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Answers From Revelation: Who Are The Nicolaitans?

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Who are the Nicolaitans? What are their deeds which Jesus hates and also wants us to hate?

The Nicolaitans are mentioned twice in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 2:6 (NASB)
6 Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Revelation 2:14-16 (NASB)
14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality.
15 So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16 Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.

The term “Nicolaitans” is derived from the Greek word nikolaos which means to conquer or rule over the laity. It has the idea of one who rules over the people. The Nicolaitans were a group who held a similar view to Gnostics. Gnostics believe they possess superior knowledge and authority, granting them the right to tell people what to do and how to live. Leaders within the Church were meant to care for the people, not rule over them. Everyone who has a personal relationship with Jesus receives the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We have direct access to Jesus and His word should remain the source of authority in our lives. The Nicolaitans desired to plague the churches of Ephesus and Pergamum by their dictatorial nature.

In Acts 6, church fathers such as Ireneus and Clement of Alexander disclose how Nicholas fell into apostasy and founded this group. According to them, this group taught licentiousness. This means they taught that because of the grace of God, people had a license to sin. The Nicholaitans practiced self-indulgence and sexual immorality. Like Balaam, they advocated for people to emulate their ways. The evil fruit of Nicolas’ “doctrine” encouraged people to compromise with the world. Compromise with the world leads to a weak version of Christianity void of God’s power and conviction. This is the reason Jesus hated their deeds and desires us to do so as well.


Answers From Revelation: Will We Be Living When The Mark Of The Beast Is Taken?

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From our study on Revelation, many have asked the following two questions: Will we be present when the mark of the beast is taken? If so, how will we survive?

Many would answer this question by saying we will be raptured before the mark comes. They also would argue that the rapture will send the world into extreme turmoil and will lead to the instituting of the mark of the beast. As I have previously shared, it is my hope they are right. Although I do not believe their stance to be true, I do pray for a pre-trib rapture, but I prepare for mid-trib, and will remain faithful even if it is post-trib.

I believe in a mid-tribulation rapture. I have come to this conclusion based on my study of Scripture. However, I encourage everyone to study Scripture and come to your own conclusion.

The first reason I believe we will be present on earth for the mark of the beast comes from Revelation 14.

Revelation 14:9-13 (NASB)

9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,

10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”

Notice that anyone who takes the mark of the beast will not go to heaven. God tells us in verse 12, “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” This call for perseverance suggests that we will be present during that time and will have to choose not to take the mark out of obedience to Christ. This is followed by the second beatitude of Revelation which denotes that a person is blessed when they “die in the Lord from now on.” “Now on” signifies the time when the mark of the beast is taken.

The second reason for my stance comes from Rev. 15:2 where we are told of a multitude of people who are standing before the throne because they are victorious over the beast, his image, and his mark.

The third reason comes from Revelation 20 where God rewards those who were killed for not taking the mark of the beast.

Revelation 20:4 (NASB)

4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Taking all of this into account, we need to look at 2 Thessalonians 2.  In this passage we are told two things must take place before our gathering together to be with the Lord. First, an apostasy and the second is the revealing of the Anti-Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 (NASB)

1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,

2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

In my opinion, receiving the mark will at first come voluntarily and then become mandatory. When Christians refuse to take mark it will fuel the world wide persecution of the Church (Matthew 24:9-11). The world will not understand our decision to not receive the mark. We will be perceived as ignorant for not taking it. During this time they will turn on us. As time goes on the mark will become mandatory and denying it will provoke intense persecution for Christians. As a result, the apostasy will occur and many will choose to take the mark rather than be obedient to Christ.

Those days will be a horrible time of persecution and testing for Christians. That is why the second Beatitude of Revelation (Rev. 14:13) says it will be better to die and go be with Jesus than to face tribulation. Jesus reveals how difficult this time will be in Matthew 24:

Matthew 24:19-22 (NASB)

19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

20 But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.

21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.

22 Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

I know this subject is hard to digest and not pleasant to dwell on. I do hope I am wrong in my opinion, but I don’t think I am. When we look at the early Church we see times of intense persecution when people had to be willing to die for Jesus. When we look at Church history we see times when Christians had to choose to die or be imprisoned rather than betraying their faith in Christ. My belief is that as we approach the end, a time like this will arise and the mark will be a part of the reason.


Answers From Revelation: How Long Is A Generation?

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How long is a generation? This question is based on what Jesus says concerning His coming in Matthew 24 and Luke 21:29-33. Jesus tells us that when we see the signs of His coming beginning to take place, then we are to know that a generation will not pass away until all the signs take place and He comes again. Here is the passage:

Matthew 24:32-35 (NASB)

32 Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near;
33 so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.
34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

So, how long is a generation? While some say it is 40 years, I believe the answer is given to us in Genesis 15. In this chapter we see God giving Abraham a prophecy concerning his family. In Genesis 15:13 God tells Abraham his descendants will go to Egypt where they will eventually be oppressed and enslaved for 400 years. Then in verse 16, God says in the 4th generation they will return to the promised land. Based on this, I would say a generation is 100 years.

