Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

The Tenth Phenomenon of Christology By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

THE PHENOMENON OF CHRISTOLOGY

The tenth phenomenon of Christology is that rapture will be occurred when the Son of Man come again. Christ’s coming appears two ways secretly and openly. In Rev.10:1 Christ is still clothed with a cloud come secretly, but in Rev.14:14 and 1 Thess.4:17 unveils the Lord’s coming back is made public in the air. And majority of Christians believe they will be raptured when the Son of Man sitting on the white cloud in the air. (Rev.14:14). And wait patiently for Christ come again

Introduction

The tenth phenomenon of Christology is that rapture will be occurred when the Son of Man comes again. Christ’s coming appears two ways secretly and publicly. In Rev.10:1 Christ is still clothed with a cloud and come secretly, but in Rev.14:14 and 1 Thess.4:17 unveils the Lord’s coming back is made public in the air. The majority of Christians believe that they will be raptured when the Son of Man sitting on the white cloud in the air. (Rev.14:14). They wait patiently for Christ come again.

Christ’s coming appears both ways secretly and publicly.

The tenth phenomenon of Christology is that rapture will be occurred when the Son of Man comes again, and majority of Christians believe that Christ’s coming appears both ways secretly and publicly. Apostle John unveils his vision in Rev.10:1 says,, “ And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven clothed with a cloud and the rainbow was upon His head and His face was like the sun and His feet like pillars of fire.” This vision, part of the insertion between the sixth and seventh trumpets, is a hint that before the seventh trumpet, Christ is on the way to earth. At this time He is clothed with a cloud and is not yet sitting on the cloud. This indicates that even after the sixth trumpet, Christ still is coming secretly, not openly. This is Christ first coming. He manifested His authority in acts such as His casting out of demons and His healing of diseases, to vindicate Himself as the heavenly King.

In contrary, according to the Rev.14:14, Matt.24:30; 26:64 and 1 Thess.4:17, Christ will come openly and will be seen by all the tribes of the Earth. Apostle John said, “And I saw and behold there was a white cloud and on the cloud one like the Son of Man sitting, having a golden crown of His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.” And the narrative in the book of Matthew it states, “And at the time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the land will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” This is Christ second coming He will exercise His power to execute God’s judgment, to destroy Antichrist and to bind Satan, for the establishing of His kingdom on earth. After the great tribulation, at His coming back to earth, the Lord will gather together to the Holy Land the scattered Jews from all parts of the earth. This will be the fulfillment not only of the Lord’s word but also of God’s promise in the Old Testament. The Lord’s coming back is made public in the air. The majority of Christians believe they will be raptured when the Son of Man sitting on the white cloud in the air. (Rev.14:14).

The rapture will occur in two groups and two periods of times.

In the Rev.12:5 unveil two type of group 1) a man child, 2) the woman. The man-child consist the overcoming saints and signifies the stronger part of God’s people. The woman signifies the people of God other than the man-child. Those people constitute the weaker part of the woman, some are Jews who keep the comments of God and some are the believers who have the testimony of Jesus. Both will pass through the great tribulation and suffer the persecution and attack. In the Rev.12:5 says, “A man child who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.” “Ήρπάσθη’” VIAP-3S “άρπάζω” interpreted from Greek as 1) experience catch up or away 2) snatch away 3) carry off: caught up. In Chinese literally says, “Bai Ti”, to be caught up means “to be raptured”. The rapture of the man-child differs from the woman, the difference as follows,

1) The rapture of the man-child :

Man-child consists of the overcomers will be raptured to the throne of God directly. And before the one thousand two hundred and sixty days, which is the time of the great tribulation of three and a half years (forty-two months), begging from the sixth seal before the fifth trumpet.

2) The rapture of the woman:

The majority of the believers, which is mentioned in 1Thess.4:16-17, “Because the Lord Himself, with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are living, who are left remaining, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus will be always with the Lord.” the majority of the believers are raptured to the air and at the last trumpet (1Cor.15:52; Thess4:16) which is the seventh trumpet.

