By Jim Stockstill

God’s Revelation to His Son – Jesus the Christ

May 11, 2023

The Church of Laodicea is a picture of the church of today – he (Jesus) is standing outside

 

Playing God: Chimeras

 

The subject of both increasing scrutiny and increasing controversy, “chimeras” are the latest difficult topic scientists are grappling with. But what are they? Why are they being developed? And how will it affect us in the long term?

Here’s what you need to know:

What Is A ‘Chimera?’

In scientific terms, a chimera is an animal with some DNA from another animal spliced into it. The chimeras you’re hearing so much about in the news are controversial because scientists are inserting human DNA into pigs, creating “pig-human” hybrids. But this isn’t some sort of cheesy SF movie scenario; in fact you’d likely be unable to tell a chimera from a typical pig by looking at it. Scientists have no interest in making a nightmare.

Why Are Chimeras Being Made?

The world is struggling with an organ problem. Organ transplant lists are growing constantly, but doctors can’t locate enough organs to transplant. So, the theory goes that if you splice human stem cells into pig DNA, after removing the genetic code that grows a specific organ, the piglet will have a human pancreas we can use for transplantation. This is, however, only a theory, so scientists at the University of California, Davis, are testing it to see if it’ll work.

Couldn’t The Pig Become A… Kind Of… Person?

Probably not, but the research team is taking no chances. The tests will terminate the pig embryos after 28 days to see if any human cells have been created. They’ve tested this before, without creating the “genetic niche” that removing the section of DNA causes, and found human cells, but they had to compete with pig cells. They’re also closely monitoring the brain; if, somehow, the embryos are developing human-like brains, they’ll be terminated immediately.

Are There Ethics Concerns?

There absolutely are, and everyone involved is struggling with them. Leaving aside for the moment the animal rights end of things — although needless to say they’re not fans — the idea of creating any sort of animal-human hybrid doesn’t sit well with most people, even the scientists conducting the study. Nobody longs for super-intelligent pigs or cats the size of toddlers roaming the Earth. Particularly because they would serve no useful scientific purpose, and the potential for suffering on the part of the animal is vast.

Beyond that, there are some major questions about the quality of the organs and whether or not they would make livestock diseases transferable to humans. Even if we do create a human organ in an otherwise normal pig, that doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods. It may not be a good transplant choice for a multitude of medical reasons. And that’s not even getting into the religious objections that may result, or the personal distaste a patient might feel. It might be scientifically possible and yet ethically insurmountable for many people.

So Why Do It?

Very simple: We need the organs. Even if we don’t use them for transplantation, they can still be a source of tissue to be used for medical experiments such as drug studies that don’t put humans at risk. It’s true that chimeras are controversial and that’s unlikely to change any time soon. But there’s simply too much at stake to not see where this science can take us, and it’s better it be done in a scientifically rigorous environment concerned with ethics.

Also, it’s worth noting that this may not pan out. Still, it’s better to know than to leave human lives on the table.  (Source)

Demonic Chimeras

https://www.deviantart.com/velinov/art/MTG-GP-Madrid-playmat-2014-489479945

 

How each of the seven letters is structured (In the book of Revelation)

Each letter follows a similar pattern:

 

• To the angel of the church in a given city, write:
• Jesus (depicted in glory, often in terms from 1:13–18) says:
• I know (in most instances offers some praise)
• But I have this against you (offers some reproof, where applicable)
• The one who has ears must pay attention to what the Spirit says
• Eschatological promise
• That the message is from Jesus, following the same form as oracles in the Old Testament, plainly implies Jesus’ deity.

How were the letters received?

Now that we know how the letters were written and structured, let’s take a look at how the churches would have read and received them.

Some commentators have noted that the churches are each invited to read the others’ mail.  This interpretive principle is implied clearly enough in the text: Each church is called to hear “what the Spirit says to the churches” (note the plural).

This would have been somewhat embarrassing to members of the churches addressed most harshly.

To what degree are the messages to the particular churches distinctive, and to what degree should they be read as samples of what is addressed to all the churches?  There is surely a sense in which each church receives the letter appropriate to it.  In the early twentieth century William Ramsay (and more recently Colin Hemer) emphasized how the message to each church resembles what we know of the cities in which the churches existed.

