Exercise your body and exercise your faith

Regular exercise is not only a preventive measure, it also works to maintain health at its best. There are many benefits of physical exercise. In the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs); exercise is one of the key ways in the fight against NCDs. Remember to maintain a regular exercise program even during the COVID 19 Lockdown.

Other researchers postulate that “Exercise may help reduce risk of deadly COVID-19” (Exercise may help reduce risk of deadly COVID 19 complication theconversation.com) And according to WHO, “Regular physical activity benefits both the body and mind. It can reduce high blood pressure, help manage weight and reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and various cancers - all conditions that can increase susceptibility to COVID-19.” (www.who.int> #HealthAtHome)

The following are the Benefits of exercise; Energy; Endurance; Flexibility; Strength; Firm body; Glowing complexion; Mental health; Self-confidence, and Enhanced immunity. In addition to these it has been observed that exercise decreases risk of anxiety; cancer; depression; diabetes; heart disease; hypertension; obesity; osteoporosis; stress; and other diseases.

There are three general types of exercise namely i. Aerobic, or endurance exercise; Ii. Flexibility, or stretching exercise; Iii. and Strength-building exercise such as resistance training and weight lifting. Although all are important, aerobic exercise is highly recommended because of its positive effect on the total cardiovascular and pulmonary systems and the body as a whole. Experts actually recommend 30 minutes of continuous aerobic exercise each day. If you cannot do Aerobic; Flexibility, and Strength-building exercise; you can walk. “Walking, in all cases where it is possible, is the best exercise, because in walking, all the muscles are brought into action.” (“The Health Reformer,” July 1, 1872.)

Just as regular aerobic exercise helps us live better, so it is with the exercise of faith, trusting God to lead our lives according to His loving prescription for health. “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isa. 40:29-31).

Faith is like a muscle, you have to exercise it every day to make it strong. Allow Jesus the master instructor/coach to take you through the spiritual workout. Read the Bible daily and apply it in your life; Pray daily; Share Jesus’ love with others, engage in acts of service and Allocate time for fellowship and worship. We need to exercise our faith for it to get stronger. If we don’t exercise our faith; we will become weak. Walking is the best physical activity and from the Bible we learn that Enoch Walked with God 

Enoch had a great exercise…He “WALKED with God”.  The word walking in this context is NOT speaking about the physical exercise of placing one foot in front of the other, it is referring to a lifestyle. Exercising faith is about a lifestyle, A lifestyle that is in harmony with the will of God.

What are the characteristics of walking with God or Living The Christian Life? Walking with God means Going in His direction, Proceeding /and becoming more consistent in one’s walk with God, Moving at God’s pace, Progressing and getting close to Christ, and the reward/outcome is a permanent destination (heavenly kingdom). The concept of Walking with God is about a lifestyle. The Hebrew phrase or idiom that is translated ‘walking with God’ is used to describe GOD’S lifestyle. So, for Enoch to be able to walk with God, he had to be going in God’s direction. Walking with God is going in His direction.

We need to go in God’s direction and not our own and this implies responding to God’s revelation in one’s life. Enoch, responded to God’s revelation in his life each day. Whatever God disclosed to him, he accepted it as the way that he should live. Walking with God entails Following the example of Jesus.

Following the teachings and example of Jesus Christ is walking with God. “…the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked…“…those who say they live in God should live their lives as Christ did… “(1 John 2;6). 

NB* God’s way is clearly the best way we can travel, regardless of what we feel or think. Enoch distinguished himself  in that he chose to follow the best way of following God’s way. There are however times when walking with God may not be the most comfortable or most convenient way. Even in such situations; we need to take note that walking with God is the best way. Walking with God is not always comfortable because walking with God has to do with traveling AGAINST so many other people going the WRONG way. Through it all we need to keep it in our minds that Walking with God is the best way to go.

We need to proceed at God’s pace. This means that we need to accept God’s timing; we must not try to set the pace. God’s pace is the perfect pace. His timing is perfect timing. There are times when we feel that God is moving too fast and times when we feel that God is not moving fast enough.  God changes the speed of His kingdom work according to what He sees fit. Enoch found that God varied his leadership, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, and sometimes God simply chooses to wait. Through all the various ways that God chooses to lead us; we need not to give up when His leading seem to a bit slow or even when we don’t seem to see the way.

