APOSTLE

JOHN THE APOSTLE
The particulars may be classified and summarized under six heads: the home and occupation of John; his discipleship and service-life; references to him in the history of the Church; the portrait of him derived from tradition; his character as reflected in his writings; and his place in the apostolic age.

THE HOME AND OCCUPATION OF JOHN
His home town was Bethsaida (i. 44; Luke v. 10), and there was a family of four, the father and mother, Zebedee, and Salome, and two sons, James and John (Mark i. 19,20; xv. 40; Matt. xxvii, 56). The father and sons were fishermen (Matt. iv. 21); Salome, the mother, was ambitious for her boys (Matt. xx. 20, 21; Mark x. 35-37). There is clear evidence that the family was prosperous, for they had hired servants, they minis¬tered of their substance, and they were influential in official quarters (Mark i. 20; Matt. xxvii, 56; Luke viii. 3; John xviii, 15,16; xix. 27).

THE DISCIPLESHIP AND SERVICE-LIFE OF JOHN
He was first a follower of John the Baptist (i, 35, 40), and he left him to follow Christ. There appear to have been three stages in his fellowship with Christ: attachment (i, 40); dis-cipleship (Matt. iv. 21, 22); and apostleship (Luke vi. 13, 14). John's relation to Jesus was unique. If, as is conjectured, Salome was the sister of Jesus' mother, John would be Jesus' cousin. (See Div. A, Pt. 1,6, p. 62, Salome). He was one of the first two disciples to be called (i. 35-40); one of the first Apostles named (Matt. iv. 18-22); one of the three privileged Apostles (Mark v, 37; Matt. xvii, I; xxvi 37); one of the four who drew forth our Lord's great prophetic discourse (Mark xiii, 3); and one of the two sent to prepare the Passover (Luke xxii. 8). He was 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' (xiii. 23; xix. 26; xx, 2; xxi, 7,20), and to whom He committed the care of His mother (xix. 25-27).
REFERENCES TO JOHN IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
John appears three times in the Acts: in the Temple (iii. I); before the Council (iv. 13); and at Samaria (viii. 14). After the general reference to him in Acts xv. 2, 22, 23, our next contact with him is about eighteen years later (A.D. 69), in the Book of the Revelation (i. 1,4,9), and about twenty-six years later still (A.D. 95), in his Gospel, and the Epistles which bear his name.

God's Word for the Seven Churches OF Revelations

The Revelations of John
The Lord Jesus Christ
& the Seven Messages to The Church
1 The revelation given by Jesus Christ, which God granted Him, that He might make known to His servants certain events which must shortly come to pass: and He sent His angel and communicated it to His servant John.
2 This is the John who taught the truth concerning the Word of God and the truth told us by Jesus Christ— a faithful account of what he had seen.

3 Blessed is he who reads and blessed are those who listen to the words of this prophecy and lay to heart what is written in it; for the time for its fulfillment is now close at hand. REVELATIONS 1:1-3
THE BOOK OF REVELATION probably is less read and understood than any book in the entire Bible. To the average person, the last book of the Bible is a deep mystery consisting of strange, fantastic predictions which can¬not be understood, and queer symbols that confuse. As a result, most Bible readers know little about either the book's content or its meaning.
In Revelations we read of a sublime series of pictures of God's dealings with man and with this earth from the beginning to the consummation of all things. The symbols used are largely those of Old Testament scriptures. Christ, the Word--the Revealer, is described as "Him which is, and which was, and which is to come," and "the Prince (Ruler) of the kings of the earth." At the same time, Jesus is represented as the sacrificial Lamb, the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead, and Jesus the Christ, the coming Ruler.
Throughout the first four chapters Jesus Christ receives praise and worship, and titles such as Alpha and Omega—the Lord God—the Almighty. However, as the time of judgement arrives in chapter five, He is ‘‘the Lamb that was slain—worthy,’’ to open the judgement scroll and bringing down the ‘‘wrath of God’’.

What's Church all about?

