Due to wanting to honor God, this year I celebrate twenty-eight (28) years of marriage to a man I love so very much! 

False teaching, however, almost destroyed my marriage twenty-one (21) years ago. Sharing this story with you offers insight about me and why I write these posts. 

At my seven-year marriage marker, I was done hurting; I was mentally done crying with unresolved issues and emotional pain. The pain was rooted in not being a priority for my husband. It seemed as if everyone else was prioritized above me. As if being his wife should be enough - as if I was expected, as a Christian woman, to keep forgiving and forgetting. The order of priority in a marriage is to be God first, then spouse. God was not his first priority.  Actually, God was not the first on either one of our lists.  That changed.

Being a believer and wanting to be obedient to God, I sought out "Christian" counseling. Here I am sitting in this room with a person who has credentials hanging on the walls and even a badge that says, “Pastor.” Why wouldn't I trust what this “qualified” counselor (with all the right credentials) is telling me? Whether this person intentionally tried to mislead me, or by their own error of studies, the teaching this person provided was in error. Meaning, not accurate to God's word. Due to this error in teaching, I was even more deeply conflicted and ultimately filed for divorce.

Here is where being around others in the faith help you see what you cannot see during the pain. 

I was in turmoil and going-around-in-circles in my mind. My heart wanted to honor God; however, the pain appeared overwhelming. Then add to that, “false affirmation” from someone I should trust saying it was okay in my situation to divorce my husband – to disobey God.  This person had led me to falsely believe there was a “loop-hole” in God’s instructions.

God, however, provided a much more valuable and credible voice of wisdom - the Holy Spirit. I was in turmoil (going around in circles) because what I was listening to, and about to do, was not led by the Spirit; it was in conflict with the Spirit.

My earthly dad insisted I go to church, but I responded with something along the lines of, "I was getting a divorce; therefore, I had no business walking into a church building." Here I was, someone who had worked so hard to be an ideal Christian and now I felt trapped in thinking my only option of escape is to give in and do something against God’s word – divorce my husband. I could not walk in that building and be fake. I knew that much. I could not walk into that building and expect God to say what I was doing is okay. The Holy Spirit was indeed already telling me it wasn’t. But why? Heck, I had affirmation from a person with qualifications to teach. Why was I not at peace? My dad persisted and said people may reject you, but God will not. You go to God right now! So, with my dad by my side, I walked into the building. There off to my left was a counter with brochures and one of those brochures was on a “Divorce Recovery” class. Wait what?!

This sermon turned out to be the first in a four-part series on marriage. This first sermon was on a woman who was divorcing her husband. It gets more in depth than that. This sermon provided scripture which showed me I had previously received, and listened to, an error in teaching. 

The counselor/pastor was misdirecting me, a married woman, based on a misinterpretation of 1Corithians 6:14. Well, a misdirected teaching. You'll understand what I mean later.

First of all, this below is 1Corithians 6:14:

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?”

Why was this a misinterpretation, or rather a misdirected teaching with my personal experience?

That verse is to prepare those who are not married yet. This is an instruction for people who are seeking a spouse. 

God wants a husband and wife to believe in salvation through Jesus Christ and together turn to God for guidance and healing within their union. Because for a believer who is unequally yoked in marriage with an unbelieving spouse, how futile it can seem as you go round in circles. While that verse is truth and very important, it is for people to know before they get married. 

I was already married.

What if they are already married? Then 1Corinthians 7:12-16 applies:

"To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband:"

The Bible teaches that an unequal yoke does not in itself break a marriage vow. 

Back to the day my earthly dad escorted me to church. Well, I was very angry during that sermon. On the way home my dad wanted to hug me, but later I learned he was too scared seeing how upset I was. I wanted to hear God affirm what I was told, in front of my dad. I wanted more affirmation to leave this marriage and stop the hurt. Why would God want me to stay in this marriage? Does God not love me? I was so angry with God.

What was my dad’s response? A few days later he says, “We’re going back this week, right?” 

