Stages of Christian Spiritual Development

Gary DeLashmutt
John 3:5

John, one of Jesus' disciples, writes his first letter to the church in Ephesus to combat Gnosticism and to assure the believers of their salvation. In these three verses, John describes the provisions given to believers in each of the three stages of spiritual development: 1) full acceptance by and a relationship with God in spiritual infancy; 2) victory over Satan, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God in spiritual young adulthood; and 3) a deep relationship with God and knowledge of His Word in spiritual maturity. Spiritual "birth" (salvation by believing in Jesus) must precede spiritual development. Spiritual development is a choice, cannot happen in isolation, and should be the ambition of every believer.

Satan

Ryan Lowery
1 Peter 5:8-11

God has created spiritual beings that have free will, and Satan has organized a system in order to distract, tempt, and intimidate those who would follow God. This spiritual war has to do with thoughts, truths, and ideas. In order to be victorious, the Bible reminds us that: 1) Satan is our adversary and not people; 2) his tactics are predictable to the trained eye; and that we can: 3) be sober and alert; 4) stand firm; and 5) trust in God's sovereignty.

Eternity Future

Dennis McCallum
Revelation 20:6-22:21

The last piece of John's vision shows Satan being released from his prison. He spends his time deceiving people before being cast into the lake of fire eternally. Those who died are all before God, and he judges them according to their works or by Christ's death, depending on which book their name is in. The Book of Life contains the names of all the people who accepted Christ's death as their payment for sin. Everyone else joins Satan. John sees the new Heaven and Earth brought to life, and God dwells among the people who live there in eternal beauty and security.

Finally

Scott Risley
Revelation 19:1-20:6

In the final days, the Church will finally be wed to Christ and there will be a wedding feast to celebrate. Jesus will return powerfully as a king; in stark contrast to his first coming. There will be an end to injustice once and for all as the Beast and the False Prophet are thrown into the fiery lake along with Satan. Jesus will then reign for a thousand years.

Jesus Returns!

Conrad Hilario
Revelation 19:1-20:6

Jesus is the suffering servant, but He is also the reigning king who judges justly. When He returns He will reign for 1000 years as king of the Earth. Christ's followers will experience a taste of what heaven will be like during his reign. Several views of the millennial kingdom are considered: historical, preterist, idealist, and futurist.

There is Still Time

Conrad Hilario
Revelation 14-16

The end times mark the beginning of the end of human history on earth. During this time period God's wrath is poured out on humanity through the bowl judgments. As things go from bad to worse there is still time for people to repent. A possible reconstruction of the last battle which takes place at Armageddon is included as well.

The Beast(s)

Dennis McCallum
Revelation 13:1-18

Three Beasts emerge in the next part of John's vision. The roles of the first Beast are reinforced by prophecy from Daniel, including his humanity, his total world dominion, and the abomination of desolation. The Beast will persecute the people of God, but will ultimately be destroyed by Christ when he returns. The course of history that would allow these predictions is dissected, and the possibility of this prophecy becomes clear.

The Beast & the False Prophet

Scott Risley
Revelation 13:1-18

During the end times, the Beast and the False Prophet will rise up and rule for a period of time. Some of the characteristics of the Beast include: 1) rises to power in an empire consisting of 10 nations; 2) he establishes a world-wide government for the first time; 3) he is able to control what people buy and sell, worldwide; 4) he gains control of the world in only 3.5 years; 5) he commits an "abomination of desolation"; 6) he launches a war so destructive that God has to step in before the life on earth is wiped out completely; 7) this happens during a time when Israel is regathered and exists as a nation; 8) during his reign, God ends history as we know it and establishes the kingdom as God.

The Dragon and the Woman with Child

Dennis McCallum
Revelation 12:1-17

The next piece of John's vision contains a dragon who waits to devour a woman's newborn son. The dragon represents Satan, who attempts to destroy the child and his mother, causing destruction and persecution of the Jewish people. Although he is defeated at the cross, there are still ways that Satan accuses humanity to each other and God throughout time.