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Carol Rotz writes: "Heavenly praise vindicates God's judgements, which show unfortunate but inevitable results of stubborn opposition to God and the persecution of God's people. The suffering brought by the bowl plagues are not the result of a capricious and vengeful god but the only just and true response of a holy God to intractable sin." In this 39th Lesson we will discuss the wrath of God that is poured out in the last three bowls upon the throne of the beast. We will see that the principalities and evil aspects of our world have no lasting power—only God does. Evil will consume evil and the kingdom of the beast will collapse upon itself. For more information about this study, or to download study materials, visit our website at: www.msnaz.org . Be sure to subscribe, comment, and share this study so that others can also explore the word of God.

Hello and welcome to Bible 101 @ MSNaz. I'm your host Pastor Raul Granillo. Michael Gorman writes: "Babylon makes promises, demands, and claims that are appropriate only for God to make. It sacralizes, even divinizes, its own power, and then it requires absolute allegiance to that power." In this 40th Lesson we will talk about John's vision of the prostitute on the beast from chapter 17. We will explore the identity of the seven heads/kings as well as the ten powers and, of course, the eighth king “which also belongs to the seven.” We will also discuss the seductive power of the woman on the beast and what that means for us today. For more information about this study, or to download study materials, visit our website at: www.msnaz.org . Be sure to subscribe, comment, and share this study so that others can also explore the word of God.

In this 41st lesson we are going to take a look at the imagery in chapter 18. There we find God calling his people to flee from participating in the satanic systems of Babylon. Those systems, while attractive and intoxicating, are also toxic and will collapse upon themselves. Carol Rotz points out that, “God's people are called to renounce the idolatrous practices of pagan society and to separate themselves from a corrupt though seductive socioeconomic system.” Our task today, is to be aware that such systems continue to exist in our world and, very often, we pretend that they don't because they benefit us. Let us flee the Babylons of our modern world. For more information about this study, or to download study materials, visit our website at: www.msnaz.org . Be sure to subscribe, comment, and share this study so that others can also explore the word of God.

In this lesson, Pastor Raul explains a bit about the necessary context for interpreting the book of Revelation. We also discuss the definition and function of apocalyptic and prophetic literature. "The point is not to predict a sequence of events. The point is to evoke and to explore the meaning of the divine judgment which is impending on the sinful world." - Richard Bauckham For more information about this study, or to download study materials, visits our website at: https://www.msnaz.org/revelation-study

In this lesson, Pastor Raul leads us through the first 8 verses of the prophetic book. We will touch on the significance of the relationship between heaven and earth, the implications of the Alpha and Omega, and the Trinitarian language that John uses. For more information about this study, or to download study materials, visits our website at: https://www.msnaz.org

In this lesson, Pastor Raul guides us through Revelation 1:9-20 and discusses the parallels to Old Testament prophets such as Ezekiel and Daniel. Imagery such as Jesus as king and as priest are presented in these verses. “The triune God, whose being has been pondered for centuries, is encountered rather than discussed.” – Carol Rotz For more information about this study, or to download study materials, visits our website at: https://www.msnaz.org/revelation-study

In this 4th lesson of the book of Revelation, Pastor Raul discusses the letter to the church in Ephesus from Chapter 2 verses 1-7. We will touch on the significance of the relationship between orthodoxy and orthopraxy. Because this relationship was not considered, the church in Ephesus engaged in loveless worship. This is a reality that can plague our local churches even today. For more information about this study, or to download study materials, visits our website at: https://www.msnaz.org . Be sure to subscribe, comment, and share this study so that others can also explore the word of God.

In this 5th lesson of the book of Revelation, we are going to discuss the letter to the church in Smyrna from Chapter 2 verses 8-11. As a neokoros to the goddess Roma, Smyrna held the distinction of being a city whose loyalty to Rome and to the emperor were unquestionable. In this lesson, we will learn how that culture, and betrayal from some of the Jews, led to the persecution of the faithful Christians. Compromising with the culture, in order to protect ourselves from physical, legal, or even financial harm, is a temptation that Christians continue to face even today. For more information about this study, or to download study materials, visits our website at: https://www.msnaz.org . Be sure to subscribe, comment, and share this study so that others can also explore the word of God.

In this 6th lesson of the book of Revelation, we are going to discuss the letter to the church in Pergamum from Chapter 2 verses 12-17. Pergamum might be considered the center of imperial worship in Rome. The temples to Zeus, Roma, and to Augustus were clear reminders of this. Christians, like Antipas, were commended for their faithfulness to God, even as to death; but the church, as a whole, was rebuked for holding to the teaching of Balaam. The church in Pergamum engaged in hypocrisy as they allowed the culture, the empire, and the imperial cult dictate how they would live as Christians. God would be faithful to his people; sadly, too often we are not faithful to him. So it happened in Pergamum. For more information about this study, or to download study materials, visits our website at: https://www.msnaz.org Be sure to subscribe, comment, and share this study so that others can also explore the word of God.

In this 7th lesson of the book of Revelation, we are going to discuss the letter to the church in Thyratira from Revelation 2:18-29. The church in Thyratira, like many modern churches, engaged in compromise was justified by polarizing the spiritual from the physical—a concept that is common today, but is founded in Platonism, not the Holy Scirptures. This division led to a privatized that had corrupted the church. For more information about this study, or to download study materials, visits our website at: https://www.msnaz.org . Be sure to subscribe, comment, and share this study so that others can also explore the word of God.

In this 8th lesson from the book of Revelation, we are going to discuss the letter to the church in Sardis from Revelation 3:1-6. Apathy and complacency had become the norm for this church. Since everything seemed to be going great for the church, they had no reason to rock the boat by engaging in the actual mission of the Church. This sense of apathy continues to plague modern churches as many ignore issues of justice in favor of protecting what they already have. The missional, and living church, is constantly seeking to do more in the kingdom of God. For more information about this study, or to download study materials, visits our website at: https://www.msnaz.org . Be sure to subscribe, comment, and share this study so that others can also explore the word of God.

In this 9th lesson from the book of Revelation, we are going to discuss the letter to the church in Philadelphia in chapter 3:7-13. The local Jews, in fear of losing their status with Rome, closed the doors on the Christians and, in turn, on their own relationship with God. For this reason, Jesus calls them a "synagogue of Satan." The commendation for the church in Philadelphia is due to their perseverant faith in Christ. They are encouraged by Jesus to not see their circumstances and obstacles, but rather as opportunities. The modern church should also persevere while finding opportunities, rather than obstacles, in our circumstances. For more information about this study, or to download study materials, visits our website at: https://www.msnaz.org . Be sure to subscribe, comment, and share this study so that others can also explore the word of God.