Not sure how it happened, but my dad and I did return that next Sunday. That was the best decision I could have possibly made. For the second sermon addressed the remainder of 1Corinthians 7:12-16. This verse goes on to explain… 

"For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?”

God’s character revealed! Through our marriage, we can save each other. That was powerful. 

Again, my dad wanted to hug me but once again was too afraid to. For this time, I was crying so hard during the sermon and especially on the way home. While I was driving us home, my dad-in-law called me. He told me, "I don't know what is going on with you and my son, but you will always be the mother of my grandchild and will always be welcomed."  He continued on with more I needed to hear. My heart needed that phone call; I needed to know I still belonged - was still wanted by someone in my husband's family. It was a direct invite to stay and fight for my marriage.

When did it all change? When did my marriage begin its path to healing, recovery, and especially a new beginning? When we placed the Son of God first and center in our marriage! When we cried out to Him in humbleness. When the only begotten Son of God became our cornerstone.

After that second sermon, I called and invited my husband to the remaining two parts of the series. We rededicated our marriage to God and were baptized together! Through our marriage, we have both grown in our faith and walk with Jesus Christ - the Son of God!

That was literally a “life-changing” experience. 

I learned:

1. That error in teaching had the power to destroy my marriage. 

2. But, the power of God is stronger.

3. If we truly seek God’s wisdom, He will provide it to all who are willing to listen.

4. The more we give our marriage over to God, the better it becomes even to this day.

5. It is my responsibility to seek the truth and not just believe what a person tells me. They might be intentionally teaching to mislead or simply be in error. 

6. Everything someone tells me relating to God and/or scripture, I research and study myself. 

7. Wanting to honor God, I made a decision according to His will - not mine. Initially it was very difficult, and I had to humble myself to receive restoration in myself and my marriage.

How does this apply to this website, "The Hope Found in Revelation," and seeking understanding in the mystery of the book of Revelation?

1. Intentional false teaching and/or erroneous teaching has the power to destroy a person's faith.

2. But, the power of God is stronger!

3. If we seek God's truth, it will be revealed to all who are willing to hear it.

4. The more we give our lives and decisions to God, the stronger our foundation is to stand firm on in our faith.

This year I celebrate twenty-seven (27) years of marriage to a man I love and attracted to more than ever. This experience led me to a revival in my walk with God. For the last twenty (20) years, I have been driven to extensively study God’s word. 

What was interesting, however, was that I had not even considered studying Revelation. Why would I want to know about end times? 

Well, someone asked me if I believed in “pre, mid, or post tribulation." I responded, “I was taught…” This person immediately proceeded to tell me I should never just believe what someone else tells me. That I needed to study it myself. Are you laughing right now? Well, I did too back then. Ironically, that is what I had been doing for years already, but still fell into the “someone told me” response regarding Revelation. Wow! That humbled me greatly. 

Why with Revelation, was I willing to just go with what I was taught? That was indeed unacceptable. That night I made the decision to personally study that book with the Holy Spirit's wisdom. Meaning, I seek the wisdom from the Lord for understanding. 

Revelation is about our spiritual transformation; it is not this dark and gloomy story of destruction. Well, at least not for the LORD's people - not for those who belong to the LORD (belong to the Son of God, Christ Jesus). It's about how we can identify the swords of the enemy and protect ourselves from Satan's destruction.  It's about how we can put on, and hold onto, the armor of God.

God, my Abba Father, took me on an unexpected journey into the hope found in the book of Revelation; it inspires me to share it with you.

As you read through the posts, remember 2Timothy 4:1 -2.

“I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.”

I encourage you to challenge what I write. Seek and study scripture with Hebrew and Greek – not just with an “English” translation. It is your salvation. Do not place it solely into another person’s interpretation. 

Revelation is about restoration through spiritual transformation. It's a playbook outlining the tactics of the enemy, so we can defend our faith.  It helps understand the scope of evil and identify the enemy’s relentless pursuit to remove faith - to remove peace from throughout the earth.

Most importantly, the book of Revelation teaches how to overcome, encourages to overcome, and reveals the authority and power of God needed to overcome - through the love you have for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Your Sister in Christ, Debra