Saturday, April 19, 2008

The Mark of the Lamb

I've taught on it several times, and we discussed, at length, the much-misunderstood subject of the “Mark of the Beast” in two of the Schools of the Bible, but for the sake of discussion, I want to look at some of the material, particularly from SOTB IV, about the "Mark of the Lamb". Don't worry...this isn't scary stuff...this is good news!

As I have stated many times before, the word “antichrist” does not appear anywhere at all in The Revelation, and this prophecy in chapter 13 concerning the domination of a series of “beasts” refers to a successive line of Roman Emperors who ruled the known ancient world, and was literally fulfilled in the first century, before or around 70 A.D. John’s letter to the seven churches of Asia Minor not only warned the early Christians of imminent persecution by the Roman Empire, it also confronted, prophetically, a culture which had been greatly affected by the cult of Emperor worship.


Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants WORSHIP THE FIRST BEAST, whose fatal wound had been healed. And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of everyone. Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. It was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to WORSHIP THE IMAGE to be killed. It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive A MARK* ON THEIR RIGHT HANDS OR ON THEIR FOREHEADS, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom. Let those who have insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.** That number is 666. (Revelation 13:11-18 – TNIV)

(*Greek “charagma”: stamp or impress)

(**or is humanity’s number)

Most progressive Bible historians agree that the beast whose number added up to 666 was actually Nero Caesar, which is most likely true, but there is a larger meaning expressed here, one that is a word for us in the now. The Greek actually calls 666 “the number of humanity” (6 is the number of man, who was created on the 6th day; 666 is man – spirit, soul and body, out from under the authority of God and His Christ). “Beast” in the Greek is therion, a wild, untamed animal. You could even say that 666 is the Adamic nature, which carries with it a certain mindset (a mark on the forehead), and a way of doing things (a mark in the hand), that has basically caused the whole world to buy into the idea that they can only succeed (buy or sell) through natural, carnal means and methods. But when man stops worshipping the beast and its system and begins to worship and submit to the Lordship of the Lamb, he becomes something higher . . . he becomes man flowing in the image of God (and prospering through the ways of God), or "777"!

Jesus said that the Kingdom is entered through repentance. The Greek word metanoia, which is tranlated into our English as “repentance,” simply means “to change the mind or mindset,” or more literally, “to change one’s life by changing one’s mind.” Through repentance, every individual has the ability to have the Mark of the Beast replaced with the Mark of the Lamb. Actually, much more is said in The Revelation about the Mark of the Lamb being on or in the foreheads of people than is said about a Mark of the Beast . . .


After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we PUT A SEAL ON THE FOREHEADS OF THE SERVANTS OF OUR GOD.” Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. (Revelation 7:1-3 – TNIV)



Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had His name and HIS FATHER’S NAME WRITTEN ON THEIR FOREHEADS. (Revelation 14:1 – TNIV)



Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face, and HIS NAME WILL BE ON THEIR FOREHEADS. (Revelation 22:1-4 – TNIV)



. . . In fact, the theme of God’s “mark” or “seal” being on the head and/or the hand runs all through the Bible, beginning as far back as Genesis, and it has nothing at all to do with microchips being implanted into human foreheads, or bar-codes being tattood into human hands! Consider this passage from another of the Books of Moses:


Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so THAT IT MAY GO WELL WITH YOU AND THAT YOU MAY INCREASE GREATLY IN A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as SYMBOLS ON YOUR HANDS AND BIND THEM ON YOUR FOREHEADS. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, TO GIVE YOU – A LAND WITH LARGE, FLOURISHING CITIES you did not build, HOUSES FILLED WITH ALL KINDS OF GOOD THINGS you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then WHEN YOU EAT AND ARE SATISFIED, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Deuteronomy 6:3-12)


Notice that Moses talks about a mark on the head or the hand within the context of receiving supernatural provision and prosperity. It is interesting to compare Deuteronomy 6 with Revelation 13, because in both passages we see the concepts of worship and marked heads and hands and attitudes towards money discussed. In chapter 13, the “whole world” believes that they must have the mark of the beast to buy or sell anything, but in chapter 22, those who had the Lamb’s mark—those who were not conformed to this world system but were transformed by the renewing of their minds—heard these words:


The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let those who hear say, “Come!” Let those who are thirsty come; and let all who wish take the FREE GIFT of the water of life. (Revelation 22:17 – TNIV)


