
===Only the Holy Spirit Authors the "Prayer of Faith"===
+
  
E<font size="4" color="#000000">ven after all your best intentions are prayerfully carried out, it is still only the Holy Spirit Who can make the difference between the Prayer That Demonstrates Faith in asking and the true<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">. The<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>must be in the specific will of God. Only the Holy Spirit that can lead and inspire the direction that we are to take in fulfilling God's specific will.</font></p>
+
'''FOUR WORLD KINGDOMS'''<br>
<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
and <br>
  <li><font color="#000000">Romans 8:26-27</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>we know not what we should pray for as we ought</b>: but the Spirit<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">[Himself]<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><b>maketh intercession for us<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></b>with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>[the Father]</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because<b>He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God</b>."</font></li>
+
'''GOD'S KINGDOM'''<br><br>
</ul>
+
'''Daniel Chapter 2'''<br>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000">Persevering in prayer is essential to the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">, or else the answer that surely would have come-- won't.</font></p>
+
1. Babylonian Empire - 606-536 B.C. <br>
<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
2. Persian Empire - 536-330 B.C. <br>
  <li><font color="#000000">Ephesians 6:18</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>watching thereunto with all perseverance</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>and supplication for all saints."</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><br><br>
+
3. Grecian Empire - 330-146 B.C. <br>
  </font></li>
+
4. Roman Empire - 146 B.C. - 476 A.D. <br>
  <li><font color="#000000">Colossians 4:2</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"<b>Continue</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving."</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><br>
+
5. God’s Kingdom - Time Of Christ until..........FOREVER <br><br>
        <br>
+
  </font></li>
+
'''NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S INSANITY'''<br>
  <li><font color="#000000">1 Thessalonians 5:17</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Pray<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>without ceasing</b>."</font></li>
+
and<br>
</ul>
+
'''RECOVERY'''<br><br>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000">Note: If persevering in prayer proves impossible because the answer is a definite, "No", then there was no Securing Faith. The prayer was Prayer That Demonstrated Faith, but wasn't ever inspired by the Spirit according to God's specific will. Therefore, He didn't answer it</font>.<font color="#000000">ORD-- IF His </font></p>
+
Daniel Chapter 4<br><br>
<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
1. Insanity to last for "seven times" - verse 32 <br>
  <li><font color="#000000">1 John 5:14-15</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>according to His will</b>, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him."</font></li>
+
2. word, "time" , means seasons or years <br><br>
</ul>
+
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000"><br><br>
+
'''FALL OF BABYLON'''<br>
   
+
and<br>
===Prayer That Demonstrates Faith in Asking===
+
'''RISE OF MEDE-PERSIAN EMPIRE'''<br><br>
<br>
+
Daniel Chapter 5<br><br>
W</font><font size="4">hen you pray you are petitioning God in either Faith or hope.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">Prayer That Demonstrates Faith by the mere task of asking is praying in hope.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4">Hope yields anticipation, but does not secure the answer. But even though this kind of prayer can't bring forth the answer you seek,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">Prayer That Demonstrates Faith by the mere task of asking glorifies God because it seeks God as the Giver and is in obedience to the command<br><br>
+
1. Belshazzar’s Feast - Handwriting on the wall<br><br>  
Every prayer ought to be prayed in Faith. When we pray, we are commanded to believe God and to take Him at His Word. We have no right to doubt God.</font></p>
+
<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
'''FOUR WORLD EMPIRES'''<br>
  <li><font color="#000000">John 15:16</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>ordained</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>you, that ye should<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>go and bring forth fruit</b>, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My Name, He may give it you."</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><br><br>
+
'''FOURTH WITH ITS TEN HORNS'''<br>
  </font></li>
+
'''THE ELEVENTH HORN''' <br><br>
  <li><font color="#000000">John 16:24</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My Name:<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>ask</b>, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."</font><p></p>
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'''Daniel Chapter 7'''<br>
  </li>
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1. Lion, Bear, Leopard and Terrible Beast <br>
  <li><font color="#000000">Mark 11:22</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"And Jesus answering saith unto them,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>Have Faith in God</b>."</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><br><br>
+
2. Babylon, Mede-Persian, Greek, Roman <br>
  </font></li>
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3. Fourth Beast (Roman) - Ten Horns <br>
  <li><font color="#000000">Mark 11:24</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>believe</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><br><br>
+
4. Eleventh Horn (Roman catholic church) <br>
  </font></li>
+
a. plucked out three of first horns<br>
  <li><font color="#000000">Matthew 7:7</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"<b>Ask</b>, and it shall be given you;<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>seek</b>, and ye shall find;<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>knock</b>, and it shall be opened unto you."</font></li>
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b. eyes of a man, mouth speaking great things<br>  
</ul>
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c. look more stout than his fellows <br>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000">We are to pray about all things, exercising our Faith in God and His Promises.</font></p>
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d. made war with the saints and prevailed against them <br>
<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
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e. shall be diverse from the other kingdoms <br>
  <li><font color="#000000">Philippians 4:6</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Be careful for nothing; but<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>in every thing</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."</font></li>
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f. shall speak great words against the most High <br>
</ul>
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g. shall wear out the saints of the most High <br>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000">But how can we know the prayer was prayed in Faith? You can "feel" you prayed in Faith, and you ought to believe you did. However, you won't know it by sight until the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"substance"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>and</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"evidence"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Hebrews 11:1)</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>of Faith, which isn't visible at first, becomes visible at the arriving of the answer.<br>
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h. change time and laws <br>
<br>
+
i. shall be given into his hand until a time, times and dividing of time <br><br>
Paul is an example of walking by Faith-- yet praying a prayer that was NOT in Faith.</font></p>
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<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
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'''GREEK EMPIRE - FOUR HORNS '''<br><br>
  <li><font color="#000000">2 Corinthians 12:7-9</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"</font><font color="#000000">7</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">Lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">8</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">For this thing<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>I besought the LORD thrice, that it might depart from me</b>.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">9</font><font size="4" color="#000000"></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."</font></li>
+
'''CHAPTER 8'''<br>
</ul>
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1. 2300 Days - verse 14 (actual time, 2300 years) <br>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000">It was not the LORD's specific will to remove Paul's<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"thorn in the flesh"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">. It is always the LORD's general will to heal.</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses... and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Matthew 8:17; Luke 5:15)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">. Paul prayed as he ought to have. Paul believed as he ought to have. But since the Holy Spirit knew God's specific will in this particular matter, He did not excite securing Faith in Paul. This is an excellent example of how a Faithful Servant couldn't pray the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">, but instead prayed Prayer That Demonstrates Faith in the mere asking<br><br>
+
2. time the sanctuary would be trodden under foot from the he-goat  <br>
===Faith: Quantity Or Quality?===
+
3. time of the end - verse 17, 19 <br>
<br>
+
4. Adolph Hitler (?) - verse 19-25 <br><br>
How much" Faith is needed to pray the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">? There can be a great deal of confusion on this point, because we often think of Faith in terms of quantity, when instead we should think of quality. While it does take Faith to begin to pray at all, the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>needs a higher degree of quality to persevere until the answer comes. It takes a better grade of Faith to persevere in prayer than to just begin praying. "Do I have enough Faith to expect God to answer this prayer?"<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>
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<br>
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'''FIRST COMING OF THE MESSIAH''' <br><br>
QUANTITY can be seen in this lowly, smallest of small seeds, the mustard seed.</font></p>
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'''Daniel Chapter 9'''<br>
<dl style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
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1. Seventy weeks <br>
  <dd><font size="4" color="#000000">When responding to the Apostles' desire for more Faith,</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"Increase our Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Luke 17:5)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">, the LORD Jesus said that the smallest amount of Faith, even<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"as a grain of mustard seed... which indeed is the least of all seeds"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Luke 17:6; Matthew 13:32)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">, was enough to do even the impossible, i.e.,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Luke 17:6)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">. The smallest QUANTITY of Faith is equivalent to the smallest of all seeds. The smallest of all seeds can accomplish the impossible. Therefore, as far as QUANTITY is concerned,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>any Faith is enough Faith.</b></font>
+
2. Between time of the order to rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah <br>
      <p></p>
+
a. order given by Arterexes - 457 B.C. <br>
  </dd>
+
b. Christ died on calvary - 33 A.D.<br><br>
  <dd><font size="4" color="#000000">God isn't unfair in His dealings with men.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"God is no respecter of persons"</font><font color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>(Acts 10:34)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">. The LORD gives</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"The Measure of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>to all men, therefore, no one has a reason to boast because no one has an unfair advantage in their<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"walk by Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(2Corinthians 5:7)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"For I say... to<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>every</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>The Measure of Faith</b>"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Romans 12:3)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">.</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"The Measure of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>that is<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"dealt to every man"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>is even<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"as a grain of mustard seed"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">, and is enough to do anything needed, even the impossible.<br>
+
<br>
+
'''TROUBLES IN THE HOLY LAND DURING INTER-TESTAMENT PERIOD '''<br><br>
Any QUANTITY of Faith is enough Faith. There are no levels in amount or quantity. The LORD gives us<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"The Measure of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Romans 12:3)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">.</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">If you have ANY<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Measure of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">, even if<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"The Measure of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>is<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"as a grain of mustard seed"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">, then you have enough<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Measure"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>in life to accomplish anything-- even moving mountains.</font>
+
'''Daniel Chapter 11'''<br>
        <p></p>
+
1. Kings of the North and Kings of the South<br>
        <ul>
+
a. Greek, Syrian and Egyptian wars <br>
          <li><font color="#000000">Matthew 17:19-20</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"</font><font color="#000000">19</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">20</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>Faith as a grain of mustard seed,</i><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>nothing shall be impossible</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>unto you."</font></li>
+
b. "vile person" (Antiochus Epiphanes)<br>
        </ul>
+
2. Attacked Jerusalem <br>
  </dd>
+
a. slew 80,000 Jews  <br>
</dl>
+
b. took 80,000 Jews as slaves <br><br>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000">QUALITY can be seen in this lowly, smallest of small seeds, the mustard seed.</font></p>
+
<dl style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
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'''SIGNS OF THE TIME OF THE END''' <br><br>
  <dd><font size="4" color="#000000">Quality of Faith is another matter. While there are no levels in the quantity of Faith possessed,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>there are levels of QUALITY</b>, i.e.,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"strong"<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">versus<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"weak"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">.</font>
+
'''Daniel Chapter 8 and Chapter 12'''<br>
      <dl>
+
1. king of fierce countenance and understanding dark sentences - 8:17,19, 23-25<br>
        <p></p>
+
a. time of the end,<br>  
      </dl>
+
b. last end of the indignation, the time appointed the end shall be <br>
      <ul>
+
c. Antiochus Epiphanes - 175-164 B.C. <br>
        <li><font color="#000000">Romans 4:19-21</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"</font><font color="#000000">19</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And being<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>not weak in Faith</b>, he</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>[Abraham]</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">20</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>He</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>[Abraham]</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>staggered not at the Promise of God through unbelief; but was<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>strong in Faith</b>, giving glory to God.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">21</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">And being<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>fully persuaded</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform."</font>
+
d. Adolph Hitler - 1941-1945 A.D<br>.
            <ul>
+
2. time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation - Chapter 12<br>
              <li><font size="4" color="#000000"><i>Note Abraham's Reward:</i><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="2" color="#000000">(4:22)</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Therefore it was imputed to him for Righteousness."</font></li>
+
a. Michael standeth for the children of thy people <br>
            </ul>
+
b. people delivered every one found written in the book <br>
            <p></p>
+
c. time of the end - run to and fro, knowledge increased <br>
        </li>
+
d. Time, Times, and a half a Time<br>
        <li><font color="#000000">1 Corinthians 16:13</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"Watch ye,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>stand fast in the Faith</b>, quit you like men,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>be strong</b>."</font></li>
+
e. 1260 days <br>
      </ul>
+
f. 1290 Days <br>
  </dd>
+
g. 1335 Days <br><br>
  <dd><font size="4" color="#000000"><br>
+
    You build strength in Faith the same way you build strength in muscle-- by exercise. The way you use Faith, the areas of life in which you apply Faith, the advantage you take in the opportunities the LORD lays before you-- these are the means by which Faith grows strong. Do you seek reliance upon God only, and trust Him even when the situation gives you other options? This not only pleases Him, for<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"without Faith it is impossible to please Him"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Hebrews 11:6)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">, but this exercise of Faith causes you to trust God more.<br>
+
'''HISTORY OF JERUSALEM'''<br>
    <br>
+
and the<br>
    Faith is like a mustard seed. It grows in strength and might, in glory and perfection.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"The Kingdom of Heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed... which indeed is the least of all seeds: but<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>when it is grown, it is the greatest</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Matthew 13:31-32)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">. To be one of these<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"birds of the air"<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">that</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"come and lodge in the branches"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>of<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"The Kingdom of Heaven"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>is to have</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"The Mighty One"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>declare,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"all flesh shall know that I the LORD am<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>thy</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Saviour and<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>thy</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Redeemer, The Mighty One of Jacob"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Isaiah 49:26)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">. This is QUALITY of Faith grown to its<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"greatest"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">, most glorious potential!</font>
+
'''JEWISH PEOPLE'''<br><br>
    <p></p>
+
    <ul>
+
      <li><font color="#000000">1 Peter 1:7</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"That<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>the trial of your Faith</b>, being<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>much more precious than of gold</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>that perisheth, though it be<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>tried with fire</b>, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."</font></li>
+
    </ul>
+
  </dd>
+
</dl>
+
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000"><br>
+
      <br>
+
      <br>
+
===Concerning the Use of the Phrase===
+
<br>
+
There are five times in Scripture where the phrase<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"little Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>is used:</font></p>
+
<ol style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <li><font color="#000000">Matthew 6:30</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little Faith?"</font>
+
      <p></p>
+
  </li>
+
  <li><font color="#000000">Luke 12:28</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will He clothe you, O ye of little Faith?"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><br>
+
        <br>
+
  </font></li>
+
  <li><font color="#000000">Matthew 8:26</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little Faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."</font>
+
      <p></p>
+
  </li>
+
  <li><font color="#000000">Matthew 16:8</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Which when Jesus perceived, He said unto them, O ye of little Faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><br>
+
        <br>
+
  </font></li>
+
  <li><font color="#000000">Matthew 14:31</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little Faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"</font></li>
+
</ol>
+
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000">In "Strong's Concordance" we find<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"little Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>as meaning "trusting too little", i.e., "Faith"-- singular in<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>quality</i><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>(not plural, as in<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>quantity):</i></font></p>
+
<blockquote style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <blockquote>
+
    <p><font color="#000000">3640 oligopistov oligopistos {ol-ig-op'-is-tos}<br>
+
          <br>
+
          from 3641 and 4102; TDNT - 6:174,849; n f<br>
+
          <br>
+
          AV - of little faith 5; 5<br>
+
          <br>
+
          1) of little faith,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>trusting too little</b></font></p>
+
  </blockquote>
+
</blockquote>
+
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000">Also, in "Strong's",<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"little"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>can mean "of number: multitude,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>quantity</b>, or size"; but it can<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>also</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>mean "of degree or intensity: light, slight", i.e.,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>quality</b>.</font></p>
+
<dl style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <dl>
+
    <dd><font color="#000000">3641 oligov oligos {ol-ee'-gos}<br>
+
          <br>
+
          of uncertain affinity; TDNT - 5:171,682; adj<br>
+
          <br>
+
          AV - few 14, (a) little 7, small 5, few things 4, almost + 1722 2,<br>
+
          a while 2, misc 9; 43<br>
+
          <br>
+
          1) little, small, few<br>
+
          1a) of number: multitude, quantity, or size<br>
+
          1b) of time: short<br>
+
          1c)<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>of degree or intensity: light, slight</b></font></dd>
+
  </dl>
+
</dl>
+
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000">Therefore, to rightly divide the Spirit's meaning of<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"little Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">, and determine if Faith could be in quantity, as opposed to just quality, we must study the context.<br><br>
+
The first two references of<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"little Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>in Matthew 6:30 and Luke 12:28 are parallel passages.</font></p>
+
<dl style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <dd><font color="#000000">Matthew 6:24-33</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"</font><font color="#000000">24</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">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.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">[In other words, choose the single master you will love and hold to-- God or the world.]</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">25</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">[or, don't worry]</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life MORE than meat, and the body than raiment?<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">26</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>Are ye not much better than they?</i><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">27</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Which of you by taking thought</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>[or, worrying]<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">can add one cubit unto his stature?<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">28</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">29</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">30</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not MUCH MORE clothe you,<b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></b>O ye of<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>little Faith</b>?<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">31</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">32</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">33</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His Righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."</font>
+
<p></p>
+
</dd>
+
<dd><font size="4" color="#000000">If our Heavenly Father completely meets the need of all life in the natural world,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><i>"Are ye not much better than they? "</i></font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Which master deserves your trust? Hasn't the Father earned perfect Faith, of the highest<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>quality</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>and degree of intensity? To fall short of that is to trust "too little", or have<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"little Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">.</font></dd>
+
</dl>
+
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000"><br>
+
  The third passage of<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"little Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>is in Matthew:</font></p>
+
<dl style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <dd><font color="#000000">Matthew 8:23-27</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"</font><font color="#000000">23</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">And when He was entered into a ship, His disciples followed Him.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">24</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but He was asleep.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">25</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And His disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, LORD, save us: we perish.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">26</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>little Faith</b>? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">27</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!"</font><p></p></dd>
+
<dd><font size="4" color="#000000">Again, we find that<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"little Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>means to fall short in<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>quality</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>of trust, or to trust "too little", which can dangerously lead to fear.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Why are ye fearful, O ye of<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>little Faith</b>?"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And when fear isn't handled properly, i.e.,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"What time I am afraid, I will<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>trust</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>in Thee"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Psalm 56:3)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">, it leads to sin, i.e.,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"But the fearful, and unbelieving... shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Revelation 21:8)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">. High quality Faith<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"will<b>trust</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>in Thee"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">.</font></dd>
+
</dl>
+
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000"><br>
+
  The fourth passage of<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"little Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">:</font></p>
+
<dl style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <dd><font color="#000000">Matthew 16:5-12</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"</font><font color="#000000">5</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And when His disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">6</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">7</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">8</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Which when Jesus perceived, He said unto them, O ye of<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>little Faith</b>, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">9</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>Do ye not yet understand, neither remember</i><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">10</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">11</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">12</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Then understood they how that He bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."</font>
+
<p></p>
+
</dd>
+
<dd><font size="4" color="#000000">Jesus was trying to warn His disciples about<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees"<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">by using<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"leaven"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>as an illustration of Truth. But instead of seeing the broader picture of Faith, the disciples, in their<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"little Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>could only misunderstand Him. They forgot His past demonstrations of miraculous supply.</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"Do ye not yet understand, neither remember... How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?"<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#000000">It was only after the reproof, that<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"then understood they how that He bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>If the disciples had a zealous<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>quality</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>of Faith, if they had trusted Jesus more for the supply He had previously shown them, then they wouldn't have tripped over His lesson.</font></dd>
+
</dl>
+
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000"><br>
+
  The last passage, still in the Book of Matthew:</font></p>
+
<dl style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <dd><font color="#000000">Matthew 14:25-31</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"</font><font color="#000000">25</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">26</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">27</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.</font><font color="#000000">28</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And Peter answered Him and said, LORD, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">29</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">30</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, LORD, save me.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">31</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>little Faith</b>, wherefore didst thou doubt?"</font>
+
<p></p>
+
</dd>
+
  <dd><font size="4" color="#000000">The disciples thought they saw a ghost walking on the water. Jesus calmed their fears by identifying Himself. Peter was beginning to demonstrate Faith in this identifying process by saying,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"LORD, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water."</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>But Peter's Faith was low quality. He trusted "too little", and his<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"little Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>turned into<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"doubt"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>as he took his eyes off the Author of Faith<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Hebrews 12:2)</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>and placed them instead on the object of defeat. Peter wavered from Faith, changing his ultimate purpose--<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"he was afraid"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Matthew 14:30)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">-- but, quickly returned to his condition of<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"little Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000">, when he cried,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"LORD, save me"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(14:30)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">.</font></dd>
+
</dl>
+
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Little Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>is still Faith. But remember,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"little Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>means to fall short in<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>quality</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>of trust, or to trust "too little", which can dangerously lead to sin.<br><br>
+
  
