My oldest granddaughter just got married in my backyard! The detail of preparation was intense, but so worth it when the moment came for the “first look”. Our Bridegroom, Jesus, is coming! What are you doing to prepare for the first look? While no one knows the day or the hour of His return, Jesus Himself instructed His disciples repeatedly to be ready….
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and Matthew 25:1-13
I. BY BEING FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
*In your own words describe the event Paul is referring to in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
*Do you think this event is symbolic, spiritual, or a literal event that will take place in human history? Give Biblical reasons for your answer.
*What additional information about this future event do you learn from 1 Corinthians 15:51-57? Matthew 24:36-42? Matthew 25:1-13?
*How are we encouraged to use this information? 1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11; John 14:1-3.
*If Jesus returns tomorrow what will you wish you had done differently today?
II. BY BEING FAITHFUL IN THE PRESENT
*How should our focus on the future impact the way we live today? 1 John 2:28-3:3.
*According to the following verses in what other ways are we to be faithful in the present? Matthew 24:42-44; 25:13.
*What do you think it means practically to “watch”?
*Why do we need to be intentional about watching? 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4; 2 Peter 3:10; Luke 12:38-40; Revelation 16:15.
*What are some of the consequences of not watching? Matthew 24:48-51; 25:1-13.
*What is another way we can be faithful at present? Matthew 24:45-47; John 9:4; Luke 12:35-38.
*If Jesus returns tomorrow, what will you be glad you did today?
III. BY BEING FILLED EVERY MOMENT
*Read Matthew 25:1-13.
*What did all 10 of the virgins have in common?
*How are all 10 virgins representative of the organized, church today?
*What was the primary difference between the two groups of five?
*What do you think the oil represents?
*How does this difference also exist in the church today?
*In light of 1 Thessalonians 4:16, what do you think the midnight cry represents?
*What was the reason the bridegroom didn’t let the foolish virgins into the wedding banquet?
*Relate this to Matthew 7:21-23; John 3:5-6; Romans 8:9; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22.
*Give one action item from each pair of verses that, taken together, insure you are one of the wise virgins: Romans 3:23 with 1 John 1:9; Acts 2:38 with Acts 3:19; John 3:16 with Romans 10:9-10; Revelation 3:20 with John 1:12; John 14:16-17 with Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 5:15-18 with 2 Peter 3:14.
*If Jesus returns at midnight, are you ready?
If you are ready, what will you do to help others get ready? And if you are not ready, what will you do to get ready yourself? Do it now.
This Bible study was prepared especially for the Summer 2023 Newsletter.
The fact that Jesus is coming for His bride isn’t debatable. The Bible is clear. He will come for us in one of two ways. Either He will come for us at our death, or He will come for us at what is referred to as the Rapture—when believers will be caught up to meet Him in the air, as Paul described in 1 Thessalonians 4. While old age or infirmity may alert us that our physical death is near, the return of Jesus at the Rapture will occur suddenly, with no warning beyond the signs given in Scripture. How do I know? Because He said so! And He is The Truth. He clearly stated that He would come again to receive us to Himself.1 If I believe what He said about sin, salvation, forgiveness, the love of God the Father, eternal life, His own identity, and all the other big truths,2 then it stands to reason that what He said about His return is equally true. Jesus is coming! “The glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” is imminent!3
We live in a world filled with blasphemy, obscenity, profanity, and outright rebellion against God; a world that is morally, spiritually, and environmentally filthy; a world of selfishness, greed, pride, abuse, where the family unit is being destroyed;4 a world of hate, rage, lies, corruption, cruelty, confusion, lawlessness, and delusion. But make no mistake: our blessed hope is that a new world is coming! Even now it is being prepared as a Home for the Son’s bride. And when all preparations are complete, He will come, whether or not we are ready.
