iona's blog

It's a journal. It's a devotional. It's a record of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) survivor. It's documentation of God's activities in real time. There are good days and bad, happy times and sad... I tell it like it is. This is an unscripted walk along the meandering paths of my mind. My life has never been dull... and I've never known boredom. Read on, you'll see...

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Name: Iona Hoeppner
Location: Davenport, Florida, United States

I am a happily married mother and grandmother of a large family. I've also had several careers including writer, teacher, trucker, investment and finance advisor, web master and artist. I am an ordained minister (not to the pulpit) and consider my calling to Christ's service my most important role in life.

Friday, September 05, 2008

Exciting Book

I finally got my Bible Study handouts put online. We have a tradition that no question is off limits. There may be some answers for which we need to build a foundation before going further, such as discussions about where the unsaved go immediately after death, but we will tackle anything, digging through scripture for the truth of God's whole Word.

As people have visited or joined the class, they have wanted the previous handouts, so I decided to post them on my web site. Also, people wanted me to write out my notes and I thought it was a wise thing, too, because I can't read them when they're cold. So I began typing them as I made them, doing my research and study in front of the computer.

Thus far, I've put up the following handouts: 
As I mentioned in an earlier blog, we are studying the Book of Revelation. I have notes up for chapters 4 through 6 and hope to finish 7 this weekend. Links to them are found on the Revelation page.

Anyway, it has blossomed into a full scale project and I find that the in-depth research is a good refresher. Amazing how much you forget without realizing it. Of course, Revelation is not one of the Books I often turn to in my Biblical meanderings. I usually go there only when seeking a specific reference.

As I am drawn deeper into John's final writings, I find myself in awe as my mind's eye takes in his amazing word pictures. They blaze across the horizon of my consciousness shining with the majesty of the throne and the ONE upon it, the four created beings and the 24 elders... Myriads of angels.  I hear a symphony of praise, the martyred ones under the altar calling , "How long..." And the LAMB appears. And we have only just begun! Read through to the end.

The depth and breadth of this book are tremendous, the splendor and the terror emotionally spell binding. One could script volumes of notes on all the minutiae, but it is important not to lose sight of the focal message... Yet we must take care not to disregard vital details, particulars with meanings God intended us to pick up on.

Wow! What a Book!! I challenge you to do a study of Revelation. You can find several study books in your local Christian book store, or online. Of course, you are invited to wander through my notes. They probably make more sense to those who hear it live, but maybe you can glean something as well. 

If you do opt for a book or  online study, I would suggest that you go for a Futurist view. There are four predominant approaches to Revelation, Preterist, Historicist,  Idealist and Futurist. The latter is a literal reading of prophecy and the only one that makes sense to me.  

And my day was like this...
  • 10:10 What a nice, grey day! 
  • 12:01 Wow, I feel empowered. I have prioritized all my To-Do's and have them in my electronic and phone calendar. I even have estimated times. 
  • 13:27 Have finished updating personal books and paying recent bills, and we still have a positive balance. Whoo Hoo! 


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