PENTECOST – 2000

“The Seven Church Harvest" #1 - Ephesus

Fred R. Coulter – April 29, 2000

 Well now we’ve gotten through the Feast of Unleavened Bread and all the meaning of that, and also during the Feast of Unleavened Bread we have the first connection between the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Pentecost.  And that is the Wave Sheaf Offering day.  And so I’ve already done the sermon on the Wave Sheaf Offering day, and let’s look at something which I think there’s a parallel with.  And that is you know that when you count to Pentecost that you are to count seven complete weeks and come to the 50^th day.  Now there’s a parallel with this concerning the harvest. 

Let’s begin by going to Matthew 13 because the harvest could not begin in Jerusalem, or around Jerusalem, until first the wave sheaf offering was cut.  And Edersheim, who wrote a book about the times and practices in Jerusalem in the time of Christ, showed that they had a special ceremony that they would do on the regular Sabbath during Unleavened Bread.  And that is they would have a team, officials.  There’d be priests and Levites and so forth.  And they would walk out to a special place on the mount of Olives where they had a special patch of barley.  This barley was to be used for the wave sheaf offering, the very first one.  So what they would do, they would have a man ready with a sickle.  And he was to cut.  But first there was someone who would ask, “Has the sun gone down?”  He would ask it three times, and they would time it in such a way that after the third time “Has the sun gone down?”  then they would cut that first sheaf. 

Now this first sheaf, as we know from Leviticus 23 is the primary sheaf, or the one that pictures Christ, meaning that He was the first one resurrected from the dead.  And the timing of it was exactly when He ended His three days and three nights in the tomb.  Now, He was the first of the firstfruits.  And as I pointed out in a sermon, He is the firstborn among many brethren.  And we are the Church of the firstborn.

Now let’s pick it up here and let’s see.  Matthew 13, we won’t go through all the parables, but it shows here in verse 23 the good seed.  “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Matt. 13:23).

Then the other parable is the one of the tares.  Now let’s come down here to verse 36.  “Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and His disciples came unto Him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.  He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one” (vs. 36-38).  And as we will see all the way through all the Churches of God, when we come to Revelation 2 and 3, there is this confrontation continuously between those who are of the children of the kingdom, have the Spirit of God, and those who are of the children of Satan the devil, the children of the wicked one. 

“The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world…”, or the end of the age.  And then so this shows that it is going to be a harvest.  And the harvest feast that we have that relates to this is the Feast of the Firstfruits, the harvest which is at the end of the 50 days.  Seven weeks plus one day.  “… And the reapers are the angels.”  And Jesus said that we would be brought up, you know resurrected, and the angels would take us up.  “As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.  The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (vs. 39-42).

Now let’s come here to Revelation 2 and 3 for just a minute and let’s see a parallel.  And as we look at this, before we go back and begin at the beginning of Revelation, let’s ask the question: why are there only seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3?  Now it’s interesting, Paul wrote to seven churches.  You have the epistles to the seven churches that he wrote.  And there’s one that’s overlapping, which is Ephesus.  Then there is mention in Colossians of Laodicea but we don’t have the letter from Laodicea.  Another thing that is interesting too is that all of these churches are Gentile churches.  Nothing whatsoever to do with any of the Jewish churches.  This is nothing of Jerusalem.  Furthermore it says nothing of Rome, says nothing of Corinth, or the other churches over in Greece.  All of these churches are connected by mail route, as we know by different commentaries in history concerning it. 

But what I want to show you is this: we have the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3, and I believe this represents the harvest of God down through time right to the end.  The seven churches represent the Church harvest.  Now when we come to Revelation 7 we have another harvest.  Revelation 7, what do we have?  The 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude.  This harvest is God’s special harvest, which we will see on Pentecost, that He sends the angels to seal with the Holy Spirit.  So this is quite different than what the Church does through baptism.  This harvest in Revelation 7, I believe, represents the 50^th day harvest and that is God’s harvest alone.  So you have the seven churches plus the harvest of Revelation 7, which then you could liken unto the eighth church if you want to put it that way.  Eight is the number of new beginning and this is a new beginning for all these people here that are called, beginning with the children of Israel and the great innumerable multitude. 

