As promised, time to continue our discussion that Jesus is the truth and the devil is a fake imitator. Pictured above we see that the saved saints are called the new Jerusalem bride of Christ coming down out of heaven to sit upon the chief cornerstone that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Pictured above we see the apostle John's vision of the new Jerusalem bride of Christ at Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Now notice that the devil tries to imitate the new Jerusalem bride church sitting on our Lord Jesus (the chief cornerstone foundation). The devil has a Babylon great whore false apostate church sitting on the antichrist beast. Revelation 17:3 tells us So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness; and I saw a woman (the great whore false apostate church) sit upon a scarlet coloured beast (the antichrist), full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. Revelation 17:5 goes on to say And upon her forehead was a name written MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS, AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
We see that the devil tries to imitate and be like Jesus. Jesus is the truth and the devil is a liar. Jesus was God in the flesh and Judas was the devil in the flesh. Jesus is the true lion of the tribe of Judah; but the devil is a fake imitating powerless lion. Revelation 5:5 proclaims Jesus to be the true Lion of the tribe of Juda saying And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 1 Peter 5:8 describes the fake imitating devil lion roaring as (fake and not real) a lion (notice the devil is a little l powerless lion and Jesus is a capital L Lion of the tribe of Juda).
You might say Brother Bob how can I protect myself from the devil and his fake imitations? Brother Bob says daily by faith tell the devil I am crucified with Christ and covered by the blood of Jesus that overcomes satan. The other day Jesus showed Brother Bob and his friend Tiffany that the blood of Jesus is the most powerful weapon to daily defeat the devil. Revelation 12:11 says we overcome (defined as conquer victoriously) the devil by the blood of Jesus. In other words, the blood of Jesus totally defeats and puts the final whammy on the devil. The Word of God and the name of God (Jesus) are also powerful weapons to fight against the devil but not as powerful as the blood of Jesus.
The Word of God will make the devil flee but won't overcome the devil like the blood of Jesus. When Jesus quoted the Word to the devil during His temptations in the wilderness, the devil would flee and come back again. The name of Jesus casts out devils (Mark 16:17 In my name (Jesus) shall they cast out devils) but will not overcome and totally defeat the devil like the blood of Jesus. Quote the Word daily and post the name Jesus on your homes and everywhere to make the devil flee; but remember it's the blood of Jesus, the same yesterday, to day, and for ever according to Hebrews 13:8 that will give anyone total victory to conquer and overcome the devil. God showed Brother Bob that the blood of Jesus is a fence around any saint that the devil can not go through.
Simply stated; Jesus Christ, the cross, and the blood of Jesus are the only ways to receive peace in this entire universe. Instead of drugs, alcohol, and fornication when you are stressed; place your stress daily by faith on the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by saying I am crucified with Christ and covered by the blood of Jesus and watch your problems disappear. Hebrews 2:14 promises that when our problems are placed on the cross, they will be destroyed forevermore. When Jesus died on the cross, Jesus destroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil and all our problems. And the blood of Jesus is the evidence and proof to the devil that our problems are destroyed forevermore. Right now, worship and thank the Lord Jesus for dying on the cross for sinners and shedding His precious blood that gives us all total victory daily over the devil.
OK back to our discussion about how Jesus is the truth and the devil is a fake imitator. 2 Corinthians 11:14 tells us And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. During the time of Moses, God would create and remove plagues. Satan's magicians also would create the same plagues, but unlike God, satan's magicians could not remove the plagues. Therefore, Pharoah had to constantly ask the God of Moses and not his magicians to remove the plagues.
When Pharoah and the Egyptians did not let Moses and his people go, God plagued Egypt with frogs. Moses told the Pharoah at Exodus 8:2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs. And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs. Wow, Pharoah and the Egyptians had frogs in their beds, ovens, and kneadingtroughs.
After the frogs plagued Pharoah, Pharoah said to Moses at Exodus 8:8 Intreat the Lord, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people, and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the Lord. Then Moses asked the Pharoah at Exodus 8:9 When shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?
Now, notice Pharoah's stupid response to Moses at Exodus 8:10. Pictured above Pharoah told Moses you don't have to immediately remove the frogs; I'll sin one more night with the frogs everywhere in the beds, ovens, and kneadingtroughs; Moses you can remove the frogs to morrow. Today, many sinners like Pharoah choose to enjoy sin one more night and delay getting saved.
Friend, reading this anywhere, unlike Pharoah, get saved right now today and not to morrow. You might not have time to make a decision to be saved tomorrow. Right now get saved by confessing Jesus as God, believing Jesus died for you on the cross, was buried, and rose again. God says at 2 Corinthians 6:2 I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee; behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Finally, pictured above we see a rich ruler who was a fake counterfeit christian kneeling before Jesus. Mark 10:17 says And when He (Jesus) was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to Him, and asked Him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? The rich ruler looked like a true christian by kneeling before Jesus, as he boasted in his good works, while calling Jesus Good Master. But, he was a phony fake imitation of a christian, not willing to make Jesus God of his life.
This rich ruler told Jesus all his good works by saying I did not commit adultery, I did not kill, I did not steal, I did not bear false witness or defraud, and I honoured my father and mother. Jesus responded at Mark 10:21 One thing thou lackest; go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven (defined as storehouse; note to give to the storehouse according to Jesus we must give our tithes and offerings to the poor); and come take up the cross and follow me. Mark 10:22 says the rich ruler was sad at that saying, and went away grieved; for he had great possessions.
Notice that the rich ruler was not willing to follow Jesus to get saved. All his good works of not killing, not stealing, not committing adultery, calling Jesus Good Master, and kneeling before Jesus could not save him. He looked good, but he refused Jesus which was his only ticket for salvation. This proves that only faith in Jesus as God, believing Jesus died for us on the cross, was buried, and rose again (and not good works) can save anyone. Jesus said at John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Titus 3:5 says Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His (Jesus') mercy He (Jesus) saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
It's a lie for parents to tell their kids, you be a good little child and you'll go to heaven, but if you're a bad little child, you'll go to hell. You don't go to heaven because you're a good little child and you don't go to hell because you're a bad little child. You go to heaven or hell because of what you do with Jesus Christ during this life. If a person accepts Jesus as God, believing Jesus died for them on the cross, was buried, and rose again, they go to heaven. If a person rejects Jesus as God and does not believe Jesus died for them on the cross, was buried, and rose again, that person will go to hell.
Note also that repentance is required to be saved. Repentance means to turn from your sins (for most people this is drinking, smoking, and fornication) and live daily with our Lord Jesus by constantly meditating on the Word of God and rejoicing to praise music. 2 Corinthians 7:10 says For godly sorrow worketh repentance to SALVATION not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death. The prophet Isaiah had to repent first by saying Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips before he could be saved and say Here am I (Lord) send me.
As always it is a great joy to write these bible studies. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133. Until we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.