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Prairie Grove Church of Christ S.R.FF (5 Miles from W-160)

Caulfield, MissouriCONVERSION OF THE EUNUCH

Conversion to Christ involves a process that cannot be altered and be acceptable unto God. As a matter of fact, God’s curse is upon any and all who “pervert” His inspired word (Gal.1 :6-9)! The conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-39 is a classic example of God’s part as well as man’s part in salvation. God sent Philip to the Eunuch (Acts 8:26). Take special note that the Holy Spirit did not directly teach the eunuch, but sent Philip to teach God’s plan of salvation (Acts 8:29). The eunuch had traveled to Jerusalem to worship (Acts 8:27); was returning home and reading from Isaiah 53 (Acts 8:28). Philip asked if he understood what he was reading (Acts 8:30) to which he responded, “How can I except some man should guide me” (Acts 8:31 )? Philip used the scriptures from Isaiah 53 and “preached unto him Jesus” (Acts 8:35). The prophecy in Isaiah 53 foretold of the suffering of Christ which Philip preached. Convincing and converting the eunuch that Christ was indeed the Messiah, the Son of Almighty God. Not only did Philip speak of the deity of Christ, but of baptism for the eunuch asked, “See here is water; what deeth hinder me to be baptized” (Acts 8:36). Philip responded, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou may est. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him” (Acts 8:37 -38). Since baptism involves water (Acts 8:36) and is “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38), the eunuch, like every convert, was buried (Rom.6:3-4) with Christ in baptism there to meet the blood of Jesus which washed away his sins (Acts 22: 16) to arise to “walk in newness of life” (Rom.6:4 ). Having done that, the Lord added him to the church wherein are the saved (Acts 2:47). It is also inferred to preach Christ is to preach about the Lord’s church, the church of Christ. Since Christ purchased the church with His blood (Acts 20:28), and the saved are added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:47), then Philip taught the eunuch as to what he was becoming, a part of the body of Christ, the church (Eph.4:4; 1 :22-23). Beloved, God has one and only one plan to save all accountable people; that being to hear the gospel (Rom.1 0: 17), believe in Christ as God’s Son (Jno.8:24 ), repentance (Acts 2:38) and immersion “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Having done that, the Lord adds one to the church wherein are the saved (Acts 2:47). Yes, the eunuch stands as a great example of one who loved God so much that he, “ ... obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Rom.6:17-18). The last recorded words of Luke regarding the eunuch are, “And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:39).

Sunday Worship 10:00 A.M.& 6:00 P.M. Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 P.M.

“The churches of Christ salute you.“ Romans 16:16LISTEN TO “THE wORd OF TRUTH”

Monday-Friday 7:45am on KdY 102.5 FMIvie Powell III, Speaker

- Ivie Powell III, Preacher

Curry Street ChurCh of ChriSt111 South Curry Street • WeSt PlainS, Mo

417-256-3925

“And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns” (Rev. 17:7). The purpose of chapter 17 is to reveal the identity of the woman, and the beast that carried her. The sea beast, having 7 heads and 10 horns, has already been seen to be the Roman Empire (Rev. 13:1-10 and Dan. 7:1-28). And the earth beast, which caused those who dwell on the earth to worship the sea beast (Rome), rep-resents the false religion created by the deification of the Emperors of Rome (Rev. 13:11-18). Now, in chapter 17, the identity of the beast is further revealed. (v1-5) introduces us to the harlot of harlots, spiritual speaking. (v6) says she was drunk, not with alcoholic beverages, but with the blood of the saints. In (v14), the beast and her allies go to war with the lamb, but are eventually defeated (read Dan. 7:21-27). (v7), has already been addressed above. The woman’s identity is revealed in two verses, “… The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman setteth” (v9), and, “And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth” (v18). Since Rome sits upon 7 mountains, and since she was the city in power when John wrote the Revelation, most scholars, with whom I agree on this point, recognize Rome as the woman of this chapter. The identity of the 10 horns is revealed in (v12-13 and v16-18) “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings … These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast”, and, “And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast … shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled”. Whether these are 10 literal kingdoms, or whether the number 10 is used symbolically of complete power, I’m not sure. One thing is sure, they represent the allies of Rome, who will help her rule, and then turn against her to destroy her. Now, to address the beast which was, and is not, and is yet to come (v8); and the 5 kings who are fallen, the 1 who now is, and the 1 who is yet to come (v10); and the 8th, who is of the 7 (v10-11). McGuiggan identifies the 5 fallen kings as 1) Augustus, 2) Tiberius, 3) Caligula, 4) Claudius, and 5) Nero. He then ties all of this to (Daniel 7:7, v20, and v24). Here Daniel mentions 11 kings, “And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them (this is number 11 – LY); … and he shall subdue three kings” (Dan. 7:24). The first 5 were: 1) Augustus, 2) Tiberius, 3) Caligula, 4) Claudius, and 5) Nero. Daniel then mentions three who were rooted up, they were 6) Galba, 7) Otho, 8) Vitellius. John in his Revelation completely ignores these 3. McGuiggan’s reasoning is that after the suicide of Nero, the Roman Empire was left in disarray. Galba, Otho, and Vitellius were never able to bring the kingdom under complete control, and therefore were considered nothing more than “mock rulers”. Thus, John in his Revelation, completely ignores these 3, and moves on to his 6th, Daniel’s 9th, Vespasian; John’s 7th, Daniel’s 10th, Titus; and John’s 8th, Daniel’s 11th, Domitian. In our next article we will include a chart to help explain this chapter more fully.

UNDERSTANDING THE MESSAGE OF THE PROPHETS“REVELATION CHAPTER 17 – THE MYSTERY OF THE WOMAN REVEALED”