Genesis 15:13-16 (NASB)
13 God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years.
14 But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions.
15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age.
16 Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.”


Answers From Revelation: Who Are The Two Witnesses In Rev. 11?

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Quite a few have asked the following question from our study on the book of Revelation:

Who are the two witnesses talked about in Revelation 11?

Revelation 11:3-4 (NASB)
3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

The two olive trees and two lampstands is a reference to Zechariah 4. Zechariah was shown a vision of two olive trees furnishing oil for the two lampstands of God so that the light would never cease to shine. In the Temple, it was a tedious job to make sure the lampstand always had the necessary oil so the candle would never burn out. It would be humiliating for a priest if you were the one to let this happen. When Zechariah receives this vision he gets really excited. He asks God what the olive trees and lampstands symbolize. Here is the answer he is given…

Zechariah 4:13-14 (NASB)
13 So he answered me, saying, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”
14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.”

Interestingly, when James and John (Mark 10:35-40) ask Jesus if they can each sit on His side when He comes into His kingdom, they are told no, because the anointed ones have already been chosen. Revelation 11 tells us what they will do over a three and a half year period in the last days.

Who are the two anointed ones? Elijah is definitely one of them. We are told this in Malachi 4.

Malachi 4:5-6 (NASB)
5 Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.
6 He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”

There are two main views regarding who the other anointed one is. Some say Moses, because he was the giver of the Law and one of the greatest prophets who ever lived. This would make sense in that Moses would represent the Law and Elijah the Prophets. This view is also valid since when Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Him (Mark 9:4).

Another strong possibility is the second witness would be Enoch. The reason Enoch is considered is because Jude quotes him as preaching about the Last Days and the coming of the Lord.

Jude 1:14-15 (NASB)
14 It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones,
15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

Enoch also stands out in that he and Elijah are the only two men to be raptured and not die. In Genesis 5 we are told Enoch walked with God and was taken up. In Hebrews 11:5 we are told he was taken up by God and did not see death. Enoch and Elijah are the only two to have experienced this prior to the Rapture.

Hebrews 9:27 tells us it is appointed for everyone to die and then face judgment. However Elijah and Enoch did die. Many believe they will return, fulfill their ministries, and be the ones who are killed in Revelation 11.

This may compel you to question…If it is appointed for everyone to die, what about those who are raptured? The answer is found in 1 Cor. 15:50-57. Here the Rapture is described as a time when death is defeated. Jesus did defeat death on the cross. We will witness the consummation of this victory at the Rapture when death is swallowed up in life.


Answers From Revelation: Is It Right To Bring A Child Into This World?

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I am loving reading through your questions posted on social media concerning the book of Revelation. The next question I will tackle is…

“Should I bring a child into this world? With where the world is headed is it fair to bring a child into this world? I am not concerned about me, I am concerned about what this will mean for my children.”

I appreciate the intent behind this question. It displays a genuine concern and illustrates the selfless love of a parent. It is a replica of the same love our Abba Father has for His children. As a parent, you desire the best for your children and would never want them to suffer. This question also signifies that you believe the Bible to be true. You trust everything that is written and desire to heed God’s instruction. I have two thoughts on share on this particular inquiry.

First thought:

Jesus does warn that as the last days move toward a climax, it will be especially difficult on those who are pregnant or are have young children.

Matthew 24:19-22 (NASB)
19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
20 But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.
21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
22 Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

There is no doubt the last days will be a difficult time. Even more so for those who have children. Tragedy has occurred throughout church history. In 70 AD, Jerusalem was sieged. With each persecution of the church enacted by Rome, it was excruciating for families with children. Believing the Bible to be true, questioning having children as the last days approach is pertinent.

Second thought:

We should be filled with the eternal joy of the Lord during the time we live in and not allow prophesy to rob our joy. We need to live for today! We must remain faithful to who God has called us to be and what He has blessed us with. Trust that God will be with us through any trial we may face. Take a look at James 4: 13-15 (NASB),
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.”
14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.
15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”

Our lives come and go like a vapor in the wind. Choosing to live in the moment is a testament of our faith. God will take care of the rest. Regardless of what the future may hold, God desires for you to experience His blessings. Children are a blessing from God.

Psalm 127:3 (NASB)
3 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Therefore, If God blesses you with a child, accept and treasure His blessing. Live for today, trust God with tomorrow!