Don’t quit even then: When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit. Rest if you must, but don’t quit. Life is queer with twists and turns, As every one of us sometimes learns, And many a fellow turns about, When he might have won had he stuck it out. Don’t give up though the pace seems slow, you may succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man; Often the struggler has given up, When he might have captured the victor’s cup; And he learned too late when the night came down, How close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out, The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are It may be near when it seems afar; So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit, It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit. (Author Unknown). So; continue walking.

We need to share an intimacy with God. Enoch had an intimate relationship with God for God took him without Enoch having to die. Walking together implies sharing feelings and becoming closer to each other. It means sharing one’s life with God and God sharing His life with you. God reveals himself; His love and concern for us through His Word. Walking with him means beginning to understand more and more about the nature and character of God. We need to be Going in God’s direction,  keeping up with God’s pace and become more and more intimate with God. These are the great characteristics of living the Christian life.

The Good news is that When we walk with God we are going to arrive at a destination. Because Enoch chose to walk with God; he reached his destination/paradise. It is good to start a journey, but it is not enough, we need to complete the journey. Walking with God leads us to a pilgrimage that ends in ultimate fellowship with God in heaven. That’s our destination, complete restoration of the the relationship that was severed in Eden.

You need to Read the Bible daily and apply it in our life, Pray daily, keep Sharing Jesus’ love with others, Engage in acts of service and allocate time for fellowship and worship. Walking with God means going in His direction, Proceed/become consistent in your walk with God, Move at God’s pace, Progress and get close to Christ, Complete the workout/journey The Destination is heavenly kingdom). Exercise your Body and exercise your faith.

Redeem the Time

Introduction: There are four ways to waste time: 1. doing nothing 2. not doing what one should do 3. doing things carelessly 4. doing it at the wrong time (Voltaire). It is my hope and prayer that each one of us will purpose in our hearts to avoid finding ourselves in one of these four situations.

Text for consideration: Ephesians 5:15, 16 ¹⁵ See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Message from the text 5:15–21: 1. Believers are to avoid foolishness and drunkenness. 2. They are to “walk circumspectly” (v. 15), 3. “understand what the will of the Lord is” (v. 17), 4. sing praises to the Lord (see v. 19). 5. redeem the time.

Key Word: redeeming the time. (ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιρόν).  (Exagorazonoi) τὸν καιρὸν ἐξαγοραζόμενοι). Exagorazonoi from ἐξαγοράζω exagorazo. Its translated: to buy up i.e. ransom, rescue from loss; making the most

Implications: Believers who await the Lord’s Return are to be as energized and become more careful in their use of the remaining time as are bargain hunters during a brief sale offering large discounts. “Redeem” ALSO implies the preciousness of the opportune season, a jewel to be bought at any price. “Watch the time, and make it your own so as to control it; as merchants look out for opportunities, and accurately choose out the best goods; serve not the time, but command it, and it shall do what you approve. (Tittmann,)

Redeem the time: 1. TAKE TIME TO PRAY 2. TAKE TIME TO READ SCRIPTURE 3. TAKE TIME TO WITNESS 4. TAKE TIME TO ENGANGE IN ACTS OF SERVICE 5. TAKE TIME TO FELLOWSHIP 6. TAKE TIME TO WORK 7. TAKE TIME TO REST

Take time to Pray: 1. Allocate time for Prayer: Rom 12:12; 1 John 5:14-15; Dan 6:11

TAKE TIME TO PRAY: Seek communion with God and enter into a; dialogue with your Creator. Prayer allows us to step back, to find peace in turmoil and stress, and helps us to refocus and concentrate on what is really important in life. Taking time to pray helps us grow in our relationship with God. There may be periods in our lives, when we do not feel like praying, but even then it is good to tell God how we feel and thereby maintain contact with the Lord.