 +
1000 B.C. - David made Jerusalem Israel’s national capital<br>
 +
1. Nation of Israel spit into north and south <br>
 +
2. Israel - captured by Assyrians 721 B.C<br>
 +
3. Judah- captured by Babylonians<br>
 +
586 B.C. <br>
 +
586 B.C. - 536 B.C. - Jerusalem controlled by Babylonians<br>
 +
536 B.C. - 332 B.C. - Jerusalem controlled by Persians who permitted Jew’s return and restoration. Aided in their reestablishment as a nation.<br>
 +
331 B.C. - 146 B.C. - Greeks ruled Palestine and Jerusalem<br>
 +
175 B.C. - 164 B.C. - Aniochus Epiphanes desecration of Jerusalem<br>
 +
146 B.C. - 476 A.D. - Roman Empire ruled the world<br>
 +
30 A.D. - 33 A.D. - Public ministry of Christ<br>
 +
70 A.D. - Destruction of Jerusalem by Romans (Titus)<br>
 +
270 A.D. - 1530 A.D. - Papacy world power<br>
 +
637 A.D. - 1917 A.D. - Mohammedanism control of Palestine<br>
 +
1917 A.D. - end - World troubles as never before seen<br>
 +
1967 A.D. - Jews recapture Jerusalem - restore sanctuary<br><br>
  
===Faith Versus Doubt===
+
'''Foundation'''<br>
      <br>
+
'''Studies'''<br>
      When a Christian, who is to<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"walk by Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(2Corinthians 5:7)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">, finds himself about to do something morally questionable, and proceeds against his conscience, without clearing the matter by determining,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"what saith the Scripture?"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Romans 4:3)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">, this person is clearly in doubt.</font></p>
+
'''Historical Overview''' <br><br>  
<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <li><font color="#000000">Romans 14:23</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"And<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>he that doubteth is damned</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>if he eat, because he eateth not of Faith: for whatsoever is not of Faith is sin."</font></li>
+
</ul>
+
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000">Faith secures all. Doubt receives nothing.</font></p>
+
<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <li><font color="#000000">James 1:6-8</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"</font><font color="#000000">6</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">Let him ask in Faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">7</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">For<b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the LORD</b>.</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">8</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">A double minded man is unstable in<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>all</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>his ways."</font></li>
+
</ul>
+
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000"><b>If</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>you know "beyond a shadow of doubt" that God's will for you is to curse a fig tree, or move a mountain, and you refuse to believe Him for it, then you drop from one, who trusts God to use you to do the impossible, to one who doubts God.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"And he that doubteth is damned."</font></p>
+
<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <li><font color="#000000">Matthew 21:21</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>If ye have Faith, and doubt not</b>, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done."<br>
+
        <br>
+
  </font></li>
+
  <li><font color="#000000">Mark 11:23</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."<br>
+
        <br>
+
  </font></li>
+
  <li><font color="#000000">Galatians 4:19-21</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"</font><font color="#000000">19</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">20</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>I stand in doubt of you</b>.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">21</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?"<br>
+
        <br>
+
  </font></li>
+
  <li><font color="#000000">John 10:23-26</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"</font><font color="#000000">23</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">24</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Then came the Jews round about Him, and said unto Him, How long dost Thou make us to doubt? If Thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">25</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Jesus answered them,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>I told you, and ye believed not</b>: the works that I do in My Father's Name, they bear witness of Me.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">26</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>But<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep</b>, as I said unto you."</font></li>
+
</ul>
+
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><br>
+
    <font size="4" color="#000000"><br>
+
    <br>
+
===One Faith But Different Areas of Application===
+
    <br>
+
    When the LORD is allowed, by you, to prove Himself Faithful, the accumulated experience will strengthen your boldness and cause you to exercise Faith in even more areas.</font></p>
+
<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <li><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"</font><font color="#000000">3</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">4</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">And<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>patience, experience; and experience, hope</b>:<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">5</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">And hope maketh<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>not ashamed</b>"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Romans 5:3-5)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">.</font></li>
+
</ul>
+
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000">As we continue on the Path of Light<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Proverbs 4:18)</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>that is Life to the Christian,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(1Peter 3:15)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Jesus answering saith unto them,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>Have Faith in God</b>"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font color="#000000">(Mark 11:22)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">. Pray the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>for others. The one time<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Prayer of Faith"</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>is declared in Scripture is in intercession for others.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"And the Prayer of Faith shall<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>save the sick</b>, and the LORD shall raise him up"</font><font color="#000000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>(James 5:15)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">.</font></p>
+
<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <li><font color="#000000">Acts 3:16</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"And His Name through<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>Faith in His Name hath made this man strong</b>, whom ye see and know: yea,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>the Faith which is by Him hath given him this perfect soundness</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>in the presence of you all."</font>
+
      <p></p>
+
  </li>
+
  <li><font color="#000000">Acts 11:24</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"For he was a good man, and<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>full</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>of the Holy Ghost and<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>of Faith</b>: and<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>much people was added unto the LORD</b>."</font></li>
+
</ul>
+
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#000000">More Areas of the Application of Faith (As Demonstrated in the Book of Hebrews, Chapter 11):</font></p>
+
<dl style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
+
  <dd><font color="#000000">1</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Now Faith is the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>substance</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>of things hoped for, the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>evidence</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>of things not seen.<br>
+
        <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">2</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>For by it the elders<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>obtained a good report</b>.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">3</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Through Faith we<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God</b>, so that things which are seen were<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>not</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>made of things which do appear.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">4</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>By Faith Abel<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>than Cain, by which he<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>obtained witness that he was righteous</b>, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">5</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>By Faith Enoch<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>was translated that he should not see death</b>; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>he pleased God</b>.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">6</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>But without Faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>of them that<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>diligently seek Him</b>.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">7</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>By Faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>prepared an ark to the saving of his house</b>; by the which he<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>condemned the world</b>, and<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>became heir of the righteousness which is by Faith</b>.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">8</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>By Faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>OBEYED</b>; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">9</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>By Faith he<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>sojourned in the land of Promise</b>, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same Promise:<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">10</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>For he<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>looked for a City which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God</b>.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">11</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Through Faith also Sara herself<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>received strength to conceive seed</b>, and was<b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>delivered of a child when she was past age</b>, because she<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>judged Him Faithful</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Who had promised.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">12</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Therefore<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>sprang there even of one</b>, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">13</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>These all died in Faith, not having received the Promises, but having seen them afar off, and<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>were persuaded of them</b>, and<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>embraced them</b>, and confessed that they<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>were strangers and pilgrims on the Earth</b>.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">14</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>For they that say such things declare plainly that they<b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>seek a Country</b>.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">15</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">16</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>But now they<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>desire a Better Country</b>, that is, an Heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a City.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">17</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>By Faith Abraham, when he was tried,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>offered up Isaac</b>: and he that had received the Promises<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>offered up his only begotten son</b>.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">18</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">19</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead</b>; from whence also he received him in a figure.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">20</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>By Faith Isaac<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come</b>.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">21</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>By Faith Jacob, when he was a dying,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>blessed both the sons</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>of Joseph;<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>and worshipped</b>, leaning upon the top of his staff.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">22</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>By Faith Joseph, when he died,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>made mention of the departing of the children of Israel</b>; and<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>gave commandment concerning his bones</b>.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">23</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>By Faith Moses, when he was born,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>was hid three months of his parents</b>, because they saw he was a proper child; and they<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>were not afraid of the king's commandment</b>.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">24</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>By Faith Moses, when he was come to years,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter</b>;<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">25</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season</b>;<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">26</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater Riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the Reward</b>.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">27</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>By Faith he<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him Who is Invisible</b>.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">28</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Through Faith he<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest He that destroyed the firstborn should touch them</b>.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">29</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>By Faith they<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>passed through the Red sea as by dry land</b>: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">30</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>By Faith<b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>the walls of Jericho fell down</b>, after they were compassed about seven days.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">31</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>By Faith the harlot Rahab<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>perished not with them that believed not</b>, when she had<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>received the spies with peace</b>.<br>
+
    <br>
+
    </font><font color="#000000">32</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:<br>
+
<br>
+
<font color="#000000">33</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Who through Faith<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained Promises, stopped the mouths of lions,</b><br>
+
<br>
+
<font color="#000000">34</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.</b><br>
+
<br>
+
<font color="#000000">35</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Women<b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>received their dead raised to life again</b>: and others<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>were tortured, not accepting deliverance</b>; that they<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>might obtain a better resurrection:</b><br>
+
<br>
+
<font color="#000000">36</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And others<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:</b><br>
+
<br>
+
<font color="#000000">37</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>They<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>were stoned</b>, they<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword</b>: they<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented</b>;<br>
+
<br>
+
<font color="#000000">38</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>(Of whom the world was<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>not</b><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>worthy:) they<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the Earth</b>.<br>
+
<br>
+
<font color="#000000">39</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>And these all,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>having obtained a good report through Faith</b>, received not the Promise:<br>
+
<br>
+
<font color="#000000">40</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>God having provided<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b>some better thing for us</b>, that they without us should not be made perfect.</font>
+
  