Yet each church also receives the entire book of Revelation.

Like all John’s audience (1:3; 13:9; 22:17), each church must “hear,” common enough language in both Jewish and Greek ethical exhortations; the particular expression likely echoes Jesus’ original teachings (Mark 4:9).

Each church is also summoned to “overcome,” which implies endurance in the coming trial depicted in much of the book (Rev. 21:7); the invitation probably also suggests the term’s nuance of “conquer,” especially if believers appear as God’s end-time army.

Each church shares the hope promised to the other churches; when the churches have heard this through to the end, they will recognize that the promises to all the churches are fulfilled in the book’s closing vision of the coming world (see Revelation 21–22).

The basic principle for applying these letters to ourselves and others today thus seems to be: If the shoe fits, wear it.

To whatever degree our lives or churches reflect symptoms analogous to any of the churches the risen Lord addresses in these letters, we must take heed to “what the Spirit says to the churches.”

What do the letters tell us about the seven churches in Revelation?

That the letters to the seven churches often betray characteristics of the cities in which these churches flourished reminds us how easily churches can reflect the values of their culture if we do not remain vigilant against those values.

Such parallels are noted at relevant points in the commentary, but one of Ramsay’s other observations should be summarized here:

The two cities that are now completely uninhabited belong to two of the churches most severely rebuked (Sardis and Laodicea).

The two cities that held out longest before the Turkish conquest are the only two churches fully praised (Smyrna and Philadelphia).

The city of Ephesus was later literally moved to a site about three kilometers from where it was in John’s day, just as the church was threatened with removal from its place.

Such parallels may be coincidence, but they might also illustrate a pattern in history: The church, no matter how powerless in a given society, is a guardian of its culture.

Given the high degree of assimilation of North American Christians to our culture’s values—more time spent on entertainment than on witness, more money spent on our comfort than on human need—the prognosis for the society as a whole is not good.

When pagans charged that Rome fell because of its conversion to Christianity, Augustine responded that it fell rather because its sins were piled as high as heaven and because the commitment of most of its Christian population remained too shallow to restrain God’s wrath.  Naturally we recognize that not all suffering reflects judgment; but some does, especially on the societal level.  Is Western Christianity genuinely different enough from our cultures to delay God’s judgment on our societies?

What Are the Seven Churches mentioned in Revelation?

 

Ephesus, located on a major harbor on the Aegean Sea, housed one of the seven wonders of the ancient world – the Temple of Artemis.  The Ephesus church, founded by Paul was of great significance in Asia Minor.

 

Loveless.  The first church mentioned is the Church of Ephesus.  To this church, Jesus commended them for their endurance, their longsuffering, and their dislike of false doctrine and evil behavior.  He chided them however, “…you have abandoned the love you had at first” (Revelation 2:4b).  They no longer had the burning, consuming passion for their God they had when they were first saved and settled into the routine of the faith.  He encourages them to find that fire again and continue where they were doing well.  Just as faith without works is dead (James 2:26), so to are works not done in love.

 

The home of Homer and the Temple of Athena was a beautiful, bustling seaport.  In the second century A.D. Rome martyred Polycarp its bishop.  Of the Seven Churches, two churches received no rebuke this was one.  Refusing to worship pagan god or the Roman emperors they experienced pressure, poverty, and persecution.

 

The Church of Smyrna received words of comfort.  They were mocked and persecuted for their faith, and it was going to get worse before it got better.  It was not a wealthy church either, with opportunities to flee and take refuge somewhere else.  Theologians believe many of the laborers of this church were expelled from their labor guilds – and unable to legally work in their craft – because of their conversion.  The Lord said, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer.  Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation.  Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).  Though they would suffer in this life, God had a reward for them.

 

Pergamos, the location of Rome’s provincial capital, it was a major culture hub that housed a library rivaling the famed Alexandrian library.  Nicknamed “Satan’s City” because of its paganism and idolatry and may have alluded to the city’s alter to Zeus.  Built on the Acropolis, it was the most famous and ornate altar in the world.  100 square feet, 40 feet high with sculptures surrounding its base.  Professing faith in Jesus Christ carried severe consequences in this bedrock of pagan activity.  The church demonstrated conviction and courage by its mere existence, yet idolatry crept into its congregation.  They had married the Gospel with paganism drawing a strong rebuke from Jesus to repent.