What is the sign of Lord’s coming?

According to Rev.6: 12 apostle John unveils his vision, “And I saw when He opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood.” The sixth seal, which marks the beginning of supernatural calamities, is God’s answer to the cry of the martyred saints in the fifth seal and is a warning to those who dwell on the earth. As the Old Testament Prophet Joel foretold the signs of the Lord’s coming during two periods of times. He said,

“And I will show wonders in the nations and in the earth blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The Sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered, for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.” (Joel 2:30-31 ).

And book of Acts apostle Peter also quoted Joel’s vision, it says,

“And it shall be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream things in dreams. And indeed upon My slaves, both men and women, I will pour out of My Spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord comes. And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts2:17-21).

This is the warming of the earth, the great tribulation beginning. There will not be much difference in time between the sixth seal and the first five trumpets.(Rev.9:1-11). Joel 2:30-31 first mentions the blood of the first and second trumpets, the fire of the first, second, and third trumpets (Rev.8:7-10), and the smoke of the fifth trumpet (Rev.9:1-3), and then mentions the sun and moon of the sixth seal. A comparison of Rev.9:4 and Rev. 7:3 indicates that the fifth trumpet occurs very close to the time of the sixth seal.

There will be two calamities of the shaking and changing of the earth and the hosts in heaven.

1) The first will occur at the beginning of the great tribulation (Joel2:30-31).

2) The second will occur after the great tribulation (Joel 3:11-16; Matt.24:29-30; Luke21:25-26).

What is covered in the sixth seal is the first calamity. It can be considered not only a warning but also an initiation of the coming great tribulation. The first four trumpets are not yet direct judgment on men. The first trumpet is a judgment on the Earth, including the trees and all the grass, as occurred in Egypt (Exo.9:18-25); the second a judgment on the sea, including the living creatures and ships. The third, a judgment on the rivers and springs of waters, as occurred in Egypt (Exo.7:17-21); the fourth a judgment on the sun, the moon and the stars that they may be darkened, as also occurred in Egypt (Exo.10:21-23). By the judgments of these four trumpets, the third part of the earth, the sea, the rivers, and the hosts in the heavens are damaged and are thus caused to be no longer good for man’s living. At the sixth seal, before the seven trumpets. There was already a judgment on the earth and on the hosts of the heavens. The extent of the damage caused by that judgment was not as definite as the extent of the damage caused by the first four trumpets. The seventh trumpet, through the seven bowls there will be further judgments on the earth, the sea, the rivers, and the sun (Rev.16:1-21). Those will be God’s most severe judgments on the earth and heaven.