<p align="CENTER" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF">.</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><br>
+
 
<b><br>
+
'''FIRST CHURCH AGE'''<br>
"Blessed be the LORD for Evermore. Amen, and Amen"</b><br>
+
'''33 - 270 AD'''<br><br>
</font><font size="2" color="#000000">(Psalm 89:52)</font><font size="4" color="#000000">.
+
Revelation Visions That Apply To This Period<br>
 +
1. First Candlestick Ephesus - 2:1-7 <br>
 +
2. First Seal - White Horse - 6:1-2  <br>
 +
3. First Trumpet - 8:1-7 <br>
 +
4. Woman & Dragon - 12:1-5 <br>
 +
5. Second Seal - Red Horse 6:3-4<br><br>
 +
'''SECOND CHURCH AGE'''<br>
 +
'''270 - 530 AD'''<br>
 +
Revelation Visions That Apply To This Period<br>
 +
1. Second Candlestick - Smyrna - 2:8-11 <br>
 +
2. Third Seal - Black Horse - 6:5-6 <br>
 +
3. Second Trumpet -8: 8-9  <br>
 +
4. Raptured Witnesses - 11: 1-13  <br>
 +
5. Woman with Wings - 12: 6-17 <br>
 +
6. Beast From the Sea - 13: 1-10  <br>
 +
7. Mystery Babylon - 14: 8-11 17: 1-18<br><br>
 +
'''THIRD CHURCH AGE'''<br>
 +
'''530 - 1530 AD'''<br>
 +
Revelation Visions That Apply To This Period<br>
 +
1. Third Candlestick - Pergamos - 2:12-17  <br>
 +
2. Third Trumpet - 8: 10-11 <br>
 +
3. Fourth Trumpet - 8: 12  <br>
 +
4. Fifth Trumpet - 9: 1-12  <br>
 +
5. Slain Witnesses - 11: 7-14  <br>
 +
6. Sixth Trumpet - 9: 13-21 <<br>
 +
7. Beast/Bottomless pit - 11: 7-14 17: 8-18 <br>  
 +
8. Angel From Heaven - Chapter 20<br><br>
 +
'''FOURTH CHURCH AGE'''<br>
 +
'''1530 - 1730 AD'''<br>
 +
Revelation Visions That Apply To This Period<br>
 +
1. Fourth Candlestick - Thyatira - 2:18-29  <br>
 +
2. Fourth Seal - Pale Horse - 6:7-8  <br>
 +
3. Resurrected Witness - 11: 7-12<br>
 +
4. Lamblike Beast - 13: 11-18 <br><br>
 +
'''FIFTH CHURCH AGE'''<br>
 +
'''1730 - 1880 AD''' <br>
 +
Revelation Visions That Apply To This Period<br>
 +
1. Fifth Candlestick - Sardis - 3:16  <br>
 +
2. Fifth Seal - Souls/Altar 6: 9-11<br><br>
 +
SIXTH CHURCH AGE<br>
 +
1880 - 1967 AD<br>
 +
Revelation Visions That Apply To This Period<br>
 +
1. Sixth Candlestick - Philadelphia 3:7-13<br>
 +
2. Sixth Seal - Disasters 6:12-17<br><br>
 +
'''SEVENTH CHURCH AGE'''<br>
 +
'''FROM 1967 TO  OUR LORD'S RETURN''' <br>
 +
Revelation Visions That Apply To This Period<br>
 +
1. Seventh Candlestick - Laodicea 3: 14-22<br>
 +
2. Seventh Seal - 1/2 hour silence 8:1<br>
 +
 
 +
'''DISCUSSION'''<br><br>
 +
 
 +
As we learned in the introduction, the Revelation is a book of prophecy that tells of political and religious events that would happen throughout history that would affect God’s church.
 +
 
 +
Written in 95 A.D. the prophecies of the Revelation have taken place between the year 33 A.D. and the second coming of Christ. This period of human history beginning in 33 A.D. when Jesus built His church until the second return of Christ, is known as the Christian era, or Christian age.
 +
 
 +
Most of the prophecies have already been fulfilled precisely as they prophesied. The only one that remains is the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the final event discussed in the Revelation.
 +
The Revelation divides the time frame of the Christian era into seven periods of time.
 +
 
 +
By separating these periods, to place the specific visions with their historical time, provides a map that links the message of the Revelation into one clear picture. That is the purpose of this lesson, to identify the seven different periods and apply the visions in the period where they are to be fulfilled.
 +
 
 +
In chapters 2 and 3 we are introduced to the letters to the seven churches of Asia. These seven letters represent the division of the Revelation into seven periods of church history. Each letter describes the religious atmosphere and situation of that particular period.
 +
 
 +
The first letter is to the church at Ephesus, the second to the church at Smyrna, the third to the church in the city of Pergamos, the fourth to Thyatira, the fifth to Sardis, the sixth to Philadelphia and the seventh to the church at Laodicea.
 +
 
 +
'''The first period''' in the Christian church era is identified as the Ephesus church period, which spans a historical time between the years 33 A.D. and 270 A.D. There are ''four parallel visions'' that describe the prophesied events that will take place during this period.
 +
 
 +
The '''first vision''' is the letter to Ephesus that describes the religious atmosphere and situation of this period. The commendations recorded in this letter identify the zeal and moral uprightness of the early Christian church immediately in the years after the death and resurrection of Christ.
 +
 
 +
The reprimands, however, reveal that by the end of the third century a relaxing of true Christian morals would occur as the teachings of Christ would become intermingled with paganism while a new form of Christianity would emerge that associated with idolatry.
 +
 
 +
The '''second vision''' of this period is the opening of the first seal to reveal a rider on a white horse. In future studies we will learn more of this vision that symbolizes the pure religious activities of the God’s true Church in the early years of its history.
 +
 
 +
The '''third vision''' of this period is the sounding of the first trumpet. This vision tells of the beginning events that lead to the decline and fall of the Roman empire, the political system that was in control of world events during the first several periods of the Christian era.
 +
 
 +
The Roman empire has had a tremendous impact on God’s people in its efforts to try to destroy the Church that Jesus built. It is for this reason that the circumstances involving the Roman empire are revealed in the Revelation.
 +
 +
The '''third vision''' is that of the woman in chapter 12 who stands upon the moon and is clothed about with the sun. As she is about to give birth to her child a great red dragon stands before her to devour the child.
 +
 
 +
This vision begins in the first church period and is carried over to succeeding periods as the history of the woman does not end when the first church period ends. The woman is a symbol of God’s true church while the great red dragon is a symbol for the Roman political empire that tried to destroy her children, the born-again Christians. The historical fulfillment of this vision begins at the immediate emergence of God’s church in 33 A.D. but the war of Rome against God’s church has continued throughout history as we will learn in our continuing studies.
 +
 
 +
The '''fourth vision''' is the opening of the second seal to reveal a different rider on a red horse. This vision symbolizes again the persecution against the Christians by the Romans, who shed much bloodshed of the Christians as illustrated by the red color of the horse.
 +
 
 +
These four parallel visions prophesy the events that would take place in the first period of the Christian era, beginning in 33 ad to around 270 ad, the time when the newly formed church of God began its world ministry of sharing the gospel of Christ. Each of these four parallel visions describe different perspectives of this same time period to give us a full view of the circumstances. No one vision or symbol could do that, which is the reason for these completely different parallel visions.
 +
 
 +
We discuss these visions, as well as all the others, in greater detail in the complete Revelation cassette tape series. I would suggest that you consider adding this valuable cassette resource to your library.
 +
 
 +
'''The second period''' of the Christian era is identified as the Smyrna church period, a period of history that spans from about 270 A.D. until around 530 A.D. There are seven visions associated with this period.
 +
 
 +
The letter to the church at Smyrna indicates this would be a period of continuing persecution against the Church of God. The persecution would subside however, as the Christian faith was adopted by the Roman government as the official religion of Rome during this period, but with tragic results. Rather than adopting Christian morality and the pure teachings of Christ, the Roman Christian religion became mostly a mixture of pagan worship mingled with some Christian thought.
 +
 
 +
While the Romans began to redefine the Christian faith to suit their life style and worship, the true Church of God maintained its purity of belief more privately and less publicly. The false Christian religion of Rome became more powerful and influential during the end of this second church age while the teachings of true Church of God became insignificant to the masses of people.
 +
 
 +
The '''second vision''' is the opening of the third seal, to reveal a rider on a black horse. As we will learn in more detail in future lessons, this vision symbolizes the beginning of a period of religious apostasy where the emergence of a false, apostate Christian religion threatens to replace and destroy God’s truth and God’s true church with its own false teachings and practices.
 +
 
 +
Black, the color associated with darkness and evil, is used to symbolize the false beliefs and teachings on which the apostate church transports itself, as opposed to white which represents purity and truth on which the true of God was founded and which it is faithful to teach.
 +
 
 +
The '''third vision''' of this period is the sounding of the second trumpet. As in the sounding of the first trumpet this vision describes the continuing political events that lead to the decline and fall of the Roman empire. We will learn more of this vision in future studies.
 +
 
 +
The '''fourth vision''' is that of the two slain witnesses. This vision reveals the attempts by pagan and false religions to destroy the two witnesses to God’s real truth. These two witnesses are God’s Spirit and God’s word.
 +
 
 +
During the time of the apostasy every attempt was made to keep the masses of people from learning the word of God by replacing it with the doctrines of man-made religion. The Spirit of God, who transforms the lives of people, was replaced by human ordinances and religious liturgy. Thus, the vision identifies the two witnesses as being killed during this dark period of church history.
 +
 
 +
The '''fifth vision''' refers again to the woman in chapter 12 where, in verses 6-17 she is given eagle’s wings to fly into the wilderness. During the period of apostasy the true church of God is never destroyed even though the devil uses political persecution and religious confusion to try.  But the true Church of God was hidden to the masses of people as it worshipped in secret (as if in a desert wilderness) away from the threats to destroy it.
 +
 
