Who will inherit the new earth and why - Revelation 22

jenny May 16th, 2009

The key to understanding a book, any book, is to read its introduction and its ending, it helps you to navigate its numerous themes and to avoid minefields of misunderstanding so you don’t quote things out of context and make a fool of yourself. So that’s what I did, I read Revelation 22! Actually, I had read the entire 66 books of the Bible before, but it is such a vast resource of life and wisdom, it requires a lifetime of revision and scholarly attention - besides, I did not understand everything as I read the books, I like to put that down to the fact that English is still my second language.

While the book of Genesis is concerned about the creation of the world (with the LORD a thousand years is like a day, and a day is like a thousand years,) the Book of Revelation deals with the re-creation of the new world, a.k.a. the New Heaven and the New Earth. Finally God brings his people into his Land under his kingship for eternity, and nothing shall ever spoil it again:

(Bible Gateway.com) Revelation 22

Then the angel[a] showed me(A) the river of(B) the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2through the middle of(C) the street of the city;(D) also, on either side of the river,(E) the tree of life[b] with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were(F) for the healing of the nations. 3(G) No longer will there be anything accursed, but(H) the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and(I) his servants[c] will worship him. 4(J) They will see his face, and(K) his name will be on their foreheads. 5And(L) night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp(M) or sun, for(N) the Lord God will be their light, and(O) they will reign forever and ever.

6And he said to me,(P) “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of(Q) the spirits of the prophets,(R) has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”7“And behold,(S) I am coming soon.(T) Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

8I,(U) John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them,(V) I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9(W) but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant[d] with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those(X) who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

10And he said to me,(Y) “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11(Z) Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”

12“Behold,(AA) I am coming soon,(AB) bringing my recompense with me,(AC) to repay everyone for what he has done. 13(AD) I am the Alpha and the Omega,(AE) the first and the last,(AF) the beginning and the end.”

14Blessed are those who(AG) wash their robes,[e] so that they may have the right to(AH) the tree of life and that(AI) they may enter the city by the gates. 15(AJ) Outside are(AK) the dogs(AL) and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16(AM) “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things(AN) for the churches. I am(AO) the root and(AP) the descendant of David,(AQ) the bright morning star.”

17The Spirit and(AR) the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And(AS) let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the(AT) water of life without price.

18I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book:(AU) if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in(AV) the tree of life and in(AW) the holy city, which are described in this book.

20He who testifies to these things says, “Surely(AX) I am coming soon.” Amen.(AY) Come, Lord Jesus!

21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.[f] Amen.

Post Natal Depression (PND)

jenny May 23rd, 2008

With the soon-to-be birth of our second child, I thought it’ll be a good idea to brush up on some of the facts of PND (Post Natal depression), and if it helps someone somewhere then great! Remember that sickness doesn’t discriminate, even if you’re a “super Christian” (which is a ridiculous myth anyway.) 1 Corinthian 4:7

Below info was shared by a kind lady at a seminar recently, it’s in the realm of trustworthy information, not just people peddling their own old wives tales. So here it is:

Excerpt from an essay by an individual with depression:

“Depression is awful beyond words or sounds or images. There is nothing good to be said of it except that it gives you the experience of how it must be to be old and sick, to be dying; to be slow of mind, to be lacking in grace, polish and coordination: to be ugly, to have no belief in the possibilities of life, the pleasures…the exquisiteness of music, or the ability to make yourself or others laugh…”

* What is PND?

Different from ‘baby blues’ that 70% of mothers experience or the Postpartum psychosis which afffects about 0.2 % (ever heard of the mother who tries to bury their own baby because they think it’s evil? They hear and see things that’re not there.) Around 10-15 % of women are affected by PND, it can happen in anyone’s any pregnancy anytime between 6 weeks post partum to 1+ years.

* Symptoms:

feeling miserable - length of time has to be most of the day for more than a week.

feeling very anxious - greatly out of proportion of source

loss of interest in usually enjoyable activities

weight loss/gain

insomnia/excessive sleep

persistant worrying/ruminating

inability to concentrate on the simplest of tasks (racing thoughts, inability to comprehend what others are saying to them)

recurring horrible thoughts - feeling guilty/worthless, thoughts about dying, wishing that baby had not been born or would die. (ask someone to accompany you if you think  baby is not safe with you, e.g. ask them to help you if you think you might drown the baby)

visual and auditory hallucinations (postpartum psychosis only) - this is extremely rare but thankfully easily treatable with doctors’, nurses’ help.

