Why eagles fly, chickens flutter

Why eagles fly, chickens flutter
BY DON WILDMON
AFA founder and chairman emeritus: www.afajoumal.org

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, the eagle and chicken were very good friends. Everywhere they went, these friends went together. It was not uncommon for people to look up and see the eagle and chicken flying side by side through the air.
One day, while flying, the chicken said to the eagle, "Let's drop down and get a bite to eat. My stomach is growling."
"Sounds like a good idea to me," replied the eagle.
So the two birds glided down to earth, saw several animals eating, and decided to join them. They landed next to the cow. The cow was busy eating corn but noticed that the eagle and the chicken were soon sitting on the ground next to her.
"Welcome," said the cow. "Help yourself to the corn."
This took the two birds by surprise. They were not accustomed to having other animals share their food quite so readily.
"Why are you willing to share your corn with us?" asked the eagle.
"Oh, we have plenty to eat here. Mr. Farmer gives us all we want," replied the cow.
Well, the eagle and the chicken jumped in and ate their fill. When they finished the chicken asked more about Mr. Farmer.
"Well," said the cow, "he grows all our food. We don't have to work at all."
"You mean," said the chicken, "that Mr. Farmer simply gives you all you want to eat?"
"That's right," said the cow. "Not only that, but he gives us shelter over our head.”
The chicken and the eagle were shocked! They had never heard of such a thing. They had always had to search for their food and work for shelter.
When it came time to leave, the chicken and the eagle began to discuss the situation: "Maybe we should just stay here," said the chicken. "We can have all the food we want without working. And that barn over there sure beats those nests we have been building. Besides, I'm getting tired of always having to work for a living."
"I don't know about all this," said the eagle. "It sounds too good to be true. I find it hard to believe that one can get something for nothing. Besides, I kinda like flying high and free through the air. And providing for food and shelter isn't so bad. In fact, I find it quite challenging.”
Well, the chicken thought it over and decided to stay where there was free food and shelter. But the eagle decided that he loved his freedom too much to give it up, and enjoyed the consistent challenge of making his own living. So, after saying goodbye to his old friend the chicken, the eagle set sail for the wild blue yonder.
Everything went fine for the chicken. He ate all he wanted. He never worked. He grew fat and lazy.
But then one day he heard the farmer say to his wife that he was yearning for fried chicken. Hearing that, the chicken decided it was time to check out and rejoin his good friend the eagle. But when he attempted to fly, he found that he had grown too fat and lazy. Instead of being able to fly, he could only flutter. So the next day, the farmer’s family sat down to chicken dinner.
When you give up the challenges of life in your pursuit of ease and security, your ability to fly turns into a flutter.
And that's the reason eagles fly and chickens flutter.

Revelation 21 and 22

THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
A WEDNESDAY NIGHT BOOK STUDY
EDGEMONT BIBLE CHURCH
FALL 2009- SPRING 2010
MAY 19, 2010
CHAPTERS 21:1-22:5
NEW JERUSALEM AND THE CONDITIONS OF THE
MILLENNIUM

I. NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH

A. Its Promise - Isa. 65:17-25; 66:22-24
...1. The Lord promised through Isaiah that a new heavens and a new earth would be created
...2. With it came the promise that the former one (the one you and I live in now) would be remembered no more
...3. A new Jerusalem would also be created and it would be a rejoicing
...4. Not only would Jerusalem be a joy to all people but the people of Jerusalem would be a joy - the voice of weeping and crying would no longer be heard
...5. Accompanying them there would also be changes in the animal world
6. There would be a prosperous agrarian society; the curse would be reversed
7. Death would still come to those who sin
8. This sounds like the millennial kingdom
*The inhabitants of the new earth will be those who have survived the Great Tribulation, in particular Israel, but also many Gentiles
*They will have different bodies than they had during the
Tribulation; bodies that will live as long as trees and are still capable of reproduction
*Before they ask, the Lord will be answering their prayers
*They will still work with their hands, enjoy the labor of their hands and not labor in vain as under the judgment of the fall of man
*The judgment of sorrow in conception and child-rearing wiill be annulled
*Sin and therefore death will still be a capacity during this time.