 +
The '''sixth vision''' is that of a leopard-like beast rising up out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns and a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies. The activities and duration of this beast are the same as those in Daniel’s prophecy to describe the eleventh horn. The beast opened his mouth in blaspheme against God. The beast was to make war with the saints and to overcome them; and power was given him over all kindred's, tongues and nations. The beast is to continue forty two months, or in actual time, 1260 years.
 +
 
 +
While the vision of the woman standing upon the moon reveals the true Church of God flying into the wilderness for a period of 1260 years, this vision of the beast reveals the false apostate church which had its worldly influence and power for that same duration of time. It is during this second church period that the dark ages of the apostasy begins, an apostasy that shall last for 1260 years of human history.
 +
 
 +
The '''seventh vision''' of this period describe mystery Babylon, who is also identified to be the harlot. It is said of this harlot that she committed fornication with the kings of the earth and made the inhabitants of the earth drunk with the wine of fornication. She was arrayed with purple and scarlet, decked with gold and precious stones and had a golden cup full of abominations and filthiness.
 +
 
 +
The harlot was also drunken with the blood of the saints. In this vision we are provided a further description of the worldly influence of the false, corrupt religion that would dominate political and religious life during the dark ages of apostasy.
 +
 
 +
The seven visions of the second church period each define a different aspect of this period of history in which the true church of God becomes overshadowed by an emerging false religion that boasts of representing Christ and Christianity.
 +
 
 +
'''The third period''' of the Christian era continues the apostasy and is referred to as the dark ages. This period is identified as the Pergamos church period, spanning a period of history from about 530 A.D. until around 1530 A.D. There are eight visions associated with this period.
 +
 
 +
'''The first vision''' is the letter to the church at Pergamos which reveals this period of history would be the darkest time of religious decline. During this period the false Christian religion was at its height of worldly power and at its lowest in spiritual truth. The church had deteriorated into the pagan worship and doctrines that had been introduced into the Christian religion. Boasting that it was the representative of Christ on earth the false church made war with the true saints of God who would not bow to its idolatry, to murder them as heretics while promoting evil men to great offices within the church as spiritual and political leaders to the whole world.
 +
 
 +
The '''second and third visions''' of this third period are the sounding of the third and fourth trumpets. These visions describe the final destruction of the western imperial Roman political empire. Although the political system of Rome is in its final days as a political empire, it is being replaced by the religious/political system described to be the harlot apostate church, who assumes both political and religious authority for the state of Rome.
 +
 
 +
The '''fourth vision''' is the sounding of the fifth trumpet. If it were not enough that the true Church of God was hidden in the wilderness while an apostate church declared to represent Christ, this vision reveals yet another false religion that would arise during this period to become a world influence that would deceive many. The Islamic religion, founded by Mohammed, would make its worldly entrance during this period of church history as a messenger of false teaching and militant practices.
 +
 
 +
It is prophesied that the locusts of this vision would torment for 150 years. These locusts, who are symbols of the Saracen warrior followers of Mohammed, were active militarily from 612 to 762 ad. The religion of Mohammed, as does the harlot, continues to exist today, and it will continue to exist until the return of Christ.
 +
 
 +
The '''fifth vision''' of this period is a continuation of the two slain witnesses where the beast from the bottomless pit has killed them and left their dead bodies lying in the street of the city called Sodom and Egypt.
 +
 
 +
In our continuing studies we will pursue in much greater depth all the visions in this lesson. But for now let us accept the simple explanation of this vision to be, that God’s word and God’s spirit were rejected and replaced by the false teachings and religious practices of false religions during the dark ages, and that multitudes of millions fell into the ditch of spiritual destruction along with the false teachers of these religions.
 +
 
 +
The '''sixth vision''' of this third church period is the sounding of the sixth trumpet to reveal the invasion of the eastern Roman empire by the Ottoman Turks.
 +
 
 +
The '''seventh vision''' reveals a beast from the bottomless pit with seven heads and ten horns. It is full of names of blasphemy and the beast was, and is not. This is another symbolism of Rome in its pagan papal attempts to destroy the Church of God, but in this vision we learn that the Lamb of God shall overcome them. Even in the darkest period of church history the Lord reminds us that He has built His church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
 +
 
 +
The '''eighth vision''' of this period has been misinterpreted by many who take certain portions of the Revelation literally. Chapter 20 talks of an angel who has the key to the bottomless pit and a chain in his hand by which he binds the dragon and casts him into the bottomless pit for 1000 years., after which time the dragon is loosed for a season. This vision talks of two resurrections, the battle of Armageddon, Gog and Magog and the mark of the beast.
 +
 
 +
We will deal with this chapter thoroughly in another study but allow me to make this observation. Those who try to interpret certain portions of the Revelation literally see this to suggest that there shall be a 1000 year period on earth after Christ’s return, referred to as the Millennial reign.
 +
 
 +
Now here in God’s scripture is such a doctrine supported. In Chapter 20, where most of this erroneous doctrine has been conceived, there is no mention of Christ’s second coming nor is there any mention of a reign on earth, or any mention of Christ on earth. As we will learn in the study that deals with this chapter, this vision refers to this third church period of the dark ages.
 +
 
 +
In '''the fourth church age''' God’s true church begins to re-emerge to challenge the apostate church that has held world influence for the last 1260 years. This fourth church period, dating from about 1530 to 1730 ad. is described in four visions of the Revelation.
 +
 
 +
The first vision is the letter to the church at Thyatira which describes the situation of this period to be a time of partial reemergence of true Christianity, although some of the reemergence would be a mixture of religious doctrine that contained both truth and error.
 +
 
 +
The great reformation of the 1500’s led many people away from the apostasy of the Roman church, but while doing so there emerged other Christian religions that carried over some of the Roman and pagan beliefs. Although the beginning of a return to God’s word and God’s Spirit, the results of the reformation were not totally pure.
 +
 
 +
The '''second vision''' of this period is the opening of the fourth seal. A pale horse is revealed in this vision whose rider is named death. It is said of the rider that power was given him over a 4th part of the earth to kill with the sword, hunger and death and beasts of the earth. Unlike the three horses of the first three seals, this horse has no distinguishing color.
 +
 
 +
While the white horse represented the purity of the true Christian church, the red horse the bloodthirstiness of paganism and the black horse represents the total darkness of apostate religion...the pale horse with no distinguishing color represents a religious movement that is a mixture of other religions, both true and false. This vision identifies the religious movement of Protestantism, which had its beginning with the great spiritual reformation of the early 1500’s
 +
.
 +
The '''third vision''' is a continuation of the two slain witnesses as they resurrect from the dead. The word of God and the Spirit of God, which were rejected during the apostate period, are now being revitalized during the reformation movement. The Bible, which was denied and kept secret from the masses of people during the dark ages of the apostasy is now being made available through mass printing, and as people began to read the word of God for the first time they recognize the false teachings of the apostate church and the truth as Jesus taught it. The more they learned, the more they responded to truth to come out of the false religion and make their stand with the true Church of God.
 +
 
 +
The '''fourth vision''' reveals another beast with two horns like that of a lamb but who spoke as a dragon. This beast exercised all the power of the first beast and caused the world to worship the first beast. This beast also deceived the world and caused all, both small and great, to receive a mark in their hands and foreheads. The vision of this beast identifies the error of Protestantism.
 +
 
 +
While much of the protestant movement was good in that it began the return to God’s word and to the spiritual life in Christ, the protestant movement was also an outgrowth of false Christian teaching and practices that had occupied religious thought for 1260 years. The attempts of the devil to try to destroy the true Church of God has now changed coats once again.
 +
 
 +
In his first attempt, the devil wore the coat of the Roman pagan government who used force to try and eliminate God’s church. That coat was traded in for the false Christian coat of the Roman church, who used both force and false doctrine in its attempts to destroy the true Church of God. In this fourth church period the devil slips into yet another new coat of Protestantism, where a mixture of truth and error is used to deceive the masses.
 +
 
 +
The protestant beast tried to imitate the characteristics of a lamb in that it tried to appear non-violent but its true nature was known to God, who said that the beast spoke as a dragon.
 +
 
 +
'''The fifth church period''' lasts from around 1730 ad to around 1880 ad.
 +
There are two visions associated with this period, the first of which is the letter the church at Sardis. This vision identifies the situation after the great reformation in which the church of the reformers has settled down to being just another ecclesiastical religion. For 200 years the spiritual energy of the protestant movement was fueled by the vision and purpose to reform the Christian church.
 +
 
 +
But once the reformation had been accomplished, the Christian community is now settled into two factions, the Catholics and the Protestants. There was no longer a driving urgency for the Protestants nor a realistic hope for the Catholics that they would regain world political and religious sovereignty. Both groups had now mellowed into their religious routines within their own church walls.
 +
 
 +
The '''second vision''' of this period is the opening of the fifth seal. In this vision we see the souls under the altar who were slain for the word God and their testimony. White robes were given to them and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season. This heavenly vision reveals the true Church of God in her victory as the martyred saints are seen in heaven around God’s altar.
 +
 
 +
The "rest for a little season" suggests a time when God’s true church would be free from persecution and martyrdom, which was the case in the fifth church period when there was a lull in the church.
 +
 
 +
'''The sixth church period''' provides a dramatic revival for the church in the period from 1880 A.D. to 1967 A.D. It is during this period, characterized by the letter to the church at Philadelphia, that the truths of God are preached with renewed purity and holiness.
 +
 
 +
The call of the ministry during this time was that the true saints of God come out and stand separate from the error of false religion. It was a time when the true Christians determined not to be identified with human religion, either Catholic or Protestant, but rather to be identified with the universal and eternal Church that Jesus built where membership is composed of those who are saved by the blood of the Lamb of God, and who are walking in the light of holiness as He is in the light.
 +
 
 +
The '''second vision''' of this period is the opening of the sixth seal. Great physical calamities such as an earthquake, the sun becoming black, the moon becoming as blood and every mountain and island moved out of its place, describe the terrible world events that would occur during this period. The symbolism of this vision point to political disasters, which are confirmed by the many and devastating wars that our world has witnessed in the 20th century.
 +
 
 +
'''The seventh and final church period''' begins in 1967 A.D. characterized by the letter to the church at Laodicea. After the unsuccessful attempts by the devil to destroy the church of God by using his first three "P’s" of paganism, Papalism and Protestantism, the devil now has turned to his final two P’s in this last, final war against the Church of God. The devil knows that this is his final opportunity to destroy the Church of God and in so doing win the remainder of the souls of man.
 +
 
 +
The final two P’s of the devils attempts to destroy God’s people are identified in the letter to Laodicea. They are the P’s of peace and prosperity, possibly the most dangerous of all the enemies that the devil has used against the Church of God.
 +
 
 +
We presently live in a world where Christians are allowed to worship and live without the threat of imprisonment or persecution. Freedom of religion is now a mandate of most political powers, who permit religious people to enter into their sanctuaries, synagogues and temples to perform religious activity that is of no threat to the government.
 +
 
 +
Peace and prosperity are now enjoyed by the church as new sanctuaries are built and religious programs and activity has replaced faith, prayer and personal witness that kept the Church of God alive and spiritually powerful in former generations.
 +
 
 +
The letter to the Laodicean church age is not complimentary at all, by suggesting a lukewarm and wealthy situation that replace inner spiritual power. The warning of Jesus in his parable of the five foolish virgins suggests that His second coming will find many professing Christians indifferent to the real cause of Christ.
 +
 
 +
The only other vision associated with this final period is the opening of the seventh seal. This final prophecy reveals a silence in heaven for one-half hour, which is a prophecy that identifies the last dated event that God has revealed before the end of time. That event, which occurred in 1967, has begun the final era of church history to which the final signs before our Lord’s return have been dated.
 +
 
 +
Jesus, in His sermon regarding the end of time, referred to this final dated event of 1967, which also is identified in the opening of the seventh and final seal.
 +
 
 +
All the Revelation prophesies have been fulfilled, beginning with events in the year of 33 A.D. when Jesus first built His church and will conclude at the second coming of Christ, when Jesus shall glorify His church and present it to the Heavenly Father.
 +
 
 +
In our cassette tape studies we look in greater detail at these visions identified in each of these seven church periods.
 +
 
