Quote from Forum Archives on December 14, 2012, 11:30 am

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Christmas Is A Time To Marvel

"All those who heard it marveled at those things which

were told them by the shepherds,"  Luke 2:18

 

To marvel means to be astonished, to stand in awe.

To exclaim, "This is astounding!"  This newborn baby

is the God of Creation!  This infant spoke the words and

everything in the universe came into being!  Fantastic! 

Almighty God entered into human history on this planet

as a totally dependent child!  Marvelous!

This poem may be sung to the tune "Regent Square"

. . .  (Angels From The Realms Of Glory).

 

Christmas is a time to marvel,

Be astonished, stand in awe;

For the God of all creation

Lies a babe upon the straw.

Time to marvel, time to marvel,

Marvel at the newborn king.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E-pistle

FreeWay Foundation            December 14, 2012

 

The two witnesses

(Revelation 11:1-19)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on the identity of these "two witnesses"

            1.  They are men who have been given power by God to prophecy, v. 3.

            2.  Their time to preach is limited according to God's eternal plan, v. 3.

            3.  They are identified with the two olive trees (Zechariah 4:2-3, 11-14), v. 4         

                 . . . bearing fruit.

            4.  They also are identified with the two lamp stands (Zechariah 4:2-3, 11-14),

                 v. 4 . . . filled with oil (the Holy Spirit).

II.  Meditation:  on Moses and Elijah

            1.  Moses was given "power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike

                 the earth with all plagues," v. 6 (See Exodus 7-12)

            2.  Elijah was given "power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls," v. 6.

                 (See I Kings 17:1; 18:1)

            3.  These two men represent the law and the prophets, which Jesus came to

                 fulfill, Matthew 7:12; 22-40; Luke 16:16; John 1:45.

            4.  Moses and Elijah appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration to confer with

                 Jesus about His mission of redemption, in fulfillment of all the law and the

                 prophets, Matthew 17:3; Mark 9:4; Luke 9:30-31.

III.  Revelation:  on why these particular two men were chosen as "witnesses

            1.  Both Moses and Elijah had experienced an "up-close-and-personal" encounter

                 with Almighty God in the same place:  Mt. Horeb (Sinai), Exodus 3:1-2; 19:1-3;

                 I Kings 19:8-12.

            2.  Elijah was a foreshadowing of John the Baptist (Matthew 17:10-13), and Moses

                 was a foreshadowing of Jesus the Messiah (Deuteronomy 18:15-18).

            3.  Moses represents that portion of mankind who experience living by faith, who

                 die a physical death, who are buried in a place God knows, and who will be

                 resurrected to eternal life, vv. 11-12; Deuteronomy 34:5-6.

            4.  Elijah represents that portion of mankind who are alive

 

 

 

War in heaven and on earth

(Revelation 12:1-17)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on the characters mentioned in this chapter

            1.  A special woman, clothed with the sun, moon, and stars, v. 1.

            2.  A great, fiery red dragon (Satan), vv. 3, 9.

            3.  The male Child, born by the woman, vv. 4-5.

            4.  The archangel Michael who, along with his angels, fights with the fiery red

                 dragon and his demonic forces, vv. 7-9.

II.  Meditation:  on what these characters are doing

            1.  The woman represents the virgin Mary, who gave birth to Jesus Christ, the

                 Son of God, vv. 2, 5; Luke 2:6-14.

            2.  The dragon represents Satan, who (through King Herod) attempted to kill the

                 Child as soon as He was born, v. 4; Matthew 2:13-18.

            3.  The male Child (Jesus Christ) was born to rule all nations with a rod of iron;

                 to accomplish this, He has ascended to God's throne room, v. 5; Acts 1:9;

                 Revelation 19:15.

            4.  Michael, God's warrior archangel (Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1), fought with Satan

                 (another archangel) and prevailed, casting that dragon out of heaven along with

                 those fallen angels (demonic spirits) who followed the devil (Lucifer), vv. 4, 9.

III.  Revelation:  on what these events signify

            1.  In a sense, the church represents the woman, Mary, who delivers "life" (her Child)

                 into the world; who is under severe persecution from the evil one; but who is

                 protected by God, vv. 13-14; Matthew 2:14-15.

            2.  Satan and his cohorts continually are attacking and tempting mankind at every

                 point . . . seeking to steal, kill, and destroy, John 10:10.

            3.  Jesus Christ has all power and authority in heaven and on earth, Matthew 28:18;

                 in His risen, glorified body, He now sits at the Father's right hand in the heavenly

                 places, Ephesians 1:20.

            4.  Spiritual warfare is raging all around God's people, but ultimately God's forces

                 will be victorious, v. 12.

IV.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

            1.  "Deliver" . . . give birth to Christ . . . to a lost and dying world.

            2.  Resist the devil; standing firm against him, James 4:7; Ephesians 6:10-13 . . .

                 overcoming him by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of my testimony, and by

                 not fearing a martyr's death, v. 11.

            3.  Give praise, glory, and honor to Jesus Christ, the Son of God . . . the King of Kings

                 and Lord of Lords!

            4.  Personally engage in spiritual warfare . . . through my earnest, fervent intercessory

                 prayer.

 

"For unto us is born this day in the City of David

A Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:11

            

 

 

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