ALLOCATE TIME FOR READING SCRIPTURE: 2. Reading Scripture Col 3:16; Acts 17:11; Josh 1:8. We need to take some time to read Scripture on a regular basis, at least once a day, because through Scripture God speaks in a special way to us, keeping the channels of communication open. Scripture allows us to understand God, to meet Jesus, and to discern what is good and what is God’s will for us.

ALLOCATE TIME FOR WITNESSING: 3. Witnessing: Matt 10:32; 2 Cor 5:20. Taking time to share our faith is beneficial to others, for they have a chance to get to know Jesus and/or understand Scripture in a deeper way. We too are blessed because speaking about God helps us to deepen our relationship with Him.

ALLOCATE TIME FOR ACTS OF SERVICE: 4. Service: Luke 10:25-37; Matt 5:7; Matt 22:37-39. Part of the Christian life includes serving others: family, friend, and neighbors. Showing love to our neighbors can come in many creative ways, e.g. sharing a meal; watching their children and assisting them in difficult times. Service also includes involvement in various activities and responsibilities in the church.

ALLOCATE TIME FOR FELLOWSHIP: 5. Fellowship: Acts 2:46-47; Heb 10:24-25. Time spent with believers/family is very important. Typically, we are stronger together than we are alone.  In Christian fellowship we find support, encouragement, and our faith is strengthened. We can also be a blessing to our brothers and sisters.

ALLOCATE TIME FOR WORK: 6. Work: Gen 1:28; 2:15, 19-20; 1 Thess. 4:11; Some consider work to be a curse, but it is a blessing to be able to achieve something. It provides satisfaction and fulfillment. Adam and Eve were involved in meaningful work even before the Fall. Although work has to some extent become burdensome (Gen 3:17-18), it still has positive aspects. It is even mentioned in the Ten Commandments (Exod. 20:9-11) and Paul warns against idleness (2 Thess. 3:10).

ALLOCATE TIME FOR REST: 7. Rest: Mark 6:30-32; Exod 20:8-11; Scripture also speaks about rest—even an entire day of rest, the Sabbath. Rest is important for our health and for being able to function well. There must be a healthy rhythm between work and rest. The Sabbath is given once a week not only for recuperation but also for communion with God, service for Him, and fellowship with family and friends.

CONCLUSION: One of the most precious gifts we have received from God is time. We belong to God, and our time also belongs to Him. We are asked to use this gift in a productive way. We are admonished to follow God’s  guiding principles about how to be good faithful stewards of time.

By following these principles our lives are enriched and glorify God. We also demonstrate that we are completely committed to the Lord, and that He in turn will guide us into a deeper understanding of Him and His plan for us..

Redeem the time: 1. TAKE TIME TO PRAY; 2. TAKE TIME TO READ SCRIPTURE; 3. TAKE TIME TO WITNESS; 4. TAKE TIME TO ENGANGE IN ACTS OF SERVICE; 5. TAKE TIME TO FELLOWSHIP; 6. TAKE TIME TO WORK; 7. TAKE TIME TO REST

THE SEVEN (7) HEADS OF THE BEAST IN REVELATION 17

Revelation 17 vividly describes a beast with seven heads (v. 3). Subsequently, an interpreting angel explains to John the Revelator that these heads represent seven consecutive kings: five have fallen, the sixth is, and the seventh king is yet to come (v. 10). When he comes, he will remain only for a short time. Along with an eighth king, the whole beast will go to destruction (v. 11).

The prostitute riding the beast

Revelation 17 is delineated into two parts: (1) the vision (17:1–6a), in which John the revelator observes a woman who is depicted as a prostitute riding the beast; and (2) the audition (17:6b–18), in which the interpreting angel explains to John the meaning of the vision of the prostitute and the beast that carries her.

In the vision, John is invited to witness the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters, seductively deceiving the inhabitants of the earth (vv. 1, 2). This woman is subsequently identified as “ ‘Babylon the great, the mother of harlots’ ” (v. 5).¹ In the Hebrew Scriptures, a prostitute symbolically refers to God’s people in their apostasy (Isa. 1:21; Jer. 3:1; Ezek. 16; 23; Hosea 3; 4). The portrayal of the prostitute in Revelation 17 shows that she represents an entity that was once faithful to God before aligning herself with the end-time opponent of God and His faithful remnant. Babylon is thus a corporate name for an end-time apostate entity.