* What to do if you think you have PND

Go see your GP, early childhood nurse, professionals who are equipped to deal with PND, you cannot beat it on your own, people who wanted to “tough it out” had dragged it on for 1 or 2 years then finally had to get professional help, by then your children would probably have attachment/sense of security/bonding issues. Much like a chest infection or a broken leg, this condition requires help.

* How to help others with PND

If a mother constantly has issues with settling the baby, it is sometimes a facade hiding the real problem - that she is not coping with the baby not settling. The baby might be well (rule out sicknesses, hunger, cold, nappy changes, etc) but she is not. If you suspect that someone has PND, don’t try to help them yourself but inquire about how they are sleeping and eating and make sure they get help.

Resources: St. John of God Hospital 9747 5611 (St. Benedicts Unit)

Tresillian 9787  5611

Karitane 9794 1852

Early childhood centres

Mental Health Emergency Team (front of A-K White pages)

You can “repent” all you like, but who is going to pay for all your sins?

jenny November 26th, 2007

A funny phenomenon known as just “repenting” and feeling truly sorry for what you have done won’t put you right with God, unfortunately. You see, if you have any knowledge of God, you would know that God requires a payment for sins committed against him, and against people made in his image (that is all of mankind.)

In the old testament time (Before Christ), God requires his chosen nation the Israelites to cleanse themselves and worship Him, their LORD and God, on his terms, those that got it wrong (even the priests’ families) and worshipped him how they saw fit were actually killed by God. He is holy, they are not. He is God, they are not. seems to be the message all throughout the book of Leviticus.

In the new testament time, sin still requires a payment: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 6:23. Only this time, God paid the payment (death on behalf of sinners) of sin and won the just requirement of the law (which is punishment for sins) for those who believe. “There’s therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” “So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Rom 8:1, 12-14

So now, there’s a world of difference between fake “repentance” and real repentance, it is a matter of life and death: “for godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” 2 Cor 7:9-11 Godly grief recognises the wrong done to God and to others as worthy of his judgement and condemnation, then in desperation calls on God for mercy as they put their trust in Christ who has paid the price for their sins fully. Further, they alter their behaviour and produce spiritual fruit in keeping with their repentance. (Luke 3:8)

Not Bread Alone (Fine food and coffee), Crows Nest

jenny September 21st, 2007

Last night we went out to dinner with Dom’s godparents at Not Bread Alone Cafe, Crows Nest. It is a neighbourhood staple as we love going there for lunch on the occassions when we go out to eat. The courtyard we sat in were warm and draught-free, they had beautiful lillies on the tables and the food was superb without draining the wallet. What’s more, we were treated to 4 superb desserts with their promotional offer.
This is what we had:

Bread platter: Pesto, Turkish bread and bruscetta with tomatoes and dips

Seafood pasta

Salt & pepper squid with rocket salad and garlic aioli (yummy as)

Whitebait fritters with mesclun salad and Asian dipping sauce (my 2nd favourite)

And Lamb shanks with creamy potato, chef’s greens and mushroom jus. (very yummy)

For the 4 free(!) desserts we had: gelato trio (mango, lemon and chocolate)

crepes with 2 fruit (strawberries and banana), maple syrup and ice cream

rhubarb & apple crumble with ice cream

And I had vanilla bean creme brulee with tuille & strawberries (simply delicious). I was so full I regretted having breakfast that day (should’ve cut back on the pasta)

We thanked God for the happy evening, it’s very nice to go to a cafe with the name “Not Bread Alone”, really cool.