So that’s the overview with how it connects with Pentecost.  We know that the Church began on Pentecost with the giving of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2.  Now let’s look at some other things here.  Now Revelation means “the revealing”.  It says here the revelation…let’s come to chapter 1 and verse 1, we’ll read a few verses here, and then we will look at how some of these things have developed.

“The Revelation of Jesus Chris, which God gave unto Him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John: who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear [that is hear to understand] the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Rev. 1:1-3).  Now we can get an awful lot out of here.  First of all we have the word of God again, “…bare record of the word of God.  This ties in with John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…”.  So there’s the connection with that again.  “…And of the testimony of Christ…”, and the testimony of Christ is everything that He taught us of the Father.  And there is a blessing which comes from hearing it.  There’s a blessing which comes from reading it.  And there’s a blessing for keeping those things which are written therein.  And I think as we go through here we will see, not only do the people of God keep the commandments of God, but also especially in the seven churches, which we are going to take a quick overview of, is that they always fought the children of the wicked one.  So this harvest in Matthew 13 with the children of the kingdom and the children of the wicked one, here that battle is constantly going on and then manifests itself toward the end of the book of Revelation with the man of sin, the son of perdition, and the whole world going after the beast and the false prophet. 

Verse 4, “John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come…”  Now there are a lot of people who think that has to do with the trinity but it doesn’t because the One Who is, is Christ.  He was the One Who was dead, rose again, and which is to come. “…And from the seven Spirits which are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, and the first [born] begotten of the dead…”  Now that’s the way it should read.  Whenever it talks about “begotten” concerning Christ, it is He is the only begotten of the Father.  “Only begotten” in the Greek is monogenes.  And the “firstborn” is prototokos, meaning a birth, prototokos.  So this should be “firstborn from among the dead”, because that’s what all of this is about, how to receive eternal life, and that through Jesus Christ.

Now let’s understand something about the Church.  Let’s look at some basic things.  Let’s come back here to Matthew 16.  Christ is the head of the Church.  We’ve gone through that so many times, but we’re going to do it again.  Because His message to all of the churches is His message as the head of the Church.  Matthew 16:15.  After He asked the disciples who do men say He was, and they said some of them say He’s John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.  And He said to them, verse 15, “…But Whom say ye that I am?  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona [now Bar just means son, son of Jona]: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 16:15-17).  Now this is profound.  Who does the calling?  John 6:44, “None can come to Me unless the Father draw Him.”  So the Father is the One Who draws.  The Father is the One Who reveals. 

How is it that one day in your life you wanted to know about God and where the Church of God was?  How did that happen?  Something happened in your mind.  Something changed.  And that something that changed was the Father dealing with you with His Spirit.  Otherwise you’d still be out in the world doing what the world is doing.  And today there are so many things out there in the world that it’s really quite a profound thing to understand how God intervenes and deals in peoples lives.  There was a young man recently, who he said he, from a child he went to Sunday-keeping church.  And when he began to understand when he was a little older he would sit there in the Sunday-keeping church and say, “I wonder why we’re not keeping the Sabbath.  I wonder why we’re not keeping the Sabbath.”  See so even in that Sunday-keeping church God was beginning to deal with him, see. 

So one of the brethren back there in Dayton gave him the first four tapes on the “Holy Sabbath”, and he knew that was it.  He knew precisely that was it.  So here God had been dealing with him all this time and finally the knowledge of the Sabbath, you see.  And that was revealed not because the person gave him the tapes, that was only the vehicle to make it happen.  It was God the Father Who did it, see.  Just like here with Peter. 

