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Showing posts with label First Chapters by John 316 Marketing Network Authors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label First Chapters by John 316 Marketing Network Authors. Show all posts

Friday, October 31, 2014

A Taste of Friday First Chapters with He Who Has An Ear by Laura J Davis



ABOUT THE BOOK: More than two thousand years ago the Apostle John had a vision he received from the Lord. He was told to write seven letters to the churches of Asia Minor. Out of the seven churches only two received commendation from the Lord. The rest were letters of warning.

Compromise and disobedience, combined with a lack of knowledge of the Word of God, has placed the 21st century church in a precarious situation. The letters to the seven churches are a message for this generation during the last days. He who has an ear will know what to do and act accordingly.

Who the Seven Churches of Revelation are Today
By Laura Davis

1. Who Are the Seven Angels?


W
ho or what are the seven churches of Revelation? Are they still in the world today? Were the seven churches in Asia Minor real churches or do they represent a type of church (i.e.: Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, etc.)? Are the warnings relevant to this generation? Are they for each of us as individuals? As we look carefully through the letters of Revelation, we will discover the answer to all these questions and more.

But before we can get to any of the letters, we must determine who the angels were that the letters were written to. It has been suggested that the angels represented the head or bishop of each church. Others suggest the angels were actual celestial beings that stood guard over these churches. First, let’s look at the word in both Hebrew and Greek.

Angel in Hebrew is Malack and means messenger. Angel in Greek is angelos and also means messenger. So, what kind of messages do angels bring?
1.      They bring good news (Luke 2:8-14; Luke 1:26-38).
2.      They also bring bad news (Genesis 19:15).
3.      They communicate God’s will to men. (They helped reveal the law to Moses [Acts 7:52-53] and served as the carriers for much of the material in Daniel and Revelation).[i]
4.      They give instructions and act as guides (Matthew 1:20-21; Acts 8:26; Acts 10:1-8).
5.      They strengthen and encourage God’s people (Matthew 4:11; Acts 5:19-20; Acts 27:23-25).
The most important thing about angels is that they continually praise God and carry out His commands. They ascend and descend to earth frequently. (John 1:51; Genesis 28:12; Revelation 7:2). We cannot see them, but they are here watching over us for God and, I assume, reporting back to Him on how we are doing (Job 1:6).
Besides being messengers for God, angels have different jobs. For example:
·         God has used angels to provide for physical needs such as food for Hagar (Genesis 21:17-20), Elijah (1 Kings 19:6), and Christ after His temptation (Matthew 4:11).[ii]
·         They act as protectors (Daniel 3-6; Matthew 2:13).
·         They can deliver people from danger. They released the apostles from prison in Acts 5 and did the same for Peter in Acts 12.
·         They care for God’s people at the moment of their death (Luke 16:22).

There are also different types of angels:
  • Cherubim (Ezekiel 1)*
  • Seraphim (Isaiah 6)
  • Archangels—We know of two, Michael (Daniel 10:13; Jude 9) and Gabriel (Daniel 9:21; Luke 1:19; 26).
*For the record, there is nothing in the Scriptures to indicate cherubim are cute little babies. In fact, the reaction of most people who saw angels was to fall down in fear, not reach out and say, “Coochie-coo!” The cherubs you see on Valentine’s Day cards and at Christmas are from the minds of their human creators.

Before the edict was given to write to the churches, John saw the following in his vision in Revelation 1:12-16:
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

It’s no wonder that, in the next verse, John “fell at his feet as though dead.” But Jesus touched him and said not to be afraid and then in verses 19-20 He said, “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

To be clear, John wrote about the past, the present, and the future. Then Jesus explained the mystery of the seven stars and the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the lampstands are the seven churches.

While the appearance of angels was usually frightening enough to make people fall to the ground, these supernatural beings sometimes took on human form. (In Genesis 18, Abraham welcomed three visitors who appeared as men.)

According to Strong’s Concordance, the word for messenger and angel were used interchangeably. For example, in Malachi 2:7 we read, “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.”

Again, the Hebrew word for angel, Malak, means messenger. It should be no surprise to learn that the word messenger in Hebrew is also Malak. If we read the verse above with that in mind, we get, “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the angel of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.”

Does that mean our pastors are angels? Not in the real sense of an angel, no. However, it does reveal how important God considers those who bring messages from Him, either through His Word or through prophecy. People, therefore, should not be so quick to say, “I have a message from the Lord,” unless they are very sure it is the Lord who is sending it and it lines up with the Bible.