Compare this concept of freedom, and the ability to purchase something without money, with Isaiah’s words:

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and YOU WHO HAVE NO MONEY, COME, BUY AND EAT! COME, BUY WINE AND MILK WITHOUT MONEY AND WITHOUT COST. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and YOU WILL DELIGHT IN THE RICHEST OF FARE. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. INSTEAD OF THE THORNBUSH WILL GROW THE JUNIPER, AND INSTEAD OF BRIERS THE MYRTLE WILL GROW. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.” (Isaiah 55:1, 2, 8-13 – TNIV)


Here God says that His thoughts (the Lamb’s mark in the forehead) and His ways (the Lamb’s mark in the hand) are higher than our natural thoughts and ways, which have been marked by the beast system. Repentance enables us to cease worship of the beast, which limits us to a numbers system (666) or the idea that we can only survive and flourish through our natural logic or intellect. Now we can understand that our God shall supply all our need, not according to the rules of the material world but according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. We can then begin a lifestyle of Lamb-worship which will ultimately perfect our hearts and purify our minds and will bring us into a land that supernaturally flows with milk and honey!

Worthy is the Lamb!!!

29 comments:

DoubleBack Alley said...

Sahib,

How could we have believed all of that stuff all those years ago? I remember defending it. Not just believing it, but defending it! I represented Christ by saying the entity was impotent and incapable of caring for his creation. Somehow God was in that.

Suffice to say, I am in total agreement with the post of the day. Glad to be here. Glad to have the mark.

Wish my name WAS Mark.

Ain't God Good?

Anonymous said...

Bishop,
Thank you for explaining this. I have been afraid of the mark of the beast all of my life. Do you remember the smallpox vaccine? Do you have the scar on your arm from that?
I heard about the mark of the beast all my life and I was terrified that someone was going to put it on me and then I would miss heaven. Well, once I saw that scar that was now embedded in my arm, ( close enough to my hand)I just knew I would never make heaven because I now had a mark on me.
What a joy to know that all the time this message was one of good news, not damnation and destruction.

Have a great day :0)
Linda

Anonymous said...

OMG! I so need today's post, and today's "Year In the Now"-- Mark of the Lamb, creative miracles, two things that jumped in my spirit. I woke to the angst of the things in the natural, but after equiping myself with this blog, I am ready to deal and believe that I WILL have favor in this situation. I am marked with the good stuff!

Please pray that I will have favor with those I need to talk to in regards to the timing of this matter.

Yes, God is good!
AJ

dgm2007 said...

wow that was so good. luv this blog. i have been releasing ever so slowly my imagined control over my life. its so nice to read how his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. its something that i argue for in philosophy and its great to see on the blog. Love the history lesson always better to read and reread than to just jump to conclusions. I'm going to tour a historic church today and cant wait to hear more from the spirit in this place.
Peace love and good stuff

Donald said...

I remember this from SOTB IV. It was the first time that I had heard this twist on the mark of the beast vs. the mark of the Lamb and it made such perfect sense. I'm going to email this post to some folks. That might get some negative responses for you, but I'm sure you know how to handle that.
I guess I'll be on standby all night since Her Majesty is going to New Orleans to a bachelorette party for her best friend's daughter. Anybody got any money I can borrow for bail bond money? And she had the nerve to ask me what I'M doing tonight! I told her that I would just go buy me a new book and sit around here and read.

Lisa said...

I have always thought that revelation was talking about the end of eras in time and not the end of the world. Interesting that the mark is not what I had pounded into my head my whole life. I am so glad to know I am on the right path and not straying like I sometimes wonder about. I've had to stop watching tv shows with major religous leaders saying to think how I think is a 1 way ticket to he double hockey sticks. I have to really watch my words now or my 4 yr old will repeat them to everyone who hears, the good and the bad. Talk about a fruit snack commercial. Oh my!!!!
Thanks for the Word Bish I had never heard it before and wow what freedom!!!!

Ebony said...

You know, back when you did the "20 questions" segment on the blog, and you asked "was there something you wanted me to answer but didn't". I had wanted your perspective on "last days/end times" scriptures, but then I thought about it, and never asked. Then today (while Ebony and Ivory was playing on the playlist). You posted this. Coincidence? I think not.