OoHA“To the messenger of the assembly in Philadelphia write: These things saith he who is holy, he who is true, he who is having the key of David, he who is opening and no one doth shut, and he shutteth and no one doth open! 8 I have known thy works; lo, I have set before thee a door--opened, and no one is able to shut it, because thou hast a little power, and didst keep my word, and didst not deny my name;
Rev 3:7-8 (YLT)
8 I have known thy works; lo, I have set before thee a door--opened, and no one is able to shut it, because thou hast a little power, and didst keep my word, and didst not deny my name; "

Interesting, that a church with little power being the only church--two out of seven—that the Lord doesn’t call to repentence. (Smyrna, the martyred church being the other)This mention of little power is included in a list of the Lord:  The Church did keep my word, and did not deny my name.”
So, obviously, this is something that the Lord desires in a church, and among things that the Lord is going to reward. Because thou hast a little power… kept my word…didn’t deny my name…” I have set before thee a door--opened, and no one is able to shut it.”

What is viewed as the successful church today? Perhaps the place to look is what God says about the church.

Commentary on the Philadelphia Church, by Dr. John Walvoord :
« The Philadelphia letter reminds us that any true church at any time, and especially during the last days, meets Satanic opposition ... through imitation, religious ritualism, and hypocrisy-opposition strengthened by mixture of worldliness and religiousness-Church and State.!"
Those in the church today who are experiencing such affliction and persecution may be assured that however violent the opposition and how¬ever direct the efforts to thwart and hinder the work of God, in the end there will be victory for the cause of Christ.
3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Promise of deliverance from hour of trial. One of the outstanding compliments given to the Philadelphian church is contained in verse 10. Because of their faithfulness, the Christians in Philadelphia are promised that they will be kept from the hour of trial which will come upon the earth as a divine judgment. It should be noted that this deliverance is not only from trial but from a period of time in which the trial exists. "the hour of temptation."

"Do not confuse the church with the church building. it may burn to the ground.  But destroying the building does not destroy the church." Dr. Francis Schaeffer comments. " There was the time when Priscilla and Aquila at a church in the home. Was that less the Church? Of course not.... Does it mean that the Aquila and Priscilla were led of the Holy Spirit to have a church and their home? Yes.
In the matter of Priscilla and Aquila; this statement in First Corinthians 16: 19, about "The greeting from the church that is in their house" was something Paul wrote in his First Corinthian letter, and was written from Ephesus, meaning that Ephesus had house churches.

Does it really matter?
What is the purpose of the church?

The Bible says that the church is the body of Jesus Christ, and at no time is the church not the body of Jesus Christ. Using the gifts that God has given to the church,  The purpose is to attain the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God,  to grow to a strong Christian in the Lord, growing  up in all aspects into Him--Jesus Christ. Realizing from whom the whole body is being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, and causing the growth of the Body for the building up of itself in love.

Growth in the church is obviously something to be desired.  A good question about growth, however is what are we talking about? Does this mean spiritual growth or does this mean numerical growth? 

As a former pastor of seven churches, having church buildings, there was no question that numerical growth would be viewed as an indication of my success as a pastor, However, numerical growth doesn't always come from preaching God's Biblical truth, but I can say spiritual growth does.
A spiritually- charged growing church(obviously not the building or man created organization) is going to change the world culture and not the world culture changing the Church. The other way around, is what I believe is happening today. Look at today's world if your wondering about who is changing what.

How committed are the church elders to the Bible and it's teaching?

The world demands blurring gender lines--and the church is falling in line. Some years ago, in the president's corner of a periodical, when commenting  on "Relativizing the Absolutes and Absolutizing the Relatives", Dr. Earl Radmacher Writes: ".. the clear  teaching of the text of 1 Timothy 2: 11 - 15, submission of a wife to husband is not a matter of cultural relativity, but a matter of God's order of creation...." Actually,  while Radmacher is using this passage to answer a question about husband and wife, verse 12 states: "But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet." Radmacher summarizes with: "In our attempt to bridge the two thousand years of cultural gap between us and the New Testament, let's be sure that we do not vitiate the essentials of man's relationship with God and with man by an unwarranted indulging in cultural relativity in order to make the message palatable."