The ten young women in Jesus’ story in Matthew 25:1-13 had several things in common: Each had a lamp, which represents a profession of faith. Each believed and expected that the bridegroom was coming. Eventually, all grew so tired of waiting when he seemed to tarry that they went to sleep. But there was also one life-changing, destiny-altering difference: Five of the young women had oil for their lamps, and five of the young women had none. Throughout Scripture, oil represents the Holy Spirit. In other words, half of those waiting for the bridegroom’s coming were ready because they had a personal relationship with Jesus and were indwelt by the Holy Spirit, while the other half had only a profession of faith. They looked the part, they were religious, but they had no oil—no indwelling of the Holy Spirit. They had never been born again. Jesus said earlier that while some people may know His Word, they don’t live it out.5 The apostle Paul described such people as “having a form of godliness but denying its power”.6 In His story, Jesus called them “foolish”.
To be honest, it can be very difficult for you and me to tell the difference between wise and foolish people, between those who have an authentic relationship with God through faith in Jesus and those who are simply outwardly religious. Jesus told this story not to prompt us to speculate about or be judgmental of others, but to stir us to examine our own hearts. From His point of view, are you wise or foolish? Do you have the oil of the indwelling Holy Spirit? If the answer is yes, praise God! And do all that you can to get someone else ready, too!
For His Glory,
Adapted from Preparing to Meet Jesus, 2023, pages 186-188.
1 John 14:3; Revelation 22:20.
2 John 3:16–17; 5:17–21; 11:25–26.
3 Titus 2:13.
4 2 Timothy 3:1–4.
5 Matthew 7:26–27.
6 2 Timothy 3:5.
My oldest granddaughter just got married in my backyard! The detail of preparation was intense, but so worth it when the moment came for the “first look”. Our Bridegroom, Jesus, is coming! What are you doing to prepare for the first look? While no one knows the day or the hour of His return, Jesus Himself instructed His disciples repeatedly to be ready….
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and Matthew 25:1-13
I. BY BEING FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
*In your own words describe the event Paul is referring to in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
*Do you think this event is symbolic, spiritual, or a literal event that will take place in human history? Give Biblical reasons for your answer.
Four days after returning from Israel, my oldest granddaughter, Bell, was married in my backyard. The preparation for that moment was intense, but well worth all the time and effort. I love this picture when she and her father stepped out of the house. We could all see that she was excited and ready to meet her bridegroom.
One of the highlights of our Refresh Your Faith tour in Israel was the boat ride we took on Galilee. I encouraged the ladies to remember that when storms arise in our lives as they did for the disciples, the wind and waves still obey His voice.
One of the joys of the Israel tour was to share it with my daughters, Rachel-Ruth and Morrow, and two of my granddaughters, Sophia and Riggin. They all took good care of me as was evident as we walked down the steep Palm Sunday road.
On our Israel tour we crossed into the Palestinian territory of Jericho. Rachel-Ruth taught on Bartimaeus as the crowds who had gathered for an environmental rally swirled around her. She kept her focus and concentration in the midst of the chaos and delivered a moving message of hope.
Writing a book is like having a baby! It requires enormous time and effort. When it’s published, we are excited and can’t wait to find out what everyone thinks! How we pray you will be as excited and blessed in reading Preparing to Meet Jesus as Rachel-Ruth and I were when writing it!
My daughter, Morrow, and her husband, Traynor, hosted my entire family for my 75th birthday dinner! Front row, from left to right: my son Jonathan, my granddaughter Bell and her fiancé (now husband) Sean; second row, my granddaughter Sophia, me, and my granddaughter Riggin; third row: Traynor and Morrow; top row, Steven and Rachel-Ruth. Being together was the best birthday present ever!
Preparing to Meet Jesus is based on the Biblical account in Genesis that describes Abraham sending his servant to find a suitable bride for his son Isaac. It details how the faithful servant found Rebekah, a woman of remarkable character who met the father’s criteria. That story is an allegory of God the Father who sends His Servant, the Holy Spirit, to find a desirable Bride for His Son Jesus. With this in mind, Anne and Rachel-Ruth explore 21 characteristics of Rebekah that the Father desires to be found in the Bride of His Son. They have used each of these characteristics as the basis for a twenty-one-day challenge, with prompts for reflection and prayer, to prepare you for the critical moment of the “first look”, so that you are transformed into a beautiful “Bride who has made Herself ready” (Revelation 19:7).
