Leaving Laodicea

Message from Malachi — A Prophetic Warning to the ChurchWe are about to undertake a study of the last book of the Old Testament, the last of the Post-Exile prophets, Malachi.  This small, four chapter book holds a unique place in the Scriptures because it stands at the end, the last call if you will, of the Old Testament and also at the beginning, as an introduction, to the 400 year period where God was silent and closed the door on any future revelation to His people.Rest assured, there's much in Malachi to challenge and rebuke and offend the church and the clergy today.  It's a most timely book that needs to be preached from pulpits all across our land but, unfortunately for the church, seldom is.  As we dig deeper into his message, you'll understand why this book has fallen out of favor in the Laodicean church of today (Rev. 3:16).Want to know more?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on Malachi 1:1-5.

For the Jews, prophecy was not just predicting the future as we think of it today, but prophecy dealt with patterns that pointed to a deeper truth, a future truth.  So all the Jewish feasts were not just commemorating some past event, but they were also, by their schedule and pattern, also pointing to something in the future, something prophetic.For example, we know the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread was fulfilled by Jesus and the cross.  But did you know the Feast of Firstfruits was fulfilled in the resurrection and the Feast of Weeks in the birth of the Church?What about the Feast of Trumpets or the Feast of Tabernacles or the Day of Atonement.  What future events do these point to?  Want to know more?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on Zechariah 14:16-21 and Leviticus 23.To download the notes from this message, click – HERE

For the Jews, prophecy was not just predicting the future as we think of it today, but prophecy dealt with patterns that pointed to a deeper truth, a future truth.  So all the Jewish feasts were not just commemorating some past event, but they were also, by their schedule and pattern, also pointing to something in the future, something prophetic.For example, we know the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread was fulfilled by Jesus and the cross.  But did you know the Feast of Firstfruits was fulfilled in the resurrection and the Feast of Weeks in the birth of the Church?What about the Feast of Trumpets or the Feast of Tabernacles or the Day of Atonement.  What future events do these point to?  Want to know more?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on Zechariah 14:16-21 and Leviticus 23.To download the notes from this message, click – HERE

Romans 12:1-2 speaks of our response to God for His abundant grace and mercy.  In essence it asks, "What are we to do with all the goodness You have shown us?"   And the answer is simple:I beseech (or, urge, beg) you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present (what) your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.And how do we go about doing that?And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, (why) that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.How does this fit in with the book of Leviticus?  Listen and find out more.The following is a study on Leviticus 1:1-17.

Romans 12:1-2 speaks of our response to God for His abundant grace and mercy.  In essence it asks, "What are we to do with all the goodness You have shown us?"   And the answer is simple:I beseech (or, urge, beg) you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present (what) your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.And how do we go about doing that?And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, (why) that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.How does this fit in with the book of Leviticus?  Listen and find out more.The following is a study on Leviticus 1:1-17.

Embedded in chapter 14 of Zechariah, in the middle of the Lord telling His people about how He will "fight against the nations" that fought against Jerusalem, we possibly find a cryptic description of the effects of a neutron bomb.  It reads:Their flesh shall dissolve (or, rot, waste away) while they stand on their feet,Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets,And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths (Zech. 14:12).How can that be?  And what does that mean for us today?  Is this really the effects of a neutron bomb?Keep listening to find out more.The following is a study on Zechariah 14:1-15.To download the notes from this message, click – HERE

Embedded in chapter 14 of Zechariah, in the middle of the Lord telling His people about how He will "fight against the nations" that fought against Jerusalem, we possibly find a cryptic description of the effects of a neutron bomb.  It reads:Their flesh shall dissolve (or, rot, waste away) while they stand on their feet,Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets,And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths (Zech. 14:12).How can that be?  And what does that mean for us today?  Is this really the effects of a neutron bomb?Keep listening to find out more.The following is a study on Zechariah 14:1-15.To download the notes from this message, click – HERE

Zechariah chapter 12 tells of the national salvation of Israel where the Lord will "pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced.  Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn" (Zech. 12:10).  It is the literal fulfillment of Romans 11:26 where Paul says "and so all Israel will be saved."So what happens after God saves a nation, or what happens when He saves you and I?  What is our response?  What are we to do?  How are we to act?And that very question is what is answered in Zechariah 13.  Zechariah lets us know exactly what God expects from those He calls "My people" and for His people who say "the Lord is my God" (Zech. 13:9).  What God commands the remnant in Zechariah 13 is exactly what He commands of us today.  After all, we also have been cleansed of our "sin and uncleanness" from a "fountain" that flowed from the veins of the Lord Jesus (Zech. 13:1).  A fountain of blood freely given for us.  As William Cowpens wrote so many years ago:There is a fountain filled with blood,Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,Lose all their guilty stains.Want to know more?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on Zechariah 13:1-9.To download the notes from this message, click – HERE

Zechariah chapter 12 tells of the national salvation of Israel where the Lord will "pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced.  Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn" (Zech. 12:10).  It is the literal fulfillment of Romans 11:26 where Paul says "and so all Israel will be saved."So what happens after God saves a nation, or what happens when He saves you and I?  What is our response?  What are we to do?  How are we to act?And that very question is what is answered in Zechariah 13.  Zechariah lets us know exactly what God expects from those He calls "My people" and for His people who say "the Lord is my God" (Zech. 13:9).  What God commands the remnant in Zechariah 13 is exactly what He commands of us today.  After all, we also have been cleansed of our "sin and uncleanness" from a "fountain" that flowed from the veins of the Lord Jesus (Zech. 13:1).  A fountain of blood freely given for us.  As William Cowpens wrote so many years ago:There is a fountain filled with blood,Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,Lose all their guilty stains.Want to know more?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on Zechariah 13:1-9.To download the notes from this message, click – HERE

Zechariah 12:10 states:"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then (what) they will look on Me whom they pierced.  Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn."Quick question:  When does the pouring out of God's Spirit happen?  And when does the mourning and grieving take place?   Since they must take place after the death of Jesus, do they take place during the time of the early church?  Or, does it refer to the great expansion of preaching and growth during the ages that follow (Reformed / Amillennial view)?  Or, does it refer to a time yet in the future (Dispensational / Premillennial view)?Quick answer:  Historically, these events were not fulfilled during the days of the early church.  Second, these passages cannot be interpreted as referring to the church since there is no mention of "the people of God" or even "Israel" for that matter.  Additionally, there is no greater Jewish prophecy in all of Zechariah.  Note verses 12 and 13:  "house of David, house of Nathan, house of Levi, family of Shimei."So what does this mean for us today?  Much.  Keep listening to find out more.The following is a study on Zechariah 12:1-14.To download the notes from this message, click – HERE