Note that the prostitute is first referenced to as sitting on “ ‘many waters’ ” (v. 1); however, when John actually sees her, she is seen as sitting on a scarlet beast (v. 3). This should not come as a surprise due to such a literary feature occurring regularly in the book (see Rev. 5:5, 6). Therefore, the waters and the beast are two symbols that represent the same reality. According to Revelation 17:5, the waters upon which the prostitute was seen symbolize the civil, secular, and political powers of the world. Jeremiah 51:13 shows that “many waters” refers to the Euphrates River. Just as the ancient Babylon depended on the Euphrates River for its existence, so will the end-time Babylon depend on the civil, secular, and politi­cal powers of the world to enforce its plans and purposes.

Furthermore, the beast stands as a symbol of a political power or system. That the prostitute Babylon sits (or rides) on the beast shows that this religious system will have control over these worldwide political powers at the end of time. Thus, the prophecy shows us that at the end of time, there will be a religious-political union when the political powers of the earth will unite with the end-time apostate religious system named Babylon.

THE THREE PHASES OF THE BEAST

In the second part of the chapter, John is described as greatly aston­ished when he sees the prostitute. He recognizes in her the woman that had fled into the wilderness in order to escape the persecution of the dragon during the prophetic 1,260-day period of the Middle Ages (Rev. 12:13, 14). In response to John’s astonishment, the interpreting angel promises to disclose the “ ‘mystery’ ” of the prostitute and of the scarlet beast that carries her as well as their function at the time of the end (Rev. 17:7).

John describes the beast as the one that “ ‘was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss’ ” (v. 8). This identification of the beast brings to mind the divine title “ ‘who was and who is and who is to come’ ” (Rev. 4:8). Thus, this title identifies the beast as a parody of God. However, this tripartite formula also shows that the beast has passed through three phases of exis­tence. This, in turn, links the scarlet beast of Revelation 17 with the sea beast of Revelation 13 (cf. Rev. 13:1 with 17:3).²

First, the beast “was.” In other words, this beast existed in the past. The “was” phase of the beast refers to its activities during the prophetic period of 1,260 days or years (Rev. 13:5). The year A.D. 538 marked the beginning of this prophetic period when the church of western Europe, led by the Roman papacy, established itself as an ecclesiastical power and dominated the Western world throughout the Middle Ages. In our time characterized by religious tolerance, such statements can be regarded as harsh and unfair; but the present reality cannot erase the historical facts.

Furthermore, the beast came into its “is not” phase of existence in 1798 when, as a result of the events of the French Revolution, it sustained its deadly wound (Rev. 13:3). This brought an end to the church’s oppressive political power. The beast disappeared for some time from the world’s scene, yet it survived.

Third, with the healing of the deadly wound, the beast will resur­rect to life in full satanic rage against God’s faithful people. The prophecy thus shows that the religious-political oppressive system that dominated the world during the Middle Ages will be revived at the time of the end and will dominate the world as it did in the past. This revival of the beast will fill the inhabitants of the world with awe and admiration (Rev. 13:8; 17:8b).

Therefore, Revelation 17 clearly describes the sea beast of Revelation 13 at the time when its deadly wound has been healed. Upon this resur­rected beast, John sees the end-time prostitute Babylon sitting. Thus, the end-time religious system that will play a key role in the final conflict is a continuation of the religious-political power that harmed and oppressed God’s people during the prophetic 1,260-day period of the Middle Ages.

Revelation thus tells us that reli­gion will once again dominate and control politics as it did in the past, albeit for a short time. However, there is a noticeable difference between its power during the medieval period and the time of the end. While the sea beast, representing the medieval church, was a religious-political power, the scarlet beast is exclusively a politi­cal power. These two are distinct at the end of time.