The world is demanding many more changes. If we're caving on this one, which a seminary professor says is is a clear  claim according to Scripture, what happens when the real Big changes come and the consequences are Much more costly?G

America is said to be in a post-Christian age.  Something is failing in America.  "You are the salt of the earth but if the salt becomes tasteless... it is good for nothing...."  Jesus Christ in speaking to the last Church in Revelations says:" I know your Deeds that you are neither cold nor hot I would that you were hot or cold, so because you are lukewarm I will spit you out of my mouth. because you say I am rich and have need of nothing... you do not know that you are wretched  and miserable and poor and blind and naked...."  Revelations 3:15-19. If the church is neither hot nor cold....?

In the book of Acts 1: 8, Jesus tells us "to wait...you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be my Witnesses...." I believe the church needs to be spiritually charged, and I believe that is happening in some churches today.

Speaking from experience,  if the church you're leading is growing larger, you are usually viewed as successful regardless. Obviously, as an Evangelical pastor, you are called to the spiritual growth--you should desire both numerical growth and spiritual growth together, however, they don't necessarily come together.  The last of the seven churches in the Book of Revelations probably was a large Church--having wealth and saying "they had need of nothing." But one thing we know, they would not have been concerned about Biblical truth--"they were neither hot nor cold" the Bible says that "God s pit them out of his mouth."

END DAYS

Rev 4:1-11 (NKJV)
REVELATIONS Chapter 4

4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me,
4:1 μετα ταυτα ειδον και ιδου θυρα ηνεωγμενη
εν τω ουρανω και η φωνη η πρωτη ην ηκουσα ως σαλπιγγος λαλουσης μετ εμου
4:1
Μετα ταυτα ειδον
with(after) this I saw
και ιδου θυρα ηνεωγμενη εν τω ουρανω
and behold door having been open in the heaven
και
and
η φωνη η πρωτη
the voice the first
ην ηκουσα ως σαλπιγγος Λαλουσης μετ εμου
which I heard as trunpet speaking with me


4:2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
2 και ευθεως εγενομην εν πνευματι και ιδου θρονος εκειτο εν τω ουρανω και επι του θρονου καθημενος Rev 4:2 (Stephanus)

Και ευθεως εγενομην εν πνευματι
And immediately I was in spirit

και ιδου θρονος εκειτο εν τω ουρανω
and behold throne was set in the heaven
και επι του θρονου καθημενος
and on the throne a sitting one

ONE WEEK

DANIEL 9:26b-27 (NKJV
The people
of the prince who is to come
Shall destroy the city and sanctuary.

The end of it shall be with a flood,

And till the end of the war desolations are determined.

27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many
for one week;

But in the middle of the week

He shall bring an end
to sacrifice and offering.

And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,

Even until the consummation,
which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate."

SEVENTY WEEKS ARE DETERMINED....

Daniel 9:24-27 "Seventy weeks are determined...."

Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary defines the Hebrew word translated “week.”

"weeks" Hebrew Word: Transliteration: shabûa? Phonetic Pronunciation:shaw-boo'-ah
Root: properly, pass part of as a denom. of
Cross Reference: TWOT - 2318d Part of Speech: n m Vine's Words: Week
Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: week 19 seven 1 [Total Count: 20]
or shabua`, shaw-boo'-ah; also (feminine) shebu`ah, sheb-oo-aw'; properly passive participle of (shaba`) as a denominative of (sheba`); literal sevened, i.e. a week (specifically of years) :- seven, week.

24 "Seventy weeks are determined...
"For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression,
To make an end of sins,
To make reconciliation for iniquity,
To bring in everlasting righteousness,
To seal up vision and prophecy,
And to anoint the Most Holy.
25 "Know therefore and understand,
That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem
Until Messiah the Prince,
There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;
The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. 26
"And after the sixty-two weeks
Messiah shall be cut off,
but not for Himself;


And the people of the prince
who is to come
Shall destroy the city and sanctuary.

FOR AN INTERPRETATION OF THIS PASSAGE SEE MY BLOG: "REASONS FOR THE SEASONS"

KOINONIKOS

YOU HAVE BECOME....

1 Or
do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law),
that
the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?
For
the woman
who has a husband
is bound
by the law to her husband
as long as he lives.
But
if the husband dies,
she is released
from the law of her husband.
3 So then
if, while her husband lives,
she marries another man,
she will be called an adulteress;
but if her husband dies,
she is free from that law,
so that she is no adulteress,
though she has married another man.