The fifth angel trumpeted, he opened the pit of the abyss and out of the smoke came forth locusts to the earth. The locusts were like horses prepared for war. They have tails like scorpions, and stings and in their tails is their power to harm men for five months. They have a king over them the angle of the abyss his name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek he has the name Apollyon- Άπολλμων interpretation from Greek as the evil angel who rules over the demons Apollyon. The angel of the abyss is the beast. Antichrist, who will come out of the pit of the abyss (Rev.11:7; 17:8). The Hebrew word means destruction and the Greek word means destroyer. As the destroyer, Antichrist will do much destroying. The locusts here are not like the locusts in Exo.10:12-15, in that these have tails like scorpions, and stings, and they harm men.(v.10). They must be demon-possessed, because they come out of the smoke from the pit of the abyss, the dwelling place of the demons (v.2). Those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads will be harmed by locusts. Only the Israelites who have the seal of God on their foreheads will not be harmed by the demon-possessed locusts. The Rev.9:7-9 are very similar to Joel2:4-5, 25 and 1:6, which are words spoken concerning Israel. This, along with the fact that the Israelites need to be sealed by God (Rev.7:3-8) in order to escape the harm of the locusts. This may indicate that the woe of the fifth trumpet will come especially upon the Israelites. In the first woe, the woe of the fifth trumpet Satan falls from heaven to earth and Antichrist comes up from the abyss, Satan and Antichrist work together to torment man. Since it is at the fifth trumpet that Satan falls from heaven to damage the earth and persecute the people of God for three and a half years (Rev.12:10,12-17,6). And since it is at the same time (the last three and a half years) that beast -Antichrist comes up out of the abyss to collaborate with Satan to torment people, persecute the saints, and blaspheme God (Rev.13:5-7;11:7) . It is in the same three and a half years that the holy city, Jerusalem, is given over to the Gentiles for destruction (Rev.11:2), the woe of the fifth trumpet must be the beginning of the most severe woes of the great tabulation (Matt.24:21). The second woe, the woe of sixth trumpet, and the third woe, the woe of the seventh trumpet, must also be two parts of the most severe woes of the great tribulation. These three woes with the damage from the sixth seal and the first four trumpets will be a trial upon all those who dwell on the earth (Rev.3:10). The two woes are the sixth trumpet itself and the woe of the seventh trumpet that is the seven bowls.

The visions inserted between the sixth and seventh seals, there are 144000 of the twelve tribes sealed, the chosen Israelites preserved on Earth. These are the Israelites who will keep the commandments of God during the great tribulation (Rev.12:17;14:12). In Rev.7:10 Apostle John unveils the vision he saw,

“There was a great multitude which no one could number, out of every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and palm branches in their hands. And they cry with a loud voice, saying “salvation to our God who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb.” And all the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God. Saying,“Amen. The blessing and the glory and the wisdom and the thanks and the honor and the power and the strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” (Rev.7:10-12). “They will not hunger anymore, neither will they thirst anymore, neither will the sun bear upon them, nor any heat. For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and guide them to springs of waters of life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Rev.7:16-17).

The great multitude consists of the redeemed ones from the nations, throughout all generations. These constitute the Church (Rev.5:9; Rom.11:25; Acts15:14, 19). As Rom.11:25 indicates,

“For I do not want you, brothers, to be ignorant of this mystery (lest you be wise in yourselves), that hardness has come upon Israel in part, until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. And thus all Israel will be saved, as it is written, ‘the deliverer will come out of Zion, He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. And this is the covenant from Me with them, when I take away their sins.’ (Rom.11:25-27).

And Acts15:14 and 17 states,

“Simeon has related how God first looked favorably on the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for His name...so that all other peoples may seek the Lord even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called.”

The robes signify the righteousness of the believers’ conduct. White indicates that the conduct of the believers is pure and has been approved by God through having been washed in the blood of the Lamb (v.14). Palm branches signify the victory of the saints over tribulation. They stand before the throne indicates that the great multitude of the redeemed must have been raptured to the heavens, to the presence of God. Standing …before the Lamb corresponds with stand before the Son of Man (Luke21:36), which clearly indicates the rapture. That this is mentioned immediately after the opening of the sixth seal implies that the rapture of the believers must begin before the sixth seal.

Conclusion,

The tenth phenomenon of Christology is that Christians believe rapture will be occurred when the Son of Man comes again. Ήρπάσθη’ VIAP-3S “άρπάζω” interpreted from Greek as 1) experience catch up or away 2) snatch away 3) carry off: caught up. In Chinese literally says, “Bai Ti”, to be caught up means to be raptured”. There are two groups of rapture in the two periods of times. The first group is the man-child consist the overcomers who will be raptured to the throne of God directly. Second group is the woman constitutes the majority of believers. They will be rapture when the Son of Man sitting on the white cloud in the air. (Rev.14:14).

Christ’s coming appears two ways secretly and publicly. In Rev.10:1 Christ is still clothed with a cloud and come secretly, but in Rev.14:14 and 1 Thess.4:17 unveils the Lord’s coming back is made public in the air.