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter…”, which means petros, a little stone. This is the great lie that the Pope repeats over and over again every time he gives a mass.  You are Peter, meaning himself.  And he sits in Peter’s throne and chair.  Not so.  Petros, means a little stone.  Hold your place here and go to John 1 and let’s show you.  The Aramaic word for Peter is Cephas.  John 1:42, “And he brought him to Jesus.  And when Jesus beheld him, He said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.”  And it really means a small stone.  Now if you’ve ever done any building you are not going to build on a small stone.  When they built their mammoth buildings, and we’ll see it talks about Christ as the chief cornerstone in just a bit, that was a cornerstone not a capstone.  A cornerstone because it’s a foundational stone, and that stone has to be perfect.  Perfectly square, perfectly flat, because every other stone in building that building will come from this cornerstone.

Now let’s come back here to Matthew 16:18.  “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter [that is a small stone], and upon this rock…” Now the Greek changes there from petros to petra, and petra means “large massive cliff”, or that cornerstone that the builders rejected.  “…I will build My church…”  So He’s building the Church on Himself. He will build it.  “…And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Now let’s see what else where this follows through, Christ being the chief cornerstone.  Let’s come to…  No, since we’re here in Matthew there’s a parable that Jesus brought out to the Scribes and Pharisees showing about the stone and the builders.  Let’s come here to Matthew 21.  Christ referring to Himself, and of course He knew all of these prophecies.  He knew that He was going to be the stone.  Let’s pick it up here in verse 42.

“Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures…”  Now isn’t that interesting?  Almost all the religious leaders during Jesus time didn’t read the scriptures.  Most of them today don’t read the scriptures.  They have traditions, they have their own things you see.  “…Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?”  And it really should mean “is it not marvelous in our eyes?” because you are asking a question.  It is so marvelous.  “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you [who should have been the builders], and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.”  And that is all those who are called.  They are a holy nation, as we will see.  “And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken [that is through repentance]: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (Matt. 21:42-44). 

And that’s something we need to understand.  Though God is a God of love and mercy and peace and all of those things, if we reject Christ…  And as I said with the short summary of the book of Hebrews is that you either accept Christ or it’s the lake of fire.  That’s it.  So here we have another comparison of it – will grind him to powder.  Did that not happen with Jerusalem?  Everything there, yes.  “And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard His parable, they perceived that He spake of them.”  Of course since they were political “…they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitude, because they took Him for a prophet” (vs. 45-46).     

Now let’s come to 1 Peter 2, and of course this is quoted over and over and over again.  It shows the same thing.  1 Peter 2:6, “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded.  Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.  but ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation…”  And that’s why Jesus said it will be taken and given to a nation which will bring forth the fruits.  “…A peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:6-9). 

All right let’s look at some more scriptures showing that Christ is the Rock.  And this will help bring it altogether concerning the harvest, concerning Christ being the head, concerning what He’s doing, concerning the seven churches. 

Ok, let’s come to 1 Corinthians 10.  Here it says that Christ is that Rock.  Let’s pick it up right in verse 1 here.  “ Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink…”  Because it was miraculous food, which was sent being the manna, and it was miraculous water which they drank because it came out of the stone.  “…For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” (1 Cor. 10:1-4). 

Now since we’re here in 1 Corinthians let’s come to 1 Corinthians 3 and see about the foundation.  Then we will see that the Church which Jesus said He would build, would be built upon Himself Who’s the chief cornerstone, and then also as we will see, on the apostles.  But first let’s pick it up here in verse 11.

“For other foundation can no may lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any man build upon this foundation…” (1 Cor. 3:11-12).  Now we’ve covered this before but what I want you to understand is this: we will see that the problems within the seven churches can relate directly to the quality of their spiritual life as defined here by gold, silver, precious stone, wood, hay, or stubble, because of the problems and doctrines which will come against them, and their behavior and reaction to it. 

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved: yet so as by fire” (vs. 13-15).  Then he goes on showing, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God…”, because God desires to live in us, to dwell in us, to build the very character of Christ in us, you see.  “…And that the [Holy] Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”  That is the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit.  “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (vs. 16-17).