 +
==Seven Church Periods==
 +
 
 +
'''The Seventh Church Period'''<br>
 +
(Laodicea)'''<br><br>
 +
 
 +
'''The Seventh Church Period'''<br>
 +
'''Of Revelation (Laodicea)'''<br><br>
 +
God has revealed political and religious events that would take place between the year 33 A.D. and the second coming of Christ, events significant to the Church of God. Most of the prophecies have already been fulfilled precisely as they prophesied. The only one that remains is the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the final event discussed in the Revelation.<br><br>
 +
In our last lesson we looked at the sixth period of church history which spanned the time period from 1880 to 1967 A.D. In this lesson we will look at the seventh and final period of the Christian era, identified as the Laodician church period, a period of history that spans from about 1967 A.D. to the second return of Christ. There are two visions associated with this period.<br>
 +
The''' first vision''' is the letter to the church at Laodicea, recorded in chapter 3:14-22. <br><br>
 +
"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."<br><br>
 +
The sixth church age was one of spiritual excitement and power, but sadly the atmosphere in this final, seventh period has dramatically deteriorated, just as prophesied by the Laodicean letter.<br> <br>
 +
From the middle of this century, somewhere after the 1950’s, the spiritual expression of faith declined to no small degree. The spiritual power and bold preaching of truth that were present in the earlier days of this century have been abandoned and replaced by religious organization and planning. <br><br>
 +
Churches, who once relied upon meetings of prayer now devote their time in committee and organizational meetings. Revival meetings have turned into life-enriching seminars. Simple and basic messages of truth have been replaced by sermons of homiletical and political correctness. Preaching for the souls of man has now been replaced by lessons of social interest. Present day pulpits are now battlegrounds against social injustice and political intrigue rather than being places of war against satan and his devises. <br><br>
 +
The fire of revival does not exist in the pulpits or in the hearts of the professing believers of Christ. For most of modern-day Christianity the priorities of serving God have been replaced by the personal ambitions of worldly wants and needs. This is the deteriorated condition of the last church age, the age in which we presently live.<br><br>
 +
There is no praise for this seventh church age in Christ’s letter to the Laodiceans, only criticism and condemnation. He identifies this as a time of peace and prosperity for the church, where no outward physical attacks threaten the believers, but which has caused the professing church to be indifferent and complacent to its high calling in Christ. <br><br>
 +
It is a time prophesied to be where wealthy sanctuaries blast forth a memorial to our human achievements while the evil of man’s heart grows more wicked with each passing moment. <br><br>
 +
It is a time of spiritual decline even as the church pursues a ministry of religious and organizational activity where few converts are born into the Kingdom of God. This is the spiritual atmosphere prophesied of Christ that would exist in the seventh and final period of church history, the time in which now are living.<br><br>
 +
The Laodicean church age is a time of complacency and misdirected priorities, described by Jesus as lukewarm. It is a spiritual condition that puts a bad taste in the mouth of God.<br><br>
 +
This seventh church age presents the most serious threat against the church of God of all that have come before it. It is a time where the devil is becoming more successful at undermining the credibility and authority of God’s true Church than any other time in church history.<br><br>
 +
Although satan was unsuccessful in destroying the church through paganism, papalism or protestantism, he is now making great inroads through the period of peace and prosperity. <br><br>
 +
Jesus said of the seventh church age that it would be a time of spiritual ignorance, even though we claim to be rich and increased with goods and that we have need of nothing. But in reality, Jesus sees the professing church during this period of history to be spiritually wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. <br><br>
 +
But even in the midst of this tragic spiritual atmosphere of the final seventh period of history, there is hope for the sincere. God’s answer for these final days is three-fold. <br><br>
 +
First, Jesus advises that we buy of Him gold that is tried in the fire. When gold is used as an illustration in the scriptures, it is used to represent the purity of faith. The first advise then, is that the church return to a purity of faith in God that will accomplish things that we are incapable of accomplishing through human effort. In so doing, we will become spiritually wealthy once again. <br><br>
 +
The second answer is to buy white raiment to cover the shame of our nakedness. In other words, return to the purity of Christian morality and spiritual righteousness that is taught in the word of God. In our current time the church has lowered its standards of belief in an attempt to attract all manner of sinners. Life styles that are condemned and judged by God have crept into the thought of Christian acceptance. <br><br>
 +
The Laodicean church age has lowered the standard’s of God, and the only answer is to return to true, Biblical righteousness which will cover the spiritual and moral nakedness allowed within the church. In so doing, the church can restore its lost credibility and authority to become productive witnesses of a holy God.<br><br>
 +
The third solution for this church age is that we anoint our eyes with eye-salve so that we may see. This suggests a visual illness or blindness that requires healing. Since a spiritual application is intended, we would identify this to mean a sincere return to the study and teaching of the basic doctrines (truths) of God’s word. <br><br>
 +
In this vision we are shown our Lord Jesus standing at the door of every Christian’s heart, knocking that He may enter with a renewed spiritual power and wisdom in these latter times of human history. Those who open the door of their hearts, to become bold examples of truth and righteousness, shall be granted to sit with Christ in His throne. Those who rebel against Christ’s warning and advise shall be as one of the foolish virgins, who will not be prepared when the call of the bridegroom suddenly comes forth.<br><br>
 +
In His love, God has warned us of the condition of these final moments of human history and how we can overcome them. It is a personal matter that each of us must apply to ourselves, for there is no prophecy of a great spiritual revival yet to come before our Lord’s return.<br>
 +
The '''second vision''' of this church period is the opening of the seventh seal, recorded in chapter 8:1<br><br>
 +
"And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour." <br><br>
 +
Before God opened this seventh seal He stepped back a moment to share another vision in chapter 7 that is not in sequence and unrelated to the opening of the seals. God often does this in the Revelation, as if to say, I have been showing you the bad stuff, now let me show you some good stuff. <br><br>
 +
While we will not explore the vision of chapter 7 in this lesson, let’s take a moment to hear about some of the good stuff. In the preceding visions of the opening of the first six seals, God warned His church that it would be assaulted by pagan and false religions, by political empires, by war, crime and many other earthly calamities throughout history. <br>But before He opens the seventh and final seal, God takes a moment in chapter 7 to encourage His church not to be afraid...for His true followers (the Church of God) are eternally protected. He reassures His people that the gates of hell will not prevail against them. God reminds His true believers to stay faithful, knowing that we shall inherit the crown of life, for we are joint heirs with Christ, and we shall live with Him forever in eternal glory. <br><br>
 +
All the things throughout history which satan has used against the Church of God shall not succeed in keeping us from our final reward. God’s people shall be victorious. This is the message that God wants every true believer to be reminded of in chapter 7, after which He then reveals the final prophesy of human events before the end of time.
 +
This final prophecy is revealed in the opening of the last and final seventh seal, <br><br>
 +
"And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour."<br><br>
 +
Notice the short duration of the fulfillment of this final prophesy. It says that there shall be silence in heaven for a space of about 1/2 hour, which equates to an actual 6-8 day period of time. In other words, the final vision defines a final event that would last for a period of about 6 to 8 days. This is the last dated prophesy revealed in scripture. Once this prophecy is fulfilled, there is nothing else that God can say from heaven, His prophesies are now silenced. <br><br>
 +
A sincere student of the scriptures can only conclude that these days in which we live are the midnight hours of man’s history on earth. The seventh seal has been opened and its prophesy fulfilled in the year 1967. Even Daniel the prophet, some 2500 years ago, was given the vision and time of this final prophesied event, just as did Jesus some 2000 years ago when He prophesied the time when the gentiles would be fulfilled. <br><br>
 +
In other lessons we deal with this prophecy in greater detail, but for this lesson we will confine our comments to the date and fulfillment of this final prophesy.<br><br>
 +
The prophetical 1/2 hour, which interprets to a literal 6-8 day duration, was fulfilled in 1967 in the miracle 6 day war, when the Jews reclaimed possession of their capital city, Jerusalem, after 2500 years of gentile control. This event fulfilled the prophecies of both Daniel and Jesus, and satisfies the opening of the seventh seal. <br><br>
 +
Beyond this date of 1967 God provides no future prophesy to suggest that our human family shall exist for future generations. We are currently living in a time of grace where the final signs leading to the second coming of Christ are happening precisely as all the scriptures reveal.<br><br>
 +
The foolish will dismiss these historical visions of God, to carry on life as normal, while those who are wise in their knowledge of God and His word, are preparing themselves for their victorious journey into the next life. For God’s people, the spiritual warfare on earth is about to end, a war that has been going on from the beginning of human history. The conclusion of the war is victory in Jesus for those who trust in His precious name.<br><br>
 +
The seventh and final church period began in 1967 A.D. Although Jesus has given us specific signs that reveal His soon return, only God knows the final date of human existence on earth, a date that Bible students recognize to be close at hand. <br><br>
 +
The devil knows that this is his final opportunity to destroy the Church of God, and in so doing win the remainder of the souls of man. Although we presently live in a world where Christians are allowed to worship and live without the threat of imprisonment or persecution, these are perilous and threatening times for the church. <br><br>
 +
Sincere observers of these days of human history conclude that we are fulfilling the lukewarm prophecy of this final church period, that many professing Christians are indifferent to the real cause of Christ and are complacent in their love to God and for the salvation of their fellowman.<br><br>
 +
There are no Biblical prophecies of a great world-wide spiritual revival before our Lord’s return. The condition of religion will be as described in the Revelation. Our Lord shall return to a great falling away and complacency within the Christian community. The only hope is for each individual believer who responds to the urging of God’s Spirit, by remaining faithful in following Christ to search out our own salvation with fear and trembling. <br><br>
 +
Will the Lord find us faithful at His return? That is the question that each must answer for our self. In general, the answer will be no for the masses of people. According to scripture, the Lord shall find only a few at His return who regard their religious salvation as the top priority of their life.<br><br>
 +
The final event which occurred in 1967 has begun the final era of church history to which the final signs before our Lord’s return have been dated. Jesus, in His sermon regarding the end of time, referred to this final dated event. <br><br>
 +
Every prophecy in scripture has been fulfilled, there are no others. There are no great revivals yet to be enjoyed nor is there to be a future anti-Christ who shall make his appearance on earth, for the anti-Christ is already here and recognized by sincere students of God’s word. <br><br>
 +
This is the message of Revelation and the reason why it was written. God wants His people to be prepared for the next event in history, which shall be the second coming of Jesus Christ, who at that time shall destroy the natural universe as we know it and judge both the good and evil, measuring out His punishment on the wicked and His reward to the good and faithful. <br><br>
 +
The only reason that can be offered for the Lord’s tarrying is that He is giving us a grace period to get our house in order.<br><br>
 +
Our brothers and sisters before us have faced the events of the past, just as God prophesied they would happen. It is now our turn to face these final moments in preparation of the ultimate event when time on earth shall be no more. <br><br>
 +
The Church of God has always been the only winner on earth and it shall be the only winner in the eternal world that awaits us. I am deeply thankful to God for His eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, a salvation that has placed me, as it does all others, a member in the Church of God that Jesus built. It still stands true as it did almost 2000 years ago, when the early disciples wrote in Acts 2:47, <br><br>
 +
"The Lord adds to the church daily those who are saved."<br><br>
 +
It is wise advise, especially in the moment that we live, to "look up, for your redemption draws near."
 +
 
 +
 
 +
==Foundation Studies=<br><br>
 +
'''Parallel Series Of Visions'''<br><br>
 +
 
 +
'''FIRST SERIES'''<br>
 +
'''Letters To The Seven Churches<br>
 +
'''Chapters 2 and 3'''<br>
 +
1. Ephesus - First church age - ad 33 - 270<br>
 +
2. Smyrna - Second church age - ad. 270 - 530<br>
 +
3. Pergamos - Third church age - ad. 530 - 1530 <br>
 +
4. Thyatira - Fourth church age - ad. 1530 - 1730 <br>
 +
5. Sardis - Fifth church age - ad. 1730 - 1880 <br>
 +
6. Philadelphia - Sixth church age - ad. 1880 - 1967<br>
 +
7. Laodicia - Seventh church age - ad. 1967 - second coming of Jesus<br><br>
 +
'''SECOND SERIES'''<br>
 +
'''Opening Of The Seven Seals'''<br>
 +
'''Chapter 6'''<br>
 +
1. White Horse - First church age <br>
 +
2. Red Horse - First and second church age<br>
 +
3. Black Horse - Third and fourth church age<br>
 +
4. Pale Horse - Fourth and Fifth church age <br>
 +
5. Souls of slain saints- Third, fourth and fifth church age <br>
 +
6. Great earthquake - Sixth church age <br>
 +
7. Silence 1/2 hour - Seventh church age<br><br>
 +
'''THIRD SERIES'''<br>
 +
'''Sealing of God's Saints'''<br>
 +
'''Chapter 7'''<br>
 +
1. First through Seventh church age<br><br>
 +
'''FOURTH SERIES<br>
 +
'''Sounding of The Trumpets'''<br>
 +
'''Chapters 8, 9, 10, 11'''<br>
 +
1. Hail and Fire - First church age<br>
 +
2. Burning mountain - Second church age <br>
 +
3. Star fell from heaven - Third church age<br>
 +
4. Third part of sun smitten - Third church age <br>
 +
5. Smoke/Locusts - Third church age <br>
 +
6. Four Angels loosed - Third church age <br>
 +
7. Voices from heaven - Seventh church age<br><br>
 +
'''FIFTH SERIES'''<br>
 +
'''Two Slain and Resurrected Witnesses'''<br>
 +
'''Chapter 11'''<br>
 +
1. Witnesses slain - Second and Third church age <br>
 +
2. Witnesses resurrected - Fourth church age<br><br>
 +
'''SIXTH SERIES'''<br>
 +
'''Woman and Dragon'''<br>
 +
'''Chapters 12, 13, 14, 15, 16'''<br>
 +
1. Woman/Man child - First thru Seven church age<br>
 +
2. Dragon - First, second, third church age<br><br>
 +
'''SEVENTH SERIES'''<br>
 +
'''The Panorama of Beasts'''<br>
 +
'''Chapters 11, 13, 17'''<br>
 +
1. Beast from bottomless pit - Second church age <br>
 +
2. Leopard Beast - Second church age <br>
 +
3. Lamblike Beast - Fourth church age<br>
 +
'''EIGHTH SERIES'''<br>
 +
The Harlot & Her Daughters<br>
 +
Chapters 17, 18<br><br>
 +
1. Second church age thru Second Coming of Christ<br><br>
 +
'''NINTH SERIES'''<br>
 +
The Angel From Heaven<br>
 +
Chapter 20<br><br>
 +
1. First church age thru second coming of Christ <br>
 +
 +
'''DISCUSSION'''<br><br>
 +
'''The first vision''' is not actually a vision but rather letters to the seven churches of Asia. As we have already learned, these seven letters to the seven churches identify the seven church periods through which the Revelation spans. This series of letters helps us to understand the spiritual atmosphere of the entire Christian era from beginning to end. Each church age is thoroughly discussed in the cassette tape study series, as are all the other visions. <br><br>
 +
'''The second vision''' is the opening of the seven seals. The first seal reveals a rider on a white horse with a bow in his hand. It is said of the rider that he went forth conquering and to conquer and that a crown was given to him. The color of horse is the only significant characteristic of the horse, which in this case is white, a color identified with purity. The human rider is the active agent in the vision, pointing our attention toward a religious event. The vision symbolizes the early Christian church at its beginning in 33 ad as it went forth conquering sin and paganism through the purity of its teaching the word of God and of its morality. <br><br>
 +
The ''second seal'' reveals a rider on a red horse who had been power to take peace from the earth and who was given a great sword to kill. This symbol identifies the persecutions against the Christian church by the political system of Rome sparked by their pagan religious beliefs. <br><br>
 +
The third seal reveals a rider on a black horse with balances in his hand that foretold the