¡Amor y besitos to BITN! (Love and kisses. I don't have cooties, I promise)

Scribe said...

Good Morning:

BISHOP, this is my urgent prayer request. This is a huge step of faith for me to blog this, and you reserve the right to post this or not, for it is of your own discretion. In times such as these, radical painstaking efforts are sometimes necessary.

Anyway, I know that everyone in the BITN Family has been praying for me and my family. I also understand that GOD is more than able to perfect everything concerning us. I have kept the faith and have stood on the word, prayed, fasted, sowed sacrificially with a willing cheerful heart. Right now, I am facing the very real potential of eviction as early as this Monday evening or Tuesday providing I am not able to pay the landlord all that is owed by monday morning to keep a place for my kids and I and we've been here for 4 years. I KNOW that God is REAL, God is Present, and GOD is NOW. Yet, I'm on the edge of time with my back against the wall. I really did not want to get into this over the blog, but GOD prompted me to post this prayer request, so I have done so, reluctantly....

So, continue to stand in prayer, faith, and agreement with and for me because things are quite scary at this point. Thanks to you Bishop and Pastor Debye, and all the BITN family for your steadfast prayers and intercession.

Anonymous said...

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing!

KEEP GOING, BISH!!! It IS Good News!

It isn't scary stuff. Nevertheless, I'm shaking. The blog topic kinda touches on topics one of my siblings & I discussed yesterday about the book of Genesis. (2:10-14)

I'm not intentionally trying to run all over the place. (just how my thoughts go) When I read the lines, "When I saw the 4 angels standing at the 4 corners of the earth, holding back the 4 winds", it reminded me of yesterday's conversation regarding the river that parted and became 4 heads.

I don't know if it correlates to the Book of Revelation or the Scripture you've given us to Selah today. (it's just cool that in some Eastern cultures, readers begin from the back of the book and work towards the front.)

I love how all the passages answer previous questions - even some I hadn't yet mentioned. (thank you)

Re: ...so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. INSTEAD OF THE THORNBUSH WILL GROW THE JUNIPER, AND INSTEAD OF BRIERS THE MYRTLE WILL GROW. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.” (Isaiah 55:1, 2, 8-13 – TNIV)

My heart's pounding so hard in my chest, reading this. On the flight home from Boston, I wondered if I said & did everything I was supposed to for the Kingdom.

Seeing the verses you chose are encouragement. Specifically, the word, "myrtle". It reminds me of the name "Hadassah", which wasn't far from a way we walked.

Interesting how everyone can glean revelation from today's manna.

Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so THAT IT MAY GO WELL WITH YOU AND THAT YOU MAY INCREASE GREATLY IN A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.

Whew....shaky. And fearful. But, in a reverential way.

Lise said...

Bish & fellow blog-meisters,

Think I just lost a comment, so here goes again. Just want to alert you to a display name change, as I have filled out a profile here and may eventually compose an art blog. For reasons of convenience and security, I will be using my Myspace display name, "elle." So, in a few minutes LPnSC will be no more.

vaughn said...

Bishop, I did attend both of the schools of the bible where you discussed the Mark of the Lamb nd that scripture comes up over and over again in my head...Behold the lamb of God. You have stated that if one would just Behold the Lamb, everything else will line up with that spiritual gem. Provision lines up, order lines up, God's love comes into existence and a standard is raised in our ministries, our communities, our families, our relationships and our homes.

I thank God that you have beautiful feet bring the evangel to a hurting world.

Peace and may the Lord continue to go before you

Anonymous said...

Hey Y’all,
Guess what I now have internet here at my mothers. Too cool, just checkin in, I am going to take mom shopping at the next town over. And have lunch with her somewhere. They actually have a cell signal over there! I may stay over till morning and let mom watch CITN in the morning with me; it would be like us going to church together again. And she would get to see the whole service; not just the teaching on the DVDs. They are great but nothing like live! I am so happy that she totally “gets it” now.

I luuuved the article, believe it or not I discovered this slant on these prophecies in my studies quite a long time ago. It was one of the big factors in my beginning to venture out into new waters back then. This lead me to a study of preterism which was a big step toward seeing universal reconciliation. God is always directing our steps!

It is funny though, the reaction you get when you take away the rapture, beast, individual antichrist, tribulation, ect. From folks. They can really get upset; that’s OK I understand where they are.

