The TTUF STUDY on The REVELATION of JESUS CHRIST – Chapter THIRTEEN: Part ONE of TWO

 

~ by James Fire 

Introduction: In this chapter (as well as others previous and those forthcoming) we observe many parallel Scriptures, predominantly from the book of Daniel. In fact, one’s understanding of the book of Revelation will be diminished if one doesn’t consult the book of Daniel (and the Old Testament in general). Again, Scripture must interpret Scripture, and where one cannot find corroborative text of Holy Writ to support one’s interpretation of any single passage of Scripture then such an interpretation must be abandoned. We base our beliefs upon the Bible, not vice versa!

We have dealt previously with REVELATION 13 within the context of what has risen out of obscurity and into the public domain (such as the UN’s N.W.O. Organization), an objective that’s at the heart of various esoteric and secret societies, the New World Order, which even today many people, among them Christians, who disparage any such notion as ‘conspiracy theory’. Yet if one examines this chapter, it clearly outlines the primary objective of this three-fold order: a one world government, a one world economy, and a one world religion, all spearheaded by a one world leader.  

To review this treatment, go to FROM The MIND Of FIRE and check it out here. 

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GENESIS – An Expositional Overview of the Beginning of God’s Revelation: Chapter FORTY

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire

ChuckMissler Bible Commentary - Genesis 40-45

GENESIS 40 – GOD WORKS FOR OUR GOOD by Sonny Islas; watch the FB video teaching here.                                  

                                                                     

Introduction: One of the most encouraging truths a child of God can stand on and enjoy is that - GOD WORKS FOR OUR GOOD. God works all things for our good but ultimately for His glory (for His praises and perfect purposes). Romans 8:28 says, (NASB) “And we know that God causes all things (both good and bad) to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

“And we know” (that is, we’re supposed to know and be fully confident in) “that GOD causes” (that is, He orchestrates, arranges, plans out and works out, He is sovereignly and providentially in charge of the results) “all things” (good and bad) “to work together for good...” (ROM 8:28).

This is the great lesson that Joseph is learning as the events in his life unfold and will soon teach it to his brothers. At the end of this long, confusing, frustrating and painful trial – Joseph tells his brothers (the ones who sold him into slavery) – “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” Genesis 50:20. 

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GENESIS – An Expositional Overview of the Beginning of God’s Revelation: Chapter THIRTY NINE

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire

Chuck Missler Bible Commentary - Genesis 37-40

GENESIS 39 – by James Fire

Introduction:
Injustice – it’s an experience we’ve all had, and there is something in us that revolts against it, understanding that it’s wrong, when the innocent is condemned and the guilty are free. When people suffer such things, even if they don’t believe in GOD, they’ll shake their fist at Him and accuse Him because He failed to prevent their personal calamity.
And as Christians, when we hear injustice knocking at our front door, we bar it and lock it, and it blows down the door and devastates us with its doings.

As with all kinds of suffering, we can question GOD, asking Him, “Where are you? Why did You allow this to happen to me? You could have stopped this!”

This no doubt was in Joseph’s thoughts when we see what happens to him in this chapter. It’s one thing to be a slave in a foreign land, but he’s going to be falsely accused, his side of the story won’t be taken into account, and he’s sentenced to prison, indefinitely. For all that Joseph knew in the natural – apart from the Word of the LORD that was granted to him in visions, he would grow old and rot away in that prison and finally die.

Where now are the dreams that he had concerning his authority over his brothers and even over his parents? How is the Word of the LORD, His promise, to come true in this situation now that he’s a prisoner in far-away Egypt?

We are often challenged in our Christian walks, in our faith in the Word of GOD in the face of our situation; when we have been believing the good Word of the LORD and yet bad things are happening, and they continue to happen – things that would seem to contradict and negate GOD’s promises to us.

The fact of the matter is, that we walk by faith and not by sight (2 COR 5:7). Situations and circumstances are those things “by sight” whereas believing that the Word of GOD is truth, despite these things, is “by faith”.

We know how this story ends; we know that the Word of the LORD to Joseph will be realized and come to pass, but he didn’t know it at this time. GOD sees all that He intends to fulfill in our lives just as He saw everything He intended and fulfilled in Joseph’s life, and just as this young man didn’t know the final outcome of this severe trial, neither do we – until GOD moves and makes good on His promises.

What GOD intends in your life, He will see to it, according to His promises; walk by faith and not by sight! May that sight have its eye fixed on eternity, where some of these promises will surely be fulfilled, if not in the here and now in this world!

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The TTUF STUDY on The REVELATION of JESUS CHRIST – Chapter TWELVE

~ by James Fire

Introduction: Hermeneutics is concerned with the method of how we interpret the Bible. One can have a very conservative hermeneutic or a very liberal one; one’s hermeneutic can be a very literal method or a very allegorical one.
One’s hermeneutic can be dispensational* or according to covenant theology**.