B. Its Occurrence - The Day of the Lord 2 Pet 3:3-13
...1. Identifying the Day of the Lord
*It is a day of anger, wrath and vengeance Isaiah 13:9; 34:8;
*It is darkness and not light Amos 5:18
*It is a time of "harvesting" sinners from the earth; a day of judging the nations in war; multitudes shall be in the valley of decision Joel 3:9-14 Compare with Revelation 14:14- 20; 19:11-21
2. Signs of the Day of the Lord
*It is preceded by the sun being darkened, the moon being like blood Joel 2:31 compare with Revelation 6:12-17
*It is preceded by Elijah the Prophet to turn the hearts of the fathers and the children to one another Mal 4:5
*Peter and Paul both say it will come as a thief in the night when it is least expected. 1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10
*It is accompanied by the destruction of the current heavens and earth. 2 Peter 3:10
*It is followed by new heavens and a new earth 2 Peter 3:11-13
*It is preceded by an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh but, in particular the children of Israel as spokesmen for God
C. The new heavens and a new earth is the condition description of the Millennium
1. Chapter 21 through chapter 22:5 is a description of the millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ
...2. One major difference in the new and the old is the absence of seas.
*This is a change in the hydrologic cycle. Evaporation and
condensation as we know it will not be viable
*This will change some commerce as we have known it
...3. Chronologically, I think it best fits between verses 3 and 4 of Chapter 20 as a description of millennial conditions

II. NEW JERUSALEM COMING DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN

A. John calls it the holy city coming down from heaven adorned as a bride for her husband
...1. The church is referred to as the bride of Christ
...2. The church is promised to co-reign with Christ and has a special relationship to Him, therefore we conclude that this new Jerusalem is the church of Jesus Christ, His bride
...3. The inhabitants of this city are described in this way
*God will wipe away their tears
*They will experience no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying
*They will have no more pain
*The former things have passed away
*God will make all things new
*They will be given to drink of the fountain of the water of life freely when thirsty
*They will inherit all things and God will be their God and they will be called sons of God
...4. Those who cannot inhabit this city are described this way: Rev 21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (NKJV)
...5. It apparently is suspended above the earth replacing the sun as the illumination for the earth 21:23,24 There is no night there 21:25
...6. The kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it 21:24
...7. Its gates are never shut 21:25
...8. Nothing that defiles or causes an abomination or a lie can get in. The only ones who can get in are the ones who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life
B. The New Jerusalem described
...1. John is shown the city by one of the 7 angels who had the 7 bowls filled with the 7 last plagues
...2. John is shown that it has the glory of God.
...3. He describes its light as that of a precious stone, in this case a jasper yet clear as crystal
...4. Next he tells us of it great high wall with 12 gates, each gate with an angel. Either the angel or the gates have the names of the 12 tribes of the children of Israel written on each one. I assume this means each gate has a different tribal name attached to it. 3 gates face each direction: 3 to the north, 3 to the south, 3 to the west and 3 to the east
...5. The wall has 12 foundations upon which were written each of the names of the apostles of the Lamb. I assume that is one name per wall.
...6. An angel with a gold reed measuring rod with which to measure the city, its walls and gates.
*The city is a cube measuring 12,000 furlongs on each of its sides. That is 1377 miles
*The wall of the city is 144 cubits.
*The wall is made of jasper and the city itself was pure gold
*The foundations are adorned with different precious stones. In order they are: jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth and amethyst
*The gates were each one pearl
*The streets of the city were pure gold, so pure it was transparent
*The city had no temple for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple
7. (From Rev 22:3-5) Conditions of the new heavens and new earth
*There is no more curse for the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it. His servants shall serve Him
*They shall see His face and His name shall be on their foreheads
*Emphasis by stating once again there will be no night there
*They need no lamp nor light of the sun for the Lord God gives them light
*They shall reign forever and ever
D. The river and the tree of life Rev. 22:1-2
...1. The river of pure water was clear as crystal proceeded from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Compare this with Ezek 47:1-12
...2. The Tree of Life grew in the middle of its stream
...3. On either side of the River grew trees which were for food and healing
*They bore 12 fruits
*They bore fruit each month