I have studied this before but I loved your take on it Bishop. I have SOTB 1-2-3 looks like I need to get 4. I have been meaning to get it anyway

Dennis, on my laptop in Campbell MO. ! believe it or not; God is SOOOO good!

PS.
Hey famman87, I put a couple of Bon Jovi songs on my playlist on my Blog.

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

DBA, we believed and defended it from good intentions, and even now, I have no argument with those who hold to Darby’s ideas of interpreting the Scriptures (as I’m sure you know, John Nelson Darby was the “Father of Dispensationalism” and the inventor of the concept of a two-part Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which is why he created the term “Rapture of the Church”). I believe that he came up with that system of interpretation in an attempt to explain what was happening in his world during his generation. Dispensationalism came out in the same era as did Mormonism, Christian Science, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and even Darwinism…it was a time of unusual spiritual activity and scientific awakening, and then, as now, people of insight were trying to answer the unanswerable. Even today, if you don’t have a good understanding of world history, Darby’s ideas about “Daniel’s Seventy Weeks” makes for a compelling argument about the chain of global events and futurism (by the way Paul isn’t dead after all, regardless of what it says when you play the record backwards). Anyway, I only want to touch lightly on this subject, because my main goal is to cause people, regardless of what they believe about these things, to “behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”…

Linda, I could have sworn that I still have that scar (I know that I used to have it), but since you mentioned it, I looked in the mirror and I can’t seem to find it any more. Maybe it’s under my tattoo. Anyway, that’s the first I ever heard of that particular fear, which is surprising, since I heard while growing up that just about everything else was The Mark of the Beast…

Thanks, AJ…you have favor with God and man…

DGM, I always appreciate your words of encouragement…

Donald, that’s fine, as long as they know that I’m a lover and not a fighter…

Lisa, you’re exactly right…if you do a study on the word “aion” you’ll see that the Scriptures talk about the end of an age or an era, as in “the end of the Law”…not the end of the world as we have been told to believe…

Ebony, see what I wrote to Lisa…in a prophetic sense “in the last days” really means “in the days of fulfillment”…

Scribe, I went ahead and published your post because I know that the regular bloggers have been praying for you…and I know of many people who are in similar straits right now...I don’t know who you are, but I do know of others on this blog who are experiencing extreme hardships, even with their own housing situations. Believe me, I hear it all day long, all week long…that’s one reason I enjoy the interaction here…it’s a bit of a departure for me to just be able to talk about the things of God and to have an idea exchange on spiritual matters only…just remember that the righteous will not be forsaken, and their seed will not beg bread…I pray for you that the many words you have sown here will become a great harvest of revelation for you, and that as you have laid up treasures in heaven through tithes or offerings, or whatever you choose to call it, a huge return on your giving will come through for you in the next few hours…let not your heart be troubled…

Izumi, I can’t answer yours until tomorrow’s sermon…

To “the artist formerly known as LPnSC”, thanks for the heads-up…

Thanks, Dennis…blessings on MO…

Anonymous said...

blogging is addictive

Bishop
who are the 144,000?
does that number symbolize everyone?

Lise said...

Hey,
Just now getting around to reading today's post. Community yard sale this morning, yee-haw! Anyway, I've heard you speak on this a couple of times, but I never ordered SOTB4. Will have to get it. Question: What do you think about sharing these teachings with those STEEPED in tradition? Though tempted, I haven't shared this with any of my nuclear family. Think my sisters would perhaps have questions, but would probably grasp it. My dad is very militant (ex Marine) when it comes to bad people, so I don't know. But my mom, who could so greatly benefit from the freedom of realizing that her loved ones aren't going to burn for eternity, would probably think that anything so far removed from the "turn or burn" theory is heresy. Thusly, it would cause her to worry about me, and hey, me & God are SOLID! So I have to wonder if it's worth it. What do you all think? She's 75.

Anonymous said...

Awwww *&^%$#!!! Bish! You mean I keep "blurking" for nuthin'?! C'mon... just a little batter from the mixer blade?

Fine.

About this: Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey...

I didn't write everything I was going to, originally. (post was too long, so I resisted the urge)

My heart's still pounding out of my chest.