For more on these two positions, check out these links below:

*Review of “Dispensationalism,” by Charles Ryrie

**Covenant Theology: What’s in It for Israel?

For another excellent treatment on the validity of dispensational theology, check out:

WHY I AM A DISPENSATIONALIST, by SHARPER IRON

Note to Readers: We here at TTUF are vigorously and intentionally dispensationalist in our hermeneutic, believing that there is a distinction between Israel and the church, that the various dispensations are related to the seven covenants that GOD established with the people of this world, and with Israel and the church: Adamic Covenant, Edenic Covenant, Noahic Covenant, Mosaic Covenant, the Land (Palestinian) Covenant, the Davidic Covenant and the New Covenant. For more about dispensations and covenants, check out TTUF’s Discipleship introductory examination of these here.

It is vital that we maintain a biblical distinction between Israel and the church; Covenant Theology believes that there is one church in two phases: Israel, the church of the Old Testament and the body of Christ, the church of the New Testament. We find this hermeneutic fundamentally flawed as it will attribute Scripture to the church that inherently belongs to the nation of Israel, by spiritualizing the verses rather than applying a literal interpretation.

Why am I harping on these assertions in such replete fashion?
Because of the chapter we are about to examine for one; many of the Covenant Theology camp see this figure of the woman as the church, but the Scripture itself defines who she is, and she is not the body of Christ. We believe Israel has a destiny, a purpose and a plan from GOD Who will fulfill all of His promises to her according to His appointed, yet-future time (Covenant theologians believe these promises are already fulfilled, thus as a nation, GOD’s involvement with her is done and over with).

Also worthy of note, which we have brought up before, is that every symbol, every vision found in the book of REVELATION is either explained within the context of the passage or elsewhere in the Scripture, and we shall witness this as well; so, let’s begin:

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GENESIS – An Expositional Overview of the Beginning of God’s Revelation: Chapter THIRTY EIGHT

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire

Chuck Missler Bible Commentary - Genesis 37-40

GENESIS 38 – by Sonny Islas; see the video of this teaching here.

Introduction: We are now in Genesis 38 where we find a portion of Judah’s life sandwiched between Joseph’s life (found in Chapters 37, 39 and on). Genesis 38 is like a commercial break from the main movie – Joseph’s life.

Genesis 38 is a glimpse of Judah’s pitiful spiritual life. It’s a portrait of his flawed family. The two main characters in this scandalous chapter are Judah (Israel’s 4th son) and Tamar (Judah’s daughter-in-law.

The reason why God has us stop and briefly focus on Judah and Tamar and their flaws is because Jesus, our Messiah, comes from Judah, Tamar and their firstborn – Perez (which means breakthrough). We find Jesus’ lineage in Matthew 1:1-6.

When we look at the family of Jesus, we can’t help but notice that God used some pretty ‘jacked up’ people to bring about His Holy Son. Question: Why does God use sinners? Answer: Because sinners are all that He has to work with.

If we’re honest we are Judah, his sons and Tamar to some degree – if not worse and yet the LORD saved and uses us. And yet God has had mercy on us!

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GENESIS – An Expositional Overview of the Beginning of God’s Revelation: Chapter THIRTY SEVEN

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire

Chuck Missler Bible Commentary - Genesis 37- 40 

GENESIS 37 – by James Fire; for the Facebook video teaching go here.

Introduction: We have seen it with Abraham, we have seen it with Isaac – and now we are seeing it continue with Jacob: family favorites! In Jacob’s case, his favorite was Joseph, the son of his dearly beloved – not Leah, but Rachel. 

When cycles of sin are repeated from one generation to the next in families, they seem to become more pronounced. Alcoholism in the first generation may be bad, but the second generation very often becomes worse, and the third generation even more so.

In this case however, Jacob’s sons, representing the fourth generation do something even worse than what their Uncle Esau intended; Esau intended on and threatened to kill their Dad, Jacob – but here we see the sons of Jacob are plotting to kill their half-brother Joseph and would have done so if Reuben and Judah didn’t intervene.

They are plotting evil against their half-brother Joseph.

Among those who would intend evil against you, the one at the top of the list is the devil: he wants to steal from you, he wants to destroy you, he wants to kill you (JOHN 10:10). Others in the world despise those of us who live godly in Christ Jesus (2 TIM 3:12) and we find ourselves often persecuted in some way.

Know for certain that what everyone who intends evil and harm on you, the LORD certainly will turn it around for good.

This is a lesson that Joseph learned after this long, long trial that begins here and continues for what would be a few chapters for us, but two very long years for him!

The conclusion of this evil plot by Joseph’s brothers is understood by Joseph as part of the Sovereign plan of GOD Almighty!

GENESIS 50:20

20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

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