Thoughts On Stephen Hawking's Thoughts On Creation

"The idea that space and time may form a closed surface without boundary also has profound implications for the role of God in the affairs of the universe. With the success of scientific theories in describing events, most people have come to believe that God allows the universe to evolve according to a set of laws and does not intervene in the universe to break these laws. However, the laws do not tell us what the universe should have looked like when it started -- it would still be up to God to wind up the clockwork and choose how to start it off. So long as the universe had a beginning, we could suppose it had a creator. But if the universe is really completely self-contained, having no boundary or edge, it would have neither beginning nor end: it would simply be. What place, then, for a creator?"
-Stephen Hawking, A Brief History of Time (New York: Bantam, 1988), p. 140-141

Since Hawking wrote this, the Big Bang Theory has pretty much been proven. A documentary called, Journey Toward Creation shows you all the cool science that backs it up. It’s not just because it’s Christian, I’ve seen some of the same 3-D models and theories on the History Channel and Discovery Channel. How the Universe Works, on the Discovery Channel, is a particularly good source.

Hawking claims the following, “Most people have come to believe that God allows the universe to evolve according to a set of laws and does not intervene in the universe to break these laws.” I beg to differ. They’re called miracles. God’s the only one with the ability to break the laws of physics, if necessary, to help someone or reveal Himself.

I believe the scientists who don’t believe in God, think that God and science can’t coexist, but that’s simply not true. Just because you believe in God doesn’t mean you have to stop trying to figure how things work.

So Stephen Hawking, if you’re reading, take a look at all the awesome creations around the world: plants, animals, microscopic things, and all the beautiful diversity. How could something as mindless as macro-evolution create such beautiful things? The planet earth is just right place to sustain life. It seems unlikely that such perfection could be left to chance.

God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to intervene. He sacrificed His life and rose on the third day, to save our souls from the burden of sin. All you have to do is watch the news and you’ll see the burden of sin in action. Only He can save us from sin. All you have to do to be saved is trust and believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He wants to have a relationship with us. He wants to be the center of our life. You might be saying, “What? A relationship with God?” That’s why He gave us the Bible, so we could know how to have a relationship with Him. He didn’t stop there. He also sent His Holy Spirit to help guide us. That’s why you need to read the Bible so you can understand this. When you start studying, you’ll see that science and archeology mix together perfectly. Of all the Holy books in the world, the Bible is the only one that deals with everybody’s sin and their relationship with God. I’m gonna give you a couple quotes from the Bible. I hope this post sets somebody free.

John 3: 16-21 (NIV)

16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Romans 5:6-11 (NIV)

6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 6:23 (NIV)

23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let’s Not Be Foolish About The Word Fool

Now I know why Jesus said He didn’t want us calling anyone a
fool.* Only He knows what’s in a person’s heart. We only know a person’s
outward behavior, while Jesus knows the entire inventory of their heart.

* Matthew 5:22 (English Standard Version)
22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his
brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable
to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of
fire.

If you feel as though the word fool is a harmless word, you
might want to take a look to see how the word is used in the Bible. It’s not
like calling someone a goofball or something innocuous like that. It’s actually
quite harsh. Not that name-calling is ever good. Let’s not have foolish things
in our hearts and certainly, we should never have a reason to call someone a
fool. Fool is a very judgmental word and so are lots of other words used
carelessly in our language. So we should try to watch what we say. And not use
judgmental language. Be nice, be generous with your smiles, and use language to
build up and not break down=)

Here are some examples of the Bible meaning of the word fool.

Psalm 14:1
The Hebrew word for fool in Psalms denotes one who is morally deficient. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.
Psalms 14 - Whole Chapter

Psalm 107:17
Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
Psalms 107 - Whole Chapter

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 1 - Whole Chapter

Proverbs 13:19
A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.
Proverbs 13 - Whole Chapter

Proverbs 14:16
A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.
Proverbs 14 - Whole Chapter

Proverbs 14:17
A quick-tempered man does foolish things, and a crafty man is hated.
Proverbs 14 - Whole Chapter

Proverbs 15:5
A fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
Proverbs 15 - Whole Chapter

Proverbs 15:20
A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
Proverbs 15 - Whole Chapter

Proverbs 18:2
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.
Proverbs 18 - Whole Chapter

Proverbs 18:6
A fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
Proverbs 18 - Whole Chapter

Proverbs 26:11
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
Proverbs 26 - Whole Chapter

Proverbs 29:9
If a wise man goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
Proverbs 29 - Whole Chapter

Proverbs 29:11
A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
Proverbs 29 - Whole Chapter

Ecclesiastes 5:4
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.
Ecclesiastes 5 - Whole Chapter

Isaiah 32:6
For the fool speaks folly, his mind is busy with evil: He practices ungodliness and spreads error concerning the LORD ; the hungry he leaves empty and from the thirsty he withholds water.
Isaiah 32 - Whole Chapter

2 Timothy 2:23
Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.
Timothy 2 - Whole Chapter

Mark 16 :: 11-20
11When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.
12Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
14Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
19After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Vintage 80's Christian Rock

Admittedly, this music is dated. It reeks of the 80's. For some reason, I think I love it. My posts have been pretty heavy lately, and I thought I'd lighten it up with some old school 80's Christian music. While listening to the Live365 radio station, CCM Classics Enhanced, I heard this band, Servant, and instantly I was hooked. It's a Petra era band, if that helps any. This particular album, Light Maneuvers, came out the same year I was born: 1983.