Maybe that's the prompting of something prophetic for somebody. (A manifestation, amongst others, right before I have a word of knowledge or prophetic utterance.) Since I'm at the keyboard, maybe this is a prophetic typance, I dunno.

Anyway... it's about supernatural provision & prosperity, I think. Seems to fit w/Bish's exhortation, "just remember that the righteous will not be forsaken, and their seed will not beg bread…I pray for you that the many words you have sown here will become a great harvest of revelation for you, and that as you have laid up treasures in heaven through tithes or offerings, or whatever you choose to call it, a huge return on your giving will come through for you in the next few hours…let not your heart be troubled…"

Here goes:

* Buy the soap
* Buy the wading pool

On the trip, I was mesmerized by the little shampoo & soap samples in our room & thought my kids would get a kick out of them. Gilcrest & Soames Mineral Bath seemed prophetic, so I packed a sample in my make-up kit (which by airline interpretation means quart-size baggie) and brought them home as reminders of how "fancy" people lived.

Fast forward to last week @ the grocery store. I'm standing at the soap aisle, when I notice the Camay brand & laugh inwardly about childhood me. My mom usually bought Ivory. Way (waaaay, waaaay) back then, I remember vowing to myself, "When I grow up, I'm gonna buy Camay," because it's what my employers (babysitting, that is) used.

So, imagine my surprise when Holy Spirit asked, "Why don't you buy a bar today?" I must have looked ridiculous, blathering to myself about a bar of soap. I countered that I don't actually need that brand anymore.

Then... silence. I bought two. Went home & ran the bath water. Got in, smelled the bar & wept like an idiot. I'd forgotten saying what I did to God when I was only little.

But, He didn't.

* Buy the wading pool.

I'd forgotten this one, too. My sister reminded me. It was summertime & excruciatingly hot in Texas. We begged our folks to let us go swimming. But, for whatever reason, they said no.

My mom sent us on some errands, instead. One of them was to the store. A store that just happened to have those inflatable, vinyl wading pools. I bought one and we set it up on the back patio.

My sister said that I commented, "We might not be able to go to the pool, but that doesn't mean we can't get our feet wet!"

When my folks came looking for us, they found us out back in our soggy T-shirts & cut-offs, giggling like fools.

Doesn't matter. We didn't have to "go" anywhere to be on vacation or to feel rich. We already had joy.

Donald said...

My goodness Dennis, I don't know of any place even in Mississippi where there isn't internet access. Sounds to me like them yonder Missouriianites need to step into the 21st century.
LP,...oops, I mean elle, it's a crap shoot (something that I am quite the authority on, sorry, we do have casinos in MS) when it comes to sharing some of this stuff. I did that today as a matter of fact. I don't know how it will be received by everyone. Also, there is no such thing as an ex-Marine. Once a Marine, always a Marine. Semper Fi!!!
iz/joy that was some cool stuff!
Bishop, if it was just a teensy weensy bit warmer, I would be up there again tomorrow. I was out scooter riding earlier and thought since Her Majesty was gone that I would just get up around 3:00 AM and head your way, but it started cooling down so I said, Nah!

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

Linda, I taught all about numbers and symbolism in The Revelation in SOTB II…to answer your question, yes, that’s what I believe it represents…

3: God Demonstrating Completion; there is ONE God who has revealed Himself to the world in three dimensions: Father, Son, Spirit.

4: Creation/the Whole World; the ancients believed that the earth was flat and had four corners; four directions: north, south, east, west.

12: Governmental Perfection; God involved with the world through relationship: 3x4=12; Twelve Tribes = Old Covenant; Twelve Apostles = New Covenant.

24: The Covenant Fulfilled; Elders symbolize 12 Tribes + 12 Apostles = 24 The Fullness of the Covenant; from Abraham to Christ.

144,000: The whole of humanity reconciled to God; 12,000 from each of the (12) Tribes; infinite governmental perfection: the government of God ruling the universe.


Elle, first and foremost, honor your father and your mother…and part of honoring them is honoring what they believe…be led by the Holy Spirit…if He opens up a dialogue and gives you words like apples of gold in settings of silver, only then should you speak…but I will say that I personally am enjoying a great flow and harmonious understanding with my own parents in these matters that I wouldn't have thought possible a year ago…

Thanks, Izumi…

Donald, I’d love to see you, but I think you made the right decision…

Anonymous said...

