Missler Study – Revelation 1

I’ve started working through Chuck Missler’s verse-by-verse study of the Book of Revelation. I am using the audio files found at Fire Fighters for Christ. The first file was terrific (in typical Missler style). I was introduced to Chuck Missler back in 1995 when I was a relatively new believer. I have listened to several of his audio studies, including his 24 Hours through the Bible Series.

This first episode he covered the blessing in Revelation 1:3, the integrated design of Scripture (NT in OT concealed | OT in NT revealed) and also mentioned that he believes the term “the Lord’s day” does not necessarily refer to Sunday or the Sabbath (Saturday) but to the return of Jesus Christ, i.e. the judgment of the world.

The “sharp two edged sword” of course is not literal, but is allegory for the word of God or the bible. I’m still a little skeptical about this, as I’m not sure the 66 books we currently have are as inspired as Protestants would lead us to believe.  After all, the first Christians did not have the 66 books and the Word of God was still there. So I’m not sure what we are to make of this. I’m not sure if there are other documents, other statements that would constitute the Word of God (or what is coming out of His mouth) – likewise I do not know with any certainty if there is not prophecy today, either.

He talked about the seven churches of Asia having four different levels of interpretation:

• local (physical churches)
• admonishment to all churches
• personal instruction
• prophetic of history of church

Missler claims that Jesus Christ diliberately arranged things to fulfill his own death, and this stands to reason as he was the one giving the orders to the disciples concerning what to do.

Chuck also plugs his wife’s book, Way of Agape, which, unfortunately, I have not been able to locate online for free.

At the end of the program, Missler assigns homework which is pretty interesting. It is to be done before going on to the second episode.

HOMEWORK

• Read/compare (Matt 24/Luke 21/Rev 6:1-17) and determine if they are all talking about the same situation. Missler claims it is all the same event, but that Luke speaks to before the signs, Matthew speaks to after the signs and Revelation speaks about during the signs.
• Read Revelation 2-3.
• Outline the Letter to Smyrna.
• Read Daniel 9.

Interpretation Project Update

After several moves and two computer updates (gave my big laptop away and my netbook crashed) I thought I lossed all of my research for the Interpretation Project. Luckily, though, I discovered an errant source file stashed in a bible study folder, which contains all of the raw data. I also have managed to salvage the proposal, but this is all. I do not have the conclusions or any other interpretations.

With my current schedule I do not see the option of working with the materials to ready them for publication. Maybe in the future I will be able to return to this subject and do so. Until then, I will post my data on this site for your use. I hope it will be helpful.

Files:

Proposal – PDF
Raw Data – PDF
Raw Data – EXCEL

The Universe S01E01 – Secrets of the Sun

This is the first episode of the documentary series on the History Channel about the universe. There were a few interesting points.

• Evolution is definitely treated as fact, though I noticed that every time someone mentions how old the earth is, there seems to be an uncomfortable pause, or a strange look that comes across, as if deep down, they really don’t believe it (or maybe they just know there is really not actual evidence for it).
• I think it’s interesting that the sun is on a rotation of 11 years of activity and then 11 years of inactivity. We are currently in an inactive period, but when 2012 hits, the sun’s 11 years of activity will begin again. There is documented evidence of the last time we had a “perfect solar storm” which did tremendous damage in the 1800′s. Now we have more satellites, more complicated technology and are much more dependent on electronics than ever before.  Our entire economic structure is build on a backbone of technology. If it fails, our entire western system will fail. No food, no services – nothing. This aligns with the Mayan calender, and they released the movie 2012 to get everyone ready to the idea (which I think they do with everything they know about in advance). We are now in the 7th year, or the 7000 year plan of God, which means He can return at any time.

Planet Earth – Episode 6

What a crazy and cruel existence? To live out of a blow hole in the ice for the entire winter, taking a few breaths and then going under the water, only to return again and take a few more breaths? Living on the ice through the winter when there is no sun, when your commrades and you have to take turns with who will be on the outside so someone doesn’t freeze. Why would such an existence be created? Why would God create this system – mother nature. She seems quite bent on destroying life, or at least she demands the trade of one life for another.