Their lunch menus are very affordable and very scrumptious too. My fave is the turkish bread with chicken and rocket. Leo’s fave is the steak sandwich with eggplant and chips (yum!) Highly recommended.

http://www.notbreadalone.com.au/

A son, not so much a “princess”

jenny August 31st, 2007

With the Gospel plus Glamour movement encapsulated into one of the self-help “God’s Princesses” conferences in Sydney, one can’t help but wonder how that feel-good Christianity squares with the teachings of the Bible on suffering with Christ, taking up your cross, self-discipline and godly lives.
But the Bible “often refers to believers, both men and women, as ’sons of God.’..In biblical times sons inherit the kingdom, daughters (princesses) get shunted off to marry some foreign prince.” (J.N., Equal but Different, 2007)

“And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” Gal 4:6-7

Masters, orphans and a widow

jenny August 30th, 2007

Truly heart-breaking for Australia today. The evil foolishness that lies in each of us needs only time and opportunity to bring forth death. God have mercy.

http://ingmarhingwah.blogspot.com/2007/08/slavery.html

Children’s Education

jenny August 21st, 2007

Who could teach our children to be serving God and humanity when and as they grow up? And to “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man,” (Ecc 12:13) And to live lives worthy of the gospel and will escape the wrath of God (irrelevant in many people’s minds)?
“but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Mat 18:6 Jesus warns that we have a tremendous responsibility in teaching the little ones. Is he saying that if you so much as cause one of the littlest Christians to swear then you will spend eternity in the lake of fire with satan and co.? I don’t doubt that many will for much more serious sins, but I don’t think their salvation is the point. I think he is saying that children’s education should be of paramount importance, in building their life skills and more importantly, character? Need help thinking through this issue…

The Old Testament God is the same Person as the NT God - Gracious and compassionate, yet does not acquit the guilty. (The Book of Jonah)

jenny June 25th, 2007

A bunch of us college wives were studying the book of Jonah this term. What read like a familiar Sunday school story (even though I’ve never been) has a few surprising things to tell us.

In the book of Jonah, Yahweh (”the God of the heavens - the one who made the sea and the dry land”) told his prophet Jonah saying, “Get up, go to Nineveh, the great city, and cry out against it that its wickedness has come up before me.” “But Jonah got up to flee towards Tarshish away from Yahweh.” Jo1:2-3a That is, instead of going East to the Assyrian capital Nineveh like he was told, he bought a ticket to the West to sail to the edge of the known world away from Yahweh.

“But Yahweh had hurled a great wind into the sea. Now it turned into such a great tempest that the boat threatened to break up.” Jonah told the mariners it was all because of him that this great tempest was upon them. He asked to be thrown into the sea to calm the storm - it’s interesting he’d rather that than to ask them to sail back to Joppa, en route to his mission field Nineveh.

God ordained a giant fish to swallow Jonah for 3 days and 3 nights, then it spewed Jonah up onto dry land. Once he arrived at the mission field. He makes a somewhat lackadaisical effort to prompt their repentance. “Afer strolling for a day he informs the Ninevites that they will be overthrown but doesn’t urge them to repent. Instead, he makes matters worse by giving them a timeframe of ‘forty days,’ knowing full well how quickly God actually does bring about judgement. What is surprising is that despite Jonah’s dilly-dallying attempt, Nineveh repents immediately.” (K. Athas, year?)
“But this seemed immensely wrong to Jonah and he was outraged by it. So he prayed to Yahweh and said, ‘Oh now Yahweh, didn’t I say this would happen when I was still on my home soil? That is why I anticipated fleeing towards Tarshish, because I knew that you were a gracious and compassionate deity, patient and very committed, who reconsiders disaster. Well now, Yahweh, take my life from me now, because it’s better that I die than live.” Jo 4:1-3 He was incensed at God’s mercy for them, and responded in vindictive fury by demanding God to kill him now, as he would rather die than to see the crime capital of the ancient world Nineveh spared from destruction.
God forgives his disobedient prophet Jonah as well and restores him with a botanical lesson. As for the Ninevites, their repentance under the warning of Jonah (780BC) is short-lived. “The Ninevites quickly forget God’s furious anger and judgement against all wickedness. They do not, however, simply forget about Yahweh but actively oppress and persecute Yahweh’s own people. After more than a century under the yoke of the Assyrian empire, the people of Judah are comforted by the prophet Nahum, who describes the eminent fall of Nineveh. Nineveh does indeed fall in 612 BC. The forces of the Medes, Babylonians and Scythians combined to lay siege against the city… Once the walls were breached by the invading army the city was plundered and burnt, with its king dying in the flames.” (K. Athas, year?) Though Jonah did not live long enough to see its demise.

The sign of Jonah points to the fact that Jesus is Lord of the Gentiles (Nineveh) too. In Matthew 12:38-42 and 15:21-39 we see the Gentiles (in the district of Tyre and Sidon) glorifying “the God of Israel.”