THE SEVEN HEADS OF THE BEAST

This brings us to our key passage of Revelation 17:9–11: “ ‘Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction.’ ”

The text opens with a call for “wisdom” as a prerequisite to under­standing the meaning of the heads of the beast. The wisdom that John calls for here is the same wisdom that was spoken of in connection with the number of the beast (Rev. 13:18). This wisdom refers to spiritual discern­ment that can only be imparted by the Holy Spirit, rather than through brilliant mental and intellectual ability (James 1:5). Only through this divinely imparted wisdom will the faithful be able to discern the true character of this end-time satanic power.

Moving forward, we may see that the beast has seven heads like the red dragon (or Satan) of Revelation 12:3. The existence of the beast remains inseparable from its heads. Throughout history, the beast has solely ruled and been active through the agency of its heads. When one of the heads receives a deadly blow, the whole beast dies (cf. Rev. 13:12–14). This brings us to a need for a closer look as to what these heads represent.

“‘The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits’ ” (Rev. 17:9). We see a new symbol added here. At first, we were told that the woman sat on “ ‘many waters’ ” (v. 1), and then, on the scarlet beast (v. 3); now, the angel explains that she actually sits on seven mountains. The waters, the beast, and the mountains are different symbols for the civic, secular, and political powers (cf. v. 15) that will provide popular support to Babylon as the end-time apostate religious system. We must keep in mind that Revelation does not deal with individual personalities, whether past or present, but rather with systems and world powers—whether political or religious.

The Greek word oros means “mountain,”not “hill,” as some translators suggest in order to show that the city of Rome, situated on seven hills, is in view here. However, since the seven mountains in Revelation 17 are successive, they cannot be interpreted in a literal manner. In the Old Testament, mountains often represent world powers or empires (Jer. 51:25; Ezek. 35:2–5; Dan. 2:35). For instance, the kingdom of Judah in the Old Testament is often referred to as Mount Zion (Ps. 48:1–3; Isa. 29:8).

The angel clearly does not refer to literal mountains since he immediately explains to John that these seven mountains actually represent “seven kings” (Rev. 17:10). However, these cannot be interpreted as individual kings, for at least three reasons. First of all, we have established that Revelation does not deal with individual personalities but systems. Second, these seven kings are equated with the seven mountains—a symbol of kingdoms or empires. Third, in the Old Testament, “kings” is another expression for kingdoms or empires (Dan. 2:37–39; 7:17).

 THE SEVEN HEADS AS SUCCESSIVE EMPIRES 

Based on biblical evidence, the interpretation that makes the most sense is that the seven mountains, upon which the prostitute Babylon sits, stand for the seven successive empires that dominated the world throughout history and through which Satan worked to oppose God.3 These empires possessed common traits of religious-political governance and coercion, which they used to cause harm and persecute God’s people.

As the angel further explains to John from his time’s perspective, five of these kingdoms have fallen, one is, and the seventh one would appear sometime in the future. As previously explained, this cryptic text has generated numerous speculative interpretations, primarily due to the interpreters’ failure to note that the meaning of these successive kingdoms was explained to John in the context of his own time—not ours. Nowhere in the text does it indicate that John was transported to another time; the angel simply explains to him what he had already seen previously in the vision.

Therefore, the key to decoding the meaning of these seven heads lies in the sixth kingdom, which is described as “is.” This “is” refers to John’s time. John lived in the time of the sixth head—the Roman Empire. The five that had fallen were thus the empires that ruled the world and caused harm to God’s people prior to the time of John: (1) Egypt was the world power that enslaved and oppressed Israel, seeking to destroy her; (2) Assyria destroyed and scattered the ten tribes of Israel;
(3) Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and exiled Judah; (4) Persia almost annihilated the Jews at the time of Esther; (5) Greece oppressed and tried to destroy the Jews through Antiochus Epiphanes.

The seventh kingdom that “has not yet come” refers to the medieval papacy that, from John’s time perspective, would be manifested in the future from John’s time—after the fall of the Roman Empire. The angel further explained that the scarlet beast itself is a part of the phase of the eighth head, the world power that is to come at the time of the end. Yet, it is one of the previously noted seven heads. Although this eighth head is one of the previous seven, it is considered a new power. Which of the seven? Most likely the seventh head, which previously experienced the deadly wound but comes back to life after its wound has healed.