The rapture in the two periods of times, First, the rapture of the man-child will be rapture to the throne of God directly before the one thousand two hundred and sixty days, which is the time of the great tribulation of three and a half years (forty-two months), begging from the sixth seal before the fifth trumpet. Second, the rapture of the woman; the majority of the believers will be rapture to the air and at the last trumpet (1Cor.15:52; Thess4:16) which is the seventh trumpet.

There will be two calamities of the shaking and changing of the earth and the hosts in heaven. 1) The first will occur at the beginning of the great tribulation (Joel2:30-31). 2) The second will occur after the great tribulation (Joel 3:11-16; Matt.24:29-30; Luke21:25-26). What is covered in the sixth seal is the first calamity. It can be considered not only a warning but also an initiation of the coming great tribulation. The woe of the fifth trumpet will come especially upon the Israelites. The visions inserted between the sixth and seventh seals, there are 144000 of the twelve tribes sealed, the chosen Israelites preserved on Earth. These are the Israelites who will keep the commandments of God during the great tribulation (Rev.12:17; 14:12). The great multitude consists of the redeemed ones from the nations, throughout all generations. These constitute the Church (Rev.5:9; Rom.11:25; Acts15:14, 19). Due to the hardness has come upon Israel in part; God looked favorably upon the Gentiles, and take from among them a people for His name, until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in, so that all other peoples may seek the Lord. The believers are pure and have been approved by God through having been washed in the blood of the Lamb. The victory of the saints over tribulation. They stand before the throne, indicates that the great multitude of the redeemed must have been raptured to the heavens, to the presence of God.

Christians’ hope of rapture and faith in Christ’s second coming has developed the tenth phenomenon of Christology. It provides the two aspects of the coming of the kingdom: first, the reality of the kingdom (Matt.5:33), which is in the proper church life today. Second, the manifestation of the kingdom in the millennium will be brought in through the overcoming believers. God’s salvation has already been manifested to us today but it will come in full in the kingdom age. Today we have participated in God’s power and Christ’s authority, but our full enjoyment of them will be in the kingdom age.

Video worship song " great multitude stand before the throne and Lamb" and " On that day" composed and presented by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPyG7plSngk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7y1NBx0-HI

Bibliography,

Bruce, Katherine L. Weekly message: how to overcome the satanic attack and live in victory. Orlando, FL: Christian arts Ministries 2016. https://youtu.be/DcsjbHfex8U

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3^rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.

Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

Goodrick, Edward W. John Rohlenberger III and James A. Swanson., eds. The Strongest: NIV Exhaustive Concordance. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.1999.

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.

Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010.

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

The victory of Christ at Armageddon by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly message: The victory of Christ at Armageddon

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel Music

Orlando FL U.S.A. 9/1/2018

Introduction

My friends! Are you still dwelling in the sadness and suffer of the depression? You may need to renew your spirit and vision in the Bible, and know the truth that our Lord Jesus Christ Messiah is the great King of kings, and Lord of lords. Christians shall arise and shout for joy to the Lord in victory. Because when we gaze upon the victory of Christ coming at Armageddon, Christ with a sharp sword to smite the nations, shepherd them with an iron rod, and treads the great winepress (Rev.19:11-21), we shall rejoice, exult and give the glory to the Lord. For today, you and I can be the chosen believers as the armies of Christ which mentioned in the Rev.19:14 and Rev.17:14. Those who are called to the wedding supper of the Lamb are those who constitute the Bride of Christ (Rev.19:9).