Answers From Revelation: When Do I Believe The Rapture Will Occur? Part 2

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Alas, my response to the question you all have been waiting for, “When will the Rapture happen?” I believe God does not want us to know the day or hour. He does want us to be alert and equipped. Here is the command Jesus gives in Luke 21 in reference to the signs of His coming:

Luke 21:34-36 (NASB)
34 Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap;
35 for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth.
36 But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the son of Man.

While we may not know the day or hour, Paul warns us in 1 Thess. 5:4-7 that the day should not overtake us as a thief. We are to be alert and sober.

I could write an entire book on why I believe the Rapture happens before the bowls of wrath are poured out. I am going to provide a concise version of my reasoning. Here are some key verses:

  • 1 Cor. 15:51-52 tells us the Rapture will take place at the last trumpet. The Seventh Trumpet is the Last Trumpet in the Bible.
  • 1 Cor. 15:51-52 tells us the Rapture is a mystery.
  • Rev. 10:7 tells us an Archangel shouts and says in the days of the seventh angel (with the seventh or last trumpet), the mystery will be finished. The Angel also says that this mystery was preached by Jesus’ servants the prophets. This means we will be able to look at another passage which tells of a mystery to be finished at the sounding of the last trumpet.
  • Rev. 11:18 tells us when the last trumpet sounds, now it is time to reward the saints who fear His name; both the small and the great.
  • Rev. 12:7-11 tells us when the last trumpet sounds, now there is no longer room in heaven for Satan and His angels. Satan was there accusing us before God, day and night (verse 10). Verse 11 says we have now overcome him and he is to be cast out.
  • 2 Thess. 2:1-4 tells us we will not be gathered to the Lord (at the Rapture), unless there is an apostasy in the Church (a great falling away) and the Anti-Christ is revealed. So we will be here for his rise to power and his persecution of the Church (see Daniel 7:21-25).
  • Daniel 7:21-25 says the Anti-Christ will persecute the saints of the Highest One for 3 and a half years.
  • Matthew 24:9-14 where Jesus gives the signs of His coming tells us there will be a world-wide persecution of Christians and this will lead to many falling away from the Lord and yet the gospel will be preached to all nations.
  • Matthew 24:21-22 tells us there will be great tribulation that has not occurred since the beginning of the world nor ever will. Then Jesus goes on to tell us for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
  • Isaiah 25-27:1 gives a time line where the saints are resurrected, caught up into heaven for the Feast prepared by the Lord (Wedding Feast of the Lamb). In Isaiah 25:20 we are told that after we are called into the presence of the Lord, we hide with Him for a little while until indignation runs it’s course. The reason is the Lord is going to punish the inhabitants of the earth. Then, after the saints are called to Him to feast with Him and be spared, the dragon will be punished. This aligns with the Rapture happening in Rev. 10-12.

I know this is a lot to digest. Take the time to process and study these verses. I thoroughly enjoy taking the time to study the varying view points for what others believe. I pray each of you will diligently study and ask God to guide you as you delve into His word. As you seek, you will find.

 


Answers from Revelation: When Do I Believe The Rapture Will Occur? Part 1

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I love receiving everyone’s thought-provoking inquiries on Revelation! The influx of questions have me working for an extensive period of time to formulate my answers. The best part of all of this is we are all studying the Bible and seeking to understand God’s word!

One of the reoccurring questions being asked is, “What is my position on when the Rapture happens and why?” The quick answer is that I am mid-trib or pre-wrath Rapture oriented. This is one view I would love to be wrong on. If the Rapture were to happen before the tribulation, I will celebrate with all the Saints as we go to be with the Lord and are spared from the trials those on earth will be forced to endure. If I am right, then we all need to be prepared to remain faithful to God during the tribulation. You will be prepared by knowing the word of God.

When I first became a believer, I only heard pre-trib Rapture teaching. When I went on to Bible College, I mainly heard Amillennial teaching. I was hearing from wonderful men of God who each had differing opinions. I felt compelled to do my own research.

As I researched in depth I found the pre-millennialist view to be the most sound. This means I believe Christ will truly reign for 1,000 years on earth. A pre-millennialist takes a literal view point of what the book of Revelation and the rest of scripture says. Surprisingly, I adhere to a view where the Rapture would occur in the middle of the tribulation at the last (or seventh) trumpet. The more I studied, the more firm I became on this view. When I taught on Revelation, this is the view I shared. In my sermon I provided reasoning as to why I believe this. Stay tuned to why I am mid-trib or pre-wrath Rapture oriented. I will expand on my next Blog this Thursday!

Till then, I pray we are fueled to continue to study and discuss this profound book.


Answers From Revelation: What Are We Like In The Millennium?