Now let’s go to Ephesians 2 and we will see that is the individual temple, but collectively we are being made into the temple of God overall.  Now let’s pick it up here, Ephesians 2:18.  “For through Him we both have access by one spirit unto the Father.  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; in Whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in Whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Eph. 2:18-22).  So this gives us some background concerning the Church that Christ would build. He is the Head of it.  No man is the head of it.  He is the One Who is going to deal with His Church, deal with His people.  And everything we are going through now that we see happening in the Church’s of God is all part of it.  Every bit of it is a part of it. 

Now let’s come to chapter 4 and let’s see it all put together where there are the individuals and then the whole body of Christ of individuals together.  Ephesians 4:15, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from Whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4:15-16).  That gives you a good statement of what it is that the Church is to do, right there. 

We also have the statement there… Let’s go to Matthew 28 and see what we are to do.  We are to do this, not only, not only does this tell us to go to the world and preach to the world, but this tells us something else that we need to do also.  Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in[to] the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy [Spirit] Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…”  Now when you teach them all things then you have what we have right now, that when you begin to teach them, then there’s more to learn, more to learn, there’s more to learn, there’s more to teach and we have all the Bible now and the New Testament now, and so we have to teach that.  “…And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:19-20).

Now let’s see how this teaching started.  First of all, the teaching started with Christ teaching the disciples.  And He taught them as much as He could, and He brought them up to a certain point, as He said before His crucifixion, and then He gave them a promise that they would be able to understand through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now let’s go to John 16.  So Christ taught them.  He also promised that the Holy Spirit would bring all things into remembrance that He taught them.  But here in John 16, let’s begin in verse 7.  Let’s see how He does it once He ascends into heaven.  So first of all you have Christ’s direct teaching.  Next then you have the teachings through the Holy Spirit and those things are written down now for us.  Ok, verse 7, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send [it] him unto you.  And when [it] he is come, [it] he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  of sin, because they believe not on Me…”  Now this is quite a profound statement, see.  If you don’t believe on Christ it is sin.  Another way of looking at it is, if you don’t believe on Christ you remain in your sin.  Another one is, you believe in Christ and you have your sins forgiven.  So either way the Holy Spirit is going to convict. 

“…Because they believe not on Me; of righteousness…”  And that is the true righteousness that comes from God, the imputed righteousness that we receive.  “…Because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now” (vs. 9-12).  So then there would be a revelation of truth, see, because the book of Revelation is called revelation, that’s the final revelation. 

But here are the stages of revelation that God gave to His apostles.  First the calling, this one here in verse 13.  “Howbeit when [it] he, the Spirit of truth, is come, [it] he will guide you into all truth: for [it] he shall not speak of [itself] himself; but whatsoever [it] he shall hear, that shall [it] he speak: and [it] he will shew you things to come.”  So the Holy Spirit is going to be doing the teaching.

Now the third one is…  Let’s come to Luke 24, because He told them “I have many things to say to you, which you cannot now bear.”  But after He was resurrected, and of course John 16 was just prior to the crucifixion there, but in Luke 24 now we find Jesus teaching them things, some things that they could not bear. 

Now verse 44, “And He said unto them, these are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.  Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures…” (Luke 24:44-45).  So number 3 you have Christ opening their understanding. 

1.     Direct teaching. 

2.     Through the Holy Spirit. 

3.     Christ opening their minds to understand it. 

And it was the Holy Spirit that gave all the inspiration for the New Testament, that God used to show what He was going to do. 

Now the next major revelation that comes, number four is Acts 10, and God gave this through vision.  And this was the calling of Cornelius and his household.  And this was a major revelation.  Now let’s come right down here to verse 28.  This is the short interpretation of it rather than long.  We have a lot of things to cover so I’ll give the short interpretation here.  “And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation…”  So with this revelation God was showing how He was going to break down the barrier between the Jews and the Gentiles.  Now this statement, “is an unlawful thing”, has to do with the law of Judaism.  It does not have to do with the commandment of God.  “…But God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.”