The victory of Christ at Armageddon

There were three prophets unveiled the same vision and the victory of Chris coming at Armageddon. First, Isaiah’s prophecy in 740-680 before Christ in the book of Isaiah 63:1-6, it says,

“It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save. Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? I have trodden the winepress alone, from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption has come. I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own worked salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me. I trampled the nations in my anger; in my wrath I made them drunk and poured their blood on the ground. (Isa.63: 1-6)

Second, the Prophet Joel’s prophecy in the 835 before Christ in the book of Joel 3: 12-13, it says,

  Let the nations be roused, let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there
I will sit to judge all the nations on every side. Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.
Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow so great is
  their wickedness. (Joel 3: 12-13).

Third, Apostle John’s prophecy in A.D.90s in the book the revelation 19:13-16 it says,

He is clothes in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” ( Rev.19:13-16)

Apostle John mentioned about “an iron rod” or “iron scepter” twice in Rev.2:26-27 and Rev.19: 11-16

“To everyone who conquers and continues to do my works to the end, I will give authority over the nations, to rule them with an iron rod, as when clay pots are shattered.”

The Apostle John unveils the vision to the Thyatira church who want to be the overcomers, they must overcome Jezebel, a prophetess’ teaching, Jezebel here, signify the Roman Catholic Church. The teaching deceives salves to commit fornication and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

Apostle John mention about “a rod of iron” again in Rev.19: 11-16, he said,

“Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but himself. He is clothes in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” (Greek-English NIV)

In Geek literally “ἐṿ ῥἀẞδῳ σιδηρᾰ (rhabdos siderus)” metaphorically interpret as “made of iron (Acts12:10). Literally with an iron rod, i.e. with strict, merciless rule (Rev.2:27)[1]. In Chinese literally says “Tie ̆ zhang̕”, “the iron rod” signifies “strong power.” In Rev.19:15 indicate that “the sword which proceeds out of the mouth of Christ, who is the Word of God, is the word that will judge the rebellious. To shepherd here is to rule, the iron rod signifies strong power. First, with His judging word Christ will smite the nations. Then, with His strong power He will shepherd those who remain. His ruling with strong power is His shepherding. He will rule over the nations by shepherding them.”[2]

The Rev.19:15 mentioned, “He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.” Christ’s being clothed with a garment dipped in blood is related to His treading the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God (Isaiah 63:1-3) at Armageddon, where the blood will rise up to the bridles of the horses. (14:20). “The great winepress of the fury of God is the war at Armageddon (16:12-16), which is in the valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel3:9-16), and it’s very close to Jerusalem. This war will be the treading of the great winepress of the fury of God. All the Gentile evil worldly forces will be gathered there, and the Lord, Christ with His armies which are the overcomeing saints will fight against them and destroy them there.”[3]

“At the end of the great tribulation three unclean spirits out of the mouths of Satan, Antichrist, and the false prophet will go forth to stir up the kings of the whole inhabited earth and to gather their forces including the two hundred million horsemen mentioned in Rev.9:14-16 to the war at Armageddon, which will be the last war among mankind before the millennium. In that war Satan’s intention will be to destroy Israel (Zech.14:2) and fight against Christ and His army. For this he will use all of rebellious mankind (17:12-14; 19:11-19). Christ and His chosen overcomers will defeat and destroy them all. (Rev.19:20-21; Micah4:11-13; Zeph3:8; 14:4-5; Joel13:14-17). This is the treading of the winepress, which is recorded in Rev.14:17-20, Isa.63:1-6, and Joel 3:9-13.”[4]

The last day of the great tribulation

Antichrist and the false prophet will be the first to be cast into the lake of fire. Unlike all the others who perish, they will be cast alive into the lake of fire, without passing through death and resurrection. Once the seventh trumpet is sounded, on the same day, the last day of the great tribulation, the following events will all take place:

1). The kingdom of the world will become the kingdom of Christ.

2). The dead saints will be resurrected and will be raptured with the living saints.

3). The two witnesses will be resurrected and raptured.

4). Christ will execute the judgment at His judgment seat for the rewarding of the overcomers.

5) The marriage of the Lamb and the overcomers will take place.