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As our world melts down into chaos, corruption and confusion with disasters, dangers, and disease all around us, we need to know where we are headed.
REVEALED BY GOD Revelation 1:1
*Who is revealed by God? v.1; John 1:1-5,14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 22:13
*What is revealed by God?
*What detail does Jesus reveal concerning the End? Matthew 24:14
*How does Jesus encourage us as we look to the End? Matthew 28:20
RECORDED BY JOHN Revelation 1:2
*How does John describe his authorship of the book of Revelation? v.2
*What difference does it make to you that Revelation is John’s eyewitness account of the End?
READ BY YOU AND ME Revelation 1:3
*Why is it important to know the End? v.3; Hebrews 2:1; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:7; Titus 2:11-13
*What do you think is the unique blessing given to those who continually read and study Revelation?
Make time to read the book of Revelation, focusing not on all the symbolism, but focusing on Jesus. You will be blessed!
This Bible study was prepared especially for the Spring 2023 Newsletter.
The church in Liberia, Africa, was cut off from the rest of the world during that country’s bloody civil war. The pastor of a church in the capital city of Monrovia, writing his Christmas letter by candlelight to the leaders of his denomination, expressed the hope of his heart: “My candle is soon to go out, but the sun is rising. And who needs a candle when you have the Son?”
What has caused you to feel that the candle of hope in your life is soon to go out? Soaring inflation that is straining your budget to the breaking point? Bloody civil war in your city? Discord in your marriage? Turmoil in your business? Division in your church? Disease and death seem to be all around us. Is the source of your hopelessness nothing you can really pinpoint, just a general feeling of depression, disillusionment, discouragement, distress, or defeat?
The Old Testament describes how, for approximately fourteen years after David was anointed by God as king over His people, he did not sit on the throne. His enemy, Saul, was in power, and during that time he desperately did all he could to destroy David and those who were loyal to him.
Four hundred men from all walks of life became terrified of Saul. To them, he seemed invincible in his power and immovable from his position of authority. Faced with Saul’s seemingly permanent rule over them, the four hundred men became discontented, distressed, and discouraged in their daily life. Their candle of hope went out.
Then they heard about David. They heard that he was God’s anointed king. They heard that one day he would rule from the throne in Jerusalem. They heard of his victory over Goliath and the Philistine army, and of his repeated skirmishes with Saul and other enemies. They heard he was a courageous, compassionate leader who was undefeated in battle. So these four hundred men forsook everything and put all their hope in David. “All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader.”1
David, as a king in exile, became a rallying point for God’s people. His leadership in their lives, even before he ruled from the throne in Jerusalem, radically changed their perspective of the present as well as of the future. David gave them hope!
The four hundred men who lived with him, fought for him and placed all their hope in him became David’s mighty men. And when he was crowned king of Israel, they reigned with him.
In one sense, the Lord Jesus Christ is God’s anointed King in exile. The enemies—Satan, self, and sin—reign supreme on His earthly throne of authority. Often these “kings”, like King Saul, seem to be invincible in their power and immovable in their position, causing our candle of hope to flicker and falter.
But we have heard of the King! We have heard of God’s anointed One! We have heard of His courageous and compassionate leadership! We have heard of His amazing exploits and His victories in battle! When our candle flickers, our hope in Him ignites the fire of our hearts in devoted faithfulness to Him. Perhaps our candle of hope has almost gone out, “but the sun is rising. And who needs a candle when you have the Son”?
The vision of His glory is the King’s rallying cry to His people, challenging us to place all our hope in Him. Make Him your priority! Give Him your loyalty! Fan the flame of your love for Him! Live for Him! Serve Him! Be faithful to the King in exile! One day, you will reign with Him!