Latest revision as of 01:23, 17 January 2017

The Book Of Revelation

Advanced Topics

Daniel's Prophecy And Timing
Of
Jesus' Second Return

Did Daniel prophecy the date of Jesus' second return? He prophesied that "the end would come" and gave us the date to be somewhere between the years 1967 ad and 2012 ad.

No, we are not predicting the year 2012 as our Lord's return, but there appears to be a grace period of 45 years from the year 1967, prophesied by Daniel, during which our Lord may return.

As we look at all the signs predicted in the Bible about the condition of the world when our Lord returns, we realize that all those signs have now taken place and there is nothing left to fulfill in Bible prophecy
.
Could our Lord return at any moment? Yes, according to all the Bible warnings and signs. Could He wait until 2012 or thereafter? Yes, only God knows the precise time.

Should we be preparing ourselves for that event? Absolutely !

FOUR WORLD KINGDOMS

and 

GOD'S KINGDOM

Daniel Chapter 2
1. Babylonian Empire - 606-536 B.C.
2. Persian Empire - 536-330 B.C.
3. Grecian Empire - 330-146 B.C.
4. Roman Empire - 146 B.C. - 476 A.D.
5. God’s Kingdom - Time Of Christ until..........FOREVER

NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S INSANITY

and

RECOVERY

Daniel Chapter 4

1. Insanity to last for "seven times" - verse 32
2. word, "time" , means seasons or years

FALL OF BABYLON

and

RISE OF MEDE-PERSIAN EMPIRE

Daniel Chapter 5

1. Belshazzar’s Feast - Handwriting on the wall

FOUR WORLD EMPIRES
FOURTH WITH ITS TEN HORNS
THE ELEVENTH HORN

Daniel Chapter 7
1. Lion, Bear, Leopard and Terrible Beast
2. Babylon, Mede-Persian, Greek, Roman
3. Fourth Beast (Roman) - Ten Horns
4. Eleventh Horn (Roman catholic church)
a. plucked out three of first horns
b. eyes of a man, mouth speaking great things
c. look more stout than his fellows
d. made war with the saints and prevailed against them
e. shall be diverse from the other kingdoms
f. shall speak great words against the most High
g. shall wear out the saints of the most High
h. change time and laws
i. shall be given into his hand until a time, times and dividing of time

GREEK EMPIRE - FOUR HORNS

CHAPTER 8
1. 2300 Days - verse 14 (actual time, 2300 years)
2. time the sanctuary would be trodden under foot from the he-goat
3. time of the end - verse 17, 19
4. Adolph Hitler (?) - verse 19-25

FIRST COMING OF THE MESSIAH

Daniel Chapter 9
1. Seventy weeks
2. Between time of the order to rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah
a. order given by Arterexes - 457 B.C.
b. Christ died on calvary - 33 A.D.

TROUBLES IN THE HOLY LAND DURING INTER-TESTAMENT PERIOD

Daniel Chapter 11
1. Kings of the North and Kings of the South
a. Greek, Syrian and Egyptian wars
b. "vile person" (Antiochus Epiphanes)
2. Attacked Jerusalem
a. slew 80,000 Jews
b. took 80,000 Jews as slaves

SIGNS OF THE TIME OF THE END

Daniel Chapter 8 and Chapter 12
1. king of fierce countenance and understanding dark sentences - 8:17,19, 23-25
a. time of the end,
b. last end of the indignation, the time appointed the end shall be
c. Antiochus Epiphanes - 175-164 B.C.
d. Adolph Hitler - 1941-1945 A.D
. 2. time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation - Chapter 12
a. Michael standeth for the children of thy people
b. people delivered every one found written in the book
c. time of the end - run to and fro, knowledge increased
d. Time, Times, and a half a Time
e. 1260 days
f. 1290 Days
g. 1335 Days

HISTORY OF JERUSALEM

and the

JEWISH PEOPLE

1000 B.C. - David made Jerusalem Israel’s national capital
1. Nation of Israel spit into north and south
2. Israel - captured by Assyrians 721 B.C
3. Judah- captured by Babylonians
586 B.C.
586 B.C. - 536 B.C. - Jerusalem controlled by Babylonians
536 B.C. - 332 B.C. - Jerusalem controlled by Persians who permitted Jew’s return and restoration. Aided in their reestablishment as a nation.
331 B.C. - 146 B.C. - Greeks ruled Palestine and Jerusalem
175 B.C. - 164 B.C. - Aniochus Epiphanes desecration of Jerusalem
146 B.C. - 476 A.D. - Roman Empire ruled the world
30 A.D. - 33 A.D. - Public ministry of Christ
70 A.D. - Destruction of Jerusalem by Romans (Titus)
270 A.D. - 1530 A.D. - Papacy world power
637 A.D. - 1917 A.D. - Mohammedanism control of Palestine
1917 A.D. - end - World troubles as never before seen
1967 A.D. - Jews recapture Jerusalem - restore sanctuary

Foundation
Studies
Historical Overview


FIRST CHURCH AGE
33 - 270 AD

Revelation Visions That Apply To This Period
1. First Candlestick Ephesus - 2:1-7
2. First Seal - White Horse - 6:1-2
3. First Trumpet - 8:1-7
4. Woman & Dragon - 12:1-5
5. Second Seal - Red Horse 6:3-4

SECOND CHURCH AGE
270 - 530 AD
Revelation Visions That Apply To This Period
1. Second Candlestick - Smyrna - 2:8-11
2. Third Seal - Black Horse - 6:5-6
3. Second Trumpet -8: 8-9
4. Raptured Witnesses - 11: 1-13
5. Woman with Wings - 12: 6-17
6. Beast From the Sea - 13: 1-10
7. Mystery Babylon - 14: 8-11 17: 1-18

THIRD CHURCH AGE
530 - 1530 AD
Revelation Visions That Apply To This Period
1. Third Candlestick - Pergamos - 2:12-17
2. Third Trumpet - 8: 10-11
3. Fourth Trumpet - 8: 12
4. Fifth Trumpet - 9: 1-12
5. Slain Witnesses - 11: 7-14
6. Sixth Trumpet - 9: 13-21 <
7. Beast/Bottomless pit - 11: 7-14 17: 8-18
8. Angel From Heaven - Chapter 20

FOURTH CHURCH AGE
1530 - 1730 AD
Revelation Visions That Apply To This Period
1. Fourth Candlestick - Thyatira - 2:18-29
2. Fourth Seal - Pale Horse - 6:7-8
3. Resurrected Witness - 11: 7-12
4. Lamblike Beast - 13: 11-18

FIFTH CHURCH AGE
1730 - 1880 AD
Revelation Visions That Apply To This Period
1. Fifth Candlestick - Sardis - 3:16
2. Fifth Seal - Souls/Altar 6: 9-11

SIXTH CHURCH AGE
1880 - 1967 AD
Revelation Visions That Apply To This Period
1. Sixth Candlestick - Philadelphia 3:7-13
2. Sixth Seal - Disasters 6:12-17

SEVENTH CHURCH AGE
FROM 1967 TO OUR LORD'S RETURN
Revelation Visions That Apply To This Period
1. Seventh Candlestick - Laodicea 3: 14-22
2. Seventh Seal - 1/2 hour silence 8:1

DISCUSSION

As we learned in the introduction, the Revelation is a book of prophecy that tells of political and religious events that would happen throughout history that would affect God’s church.

Written in 95 A.D. the prophecies of the Revelation have taken place between the year 33 A.D. and the second coming of Christ. This period of human history beginning in 33 A.D. when Jesus built His church until the second return of Christ, is known as the Christian era, or Christian age.

Most of the prophecies have already been fulfilled precisely as they prophesied. The only one that remains is the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the final event discussed in the Revelation. The Revelation divides the time frame of the Christian era into seven periods of time.

By separating these periods, to place the specific visions with their historical time, provides a map that links the message of the Revelation into one clear picture. That is the purpose of this lesson, to identify the seven different periods and apply the visions in the period where they are to be fulfilled.

In chapters 2 and 3 we are introduced to the letters to the seven churches of Asia. These seven letters represent the division of the Revelation into seven periods of church history. Each letter describes the religious atmosphere and situation of that particular period.

The first letter is to the church at Ephesus, the second to the church at Smyrna, the third to the church in the city of Pergamos, the fourth to Thyatira, the fifth to Sardis, the sixth to Philadelphia and the seventh to the church at Laodicea.

The first period in the Christian church era is identified as the Ephesus church period, which spans a historical time between the years 33 A.D. and 270 A.D. There are four parallel visions that describe the prophesied events that will take place during this period.

The first vision is the letter to Ephesus that describes the religious atmosphere and situation of this period. The commendations recorded in this letter identify the zeal and moral uprightness of the early Christian church immediately in the years after the death and resurrection of Christ.

The reprimands, however, reveal that by the end of the third century a relaxing of true Christian morals would occur as the teachings of Christ would become intermingled with paganism while a new form of Christianity would emerge that associated with idolatry.

The second vision of this period is the opening of the first seal to reveal a rider on a white horse. In future studies we will learn more of this vision that symbolizes the pure religious activities of the God’s true Church in the early years of its history.

The third vision of this period is the sounding of the first trumpet. This vision tells of the beginning events that lead to the decline and fall of the Roman empire, the political system that was in control of world events during the first several periods of the Christian era.

The Roman empire has had a tremendous impact on God’s people in its efforts to try to destroy the Church that Jesus built. It is for this reason that the circumstances involving the Roman empire are revealed in the Revelation.

The third vision is that of the woman in chapter 12 who stands upon the moon and is clothed about with the sun. As she is about to give birth to her child a great red dragon stands before her to devour the child.

This vision begins in the first church period and is carried over to succeeding periods as the history of the woman does not end when the first church period ends. The woman is a symbol of God’s true church while the great red dragon is a symbol for the Roman political empire that tried to destroy her children, the born-again Christians. The historical fulfillment of this vision begins at the immediate emergence of God’s church in 33 A.D. but the war of Rome against God’s church has continued throughout history as we will learn in our continuing studies.

The fourth vision is the opening of the second seal to reveal a different rider on a red horse. This vision symbolizes again the persecution against the Christians by the Romans, who shed much bloodshed of the Christians as illustrated by the red color of the horse.

These four parallel visions prophesy the events that would take place in the first period of the Christian era, beginning in 33 ad to around 270 ad, the time when the newly formed church of God began its world ministry of sharing the gospel of Christ. Each of these four parallel visions describe different perspectives of this same time period to give us a full view of the circumstances. No one vision or symbol could do that, which is the reason for these completely different parallel visions.

We discuss these visions, as well as all the others, in greater detail in the complete Revelation cassette tape series. I would suggest that you consider adding this valuable cassette resource to your library.

The second period of the Christian era is identified as the Smyrna church period, a period of history that spans from about 270 A.D. until around 530 A.D. There are seven visions associated with this period.

The letter to the church at Smyrna indicates this would be a period of continuing persecution against the Church of God. The persecution would subside however, as the Christian faith was adopted by the Roman government as the official religion of Rome during this period, but with tragic results. Rather than adopting Christian morality and the pure teachings of Christ, the Roman Christian religion became mostly a mixture of pagan worship mingled with some Christian thought.