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I am thrilled by the massive wave of discussion that has ensued from studying the book of Revelation. A family from Crossroads shared their dining experience during lunch at Wood Ranch after last weekend’s service. They were discussing the sermon over lunch and immediately realized that almost every table around them were people from Crossroads doing exactly the same!

I also love the plethora of questions being asked on my social media. Today, I will respond to a question asked by Mark Showalter.

Mark’s inquiry: Yes, regarding the millennium reign…OK, so we go to heaven with the Rapture, and then come back to earth again with God to use our gifts and teach those under the age of accountability…Did I understand that correctly? If so, do we come back to earth as spirits or in our fleshly bodies? How do we appear to those left on earth?

Mark has it right. When the Rapture occurs, we are caught up together to be with the Lord. We will go to celebrate with the Lord at the “marriage supper of the lamb.” Isaiah 25:6; 26:21 describe this. Then we do come back to earth where Christ will reign for a thousand years. During this time we will be given the privilege of serving Him by caring for all of those who are under the age of accountability when we return with the Lord.

The main question is what will we be like? What kind of bodies will we have? The answer is found in 1 John 3:2-3 (NASB):

“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

John describes how when Jesus appears we will be transformed into His likeness. This is what is described in 1 Cor. 15:51-53. Our mortal bodies will become immortal. Our perishable bodies will become imperishable. We will not be spirits. We will be more real than we are now.

Thus, we will be on earth in our new bodies with our new nature. The new nature is even more exhilarant than the new body. Just as Jesus is incapable of sin, we will be this way also. We will be Holy as He is Holy.

 


Answers From Revelation: What Is The First Resurrection?

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I loved teaching the entire book of Revelation in one sermon. The Saturday night service was treated to a one hour and forty minute message. That message can be found on our website. The next coming blogs will consist of my responses to your inquiries regarding the book of Revelation. Feel free to post questions on my facebook and twitter. I am aiming to post my answers every Tuesday and Thursday.

The most asked question thus far concerns the issue of the First Resurrection. Here is the passage of scripture the question arose from:

Revelation 20:4-6 (ESV)
4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

The question was…If this is where the first resurrection happens, how does the rapture tie into this? There are two explanations I believe will bring clarity to this question.

First, it is important to cognize that the term, “Rapture” refers to a concept of being taken to be with the Lord. The term “First Resurrection” is not a single, momentary event. It is referring to a group of people (everyone going to heaven). The First Resurrection is descriptive of all Christians who will be resurrected to be with Christ for the Thousand year reign. In this section of Revelation, the martyrs who die for the Lord in the tribulation are the last of the group who take part in the First Resurrection to come to life. The Second Resurrection is descriptive of all who will only be brought to life to stand before Jesus when He judges them and sends them to the lake of fire. Therefore, there are two groups, not two events. This is the view John MacArthur asserts in his book, The MacArthur Bible Commentary, on the New Testament.

Second, as Christians, we do not really “die.” We may die physically, but will LIVE with Christ for all eternity. This topic comes up in conversations quite often. When someone we love dies, we tend to say, “They are in heaven.” Why is this commonly stated? Take a look at what scripture promises in the following verses:

Philippians 1:21-23 (ESV)
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.
23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (ESV)
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

We know that God and heaven exist outside of time (Isaiah 57:15 & Eccl. 3:11). God dwells in eternity and is not bound by time. When we die on this earth, immediately, we are raptured and meet the Lord and are in Christ. All who die prior to the “Rapture” (or the second coming of Jesus Christ) arrive to meet God merely a twinkling of an eye before those who are alive during the Rapture. This is the notion that the dead in Christ arrive first. As you digest this, meditate on Eccl. 3:11. It tells us God has put eternity in our hearts, yet to truly grasp eternity is beyond us. Hence, we cannot grasp this concept entirely.

 


Revelation Brings A Special Blessing

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Rev. 1:3, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

This weekend I am planning on teaching the entire book of Revelation in one sermon. The goal being that everyone will walk out with a basic understanding of this prodigious book. It is the only book in the Bible promising a special blessing to the one who reads, hears, and heeds the profound diction.

In preparation for this weekend, here is what I am asking you to do:
1) Pray for me: that I am fully equipped to deliver His word. Pray for everyone attending a service: that God would grant us all a greater understanding of His truth.

2) Read the entire book of Revelation ahead of time.

3) Arrive to service early and ready to delve into God’s word! Please try to be in your seat with Bible and pen in hand, at least 5 minutes prior to service.

4) INVITE friends and family to come!!!

5) If possible, come to our Saturday or Sunday night services at 5pm. There will be more parking available, more room for all of your family & friends, and the sermon will be longer and more in depth.

I am eager for God to move this weekend as we read, hear, and heed what He has revealed to us in His illustrious word!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

 


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