Yeah Donald, believe it or not. I am glad she got it but I don’t know if Mom is going to be able to see CITN in the morning on this small laptop screen with me holding it up here on top of this highline pole. Besides that my left leg gets really tired wrapped around this pole. I am right handed and I am afraid to switch hands up here.

LOL
Dennis

Anonymous said...

Woohoo!!! I simply wondered about the significance of numbers and there... I got something out of my question to the Universe. (nany, nany!) Thank you, Linda, for asking!

Thanks Donald! (your posts crack me up, btw)

Hmm... maybe I'll dream about tomorrow's sermon, since you're not sharing, Bish. (hehe)

Good night, you Kings, Queens, Princes & Princesses (bloggers) of the Universe.

Anonymous said...

Lamb worship.
Wild thoughts tamed.
Lamb-worship lifestyle.
Life in a land that flows.
Needs and wants supernaturally met.
Perfected hearts.
Purified minds.

$4 a gallon at the pump.
Our God supplies all our need.
Not whining feels good.

Fingers slammed in a door.
Nothing but “ow!” comes to mind.
That was cool, surprising, but cool.

Hand a $20 to a guy driving a Mercedes, just because.
The look on his face, priceless.

Poo everywhere?
There's got to be a horse in here somewhere!

Singing in the rain.
What’s love got to do with it?
Everything!

Hours of pondering and looking things up should produce more than this.
He keeps me in perfect peace, and I have a place to go where everybody knows my name--sort of (smile)

HEY, LIS! (elle, the artist formerly known as LP--that was funny!)

Anonymous said...

test for Blackberry

Donald said...

Dennis, does your mother's TV have a PC connection on it? I always use my big screen television while streaming. I almost want to ask if your mother has a television. Heck, I almost want to ask if your mother has electricity! You be careful up there on that pole Dahlin' Ol-ee-vah (Darling Oliver).

Scribe said...

The teaching / revelation today was very informative and exciting news. It takes away from the dreaded doom and gloom that everyone has always been taught in chilhood in regards to the book of Revelations and mark of the beast. Even the parts that I've read through the years, never truly scared me, but caused me to ponder the way it had been taught and what we are told about it. I knew that it had to be something more than what folks were actually seeing, hearing, and believing because I did not think that God wanted everyone to run around in fear and panic of the "last days".

As far as the 144,000, I used to chuckle when someone inquired of the Jehovah's Witnesses as to if only 144,000 of them were the chosen ones, then where would that leave all the rest of them (people of their faith) being that they far exceed that number as a religious institution. (My stepmother- not my dad- is a Jehovah's Witness, so I've heard alot of that before)

Whenever I see / have seen that number of 144,000... my mind somehow reverted to thinking of the times tables
(12 x 12), twelve representing the number of governmental order in the bible. I figured it must have something to do with the twelve tribes of Israel. Thanks Bishop for making it all clear and sharing the "good news" of the last days. As for the "mark of the beast", everyone has some "beast" to contend with, whether it is in their own mind, persona, perception, or struggle with an entity, system, social order, struggle. Could not the greatest beast that one deals with is a battle within self, for the righteous, Holy one in us contended with the old mindset, or ways contrary to the ways / precepts of God? A stronghold of self-imposed bondgage of sorts, traditionalism, legalisms, etc?
This is just food for thought... doesn't mean that I am completely right, but it is something to think about, right?.

Anonymous said...

Yes she does have electricity. but your arm gets tired turning the crank after a while. No S Video hook up either. I have got to go to bed My arms and legs are worn out.

LOL
Dennis

Kettly said...

Hello Everyone,

I apologize for not posting my comments earlier today. But something interesting happened yesterday while I was on the phone with one of my friends from NY. We were talking about how things were getting though and it’s not going to stop any time soon. And what she said after that did not shock me at all, only because I’ve been taught well. She said “I feel so very sorry for the one that are not saved. If they don’t have salvation they are doomed. Because the end of the world is coming soon, if they don’t come to Jesus they will not eat”. And the only way they will be able to have something to eat, only if they carry the mark of the Beast on them. Because, without the mark, they will not be able to buy food or eat. I wanted to say, oh Mona, your thoughts about the mark of the Beast, is wrong. It’s not what you think the mark represent. But she never gave me a chance, to explain the Mark of the Beast to her, or the quotes of Isaiah 55:1&2 to her.