While the Romans began to redefine the Christian faith to suit their life style and worship, the true Church of God maintained its purity of belief more privately and less publicly. The false Christian religion of Rome became more powerful and influential during the end of this second church age while the teachings of true Church of God became insignificant to the masses of people.

The second vision is the opening of the third seal, to reveal a rider on a black horse. As we will learn in more detail in future lessons, this vision symbolizes the beginning of a period of religious apostasy where the emergence of a false, apostate Christian religion threatens to replace and destroy God’s truth and God’s true church with its own false teachings and practices.

Black, the color associated with darkness and evil, is used to symbolize the false beliefs and teachings on which the apostate church transports itself, as opposed to white which represents purity and truth on which the true of God was founded and which it is faithful to teach.

The third vision of this period is the sounding of the second trumpet. As in the sounding of the first trumpet this vision describes the continuing political events that lead to the decline and fall of the Roman empire. We will learn more of this vision in future studies.

The fourth vision is that of the two slain witnesses. This vision reveals the attempts by pagan and false religions to destroy the two witnesses to God’s real truth. These two witnesses are God’s Spirit and God’s word.

During the time of the apostasy every attempt was made to keep the masses of people from learning the word of God by replacing it with the doctrines of man-made religion. The Spirit of God, who transforms the lives of people, was replaced by human ordinances and religious liturgy. Thus, the vision identifies the two witnesses as being killed during this dark period of church history.

The fifth vision refers again to the woman in chapter 12 where, in verses 6-17 she is given eagle’s wings to fly into the wilderness. During the period of apostasy the true church of God is never destroyed even though the devil uses political persecution and religious confusion to try. But the true Church of God was hidden to the masses of people as it worshipped in secret (as if in a desert wilderness) away from the threats to destroy it.

The sixth vision is that of a leopard-like beast rising up out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns and a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies. The activities and duration of this beast are the same as those in Daniel’s prophecy to describe the eleventh horn. The beast opened his mouth in blaspheme against God. The beast was to make war with the saints and to overcome them; and power was given him over all kindred's, tongues and nations. The beast is to continue forty two months, or in actual time, 1260 years.

While the vision of the woman standing upon the moon reveals the true Church of God flying into the wilderness for a period of 1260 years, this vision of the beast reveals the false apostate church which had its worldly influence and power for that same duration of time. It is during this second church period that the dark ages of the apostasy begins, an apostasy that shall last for 1260 years of human history.

The seventh vision of this period describe mystery Babylon, who is also identified to be the harlot. It is said of this harlot that she committed fornication with the kings of the earth and made the inhabitants of the earth drunk with the wine of fornication. She was arrayed with purple and scarlet, decked with gold and precious stones and had a golden cup full of abominations and filthiness.

The harlot was also drunken with the blood of the saints. In this vision we are provided a further description of the worldly influence of the false, corrupt religion that would dominate political and religious life during the dark ages of apostasy.

The seven visions of the second church period each define a different aspect of this period of history in which the true church of God becomes overshadowed by an emerging false religion that boasts of representing Christ and Christianity.

The third period of the Christian era continues the apostasy and is referred to as the dark ages. This period is identified as the Pergamos church period, spanning a period of history from about 530 A.D. until around 1530 A.D. There are eight visions associated with this period.

The first vision is the letter to the church at Pergamos which reveals this period of history would be the darkest time of religious decline. During this period the false Christian religion was at its height of worldly power and at its lowest in spiritual truth. The church had deteriorated into the pagan worship and doctrines that had been introduced into the Christian religion. Boasting that it was the representative of Christ on earth the false church made war with the true saints of God who would not bow to its idolatry, to murder them as heretics while promoting evil men to great offices within the church as spiritual and political leaders to the whole world.

The second and third visions of this third period are the sounding of the third and fourth trumpets. These visions describe the final destruction of the western imperial Roman political empire. Although the political system of Rome is in its final days as a political empire, it is being replaced by the religious/political system described to be the harlot apostate church, who assumes both political and religious authority for the state of Rome.

The fourth vision is the sounding of the fifth trumpet. If it were not enough that the true Church of God was hidden in the wilderness while an apostate church declared to represent Christ, this vision reveals yet another false religion that would arise during this period to become a world influence that would deceive many. The Islamic religion, founded by Mohammed, would make its worldly entrance during this period of church history as a messenger of false teaching and militant practices.

It is prophesied that the locusts of this vision would torment for 150 years. These locusts, who are symbols of the Saracen warrior followers of Mohammed, were active militarily from 612 to 762 ad. The religion of Mohammed, as does the harlot, continues to exist today, and it will continue to exist until the return of Christ.

The fifth vision of this period is a continuation of the two slain witnesses where the beast from the bottomless pit has killed them and left their dead bodies lying in the street of the city called Sodom and Egypt.

In our continuing studies we will pursue in much greater depth all the visions in this lesson. But for now let us accept the simple explanation of this vision to be, that God’s word and God’s spirit were rejected and replaced by the false teachings and religious practices of false religions during the dark ages, and that multitudes of millions fell into the ditch of spiritual destruction along with the false teachers of these religions.

The sixth vision of this third church period is the sounding of the sixth trumpet to reveal the invasion of the eastern Roman empire by the Ottoman Turks.

The seventh vision reveals a beast from the bottomless pit with seven heads and ten horns. It is full of names of blasphemy and the beast was, and is not. This is another symbolism of Rome in its pagan papal attempts to destroy the Church of God, but in this vision we learn that the Lamb of God shall overcome them. Even in the darkest period of church history the Lord reminds us that He has built His church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The eighth vision of this period has been misinterpreted by many who take certain portions of the Revelation literally. Chapter 20 talks of an angel who has the key to the bottomless pit and a chain in his hand by which he binds the dragon and casts him into the bottomless pit for 1000 years., after which time the dragon is loosed for a season. This vision talks of two resurrections, the battle of Armageddon, Gog and Magog and the mark of the beast.

We will deal with this chapter thoroughly in another study but allow me to make this observation. Those who try to interpret certain portions of the Revelation literally see this to suggest that there shall be a 1000 year period on earth after Christ’s return, referred to as the Millennial reign.

Now here in God’s scripture is such a doctrine supported. In Chapter 20, where most of this erroneous doctrine has been conceived, there is no mention of Christ’s second coming nor is there any mention of a reign on earth, or any mention of Christ on earth. As we will learn in the study that deals with this chapter, this vision refers to this third church period of the dark ages.

In the fourth church age God’s true church begins to re-emerge to challenge the apostate church that has held world influence for the last 1260 years. This fourth church period, dating from about 1530 to 1730 ad. is described in four visions of the Revelation.

The first vision is the letter to the church at Thyatira which describes the situation of this period to be a time of partial reemergence of true Christianity, although some of the reemergence would be a mixture of religious doctrine that contained both truth and error.

The great reformation of the 1500’s led many people away from the apostasy of the Roman church, but while doing so there emerged other Christian religions that carried over some of the Roman and pagan beliefs. Although the beginning of a return to God’s word and God’s Spirit, the results of the reformation were not totally pure.

The second vision of this period is the opening of the fourth seal. A pale horse is revealed in this vision whose rider is named death. It is said of the rider that power was given him over a 4th part of the earth to kill with the sword, hunger and death and beasts of the earth. Unlike the three horses of the first three seals, this horse has no distinguishing color.

While the white horse represented the purity of the true Christian church, the red horse the bloodthirstiness of paganism and the black horse represents the total darkness of apostate religion...the pale horse with no distinguishing color represents a religious movement that is a mixture of other religions, both true and false. This vision identifies the religious movement of Protestantism, which had its beginning with the great spiritual reformation of the early 1500’s . The third vision is a continuation of the two slain witnesses as they resurrect from the dead. The word of God and the Spirit of God, which were rejected during the apostate period, are now being revitalized during the reformation movement. The Bible, which was denied and kept secret from the masses of people during the dark ages of the apostasy is now being made available through mass printing, and as people began to read the word of God for the first time they recognize the false teachings of the apostate church and the truth as Jesus taught it. The more they learned, the more they responded to truth to come out of the false religion and make their stand with the true Church of God.

The fourth vision reveals another beast with two horns like that of a lamb but who spoke as a dragon. This beast exercised all the power of the first beast and caused the world to worship the first beast. This beast also deceived the world and caused all, both small and great, to receive a mark in their hands and foreheads. The vision of this beast identifies the error of Protestantism.

While much of the protestant movement was good in that it began the return to God’s word and to the spiritual life in Christ, the protestant movement was also an outgrowth of false Christian teaching and practices that had occupied religious thought for 1260 years. The attempts of the devil to try to destroy the true Church of God has now changed coats once again.

In his first attempt, the devil wore the coat of the Roman pagan government who used force to try and eliminate God’s church. That coat was traded in for the false Christian coat of the Roman church, who used both force and false doctrine in its attempts to destroy the true Church of God. In this fourth church period the devil slips into yet another new coat of Protestantism, where a mixture of truth and error is used to deceive the masses.

The protestant beast tried to imitate the characteristics of a lamb in that it tried to appear non-violent but its true nature was known to God, who said that the beast spoke as a dragon.

The fifth church period lasts from around 1730 ad to around 1880 ad. There are two visions associated with this period, the first of which is the letter the church at Sardis. This vision identifies the situation after the great reformation in which the church of the reformers has settled down to being just another ecclesiastical religion. For 200 years the spiritual energy of the protestant movement was fueled by the vision and purpose to reform the Christian church.

But once the reformation had been accomplished, the Christian community is now settled into two factions, the Catholics and the Protestants. There was no longer a driving urgency for the Protestants nor a realistic hope for the Catholics that they would regain world political and religious sovereignty. Both groups had now mellowed into their religious routines within their own church walls.

The second vision of this period is the opening of the fifth seal. In this vision we see the souls under the altar who were slain for the word God and their testimony. White robes were given to them and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season. This heavenly vision reveals the true Church of God in her victory as the martyred saints are seen in heaven around God’s altar.

The "rest for a little season" suggests a time when God’s true church would be free from persecution and martyrdom, which was the case in the fifth church period when there was a lull in the church.

The sixth church period provides a dramatic revival for the church in the period from 1880 A.D. to 1967 A.D. It is during this period, characterized by the letter to the church at Philadelphia, that the truths of God are preached with renewed purity and holiness.

The call of the ministry during this time was that the true saints of God come out and stand separate from the error of false religion. It was a time when the true Christians determined not to be identified with human religion, either Catholic or Protestant, but rather to be identified with the universal and eternal Church that Jesus built where membership is composed of those who are saved by the blood of the Lamb of God, and who are walking in the light of holiness as He is in the light.

The second vision of this period is the opening of the sixth seal. Great physical calamities such as an earthquake, the sun becoming black, the moon becoming as blood and every mountain and island moved out of its place, describe the terrible world events that would occur during this period. The symbolism of this vision point to political disasters, which are confirmed by the many and devastating wars that our world has witnessed in the 20th century.

The seventh and final church period begins in 1967 A.D. characterized by the letter to the church at Laodicea. After the unsuccessful attempts by the devil to destroy the church of God by using his first three "P’s" of paganism, Papalism and Protestantism, the devil now has turned to his final two P’s in this last, final war against the Church of God. The devil knows that this is his final opportunity to destroy the Church of God and in so doing win the remainder of the souls of man.

The final two P’s of the devils attempts to destroy God’s people are identified in the letter to Laodicea. They are the P’s of peace and prosperity, possibly the most dangerous of all the enemies that the devil has used against the Church of God.

We presently live in a world where Christians are allowed to worship and live without the threat of imprisonment or persecution. Freedom of religion is now a mandate of most political powers, who permit religious people to enter into their sanctuaries, synagogues and temples to perform religious activity that is of no threat to the government.

Peace and prosperity are now enjoyed by the church as new sanctuaries are built and religious programs and activity has replaced faith, prayer and personal witness that kept the Church of God alive and spiritually powerful in former generations.

The letter to the Laodicean church age is not complimentary at all, by suggesting a lukewarm and wealthy situation that replace inner spiritual power. The warning of Jesus in his parable of the five foolish virgins suggests that His second coming will find many professing Christians indifferent to the real cause of Christ.

The only other vision associated with this final period is the opening of the seventh seal. This final prophecy reveals a silence in heaven for one-half hour, which is a prophecy that identifies the last dated event that God has revealed before the end of time. That event, which occurred in 1967, has begun the final era of church history to which the final signs before our Lord’s return have been dated.

Jesus, in His sermon regarding the end of time, referred to this final dated event of 1967, which also is identified in the opening of the seventh and final seal.

All the Revelation prophesies have been fulfilled, beginning with events in the year of 33 A.D. when Jesus first built His church and will conclude at the second coming of Christ, when Jesus shall glorify His church and present it to the Heavenly Father.

In our cassette tape studies we look in greater detail at these visions identified in each of these seven church periods.

Seven Church Periods

The Seventh Church Period
(Laodicea)

The Seventh Church Period
Of Revelation (Laodicea)

God has revealed political and religious events that would take place between the year 33 A.D. and the second coming of Christ, events significant to the Church of God. Most of the prophecies have already been fulfilled precisely as they prophesied. The only one that remains is the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the final event discussed in the Revelation.