While it is possible that each of the seven angels referred to in Revelation are actual angels disguised as humans, I think it is more plausible that they are the elders of the churches. It would make no sense for John to write letters and send them to real angels. For that matter, why would Jesus have John write everything down when the angels were always before Him in heaven?

In addition, we must also remember that John was writing to real churches during his era. The fact that these letters have been preserved for us is just a bonus. No, it makes more sense that the angels are the messengers in the church who will read the letters aloud to the congregations and thereby, bring forth the message from God.

Now, here is where confusion sets in. After the apostles died, other men who had known them took up the reins to keep the church functioning. Catholic tradition suggests there was a bishop for each church. For example, Ignatius was the bishop of Antioch; Polycarp was the bishop of Smyrna; Timothy was the bishop of Ephesus; and so on. However, there is no mention in the Bible that Timothy was appointed as a bishop, not by Paul or anyone else. In fact, there are no scriptural references that say each church should have one man as a bishop. The truth is, the role of a bishop over the church did not start until at least 154 A.D., more than fifty years after the Apostle John died. That’s plenty of time for wrong doctrine to enter the church.

Therefore, the angels referenced in the letters to the seven churches could not be bishops because one bishop for each church did not exist at the time the Apostle John wrote Revelation. And since most churches today don’t have bishops in the formal sense like the Catholic Church, how do these letters relate to us? Who are the bishops of the church today? We’ll discuss that in the next chapter.
To purchase He Who Has an Ear visit www.tinyurl.HeWhoHasanEar



[i] Dr. John Bechtle, “What is the Job Description for an Angel?” Christian Answers Network Website, URL http://christiananswers.net/q-acb/acb-t005.html#9

[ii] Dr. John Bechtle, “What is the Job Description for an Angel?” Christian Answers Network Website, URL http://christiananswers.net/q-acb/acb-t005.html#9


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Laura J. Davis is a former singer/songwriter who took to
writing full-time after emergency surgery caused the loss of her singing voice. Her singing career had lasted for 30 years. Her first book, "Come to Me," won a Reader's Favourite Award. In 2013, her bible study "Learning from the Master, Living a Surrendered Life," was featured in Book Fun Magazine as the non-fiction book of the month first place winner. She has had stories featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul Married Life and Chicken Soup for the Soul the Dating Game. Her latest book, "He Who Has an Ear," is a look at who the seven churches of Revelation are today. Laura is currently featured in the Author's Network book, "50 Great Authors You Should be Reading."

You can contact Laura through her website at www.laurajdavis.com and join her for a Bible Study at www.believersbiblestudy.com.

Available through Amazon on Kindle at http://tinyurl.com/qzbygms and in paperback at http://tinyurl.com/q5c38u6.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

BLOG HOP COMING -- May 7 to May 14, WIN LOTS OF PRIZES



John 3:16 Marketing Network Blog Hop (Contest) Official Rules
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER
GRAND PRIZES
One of two Kindle e-book Readers (Value: approx. $80.00 (U.S.) each.) Book(s), and miscellaneous items offered at each participating blog – entrants must check each blog for specific details).

The Grand Prizes sponsored by the following authors:




Deborah McCarragher, Joy Hannabass, RoseMcCauleyElaine Cooper, Amanda Stephen, Tom BlubaughPaulette Harper, Theresa Franklin, Susan CraftCarol BrownLynn Dove, Martin Roth, Saundra Dalton-SmithKatherine Harms, Heather Bixler, Lorilyn RobertsLaura Davis, Bob SaffrinSid Frost, Sammie ChandlerDonna Dawson


Blog Hop Hosts

.            Lorilyn Roberts (John 3:16 Marketing Network Blog)
            Lynn Dove – Word Salt (Host blog)




Blog Hop Participants
(links will be added on May 7)


Blog Hop Participants:

1.            Lorilyn Roberts (John 3:16 Marketing Network Blog)
2.            Lynn Dove – Word Salt (Host blog)
3.            Laura J. Davis
4.            Paulette Harper
5.            Carol A. Brown
6.            April Gardner
7.            Sue Russell
8.            Thomas Blubaugh
9.            Susan F. Craft
10.          Heather Bixler
11.          Joy Hannabass
12.          Deborah Bateman
13.          Kimberley Payne
14.          Rose Mccauley
15.          Lisa Lickel
16.          Alice J. Wisler
17.          Amanda Stephan
18.          Saundra Dalton
19.          Tracy Krauss
20.          Ashley Wintters
21.          Deborah McCarragher
22.          Lorilyn Roberts
23.          Anita Estes
24.          Martin Roth
25.          Janet Perez Eckles
26.          Kenneth Winters
27.          Eddie Snipes
28.          Diane Tatum
29.          Janalyn Voight
30.          Alberta Sequeira
31.          Tammy Hill
32.          Marcia Laycock
33.          Julie Saffrin
34.          Nike Chillemi
35.          Elaine Marie Cooper
36.          Sidney W. Frost
37.          Jairus B. King
38.          Bill Burt
39.          Kathy Eberly
40.          Bob Saffrin
41.          Theresa Franklin
42.          Ray Lincoln
43.          Lilly Maytree
44.          Valerie King
45.          Yvonne Pat Wright
46.          Pauline Creeden
47.          Katherine Harms
48.          Brenda Wood
49.          Deborah Malone
50.          Melissa Main
51.          Kevin Main
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53.          Felice Gerwitz
54.          Hallee Bridgeman
55.          Lisa Mills


We are a Christian Network of up-and-coming as well as established authors. By signing up for the John 3:16 Email Newsletter through this blog hop promotion, you, the reader, will be kept up to date on new p-published and e-published books, as well as future opportunities to participate in promotions for free books, Kindles, et cetera.

We hope you will see the value in connecting as a reader with the John 3:16 Marketing Network. We also hope to implement a new feature for our authors. Readers will be given the opportunity to help our authors make their pre-published books better by providing feedback to them as a Beta reader. More information will be provided as this option is incorporated into our expanding network of authors and readers.





How to enter: You may enter the Blog Hop Contest at the John 3:16 Marketing Network Blog Site, http://john316mn.blogspot.com, and/or any of the other participating blogs. All the participating blogs will be listed on this blog May 7 through May 14 when the Blog Hop starts.

All you have to do is sign up to receive our John 3:16 Email Newsletter. (Located on the top right side column of this blog
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Please note: Some blogs may only offer supplemental prizes and not the sign-up for the John 3:16 Email Newsletter. In order to be eligible for a Kindle prize, we need your email to contact you if you are a winner.
Check individual sites for further details.

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2.      Blog Hop Contest entries are limited to the United States and Canada and are void where prohibited. All federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations apply. Subject to any governmental approval that may be required, Sponsor reserves the right to, without prior notice and at any time, terminate the Blog Hop Contest, in whole or in part, or modify the Blog Hop Contest in any way, should any factor interfere with its proper conduct as contemplated by these Official Rules. The Blog Hop Contest will begin on May 7th, 2012 and will continue until May 14th, 2012. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion, to cancel the Blog Hop Contest in its entirety, or only the online portion, if it becomes technically corrupted or because of non-authorized human intervention.
3.      Eligibility.Must be at least 18 years old to enter. No purchase is necessary. Blog Hop Contest is open only to legal residents of the United States and Canada. A purchase does not enhance your chance of winning.
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5.      Selection of winners.Winners will be determined by random drawing from all eligible entries received. Drawings will be held as soon as is commercially reasonable. Winners must agree to the use of their names, voices, and/or likeness for the purpose of advertising, trade, or promotion without further compensation, unless prohibited by law.
6.      Notification of winners.Blog Hop Contest winner(s) will be notified by email. If not by email than by phone or mail, if applicable. An email will be sent to the winner(s) within one week after the drawing. All decisions are final and binding. Should the email be returned to the Sponsor as invalid, two more attempts will be made via email and one by regular mail if applicable. Winners must contact the Sponsor within 5 calendar days from the date the notification is sent by Sponsor to claim their prize. Failure to contact Sponsor within that 5 day period will result in immediate disqualification of the selected entrant and a new winner will be selected. No exceptions will be made to this rule. Sponsor is not responsible for and shall not be liable for late, lost, misdirected, or unsuccessful efforts to notify winners.
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Friday, December 2, 2011

SIXTY BOOKS IN ONE, AND IT'S OUR FREE GIFT TO YOU!


Christmas Gift 2011 Volume One







SIXTY BOOKS IN ONE, AND IT'S OUR FREE GIFT 
TO YOU!


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Our John 3:16 Marketing Network authors are known and unknown, young and old, first-time published and multi-published, standard-industry published, self-published, and print-on-demand published. Our goal is to glorify God in our writings and help each other to promote books with a Christian worldview.

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“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in Him”
Psalm 34:8


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