Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

Please look in the archives from December 16 through 21, 2019 and you will find lessons titled "The True Story of Christmas" which can be a good family devotion as you gather for this holiday. May we all rejoice at the birth of Christ because it meant that He came to do for us what we could never do, live a sinless life and satisfy God's law. Therefore, a Savior was born! We are now moving into Revelation 18 which describes another aspect of the judgment of Babylon. We studied the judgment of a global religion called Mystery Babylon. The religious Babylon assisted the beast in coming to power. However, around the midpoint of the great tribulation, the beast, which symbolizes 10 kings that will give ruling power to the  Antichrist, will turn on the religious Babylon and destroy it.  Revelation 18 is where we will see political Babylon will also be destroyed.  An angel with great power comes to announce judgment.   Revelation 18:1  An...

Below is  a missionary update that our church received from a couple that we support. Please read through their letter and take their very real needs to the Lord in prayer. They are ministering in South Africa. Bob Dear Pastor Alvis and Friends at Heritage,   When our last newsletter went out we were still in the USA awaiting our last planned meeting as well as permission to return to South Africa.   We received our permission and purchased tickets with British Air. When BA cancelled our tickets due to a total lockdown announced for the UK just after we booked the tickets, we were able to rebook with Ethiopian Air.    On 17 November we were tested for Covid-19 in GA and arrived in Newark at 4 pm.   When the gate opened at 7 pm for our 9 pm flight, the EA gate agent refused to allow us to board.   Some of you were praying, because after being told we would need to return to GA either that night or spend the night and go back to GA in the m...

Mystery of the Woman on the beast. Revelation 17:7-8  And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.  8) The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.  John was told more about the beast and the great whore. The woman will be carried into power by the beast  that will ascend out of the bottomless pit. Thus, the power behind the mystery religion is satanic (Revelation 11:7).  John also reminds us of the deadly wound and supernatural recovery of the beast by saying that he saw the beast, then it "was not" which refers to the fatal wound he will suffer. The beast will ascend or will co...

I previously noted that the global religious system of Babylon will be judged in Revelation 18 and the global economic/political system of Babylon will be judged in Revelation 18. As we study through Revelation it seems apparent that the ancient city of Babylon will be rebuilt at some point in the future. I already mentioned some of the more recent work that has been done in this regard.   The following link will take you to an excellent and understandable article "Babylon in Bible Prophecy" published by Thomas D. Ice, Director of Pre-Trib Research at Liberty University. I think you will find this article offers helpful insight.    https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1090&context=pretrib_arch The woman clothed in scarlet & purple. Revelation 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten hor...

  Photo of a 2 euro coin that has a woman seated on a beast. The woman is Europa being abducted by Zeus in the form of a bull. Thus modern currency seems to promote the ancient Babylonian/Greek/Roman idolatry.  Our God graciously revealed what is going to take place during the "End Times." The phrase  "great day of the LORD"  is found 31 times in the Bible and this refers to the End Times when God will put down all rebellion.  Let us think about 4 of these "day of the LORD" texts from Isaiah because they give us a good foundation to understand what that day will be like. This day of the LORD will come in Revelation 19 and is connected with the battle of Armageddon.  Proud rebels will be crushed. Isaiah 2:12  For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: Notice who will be the object of Jehovah's wrath in the Day of the LORD. It will be ...

The 7th Vial Finishes all Judgment. Revelation 16:17-21  And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.  18) And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.  19) And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.  20) And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.  21) And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.  The seventh angel will pour out his vial and the voice of God in heaven will declare "It is done." This mea...

We are ready to look into Revelation 16.  Romans 12:19  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  As we look into the final 7 judgments of God upon the world, I was reminded of Paul's words to believers. We are not to seek revenge on those who do wrong to us. We are to give that to the Lord and He will ultimately take care of it. What we see unfolding throughout the book of Revelation is this truth: "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Holy God will be measuring out His wrath against all who are unholy, ungodly. (Photo of valley of Megiddo where War of Armageddon will be fought) The voice of God commands the 7 angels. Revelation 16:1  And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.  We will see rapid progression toward the end of all prophe...