To go along with the Servant album, I've included some more miscellaneous 80's Christian rock music, ie. John Lawry from Petra and Degarmo & Key (this one will give you quite a laugh, just watch and you'll see why).



Here's a couple songs from John Lawry's solo album Media Alert.





Here's Degarmo & Key's hit song, "Hand in Hand."

Thoughts on Worldly Junk

Here are some scriptures as well as some of my thoughts on those scriptures. It’s my hope that those who follow along will gain a better understanding and Lord willing help someone out there someday.

Luke 16:8-14

8"The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

In verse 9, upon first reading, it may seem a little strange. I believe Jesus is saying don’t be stingy but use your money to help others. If someone can’t feed, clothe, or shelter themselves, and you sit idling by with a fistful of cash, surrounding yourself with things that will just pass away, you’re probably not gonna have a lot of friends. Instead of building up a house of vanity, you could have used that money to help people in their time of need. If you were to use your money to help others, and in turn, spread the Good News about Jesus Christ, and some were saved, than you’d be investing in heaven, which is everlasting. Your immaculate car with all the features won’t meet you in heaven, but the person you feed, clothe, or shelter, will. Don’t get me wrong. Nice things are good; however, when those things become your life, that’s no good.

10"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? 13"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." 14The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.

I have another thought to share with you. Have you ever wondered about what is popular, like movies and TV shows, especially sci-fi shows? We spend millions and millions of dollars on these things that don’t even exist. A lot of these things we watch, there is nothing meaningful, or nothing to learn from. As long as there are still people starving, how can anyone justify spending a dime on these things? I’m not here to tell you what you can or cannot watch. I used to watch the same things. I am only saying, this world would be a different place if we focused on reality and not ways to escape it. Since I’ve been avoiding these types of shows, my life has been filled with a lot less anxiety. I’m no longer trying to keep up with a billion different shows, or fretting over each episode I may or may not miss, which means no more explosive anger if I miss something. Okay, that’s enough from me. Happy reading.

Matthew 6:19-21

Treasures in Heaven
19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

The Ministry of Reconciliation
11Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Just Who Is The Lord Of The Flies?

This post goes great with my last post. It's awesome 'cause I didn't even plan for that to happen. It's an episode from Perry Stone Mannafest entitled, and it's kind of fun to say, "Getting The Fly Eggs Off Your Head." It's really worth taking the time to watch.

Being Careful While Living In This World

After a couple posts on Revelation, I feel like I should warn people to get right with God while they still have time. There are a lot of promises of life and peace in the Bible, when you put your life in God’s hands. If you don’t know about the Bible, or even if you don’t believe in God, read these scriptures and contemplate the direction your life is headed. God will reveal himself to you. All you have to do is ask him.

We need to watch out and make sure we’re not putting things in our life that pull us from our relationship with God.

Some of these scriptures may seem scary, but they weren’t written to scare you. The Word of God is meant to warn you and deter you from making unwise decisions. It’s not meant to induce fear, but remind you, “Maybe I shouldn’t do this.” After you’ve read through them, hopefully, you’ll see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Romans 1:18-32
God's Wrath Against Mankind

18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. 26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Galatians 6:7-10

7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature[a]will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

James 1:12-27

12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
Listening and Doing
19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. 26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Every ones been given a chance to have a relationship with Jesus and to be spared from judgment.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Matthew 22:1-14

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
1Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 4"Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.' 5"But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8"Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' 10So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. 13"Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14"For many are invited, but few are chosen."

In ancient Jewish culture, the wedding clothes were provided. So why the guy didn’t have wedding clothes, I have no idea. You would think he said to himself “Mmm..I’ll take those.” And wear them at the wedding.

Romans 3:21-31

Righteousness Through Faith
21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. 27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. 28For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. 29Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Romans 4:24-25

24but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Romans 8:1-17

Life Through the Spirit
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in sinful man,[d] 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. 5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man[e] is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind[f] is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. 12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.[g] And by him we cry, "Abba,[h] Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Philippians 4:8

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

James 3:17-18

17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Romans 12:1-2

Living Sacrifices
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:9-21

Love
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

A Walk Through Revelation

In this video series, Jimmy Deyoung simplifies the Book of Revelation. He breaks it down into 3 pillars, consisting of the Rapture, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, and the Retribution. The series gave me insights into an otherwise extremely cryptic book.

I think everyone can benefit from watching this series. Deyoung packs a lot of info in just an hour of videos, so it might be a good idea for you to watch more them than once.I would suggest taking notes. That's what I did, and will be posting them as soon as I'm able.

The first video is all of the videos in the series on top of each other. The rest are each video individually.

Something I Discovered In Revelation

One day, when I was studying scriptures, I was reading in Revelation, Chapter 11, about the two witnesses like two lampstands and I thought to myself, “This sounds familiar.” I usually study from both the Old and New Testament at the same time. I looked back at what I had recently read in the Old Testament and found this excerpt from Zechariah, where it talks about two olive trees/branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil. When Zechariah asks what are these two olive branches, the angel says these are the two that are anointed. In Revelation, you learn more about the two witnesses and what happens to them.

Zechariah 4:1-14
The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees

1 Then the angel who talked with me returned and wakened me, as a man is wakened from his sleep. 2 He asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. 3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left." 4 I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?" 5 He answered, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I replied. 6 So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. 7 "What [a] are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!' " 8 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. 10 "Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. "(These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range throughout the earth.)" 11 Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?" 12 Again I asked him, "What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?" 13 He replied, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I said. 14 So he said, "These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth."

Revelation 11:1-14
The Two Witnesses

1I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. 2But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." 4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. 7Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. 11But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. 13At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.