III. SOBER TRUTHS AND WARNINGS FROM GOD

A. The words John has heard are faithful and true and were sent to show the servants of God what must shortly come to pass
B. Blessing: Re 22:7 '1Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. " (NKJV)
C. John falls down to worship at the awesome things he has just seen. The messenger (does not look to be an angel) rebukes John for attempting to worship the messenger
...1. This may not be an angel for he describes himself as a "fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book." He reminds John to "Worship God" and without having to say it "Worship God only!"
...2. He tells him to not seal the book for the time of its fulfillment is at hand. Compare this with Daniel 12:5-9
...3. He then gives him these words of warning:
Re 22:11 "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” (NKJV)
D. The Lord Jesus asserts Himself into the moment with these words:
Re 22:12 "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." (NKJV)
E. The translators feel the angel asserts himself back into the conversation with these words:
Re 22:14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. (NKJV)
F. Again the words of the Lord Jesus Christ:
Re 22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." (NKJV)
G. John speaks what he is hearing as the invitation of the Spirit and the bride
Re 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;
19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (NKJV)

Revelation 20

A WEDNESDAY NIGHT BOOK STUDY
EDGEMONT BIBLE CHURCH
FALL 2009 - SPRING 2010
MAY 12, 2010
THE KINGDOM - CHAPTER 20:1-15- Part 15
SATAN BOUND, CHRIST'S 1000 YEAR REIGN, SATANIC
REBELLION, THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT

I. JOHN'S VISION (vv.1-5)
A. Satan is Bound - vv. 1-3
…..1. An angel comes down from heaven,
…….. a. Has the key to the bottomless pit Re 9:1
…….. b. Has a great chain in his hand.
…..2. He laid hold of the dragon, Serpent of old, the Devil, and Satan, Rev 12:9
…..3. Bound him for a thousand years; 2 Pet 2:4; Jude 6(contradicts amillennialism)
…….. a. cast him into the bottomless pit, shut him up, and set a seal on him,
…….. b. so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished.
…….. c. But after these things he must be released for a little while. Rev. 20:8 (contradicts Preterism)
B. Christ' Reign (vv.4-5)
…..1. A Promised Kingdom to end all Kingdoms - Dan. 2:44
…..2. This Kingdom has been revealed to happen in two parts a~
…….. a. Forever and ever as revealed in the OT. Isa. Jer. Dan. Ezek. Etc.
……..b. The Millennium - 1000 years as revealed in the Rev.20:2-7.

The Millennium
A millennium is a period of time that lasts 1000 years. The word comes from the Latin words "mille" which means thousand and "annum" which means year.
…..3. The Participants in the Kingdom (vv. 4-5)
…….. a. Glorified Group
……………….1. Old Testament saints Dan 7:22,27 Dan. 12:1-2, 13
……………….2. Church saints Mt 19:28; Luke 22:30; 1 Cor 6:2-3; 2 Tim 2:12; 1 Thess 4:17
…………………3. Resurrected tribulation saints vs. 4; Rev 5:10; 6:9
……… b. The Non-Glorified Group
……………….1. Surviving tribulation saints Matt. 25:34; Ezek. 20:37
……………….2. Those that are born in the millennium Rev. 20:7-9
……….c. What they are doing (vs. 4b)
……………….4. Those Not Participating (vs. 5) Ezek. 20:34-38 Matt. 24:24-51; 25:31-46; Lk. 17:20-37

II. JOHN'S BEATITUDE OR INTERPRETATION (vs. 6)
A. The vision is in the past tense (vv. 2-5)
B. John's beatitude is in the future tense. (vs. 6)
C. Description of the Blessed
……1. Blessed and holy
……2. Has part in the first resurrection.
……3. The second death has no power over this one
……4. They shall be priests of God and of Christ,
……5. They shall reign with Him a thousand years. (literal!)

III. JOHN'S VISION CONTINUED (vv.7-1O)
A. Satan's Rebellion
……1. Satan released at the end of one thousand years
……2. He will go out to deceive the nations
………….a. He will gather them together to battle
…………b. His army will be an army whose number is as the sand of the sea.

B. Satanic Rebellion Crushed. (vs. 9)
……1. Their Strategy
……2. Christ' Judgement

C. Satan Judged (vs. 10)
……1. The devil(was)cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. (false prophet/beast already there)
……2. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever

IV. THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT (vv.11-15)
A. The Throne and the Judge
……1. A great white throne
……2. The Lamb from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away.
B. The Judged and the Evidence
……1. The dead
…………a. small and great
…………b. From Sea
…………c. From Death and Hades
……2. Judged by works/deeds
……3. The Books
…………a. The Book of Life.
…………b. The book of their life’s works
C. The Judgment and the Judged
……1. The Second Death=The lake of fire.
……2. Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Happy Mothers Day

This is the day that the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it!