4 Therefore,
my brethren,
you also have become dead
to the law
through the body of Christ,

that you may be married to another
--to Him who was raised from the dead,
that we should bear fruit to God.
5 For when we were in the flesh,
the sinful passions
which were aroused
by the law
were at work in our members
to bear fruit to death.
6 But now we have been delivered from the law,
having died to what we were held by,
so that we should serve in the newness
of the Spirit
and not in the oldness
of the letter.




7 What shall we say then?
Is the law sin?

Certainly not! On the contrary,...

BLESSED IS "THE GOOD GROUND"

16 "But
blessed are your eyes for they see,
and
your ears for they hear;
17 for assuredly,
I say to you that many prophets
and righteous men
desired to see what you see,
and
did not see it,
and to hear what you hear,
and
did not hear it.
18
"Therefore
hear the parable of the sower:
19
When anyone hears the word of the kingdom,
and
does not understand it,
then the wicked one comes
and
snatches away what was sown
in his heart.
This is he who received seed by the wayside.
20
But
he who received the seed on stony places,
this is he who hears the word
and immediately receives it with joy;
21
yet he has no root in himself,
but
endures only for a while.
For
when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word,
immediately
he stumbles.
22
Now he who received seed among the thorns
is he who hears the word,
and the cares of this world
and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word,
and
he becomes unfruitful.
23
But he who received seed on the good ground
is he who hears the word
and understands it,
who indeed bears fruit
and produces:
some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
Matt 13:16-23 (NKJV)

THEREFORE WE MUST GIVE THE MORE HEED.....

Therefore
\ we must give the more earnest heed to the things
we have heard,
lest
we drift away.
For
if the word spoken through angels
proved steadfast,
and every transgression
and disobedience
received a just reward,
how shall we escape
if
we neglect so great a salvation,
which at
the first began to be spoken by the Lord,
and was confirmed to us
by those who heard Him,
God also bearing witness
both with signs
and wonders,
with various miracles,
and gifts of the Holy Spirit,
according to His own will?
Heb 2:1-4 (NKJV)

THE RIGHT TO BE BORN OF GOD

1 In the beginning
was the Word,
and the Word
was with God,
and the Word
was God.
He was
in the beginning with God.
All things were made
through Him,
and without Him nothing was made
that was made.
In Him was life,
and the life was the light of men.
And the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not comprehend it.

That was the true Light
which gives light to every man
coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world was made through Him,
and the world did not know Him.
He came to His own,
and His own did not receive Him.
But
as many as received Him,
to them
He gave the right
to become children of God,
to those who believe in His name:
who were born,
not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man,
but of God.

"BELIEVE IN ME...."

"Let not your heart be troubled;
you believe in God,
believe also in Me.

In My Father's house are many mansions;

if it were not so, I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.
And
if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and receive you to Myself;
that
where I am,
there you may be also.
And where I go you know,
and the way you know...."

"I am the way,
the truth,
and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:1-6 (NKJV)

For God so loved the world
that He gave
His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him
should not perish
but have everlasting life.
For God did not send His Son
into the world
to condemn the world,
but that the world
through Him might be saved.

He who believes in Him
is not condemned;
but
he who does not believe
is condemned already,
because he has not believed
in the name of the only begotten Son
of God.
And
this is the condemnation,
that the light has come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light,
because their deeds were evil.
For everyone practicing evil hates the light
and does not come to the light,
lest his deeds should be exposed.
But
he who does the truth comes to the light,
that his deeds may be clearly seen,
that they have been done in God."
John 3:16-21 (NKJV)


KOINONIKOS

THE FIRST AND THE LAST

"Listen to Me, O Jacob,
And Israel, My called:

I am He,
I am the First,
I am also the Last.

Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, And My right hand has stretched out the heavens;
When I call to them, They stand up together

Isaiah 48:12-13 (NKJV)


"I am the Alpha
and the Omega,
the Beginning
and the End,"
says the Lord,
"who is and who was
and who is to come,

the Almighty."

I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
saying,
"I am the Alpha
and the Omega,
the First
and the Last,"
Rev 1:5-11 (NKJV)

Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.

.Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:

'I am the First and I am the Last;
Besides Me there is no God.
And who can proclaim as I do?

Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me,
Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come,
Let them show these to them.
Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it?
You are My witnesses.
Is there a God besides Me?
Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.' "
Those who make an image, all of them are useless, And their precious things shall not profit;
They are their own witnesses;
They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed.

Who would form a god or mold an image That profits him nothing?
Surely all his companions would be ashamed;

And the workmen, they are mere men.
Let them all be gathered together,
Let them stand up;
Yet they shall fear,
They shall be ashamed together.

The blacksmith with the tongs works one in the coals,
Fashions it with hammers,
And works it with the strength of his arms.
Even so, he is hungry, and his strength fails;
He drinks no water and is faint.
The craftsman stretches out his rule,
He marks one out with chalk;
He fashions it with a plane,
He marks it out with the compass,

And makes it like the figure of a man,
According to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house.
He cuts down cedars for himself, And takes the cypress and the oak;
He secures it for himself among the trees of the forest.
He plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it.
Then it shall be for a man to burn,



For he will take some of it and warm himself; Yes, he kindles it and bakes bread;
Indeed he makes a god and worships it;

He makes it a carved image, and falls down to it.
....he makes into a god,

His carved image.

He falls down before it and worships it,
Prays to it and says,
"Deliver me, for you are my god!"

They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see,
And their hearts, so that they cannot understand.

....And shall I make the rest of it an abomination?
Shall I fall down before a block of wood?"

..."Remember these, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant;
I have formed you, you are My servant;
O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me!
I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions,

And like a cloud, your sins.

Return to Me, for I have redeemed you."
Isaiah 44:6-22 (NKJV)



KOINONIKOS

JERUSALEM--O' JERUSALEM

Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."
Luke 19:41-44 (NKJV)




Seventy weeks are determined..."For your people and for your holy city,
To finish the transgression,
To make an end of sins,
To make reconciliation for iniquity,
To bring in everlasting righteousness,
To seal up vision and prophecy,
And to anoint the Most Holy.
"Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;
The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times.

"And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;
Daniel 9:24-26 (NKJV)
"Seventy weeks are determined...."
"weeks" Hebrew Word: shaw-boo'-ah
Root: properly, pass part of as a denom. of
Cross Reference: TWOT - 2318d Part of Speech: n m Vine's Words: Week
Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: week 19 seven 1 [Total Count: 20]
or shabua`, shaw-boo'-ah; also (feminine) shebu`ah, sheb-oo-aw'; properly passive participle of (shaba`) as a denominative of (sheba`); literal sevened, i.e. a week (specifically of years) :- seven, week. —Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary

In the Septuagint LXX–the Greek Old Testament translation used by Paul.
“Messiah” is translated Xristou. which is transliterated “Christ” in English.

THE WORD BECAME FLESH

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1


14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14



12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.


John 1:12-14 (NKJV)



And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire."
8 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions."
10 And: "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment;
12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail."


Heb 1:7-12 (NKJV)

IN THE BEGINNING

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.


John 1:1-5 (NKJV)



12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.


John 1:12-14 (NKJV)


And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire."
8 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions."
10 And: "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment;
12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail."

SEVENTY YEARS...

“Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Because you have not heard My words....
Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp. And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
Jeremiah25:8,11; 29:10-12

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. Daniel 9:1-2

Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision....
and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand.
“Seventy weeks are determined
For your people and for your holy city,
To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness,
To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.

BECOMING A CHRISTIAN

BECOMING A CHRISTIAN IS MUCH MORE THAN MOUTHING THE RIGHT FORMULA OF WORDS. And it’s much more than a feel-good frame of mind. It’s also much more than an entrance requirement to a club-like social group.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Some may insist that the Apostle Paul was a revolutionary with radical ideas spreading a religion with strict Pauline puritanical morals. The letter to Rome Church is generally accepted as most expressive of the Christian Belief. Here is a continuation of the above quote:
“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Roman Letter 12:1-3.

Another letter, among the first letters that Paul wrote to Gentile believers, follows the same spirit of self-humility and peaceful community:
“Concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.” 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
At the time of Paul’s letter, the Christians at Thessalonica were suffering a terrible persecution for their belief.