Seal pups only have 45 days with their mother before they are abandoned. One seal has to use its teeth to constantly eat away at the ice, each and every time he comes up for air in his ice hole, otherwise it will close over and he will die. Of course, this constant use of his teeth means that he will wear them down quicker, and then he won’t be able to hunt or eat food – subsequently, these seals die very young! What?

Each year, polar bears go without food for 5 months during the winter. I can’t go without food for a single day. When she has given birth, and can leave her instinct-imposed prison den, she must find and catch food or her cub will surely die.

The images in this episode are breath-taking. All the penguins gathered together on an ice berg that is floating on the water. This is rest for them, as they are typically in the water constantly swimming. They make their trek to their nesting grounds, which could be 100 miles away, and they do so on an overfilled stuomach.

Simply Amazing.

Interpretation Project

A number of years ago I completed an exhaustive interpretation project that resulted in a catalog of every instance that a New Testament author quoted the Old Testament, with various properties ascribed to each quote. It took over four months to complete, approximately 480 hours worth of research and data collection.

I intend now to collate and analyze my data and produce a final manuscript in which I will submit to mainstream publishers in hopes of getting the manscript published. If unable to find a publisher or agent, I will publish this work through Lulu.

Rome The Series – S02/E10 – The Finale

Pullo finds out that the woman he is involved with poisoned his wife, so he strangles her while she is on her death bed. She was incidently dying from a stab wound that she received while fighting off a prisoner that had gotten lose who they were holding in a cage – he was about to kill Pullo.

Lucius is in Egypt with Anthony, but things are getting bad. Caesar has come to make war against them and is outside the city. Ceopatra receives word from Caesar that if she delivers Anthony then she will not be harmed. So she tricks Anthony into thinking that she killed herself and so he does the same. She delivers the body to Caesar, who in turn takes her prisoner to return to Rome to parade her like a puppet. Instead, she kills herself with a snake, while Lucius takes the boy and flees.

Caesar sends Pullo after the boy, and he meets up with Lucius not far off. Lucius sustains a stab to the back in a fight with at a road block. He wants to go home.

Pullo takes him to his home to be with his children. He dies shortly after. Pullo goes to Caesar and tells him that the boy and Lucius have both been killed. But when he leaves, the boy is at his side and he begins to tell him what actually happened; Pullo is actually the boy’s father with Cleopatra.

This is the end of the story.

Rome The Series – S02/E09 – No God Can Stop a Hungry Man

There is a famine happening in the empire and Octavian must find a way to solve this problem or he will lose the support of the people. He sends his mother and sister to persuade Anthony to keep the grain from Egypt coming, though his real intensions are for him to refuse so Octavian can declare war on Egypt, control the food supply and also kill Cleopatra’s son, who everyone thinks is the heir of Julius Caesar. Athony refuses to see his mistress and his wife, turning them away.

Pullo and Lucius have to try and keep the peace in the ghetto even though there is no grain and the food shortages are increasing.

Rome The Series – S02/E08 – A Neccessary Fiction

Octavian begins to exert his control over the city and the empire. Anthony is in Egypt with Cleopatra and is indulging in all that a king would find fitting. Octavian wants to build a glorious society, one that honors women, that gives jobs to citizens and brings peace.

Pullo and Lucius have to struggle with their own demons. Pullo begins a relationship with the bar-maid slave.

Rome The Series – S02/E07 – Death Mask

Brutus is dead, so is all the opposition to Octavian becoming the Emporer of Rome. Pullo loses his wife from complications in childbirth. Lucius is busy with keeping the peace and running the gangs.

I really like the music in this series. It is by Jeff Beal. I wonder how accurate it is to the music they listened to during this time period?

Rome The Series – S02/E06 – Philippi

Lucius and Pullo are sent to kill the most powerful people in the Roman government as the Octavian/Anthony front face off in battle with Brutus/Cassius.

Cicero is killed by Pullo and the messenger heading to Brutus loses his message of news concerning the allied forces of Octavian and Anthony.

Its interesting to watch the growth and development of this new young Caesar. I think I would want to read on his entire life from beginning to end to get a clear picture of who he really was, and how he went from such a small boy that could not fight, to the emporer of the Roman Empire.