6).Christ and His newly-wed overcomers will come to the earth to defeat Antichrist and destroy those who destroy the earth in the war at Armageddon, and to cast Antichrist and the false prophet into the lake of fire.

7). By the war at Armageddon Christ will rescue Israel from Antichrist’s besieging, and the whole house of Israel will repent and be saved.

8). The material Babylon the Great will be destroyed.

9).At the same time the seven bowls will be poured out. The war at Armageddon will occur at the time of the sixth bowl. The various plagues of the seven bowls will be executed by God on the same day, perhaps at the time when the few positive events mentioned previously will occur. After the defeat of Antichrist, Satan is bound and imprisoned that the rebellious earth may be cleared up and the kingdom of Christ may come.[5]

Application/ Implication

My friends, when you realize that you are Bride of Christ and the armies of Christ (v.14), your inner man will overflow with joy, peace, love and secure in His faithfulness and true. The earthly things will no longer entangle or captive you. You will pursue the victory with Christ and follow Him as overcomers ride on white horses, dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
Living in the present time, the saints must pray without ceasing, and cooperate with Christ in mind and in Spirit. Believing the sword, which proceeds out of the mouth of Christ, who is the Word of God, is the WORD that will judge the rebellious. With His judging word Christ will smite the nations, then with His strong power He will shepherd those who remain.

My friends! Do you still doubt Christ? And suffer the pains of comparison, envy, jealousy and pursue earthly vain glory? Take time to read the Bible, and discover God’s eternal plan for all mankind. It will help you to be set free from the captivity and relief earthly strife, anxiety and sorrow. Once you turn your eyes upon Jesus, and gaze upon the victory of Christ at Armageddon, your heart will find the secure in Christ, longing to live for Christ, fight good fight of hope and faith with Christ as overcomers. And wait patiently for the eternal king who is King of kings, and Lord of lords. May this message renew your spirit and your heart, keep on hope in Christ, and rest in the unfailing love of Christ.

Listen to video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZGwl3H3xjk&t=22s

Bibliography,

Anderson, Neil. The Bondage Breaker: Overcoming negative thoughts, irrational feelings, habitual sins. Sisters Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2006.

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3^rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.

Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.

Bruce, Katherine L. Book review: the bondage breaker by Neil T. Anderson. M.Div. VAN670. Orlando FL: Liberty University Baptist Theo. Seminary, 2012.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

King James, The Holy Bible, Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Lucado, Max. God is with you every day. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2015

__________. Glory Days. Nashville, TN. Thomas Nelson, 2015

Myers, Roth. 31 days of praise. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books, 1994.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.

Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010.

[1] Timothy Friberg, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. (Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005),348.

[2] Witness Lee. The New Testament (R.V.) (Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985),1316.

[3] Witness Lee. The New Testament (R.V.) (Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985),1300.

[4] Ibid., 1304.

[5] Witness Lee. The New Testament (R.V.) (Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985),1317-1318.

Thursday, August 16, 2018

How to let your light shining in the World? by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly message: How to let your light shining in the World?

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel Music Ministry

Introduction

In John 1: 1 indicates, in the beginning was the Word, the Word was God, he was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; in him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood. The truth light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. (John1: 1-5, 9). this is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. (John3:19). Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John8:12). And urged disciples, “Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” (John12:36).

We are sons of light by received the spirit of Christ

In this generation, we became the sons of light by believed and accepted Jesus Christ as savior, and received the Spirit of Christ, which is the spirit of sonship, by him we cry “abba, Father”. Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children then we are heirs---heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ… (Rom.8:14-17). Jesus emphasized, “I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John8:12). But men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. (John3:19). The darkness cannot overcome the light. For “there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roots.” (Matt10:26).

How to let light rise in the darkness?

Christians are called to be the light of world. How can we keep our light shining in the dark world? In Isaiah 58: 7-14 unveils God’s conditional term, if you do the things as the Lord commands, then your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear. And your righteousness will go before you. The glory of the Lord will be you rear guard.(v.8). What are these commands?

