Subj:	Revelation 14:2
Date:	98-08-26 08:16:57 EDT
From:	SERVFATHER



Revelation 14:2
	And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of
a great thunder: 
      (John hears a sound from heaven and it was a powerful
sound.) 

Ezek 43:2	And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east:
and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.  (As
you can read this is the sound of the Lord's voice, when he returns)

"and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:"

      (John also heard a  sound of harpers playing their harps.)


    When Jesus returns there will be alot of joy heard from heaven.  The reason is because
the kingdom of God is happening, as it is written;

Rev 11:15	And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven,
saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his
Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Rev 19:1	And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven,
saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
2	For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore,
which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his
servants at her hand.

     Did you know that we as christians are to look forward to the kingdom of God?  Most
christians don't even understand the "Our Father", it is a special prayer that christians
should say. We have studied it before, but I know there is alot of new people and they
have not really been able to study it with us. Let us take a look at the prayer Jesus gave us
while he was on earth.
     This prayer is mentioned in two places, Matthew and in Luke.  Let us look at Matthew. 

      Jesus is teaching his followers and he is telling them what they should do and what
others do.  He tells them do not pray to put on a show for everyone, because you are fake
christian.  There are people that go and say their prayers so everyone can hear, so people
will "know" they are christian.  It is like those people that are in a restaurant and before
they eat they bow their heads and say their blessing out loud. Do they do it to bless the
food or do they do it so that everyone in the room will look at them and say "oh aren't
they christian"?  Does your food get blessed if you speak it to yourself?  Of course it does! 
    Jesus does not say kind words about them.  Their reward for showing off is the people
looking at them.

Matt 6:5	And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they
love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be
seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

     Jesus says when you really want to talk to the Father, then do it by yourself with no
one else around.  You don't need others to approve of your prayer.  The Father knows
what you are saying and what is in your heart.  Don't worry about others knowing, in the
end everyone will know who the true christians were and who the fake christians were. 
There will be gnashing of teeth at that time.

6	But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy
door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall
reward thee openly.

     Jesus then goes on to tell us that when we pray he does not want us to say the same
thing over and over again.  The heathens do that when they pray to their "gods".  You
ever hear of chanting, that is what he is talking about.  Also saying a prayer over and over
again.  If you listen to it, it sounds like a chant. There are people that beleive they need to
say things over and over again, I guess they think the Lord is deaf.  Like someone might
say " I Love Jesus"  over and over again, that is not prayer it is chanting.  Don't let anyone
fool you, there are alot of "Religions" that do that,  some say "Jesus" over and over again. 
Listen to the Word not your "religion".  Even if you say the "Our Father" over and over
again, it is a chant and God does not like it. 

Matt 6:7	But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they
think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

    Jesus tells us don't be like them.  The Father  knows what you need even before you say
anything.  When we pray we are not to ask for flesh things. The Father will take care of
flesh things. 

8	Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have
need of, before ye ask him.
      
     Jesus then goes on to tell us how we are to pray.  The first thing we are to do is pray to
The Father, not to Jesus.  Then we are to give glory to the Father, show him respect.

9	After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be
thy name.
     
      Then Jesus tells us what we are to pray for.  We are to pray for the Kingdom of God
to be on earth that is what every true christian looks forward to.  To get out of the flesh
and get into the spiritual.
       Then when The Lord's kingdom is on earth, everyone will really do what the Father
wants, just like everyone does in heaven.  In the flesh we do what we want, because we
are sinners and we all know in the flesh we sin and there is nothing good about the flesh as
it is written in Romans 7:18	For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no
good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find
not.

 10	Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

    Do you think the Lord would put something in the Word, just to fill up space? Of
course not, these are the things we are to pray for and we would know that if we read the
Word.  Let us continue with the "Our Father".

      Do you think Jesus is talking about feeding your flesh here?  Of course not! He
already told you the Father knows what your flesh needs.  Jesus is talking about the Word
of God it is the bread of eternal life. 

11	Give us this day our daily bread.

        Jesus then tells us we need to repents of all our sins, and we also have to forgive
anyone who has done anything against us.  Did you know if you do not forgive others of
their wrong doings, the Father will not forgive you of your sins?

12	And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.


       Jesus  tells us something very interesting in the next verse.  He says ask the Father,
not to lead us into temptation.  Do you know this word "temptation" means "to test"?

Matthew 6:13	And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
 
       Do you remember we studied about the World going through the test of Satan and
that is what the whole book of Revelation is about?

        Isn't the Word of God just awesome!  I pray that you can understand the connection. 
We are to pray to the Father to keep us on the right path and to follow his Word or we
will be tested by Satan just like the rest of the world will.

        How are we delivered from evil?  It is easy we are to put on the armour of God as it
is written in the Word. Did you know this is mentioned in the same chapter and verse of 
Ephesians as in Matthew. Once you really get into the Word it is just so amazing to a mere
human.

       Paul tells us to put on the armour of God, so that you can stand against Satan when
he is here on earth, pretending to be God.
 
Ephesians 6:13	Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be
able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

    How do we stand against Satan's lies.  We have the truth in us, we know Satan is a
fake, so he can not fool us.  We also protect ourself by knowing what is right.

14	Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the
breastplate of righteousness;

   Our feet, where we stand, is in the ability to be at peace and no worries.
15	And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

   The most important thing is our faith in the Lord.  Satan will be telling some big lies and
there will be alot of deception on earth, but we will not fall for it, because we have faith in
the Word and the Father already told us what was going to happen.
So it doesn't matter what Satan says, it will bounce off you, because you trust in the Lord.

16	Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked.

    The next thing you need is know that you are protected by the Lord, and that you have
the Word of God in your mind to fight off any spiritual attacks. 

17	And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God:

     The other thing we must do is always be in contact with the Lord, so that he can guide
you every step of the way.  We also need to look out for those christians around us, that
need help.

18	Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching
thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

    Then at the end of our pray we give honour to the Father, we let him know we know it
is not anything to do with us,  but it is all because of Him and his power and glory
throughout the ages.

Matthew 6:13 For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
    
     Jesus tells us that if we don't forgive others, the Father will not forgive you. he will not
listen to your prayer.  So if there is anyone you are mad at or will not forgive for
something they have done, you have some forgiving to do. 

14	For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15	But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses.

      Most christians do not understand that this world is not for us and we are looking
forward to the kingdom of God to be on earth.  Thank the Father  for his wisdom and
understanding.

In His Service