PRAISE GOD WHAT A SAVIOR!

I sincerely believed that there’s no way for us to read these amazing truths of God’s word without having a deep longing to follow Christ all the way and have a part in His glorious Kingdom.

Very soon, all will have made their choice for the “seal of God” or the “mark of the beast.” It’s not just a matter of two days; it’s a matter of worship, of loyalty, either to God, or to beast power. Now, while Jesus is pleading His blood for us in the Most Holy Place in heaven, now, when “the hour of His judgment is come “ Rev.14:7- before our probation is closed forever, before every case is decided for life or death- even now, He is inviting us to surrender all to Him and have life and peace.

Because Jesus shed His precious blood for me on the cross of Calvary, I choose, by the grace of God, to follow Him all the way, keep all of His commandments including His seven-day of Sabbath, and receive the “seal of the living God.”

Many nowadays are getting a hunger and thirst for truth. The honest are not content any a watered down mixture. They want the truth.
John 1:29 – The next day saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:36- And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God.

Revelation 13:8- All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of life of the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world.

1 John 1:7 but if we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Bishop, thank you very much for being the best sherppshed, Teacher, instructor, to us all. Thanks again for sharing your revelation of the word with us.
God bless you all
Kettly,
Bonjour!

Anonymous said...

Been up all night reading, praying and contemplating these things. Gotta get to church early and get some coffee, love to talk with some of you.

I won't go into all that was taught me about these things growing up in the Seventh-day Adventist church, but WAY different, let's say. I would like to discuss sometime, but I want to reiterate what Bishop spoke mainly about the blood.
"Blessed are those who wash their robes...Rev.22:14

I didn't go to all of the school of the Bible sessions but here's a few things going through my head...
In the beginning you have the Mark of Cain, a cultivator of the "earth"... look what I GREW, look what I BROUGHT, he then acted like a WILD, UNTAMED ANIMAL and killed Abel and that which was acceptable to God. His blood cried out, and in revelation somewhere there is mention about those martyred crying out, I think.

On the priest Aaron there was a HOLY DIADEM(medallion) of gold, and written on it an INSCRIPTION like the ENGRAVING of a SEAL!-and this was placed on the FRONT of the TURBAN! It said "holy to the Lord."
-then he was anointed with oil. I believe there is something here maybe about our being a kingdom of priests, and having the seal of God in our foreheads, and being anointed with the Holy Spirit.

Also, Aaron's breastpiece I believe has maybe the same 12 gem stones as mentioned in Revelation about the foundations of the city of God, which says is the bride of the Lamb...which is US?
The gems were in a setting (foundation) of pure gold and this breastpiece was of fine linen, which in Revelation mentions fine linen as the righteous acts of the saints which cover them.

Also, if we represent Israel, I think, not sure, in the O. test. somewhere it mentions a numbering of 12,ooo to each tribe. Rev. says the 144,000 are those purchased(redeemed) from the earth, it sounds like it means everybody, then it says firstfruits for God and the Lamb. Oh well, not sure, gotta keep reading.

Oh, that breastplate on the priest says that it was over his heart and called a breastpiece of "decisions/judgment". Maybe like Jesus wearing US over his heart, many in the valley of "decision"? hmmm...

I also found it interesting that Lamech whose son was Noah(who would take away the curse) lived the very interesting age of 777.
hmmm...something there maybe?

Lots of other thoughts, gotta go dress now to make it to church with enough time to get that coffee.

Anonymous said...

Speaking of the mark of the Lamb, I noticed how much Christina, Sofia and Pastor Debye look alike. Then it dawned on me, it has to be the Mark.

abysmal light

Anonymous said...

When gods agree there will be complete revelation of the Lamb's Mark. We will all see and be seen as the Lamb just as God only senses the Lamb's essence when we approach the throne covered by the cloak of wooly hide given to conceal self sin consciousness.

But when gods agree then we will accept fully the gift of being a joint heir with Christ. As the Firstborn of many, Jesus is not a rival of any but the benefactor of all. The Name above all names has made all names equal so that by acting upon that promise any name may access all that is given to the Firstborn.

All will see themselves and others as God when we all agree as gods to keep the 'great commandment'

The Mark is visable when gods agree with the One who made us.

abysmal light