For His Glory,
Adapted from The Vision of His Glory, 1996, pages 195-196.
As our world melts down into chaos, corruption and confusion with disasters, dangers, and disease all around us, we need to know where we are headed.
REVEALED BY GOD Revelation 1:1
*Who is revealed by God? v.1; John 1:1-5,14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 22:13
*What is revealed by God?
*What detail does Jesus reveal concerning the End? Matthew 24:14
The National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance was held at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, on February 1st. Approximately 450 people attended, including two senators and about forty representatives. Four speakers were each given 7 minutes to give assigned challenges regarding personal, church, and national repentance. I was the first, challenging those present to look up, ask God for a fresh vision of Jesus, then to have the courage to see ourselves as He does. Each message was followed by those who led in prayer for the different segments. I believe Heaven was moved! One week later, revival broke out at Asbury University, and is even now rippling across America. Praise God! To watch the National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance, please click here.
On March 1st I was given the privilege of sharing a message at the Wednesday night service at Maranatha Chapel in San Diego, CA. I had double ear infections and a cough that wouldn’t quit, but my condition was undetectable while on the platform. God’s grace and strength were absolutely sufficient in my weakness. Approximately 8 to 10 people raised their hands in response to the invitation, committing their lives to Jesus. I left praising God for His great faithfulness!
Rachel-Ruth and I did a sit-down interview with 100 Huntley Street, the longest running daily Canadian talk show. The producer graciously allowed us to take the interview by Zoom to spare us the trip to Toronto. Mark Masri was a warm and encouraging host as he led the discussion on Jesus Followers. It aired February 6th, then was followed all month by ten separate interviews Rachel-Ruth did on her own. The producer described it as “rich and deep and filled with hope.” Once again, God was faithful to us!
The coats on the backs of the chairs reveal San Diego was experiencing unprecedented extended cold, rainy weather. On March 3rd, my daughter, Rachel-Ruth, and I led a retreat for approximately 400 women of Harvest Fellowship, the church pastored by Greg Laurie. His beautiful wife, Cathe, hosted and the audience was as receptive and responsive as any I have spoken to recently. Still struggling with my double ear infections and persistent cough, once again God demonstrated His faithfulness to see me through, not just somehow, but triumphantly!
The first of the twenty books I have written was The Vision of His Glory: Finding Hope through the Revelation of Jesus Christ. It won a Gold Medallion Award from the ECPA for excellence. Several months ago the publisher asked if I would record an audio book, which I had not done before, and was delighted to do. As I recorded, I was struck by how timeless and thrilling the content is. Revelation tells us what our world is coming to, and it’s glorious!
If you have never read the book of Revelation, or sometime in the past, you tried to read it but lost your way or grew weary, this book will guide you to a fresh understanding of the End. This edition of The Vision of His Glory contains an in-depth devotional guide to help you explore the book of Revelation in a personal and practical way, either on your own or in a group.
With skilled teaching, an inspiring sense of wonder, practical insight and heart-touching parables, Anne brings clarity to the glorious pageantry and imagery of the book of Revelation. Sharing her passion for God’s Word, she will lead you step by step through John’s eyewitness account of God’s plan for our future. The Vision of His Glory brings you to an intimate encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, our one Source of true, life-changing hope.
A 21-DAY CHALLENGE
TO MOVE FROM SALVATION
TO TRANSFORMATION
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Living in an increasing spiritually dark world, write out in your own words the encouragement you receive from the following verses regarding…
God’s Word
Psalm 119:50; 89-90;105; 130; 165
Your Witness
Then put into your own words…
The Warning
What does God say will happen to a nation if it forsakes His word? Deuteronomy 28:15-20
What does Jesus say will happen to a person’s life, or to a nation, if God’s word is forsaken? Matthew 7:26-27
How do we overcome? Revelation 12:11
This Bible study was prepared especially for the Winter 2023 Newsletter.