Equip women’s conference: “Better than gossip”

jenny May 17th, 2007

In keeping with the spirit of Equip http://www.equip.org.au/ I am culling all my blog messages, that means anything that is not gospel, nor helpful words of wisdom, nor prayer will be removed. And I’ll be doing a summary of the briliant pearls of wisdom we received on Equip day, so if you are a sister in the Lord, I urge you to read on.

SUMMARY OF “BETTER THAN GOSSIP” EQUIP CONFERENCE 2007, Seminar given by A. Poulos
1. Gossip - what is it?

Prov 30:10 verbal abuse in work situations; 2 Cor 12:20 telling harmful tales; Prov 24:28 spreading rumours; 1 Tim 5:13 saying things that’s got nothing to do with you; Prov 16:28 complaining.

2. Gossip - why do we do it?

- because women are proactive in developing friendship networks by exchanging information. The more personal the info, the deeper the friendship, etc. This is good as God has wired us like that, but because of our fallen nature, this good thing easily spills over into gossiping territory.

- because of sin

gossip builds exclusive alliance, insidious tribe mentality at someone else’s expense to advance our own interests. Using power of information to harm others. Sharing another’s personal stories to build your friendships lets you avoid sharing YOUR personal stories, so you can make “friends” without letting them know the real you. Gossip also serves as revenge where you undermine someone through complaining about them which feeds into your bitterness.

3. Gossip - why we shouldn’t

a) 2 Cor 5:14-15 “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”

b) God commands us not to gossip

Eph 4:15 “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”

c) God enables us to stop gossiping

Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

d) We bring the gospel into disrepute if we engage in gossip

We have a great family name which belongs to our Lord Jesus, we have to live up to it. It’ll be at a cost as we would stand out from the crowd by not participating in gossip, “in fact, we might be standing OUTSIDE the crowd” but that is the cost.

e) gossip is not right.

f) gossip will ruin relationships, including our own. If we get a reputation for being gossips, nobody will trust us as nobody trusts gossips.

4. Gossip -how to stop it!

a) God’s work in us: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:10 We are all Work-In-Progress, but God will carry it to completion.

b) the gossipee/victim of gossip can help stop gossips. We should respond to any “feedback” with humility, people are not masochists - if we get a reputation for being unteachable or always being defensive, next time you wrong someone, they’ll tell everbody else but you. Know that you don’t have to “sort the other person out” if you are the victim of gossip, God will do it, just make sure you don’t get onto God’s “To Do List” by doing the wrong thing as well. Heb 12:6
c) the community can help stamp out gossip

i) call each other to account

if somebody comes to you with gossip, ask them politely to tell the gossipee themselves.

ii) get it from the horse’s mouth

consult the horse, it’ll often put a gossip to rest. Don’t pray in public about things that should be said in private.

d) The gossiper can put a stop to it

i) fess up to the person(s). It’ll be so terrible fessing up to the people you’ve hurt through gossip that you’re likely to never gossip again. (Even if he/she decides to forgive you, they might decide not to continue the friendship with you.)
ii) about “general news,” “harmless information,” etc. Consequential ethics: the ethics that justifies an action like this: “Oh but it won’t hurt anyone” isn’t biblical ethics. We can’t fully know the outcomes/consequences, and you have no permission to tell about something that’s got nothing to do with you.

5. Better than gossip

Ephesians 4:29-5:2

Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

d) What is left to say?

i) the gospel

the gospel can be found by reading all of the Bible, or by reading a helpful summary below:

http://www.matthiasmedia.com.au/2wtl/

ii) words of wisdom: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

iii) prayer. The sovereign Lord controls all. So “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Eph 4:6-7

6) Further reading: Encouragement: how words change lives - by Gordon Cheng, published by Matthias Media

END OF SUMMARY

The greater miracle

jenny March 12th, 2007

Which is the greater miracle?

1. Jesus walks on water

2. The disciples’ boat which was caught in the rough sea in 1 minute and next minute immediately arrived at the destination? (John 6:21)

3. Multitudes getting baptised in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit the world over?

Praise the Lord for the work of the Holy Spirit in people’s hearts, that they might hear and believe, repent and receive eternal life.

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