This seventh power will reappear as the eighth head at the end of time and will exercise the same authority as it did during the Middle Ages. During the time of the eighth head, the scarlet beast carries the prostitute Babylon. We now live in the era of the seventh head, for the eighth head has not yet gained its power. However, it will appear on the world scene at the time of the end and will impose its rule on the inhabitants of the earth.

“HE MUST REMAIN A SHORT TIME”

Current misinterpretations of this phrase have construed the phrase to mean that the seventh pope will rule for a short amount of time. The Greek adjectival word for the temporal phrase “a short time” used here is  oligon, which means “a short time” or “a little while.” This word is different from micron, used in Revelation to indicate shortness of time (see Rev. 6:11; 20:3). In contrast, oligon does not indicate a length of time but is rather used in a qualitative sense. For instance, Revelation 12:12 states that having been cast out of heaven, Satan realizes that he has only “ ‘a short time [oligon kairon].’ ”This “short time” does not refer to a length of time for it has been thousands of years since Satan’s expulsion from heaven—another way of saying that Satan’s time is limited, just as a person sentenced to death realizes that he or she only has “a short time” despite the fact that the execution may take place many years later. 

This same meaning for the Greek word oligon is also found in Revelation 17:10. That the seventh power must remain for a short time does not point to the length of time—a short period of existence; rather, it is a different way of stating that the existence of this power is determined by God (“it must remain”) and that it will come to its end, as is in the case of Satan in Revelation 12:12. The seventh power will receive a deadly wound: an event that took place with the events of the French Revolution in 1798.

CONCLUSION

This brief analysis shows that the seven successive heads of the beast of Revelation 17 represent the seven kingdoms or empires that existed in history rather than individual kings: five were in existence prior to the time of John, the sixth was Rome (according to John’s time), and the seventh was the medieval papacy that was to come in the future from John’s perspective. Such an understanding is based on careful textual analysis, founded upon the principles of biblical hermeneutics. The idea that the seven heads refer to individual kings, which are to rep­resent the seven popes since 1929, is not in agreement with the text. Such an interpretation is speculative and superimposed upon the biblical text.

Revelation itself gives a warning against adding or removing from the words of the prophecy of the book (Rev. 22:18, 19). The book of Revelation is the word of God given by Christ (Rev. 1:2). Tampering with the prophe­cies of Revelation carries far-reaching consequences—eternal loss. To those who add to the prophetic words of the book, God will add to them the plagues described in the book. This warning does not refer to a tampering with the actual words of Revelation—as if some concept of verbal inspiration was at stake. Adding to the words of Revelation’s prophecies has to do with distorting and misinterpreting the prophecies of Revelation to suit one’s own purposes. This also has to do with enforcing speculative ideas and views not warranted by the text. We must stay with what John clearly states in the text and shun any speculations not warranted by the text.

In dealing with the prophecies of Revelation, we must let the Bible inter­pret itself. We must be careful not to speculate beyond what the prophecy has revealed to us. Any interpretation based on headline news or current events for the purpose of date setting and popular excitement is speculative and subjective. Such interpretations never result in the strengthening of our faith in prophecy; in actuality, they weaken our confidence in it. When understood properly, the prophecies of Revelation have practical purposes: to teach us how to live today and prepare us for the future. A right understanding of prophecy will also inspire and motiv­ate us to try to reach others with the gospel message.

References:

1 Unless otherwise noted, scripture references are from the NASB.

2 For a different view, see Ekkehardt Mueller, “The Beast of Revelation 17: A Suggestion (Part I),” Journal of Asia Adventist Seminary 10, no.1 (2007): 38–40.

3 William Johnsson, “The Saints’End-Time Victory Over the Forces of Evil,” in Symposium on Revelation—Book 2, Daniel and Revelation Committee Series 7 (Silver Spring, MD: Biblical Research Institute, 1992), 17.

Source: https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/2013/12/the-seven-heads-of-the-beast-in-revelation-17