Now let’s come to the very last part of the chapter here, after he spoke the gospel to them beginning in verse 44.  “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy [Spirit] Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy [Spirit] Ghost.”  Because the Jews and especially those of the circumcision party, figured that they were the chosen ones of God and the Gentiles were forever, forever going to be second-class citizens even though they were converted.  “For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.”  Meaning these who went probably knew Greek, and they probably knew Aramaic and Hebrew.  Maybe there were some that were there, traveling with them that knew other languages.  So when you come to these band of Italian soldiers and how they’re speaking in Hebrew, or they’re speaking in Greek, what are you going to believe, especially if they are magnifying God when they did not have God before.  And now here they are uncircumcised you see.

Then Peter answered, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy [Spirit] Ghost as well as we?  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.  Then prayed they him to tarry certain days” (vs. 47-48).  So this was the fourth major revelation.

Now then the fifth major revelation that takes place has to do with Paul.  Let’s come to Galatians.  Paul was the one who was going to carry on then the preaching to the Gentiles.  Now let’s read about Paul here in his own writing, Galatians 1:13.  “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past [or that is conduct in time past] in the Jews’ religion [which should be translated Judaism]…”   And Judaism was not the law of Moses, by the way.  It’s much like religions today.  They claim the Bible but they don’t follow it.  “…How that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: and profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.  But when it pleased God, Who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia and returned again unto Damascus.” Now he was there approximately three or three and a half years because he says, “Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.  But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.  Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not” (vs. 15-20).  So that was the fifth revelation. 

Let’s see how that was given here.  God taught him.  Taught him everything he needed to do.  Then he increased that revelation, so the sixth one…  Let’s come here to Ephesians 3 and we will see that there was this revelation given having to do with our destiny to becoming the very sons of God.  Now let’s pick it up here in Ephesians 3:1.  “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: how that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;” (Eph. 3:1-5).  So that is the sixth revelation. 

“That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel: whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual wording of His power” (vs. 6-7).  So this shows the added revelation.  And he goes on showing where it is there that we are going to have the fullness of God, which is all in all. 

Yes, the fifth was his initial revelation {in response to question from audience}, which he spoke of right here in chapter 3.  He talks of it twice, see.  Then the sixth was when he’s writing this letter and then it’s to the rest of the apostles, and you might put there the whole purpose of life. 

Now the seventh revelation we come to, and all of this is through Christ, see.  Either directly personally in teaching them, or teaching them through the Holy Spirit, or through, in the case of revealing to Peter there through a dream.  And then the revelation of how that of the full fellowship of the mystery of God, as we find there in Ephesians 3.

Now the seventh one is the Book of Revelation.  That’s why it’s called revelation.  It is being revealed.  So let’s go back to the first chapter here.  What is so important in this is that this again establishes when this was written approximately 95 A.D., that Christ is the head of the Church.  That He is going to be dealing in His Church, and in the world from then until His return.  And then it goes on and reveals in chapter 20 and 21 the millennium, New Jerusalem, and on into eternity after that, you see.  So this is quite a profound thing.  And it’s what the Father gave to Christ to give to His servants and He gave it to John.  Now let’s read a little bit here and then we’ll put a little history with this as we go along.  I’m not going to bring in too much history because I could get so bogged down in history that we would never get through this and wouldn’t have it finished for Pentecost, so I don’t want to do that.

Now let’s pick it up here, verse 5, that’s where we left off.  “And from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, and the first [born] begotten of the dead, and the prince [or that is the ruler] of the kings of the earth…”, whether they are righteous or wicked.  Remember the account of Nebuchadnezzar.  God gave the lesson that He puts upon the governments of men the basest of men.  And that’s important.  And we will see that there is still the struggle between those who are Christ’s and those who are Satan’s.  And this battle is something we are always in.  You can’t avoid it.  It’d be nice to go someplace and not have to fight it.  But he’s the prince of the power of the air so bing, it’s there too.  The ruler of the kings of the earth, “…Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever” (Rev. 1:5-6).  So right in here we have defined the whole gospel through Christ, through His blood, through His resurrection.  And the whole purpose in life, to be kings and priests unto God and unto the Father.  To Him be the dominion, or sovereignty, into the ages of eternity, Amen.