This blending of beliefs has plagued God’s people since the early days in Israel, and it still exists today.  Many churches have crumbled under the banner of toleration.  Whatever Satan cannot curse and crush, he seeks to corrupt through compromise.

Today’s church is so fixated on being relevant that it has become irrelevant. People find little in local churches that is different, so they remain disinterested. Speak the truth in love 1 Peter 5:8, Ephesians 4:15

The Church of Pergamum was surrounded by wickedness in their city, but they held fast to their beliefs.  Their location was so full of wickedness the Bible calls it, “where Satan’s throne is…the place where Satan dwells” (Revelation 2:13).  However, there were members of the church who still held onto their former traditions, not willing to let go of their idols.  Others indulged in false doctrine.  Jesus called on this church to stop these sins.  They did receive consolation as well because many from this church had been martyred.

 

Thyatira, Founded under Alexander the Great, was noted for its trade, particularly purple dye.  Lydia, one of Paul’s converts came from this region (Acts 16:14)

The church that tolerates immorality in its midst.

In Thyatira, the church was also having problems with false teachers.  There was a woman in the church who claimed to be a prophetess, who committed sins of sexual immorality, and whose behavior was reminiscent of Jezebel, Ahab’s wicked wife, whose story is told in 1 Kings.  Despite the church’s love, patience, and endurance, they tolerate this wicked woman taking an inappropriate role of leadership, giving false prophecies, and being flagrantly sinful.  God gave this woman, and the church, time to turn from this sin; “I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality” (Revelation 2:21).  The message ends with encouragement for those who did not follow this prophetess.

 

Sardis, the ancient capital of the Lydian kingdom was situated atop a plateau and sustained a series of foreign conquests.  The dead church – the lights were on, people (CINO) attended but there was no presence of the Holy Spirit.  There were no commendations for this church.

 

Sardis was a seemingly active church, full of good works.  The city of Sardis was also a city of wealth, known for the carpet industry and for minting coins.  However, the wealth and good works of this church meant nothing because the church was spiritually dead.  They epitomized a church that seemed good, but many had cold hearts toward the Lord.  They most likely put their faith in their works, prideful and assuming they were saved, or in good standing with the Lord.  The message is, “Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God” (Revelation 3:2).  The church was not beyond hope, but it needed to find that passion for Christ again.

 

Philadelphia, the ‘Gateway to the East’ was renowned for its grapes, textiles, and leather goods.  The faithful church.

 

The next church, in Philadelphia, receives encouragement and affirmation in their message.  Despite poverty and hardship, they stayed true to God.  “I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name” (Revelation 3:8).  Jesus wanted this body of believers to continue as they were, and they would spend eternity in Heaven with Him.

 

Laodicea, the ancient capital city of Phrygia gained wealth through trade and banking. It was also known for its medical school and costly fabrics. The Church of Laodicea is a picture of the church of today – he (Jesus) is standing outside.

 

Finally, John addresses the Church of Laodicea. While the other churches received some encouragement or commendation from the Lord, this church received no positive words.  Like Sardis, Laodicea had an abundance of resources but held an indifferent spirit – described as lukewarm – toward the Lord.  He wanted them to grow hot or cold toward Him, but not to remain lacking in any passion toward the faith.  While they were doing well in an earthly fashion, they were spiritually lacking.  Here, Jesus asks for them to let Him in.  “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).  Despite their lack of spirituality, Christ waited expectantly for them to open their hearts to Him.

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https://davidjeremiah.blog/seven-churches-of-revelation-bible-study/

 

Blessings in Christ,

Joseph “Jim” Stockstill
“National War Council” – Founder and Chairman
Jim5555@nationalwarcouncil.org
P.O. Box 931
Argyle, TX 76226

nwc@nationalwarcouncil.org
Jim5555@nationalwarcouncil.org
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“He hath shown thee what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.”
Micah 6:8