In our last lesson we looked at the sixth period of church history which spanned the time period from 1880 to 1967 A.D. In this lesson we will look at the seventh and final period of the Christian era, identified as the Laodician church period, a period of history that spans from about 1967 A.D. to the second return of Christ. There are two visions associated with this period.
The first vision is the letter to the church at Laodicea, recorded in chapter 3:14-22.

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

The sixth church age was one of spiritual excitement and power, but sadly the atmosphere in this final, seventh period has dramatically deteriorated, just as prophesied by the Laodicean letter.

From the middle of this century, somewhere after the 1950’s, the spiritual expression of faith declined to no small degree. The spiritual power and bold preaching of truth that were present in the earlier days of this century have been abandoned and replaced by religious organization and planning.

Churches, who once relied upon meetings of prayer now devote their time in committee and organizational meetings. Revival meetings have turned into life-enriching seminars. Simple and basic messages of truth have been replaced by sermons of homiletical and political correctness. Preaching for the souls of man has now been replaced by lessons of social interest. Present day pulpits are now battlegrounds against social injustice and political intrigue rather than being places of war against satan and his devises.

The fire of revival does not exist in the pulpits or in the hearts of the professing believers of Christ. For most of modern-day Christianity the priorities of serving God have been replaced by the personal ambitions of worldly wants and needs. This is the deteriorated condition of the last church age, the age in which we presently live.

There is no praise for this seventh church age in Christ’s letter to the Laodiceans, only criticism and condemnation. He identifies this as a time of peace and prosperity for the church, where no outward physical attacks threaten the believers, but which has caused the professing church to be indifferent and complacent to its high calling in Christ.

It is a time prophesied to be where wealthy sanctuaries blast forth a memorial to our human achievements while the evil of man’s heart grows more wicked with each passing moment.

It is a time of spiritual decline even as the church pursues a ministry of religious and organizational activity where few converts are born into the Kingdom of God. This is the spiritual atmosphere prophesied of Christ that would exist in the seventh and final period of church history, the time in which now are living.

The Laodicean church age is a time of complacency and misdirected priorities, described by Jesus as lukewarm. It is a spiritual condition that puts a bad taste in the mouth of God.

This seventh church age presents the most serious threat against the church of God of all that have come before it. It is a time where the devil is becoming more successful at undermining the credibility and authority of God’s true Church than any other time in church history.

Although satan was unsuccessful in destroying the church through paganism, papalism or protestantism, he is now making great inroads through the period of peace and prosperity.

Jesus said of the seventh church age that it would be a time of spiritual ignorance, even though we claim to be rich and increased with goods and that we have need of nothing. But in reality, Jesus sees the professing church during this period of history to be spiritually wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.

But even in the midst of this tragic spiritual atmosphere of the final seventh period of history, there is hope for the sincere. God’s answer for these final days is three-fold.

First, Jesus advises that we buy of Him gold that is tried in the fire. When gold is used as an illustration in the scriptures, it is used to represent the purity of faith. The first advise then, is that the church return to a purity of faith in God that will accomplish things that we are incapable of accomplishing through human effort. In so doing, we will become spiritually wealthy once again.

The second answer is to buy white raiment to cover the shame of our nakedness. In other words, return to the purity of Christian morality and spiritual righteousness that is taught in the word of God. In our current time the church has lowered its standards of belief in an attempt to attract all manner of sinners. Life styles that are condemned and judged by God have crept into the thought of Christian acceptance.

The Laodicean church age has lowered the standard’s of God, and the only answer is to return to true, Biblical righteousness which will cover the spiritual and moral nakedness allowed within the church. In so doing, the church can restore its lost credibility and authority to become productive witnesses of a holy God.

The third solution for this church age is that we anoint our eyes with eye-salve so that we may see. This suggests a visual illness or blindness that requires healing. Since a spiritual application is intended, we would identify this to mean a sincere return to the study and teaching of the basic doctrines (truths) of God’s word.

In this vision we are shown our Lord Jesus standing at the door of every Christian’s heart, knocking that He may enter with a renewed spiritual power and wisdom in these latter times of human history. Those who open the door of their hearts, to become bold examples of truth and righteousness, shall be granted to sit with Christ in His throne. Those who rebel against Christ’s warning and advise shall be as one of the foolish virgins, who will not be prepared when the call of the bridegroom suddenly comes forth.

In His love, God has warned us of the condition of these final moments of human history and how we can overcome them. It is a personal matter that each of us must apply to ourselves, for there is no prophecy of a great spiritual revival yet to come before our Lord’s return.
The second vision of this church period is the opening of the seventh seal, recorded in chapter 8:1

"And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour."

Before God opened this seventh seal He stepped back a moment to share another vision in chapter 7 that is not in sequence and unrelated to the opening of the seals. God often does this in the Revelation, as if to say, I have been showing you the bad stuff, now let me show you some good stuff.

While we will not explore the vision of chapter 7 in this lesson, let’s take a moment to hear about some of the good stuff. In the preceding visions of the opening of the first six seals, God warned His church that it would be assaulted by pagan and false religions, by political empires, by war, crime and many other earthly calamities throughout history.
But before He opens the seventh and final seal, God takes a moment in chapter 7 to encourage His church not to be afraid...for His true followers (the Church of God) are eternally protected. He reassures His people that the gates of hell will not prevail against them. God reminds His true believers to stay faithful, knowing that we shall inherit the crown of life, for we are joint heirs with Christ, and we shall live with Him forever in eternal glory.

All the things throughout history which satan has used against the Church of God shall not succeed in keeping us from our final reward. God’s people shall be victorious. This is the message that God wants every true believer to be reminded of in chapter 7, after which He then reveals the final prophesy of human events before the end of time. This final prophecy is revealed in the opening of the last and final seventh seal,

"And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour."

Notice the short duration of the fulfillment of this final prophesy. It says that there shall be silence in heaven for a space of about 1/2 hour, which equates to an actual 6-8 day period of time. In other words, the final vision defines a final event that would last for a period of about 6 to 8 days. This is the last dated prophesy revealed in scripture. Once this prophecy is fulfilled, there is nothing else that God can say from heaven, His prophesies are now silenced.

A sincere student of the scriptures can only conclude that these days in which we live are the midnight hours of man’s history on earth. The seventh seal has been opened and its prophesy fulfilled in the year 1967. Even Daniel the prophet, some 2500 years ago, was given the vision and time of this final prophesied event, just as did Jesus some 2000 years ago when He prophesied the time when the gentiles would be fulfilled.

In other lessons we deal with this prophecy in greater detail, but for this lesson we will confine our comments to the date and fulfillment of this final prophesy.

The prophetical 1/2 hour, which interprets to a literal 6-8 day duration, was fulfilled in 1967 in the miracle 6 day war, when the Jews reclaimed possession of their capital city, Jerusalem, after 2500 years of gentile control. This event fulfilled the prophecies of both Daniel and Jesus, and satisfies the opening of the seventh seal.

Beyond this date of 1967 God provides no future prophesy to suggest that our human family shall exist for future generations. We are currently living in a time of grace where the final signs leading to the second coming of Christ are happening precisely as all the scriptures reveal.

The foolish will dismiss these historical visions of God, to carry on life as normal, while those who are wise in their knowledge of God and His word, are preparing themselves for their victorious journey into the next life. For God’s people, the spiritual warfare on earth is about to end, a war that has been going on from the beginning of human history. The conclusion of the war is victory in Jesus for those who trust in His precious name.

The seventh and final church period began in 1967 A.D. Although Jesus has given us specific signs that reveal His soon return, only God knows the final date of human existence on earth, a date that Bible students recognize to be close at hand.

The devil knows that this is his final opportunity to destroy the Church of God, and in so doing win the remainder of the souls of man. Although we presently live in a world where Christians are allowed to worship and live without the threat of imprisonment or persecution, these are perilous and threatening times for the church.

Sincere observers of these days of human history conclude that we are fulfilling the lukewarm prophecy of this final church period, that many professing Christians are indifferent to the real cause of Christ and are complacent in their love to God and for the salvation of their fellowman.

There are no Biblical prophecies of a great world-wide spiritual revival before our Lord’s return. The condition of religion will be as described in the Revelation. Our Lord shall return to a great falling away and complacency within the Christian community. The only hope is for each individual believer who responds to the urging of God’s Spirit, by remaining faithful in following Christ to search out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

Will the Lord find us faithful at His return? That is the question that each must answer for our self. In general, the answer will be no for the masses of people. According to scripture, the Lord shall find only a few at His return who regard their religious salvation as the top priority of their life.

The final event which occurred in 1967 has begun the final era of church history to which the final signs before our Lord’s return have been dated. Jesus, in His sermon regarding the end of time, referred to this final dated event.

Every prophecy in scripture has been fulfilled, there are no others. There are no great revivals yet to be enjoyed nor is there to be a future anti-Christ who shall make his appearance on earth, for the anti-Christ is already here and recognized by sincere students of God’s word.

This is the message of Revelation and the reason why it was written. God wants His people to be prepared for the next event in history, which shall be the second coming of Jesus Christ, who at that time shall destroy the natural universe as we know it and judge both the good and evil, measuring out His punishment on the wicked and His reward to the good and faithful.

The only reason that can be offered for the Lord’s tarrying is that He is giving us a grace period to get our house in order.

Our brothers and sisters before us have faced the events of the past, just as God prophesied they would happen. It is now our turn to face these final moments in preparation of the ultimate event when time on earth shall be no more.

The Church of God has always been the only winner on earth and it shall be the only winner in the eternal world that awaits us. I am deeply thankful to God for His eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, a salvation that has placed me, as it does all others, a member in the Church of God that Jesus built. It still stands true as it did almost 2000 years ago, when the early disciples wrote in Acts 2:47,

"The Lord adds to the church daily those who are saved."

It is wise advise, especially in the moment that we live, to "look up, for your redemption draws near."


==Foundation Studies=

Parallel Series Of Visions

FIRST SERIES
Letters To The Seven Churches
Chapters 2 and 3
1. Ephesus - First church age - ad 33 - 270
2. Smyrna - Second church age - ad. 270 - 530
3. Pergamos - Third church age - ad. 530 - 1530
4. Thyatira - Fourth church age - ad. 1530 - 1730
5. Sardis - Fifth church age - ad. 1730 - 1880
6. Philadelphia - Sixth church age - ad. 1880 - 1967
7. Laodicia - Seventh church age - ad. 1967 - second coming of Jesus

SECOND SERIES
Opening Of The Seven Seals
Chapter 6
1. White Horse - First church age
2. Red Horse - First and second church age
3. Black Horse - Third and fourth church age
4. Pale Horse - Fourth and Fifth church age
5. Souls of slain saints- Third, fourth and fifth church age
6. Great earthquake - Sixth church age
7. Silence 1/2 hour - Seventh church age

THIRD SERIES
Sealing of God's Saints
Chapter 7
1. First through Seventh church age

FOURTH SERIES
Sounding of The Trumpets
Chapters 8, 9, 10, 11
1. Hail and Fire - First church age
2. Burning mountain - Second church age
3. Star fell from heaven - Third church age
4. Third part of sun smitten - Third church age
5. Smoke/Locusts - Third church age
6. Four Angels loosed - Third church age
7. Voices from heaven - Seventh church age

FIFTH SERIES
Two Slain and Resurrected Witnesses
Chapter 11
1. Witnesses slain - Second and Third church age
2. Witnesses resurrected - Fourth church age

SIXTH SERIES
Woman and Dragon
Chapters 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
1. Woman/Man child - First thru Seven church age
2. Dragon - First, second, third church age

SEVENTH SERIES
The Panorama of Beasts
Chapters 11, 13, 17
1. Beast from bottomless pit - Second church age
2. Leopard Beast - Second church age
3. Lamblike Beast - Fourth church age
EIGHTH SERIES
The Harlot & Her Daughters
Chapters 17, 18

1. Second church age thru Second Coming of Christ

NINTH SERIES
The Angel From Heaven
Chapter 20

1. First church age thru second coming of Christ

DISCUSSION

The first vision is not actually a vision but rather letters to the seven churches of Asia. As we have already learned, these seven letters to the seven churches identify the seven church periods through which the Revelation spans. This series of letters helps us to understand the spiritual atmosphere of the entire Christian era from beginning to end. Each church age is thoroughly discussed in the cassette tape study series, as are all the other visions.

The second vision is the opening of the seven seals. The first seal reveals a rider on a white horse with a bow in his hand. It is said of the rider that he went forth conquering and to conquer and that a crown was given to him. The color of horse is the only significant characteristic of the horse, which in this case is white, a color identified with purity. The human rider is the active agent in the vision, pointing our attention toward a religious event. The vision symbolizes the early Christian church at its beginning in 33 ad as it went forth conquering sin and paganism through the purity of its teaching the word of God and of its morality.

The second seal reveals a rider on a red horse who had been power to take peace from the earth and who was given a great sword to kill. This symbol identifies the persecutions against the Christian church by the political system of Rome sparked by their pagan religious beliefs.

The third seal reveals a rider on a black horse with balances in his hand that foretold the