A. First, if you share your food with hungry.(v.7)

Second, you provide the poor wandered with shelter. (v.7)

Third, when you see the naked to clothe him. (v.7)

B. Fourth, if you do not to turn away from your own flesh and blood. (v.7)

Fifth, if you do away with the yoke of oppression with the pointing finger and malicious talk. (v.9)

Sixth,if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed. (v.10)

C. Seventh, if you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on Lord’s holy day.(v.13)

Eighth, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord holy day honorable. (v.13)

Ninth, if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words. (v.13).

Then Your light will rise in the darkness, your night will become life the noonday.(v.10) The Lord will guide you always he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame, you will be like a well-watered garden like a spring, whose water never fail.(v.11).

Then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob. The mouth of the Lord has spoken. (v.14)

Does God love riches only? Does God care about the poor?

There is wrong concept and thinking pattern in our daily life, ‘God only loves the riches’ says my husband, when he was under financial stress and anxiety attacked, he complained about God only loves rich. In contrary, the Prophet Isaiah stated the commands of Lord in Isa.58 are to spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry, sharing the food with poor, providing the poor wandered with shelter, give clothes to those in needs. Based on these commands, does God loves the riches only? No! Even Apostle Paul urged Timothy, “Command those who are rich in this present would not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”(1Tim.6:17-19).

“There is unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” (1Tim.6:4-5). People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.(1Tim.6:9-10). “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it, but if we have food and clothing we will be content with that.”(1Tim.6:6-8). It seems Apostle Paul agreed on the prophet Isaiah’s vision and God’s commands, “sharing food with hungry, providing shelter for poor and give clothes to the needs.” Disciple James confirmed, “God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor, is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sins and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. (James 2:5-9). Matthew narrated the Words of Jesus, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet, not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father and even the very hairs of your head are all numbered so don’t be afraid you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matt10:29-31).God demands us to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness first, all these needs, He will aid upon it.

Why there are many worries, anxiety and sorrow? to gain the joy and peace of inner man, prophet Isaiah stated, “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on Lord’s holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord holy day honorable. Not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words.” (v.13). then you will find your joy in the Lord. Clearly, God urges his people to abide in Him, dwell in Him, delight in Him and love the Lord with all our hearts, mind and strength. Once men’s hearts are dominated by earthly riches and wealth, the hearts become deceitful, and fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge one into ruin and destruction. Even King Solomon said, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income this too is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes5:10). Apostle Paul gained his peace and joy in the Lord, because he discovered, “godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it, but if we have food and clothing we will be content with that.”( 1Tim.6:6-8).

Conclusion

Jesus indicated that Christians are the light of world. To keep on shining in this world, we shall willingly share our care, love and compassion with hungry, poor and in needs people. Christians are to be called rich in faith and not rely on earthly wealth, for it is uncertain. King Solomon said, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income this too is meaningless.”(Ecclesiastes5:10). The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep. I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him. Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb, and as he comes so he departs he takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand.”(Ecclesiastes5:10,12-15). The love of Christ, the light of God, and eternal life cannot be valued nor replaced by the money and earthly riches. Instead of pursuing worldly vanity, Christians shall pursue rightness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness, and take hold of the eternal life. For God himself is the richest reward to the children of God and we have received the spirit of sonship by him, we cry, Abba Father. Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John8:12). So my friends “Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” (John12:36). Next time, when you see the elder people who walk to Publix, Walmart for purchasing groceries, or walk to CVS to get their proscription, if you are capable, just provide your care, compassion to help or give them a ride. Do not value the person’s integrity base on the earthly wealth, nor judge about the poor’s dignity. For you do not know what circumstances they have been facing. May the light of Christ shining through you and your good deeds!

Listen to video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Vsk8mW8ZaA