Bible Study Notes

Matthew 16:18-20
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
(Jesus said my church, not my churches. Did he mean an organized church? In those days, the church was composed of people in different locations, but they were one church, although there were disputes among them, particularly later on. The disputes and differences grew over the years and now we have denominations. Should there still be an organized church on earth in the last days?)
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
(If Jesus has to keep secret of his identity just so people won't go riot, what about the church?)

Revelation 1
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%201&version=KJV
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, 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:

(Here, God refers to the Father, not Jesus Christ. The Father gave to Jesus Christ the revelation to be shown to John by Jesus' angel.)

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; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

(Here, John wrote to the seven churches in Asia at that time, and the revelation is from God the Father.) 

⁵ And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

(Jesus is the first resurrected from the dead.) 

⁶ And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

(God is Jesus' Father.)

¹⁰ I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

¹¹ Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

(Was it the angel or Jesus Christ? Verse 1 above said it was the angel sent to John.)

¹³ And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

(Was it the angel? Or was it Jesus Christ.)

¹⁷ And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

(Was it the angel speaking? Sounded like Jesus speaking based on verse below. Jesus is the first and the last. Was Jesus speaking for himself here? Or for the Father?)  

¹⁸ I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

(It was Jesus speaking. Was it really Jesus who appeared to John? Or an angel like verse 1 said above? Was Jesus speaking for himself? Or for the Father here? The Father did not live on earth and died. Jesus must be speaking for himself.)

 ²⁰ The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

(Who are the angels of the seven churches? The people in those churches?)

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%202&version=KJV
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

(Who was the angel of the church of Ephesus? Was it just one angel? Or the people in that church?)

² I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 
   
(There were false apostles back then! Sounded like Jesus was speaking to the people in that church. They were smart enough to try the apostles and found out there were not apostles but liars!)

³ And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

(They laboured for Jesus' name's sake. What did they do?)

⁴ Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

(What did Jesus mean by "thou has left thy first love?" Did he mean they have left their first wife?)

⁵ Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

(Even though the people laboured for Jesus' name's sake, they had fallen by "leaving their first love." If the people do not repent and do the first works, they will loose their candlestick. Even God's people must repent in order to be saved.)

⁸ And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
  
(The first and the last was Jesus Christ.)

⁹ I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

(The people pretended to be poor. Some of them claimed to be the Jews, but are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.)

¹⁰ Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

(Don't be afraid to go into prison.)

¹² And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

(Jesus has the sharp sword with two edges.)

¹³ I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

(Satan dwelleth among the people in the church. Satan was in God's church!)

¹⁴ But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

(There were people in the church who held the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.)

¹⁵ So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

(There were also people in the church who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which God hated. This church had really bad people in it those days!)   

¹⁶ Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

(If the people don't repent, God will punish them.)

¹⁷ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
  
(God will give the people a white stone with a new name written in it, which no man knows except the person who receives it.)

¹⁹ I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

²⁰ Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

(Even though the people in the church did all that good stuff, the servants of the LORD failed to refuse Jezebel's seduction, and followed her. Jezebel pretended to be a prophetess and was in the church. Even in the LORD's church, Satan had his hands in it and led the LORD's servants astray those days.)

²¹ And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

(The LORD even gave Jezebel a chance to repent!)

²² Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

(The LORD gave the people a chance to repent! If they don't, the LORD will punish them.)

²³ And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

(The LORD knows our hearts! Our works count!)

²⁴ But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

(To those who have not followed Satan's doctrine, the LORD will not give them other burden.)

²⁵ But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

(Endure the burdens they already have till the LORD comes. Seems like our burdens are punishment for our sins. The LORD is not going to remove existing burdens, but will not give us more if we don't follow Satan.)

²⁶ And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

(Whoever endures and keeps the LORD's works to the end will have power.)

²⁷ And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

(Jesus received his power from his Father. We will have the same power.)

²⁹ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

(It was the Spirit who said to the churches.)

Revelation 3
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%203&version=KJV
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

(Seven Spirits of God.)

² Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

(The people were not perfect. They needed to be watchful.)

³ Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

(They must be very careful and hold fast.)

⁴ Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

(Only a few names that are worthy.)

⁵ He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

(Jesus will confess that person's name and he will not blot out the name.)                     

¹⁰ Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

(Temptation will come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth.)

¹¹ Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

(Hold fast!)

¹² Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

(Jesus had a new name?)

¹⁴ And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

(Jesus was the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God! What does the beginning of the creation of God mean?)

¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

(It's out of love that he rebuke and chasten.)

²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

(Hear his voice and let the LORD come in.)

²¹ To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

(Jesus endured and got to sit in his Father's throne. If we endure, we'll sit in Jesus' throne.)


1 Corinthians 1
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1%3A14-17&version=KJV
Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

(Paul was called through the will of God.)

² Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:

(That's how they called the church those days, the church of God which is at Corinth.)

³ Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

(God our Father is separate from the Lord Jesus Christ.)

⁴ I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

(Paul thanked God for the people for the grace of God given to them by Jesus Christ.)

⁵ That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

(Enriched by God in all speaking words and knowledge.)

⁶ Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

⁷ So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

⁸ Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(They had a firm testimony of Christ and waited for his coming. In turn, Jesus will confirm them unto the end.)

⁹ God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

(God's son, Jesus Christ, is our Lord.)

¹⁰ Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

(Paul wanted the people to speak the same and not divide among themselves.)       

¹¹ For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

(The people couldn't agree on things.)

¹² Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

(Everyone exalted different apostles.)

¹³ Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

(Paul did not exalt himself for he was not crucified for the people.)
    
¹⁴ I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

¹⁵ Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

¹⁶ And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

¹⁷ For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

(Preaching the gospel is more important than baptizing people. Paul didn't care to baptize many people, but cared more to preach. It's not the wisdom of words, but the cross that saves.)

¹⁸ For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

(Preaching of the cross is what that has the power to save.)

²¹ For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

(Preaching of the cross might sound foolish to the world, but saves that who believe.)
 
²² For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

(It's not wisdom that saves.

²³ But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

(By preaching, Paul meant preaching of Christ crucified.)

²⁴ But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

(Christ has the power and wisdom of God.)
 
²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

(Crucified on the cross is not foolishness, but wisdom of God. Dying on the cross is not weakness, but strength of God.)
 
²⁶ For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

(God does not call many wise men, not many mighty or noble men.)

²⁷ But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

²⁸ And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

(God chose base things of the world, and things which are despised, like men with no legs, homeless women, drug addicts, etc. for they have a better testimony and their speak has more power coming from their personal experience.)

²⁹ That no flesh should glory in his presence.

(Not even a prophet!)

               



Malachi 1
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi%201&version=KJV
² I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob,

³ And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

(Israel did not believe that the LORD loved them.)

⁴ Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the Lord of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the Lord hath indignation for ever.

(Edom complained of being poor. The LORD was angry with them. The LORD's indignation may last for ever. Be afraid.)

⁶ A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

(The priests did not honour or fear the LORD. They despised His name.)

⁷ Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible.

(The priests offered polluted bread to the LORD.)

⁸ And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts. 

(Make sure to offer the best.)

⁹ And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the Lord of hosts.

(Make sure to beseech God that he will be gracious unto us.)

¹¹ For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.

(Make sure to honour the LORD from morning till night.)

¹³ Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord.

(Israel was wearied by offering the LORD and offered the worst. The LORD won't accept.)


¹⁴ But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

(The deceiver who didn't offer the best and offered the worst will be cursed. Fear the LORD.)

Malachi 2
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi%202&version=KJV
And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.
² If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.

(The LORD commanded the priests to give glory unto His name. If they do not hear or keep this commandment to their hearts, the LORD will send a curse upon them. It is very important to lay it to heart because they've already been cursed.)

⁴ And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.

⁵ My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.

(The LORD covenanted with Levi so Levi will fear Him and was afraid before the LORD's name for life and peace. It's a serious covenant. For the LORD to keep His covenant with Levi, He gave the priests this commandment.)

⁶ The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.

⁷ For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

(Priests' duties were to be the LORD's messenger so others could seek the law of truth at their mouths.)

⁸ But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.

(The priests had departed out of the way and led the people astray.)

⁹ Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

(The priests have been partial in the law. They kept some of the LORD's ways, but not completely.)

¹⁰ Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

(God is our father and He created us all. The people did not love each other and dealt treacherously every man against his brother.)

¹¹ Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.

(Judah has married the daughters of a strange god. It's an abomination to the LORD to marry people who worshiped other gods. Be careful with whom to marry. Don't marry people who worship other gods.)

¹² The Lord will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the Lord of hosts.

(Severe punishment for Judah.)

¹³ And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.

¹⁴ Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

(The men couldn't understand why the LORD would not regard their offering any more. Did the men cry at the alter or their wives of covenant did? The men dealt treacherously against their wives of covenant. It seems that the daughters of strange god were not their wives of covenant. They married them later.)

¹⁵ And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

¹⁶ For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

(The LORD hateth putting away wives. The LORD is against divorce.)

¹⁷ Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?

(They didn't believe in God will judge. They considered evil good.)
     
Malachi 3
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi%203&version=KJV
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Melchizedek
The author of the book of Hebrews knew a lot more about Melchizedek than the book of Genesis described. Where did the author of Hebrews get that information? Could he get it as a prophet from God, or from some other ancient scriptures that are not in the Bible? King David knew about Jesus being ordained after the order of Melchizedek because he was a prophet.