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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 3, 2021 21:43:30 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 19:5
Saturday, July 3rd, 2021
Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!” Revelation 19:5
In the previous verse, the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, saying, “Alleluia.” With that in mind, this verse now says, “Then a voice came from the throne.” As the voice is from the throne itself, there is no need to assume it is any voice other than Jesus. It is He who sits in the position of power and authority, and it is He who has the right to say, “Praise our God.”
He is both fully God and fully Man. In this, He calls forth for the praise of God, beginning with “all you His servants.” They are words similar to those that open Psalms 134 and 135 –
“Praise the Lord!
Praise the name of the Lord;
Praise Him, O you servants of the Lord!” Psalm 135:1
He next says, “and those who fear Him, both small and great.” That is reflected in Psalm 115:13 –
“He will bless those who fear the Lord,
Both small and great.”
One can see how the book of Revelation relies so heavily on the Old Testament writings, again and again calling forth the notion that the Lord, Yehovah of the Old, is the Lord Jesus of the New. He is the fulfillment of all Messianic anticipations, and He is the incarnation of the Lord – fully revealed to His people to behold the great things God has done by His own mighty power.
Life application: This verse is an introduction to the fourth Alleluia pictured by the fourth cup of the Passover. Before arriving at it, think on what this fourth “Alleluia” cup will represent.
As far as what has been said in this verse, there is the note that God is to be praised, and we are to forever keep on praising Him. He is worthy of great honor and glory because He is the Creator, the Sustainer, our Savior, our Deliverer, our Redeemer, and our Hope. We are to give Him all the praise and honor we can, and we should never let it end!
All people, both small and great, who have called out to God through Christ have been freed from the bondage of sin and unrighteousness, and have moved to an imputed state of righteousness. In this, we have been granted eternal life. No wonder the voice from the throne asks us to praise God! We are being reminded of the most significant part of our existence – the conversion of our soul from condemnation to salvation.
Surely God is worthy of all praise for that! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord for the coming of JESUS!
Who is like You, O God? You are great and greatly to be praised. We mope over the things that cause us temporary grief. We get frustrated and wish that things were clearer in our daily walk. We show bitterness when things don’t go right. But You have already taken care of the greatest issues of all. You have directed us from death to life. What more could we ask for? Thank You, O Lord – thank You for Jesus. Hallelujah and Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 4, 2021 23:58:10 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 19:6
Sunday, July 4th, 2021
And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Revelation 19:6
John had just noted the “voice from the throne.” It called out saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!” In response to that comes a stunning reply. John says, “And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude.”
The meaning conveyed is like that at a pep rally. The great multitude in heaven was calling out in verse 1. They again called out in verse 3. Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures joined in as well in verse 4. After that, the Lord prompted the multitudes as was just cited above. With His words spoken, the great multitude breaks forth “as the sound of many waters.”
This is the same terminology used of the Lord’s voice in Revelation 1;15. Such a voice was again heard in Chapter 14 –
“And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.” Revelation 14:2
So great is this cry that it has the same effect, as if many waters were crashing and flowing in a beautiful harmony. Such a din of noise is recorded by Isaiah in a negative sense at the rebuke of God –
“Woe to the multitude of many people
Who make a noise like the roar of the seas,
And to the rushing of nations
That make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!
13 The nations will rush like the rushing of many waters;
But God will rebuke them and they will flee far away,
And be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind,
Like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.” Isaiah 17:12, 13
Rather than a rebuke, however, this noise is one of elation, joy, and triumph. In addition to this, John says, “and as the sound of mighty thunderings.” This is now the fifth and final time that such thunderings are recorded in Revelation. They are a reflection of the power and glory of the Lord as He visits His people. Such thunderings were also recorded at Sinai at the giving of the law.
With this appeal for praise of God being responded to, it is as if everything in creation has come to a culminating expression of elation, “saying, ‘Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!’”
This is the fourth and final Alleluia recorded in Revelation. It is one that acknowledges the omnipotence of the Lord God, meaning Jesus. The Greek reads emphatically, “the Lord God, the Almighty.” He has destroyed Babylon the great. Now, purity of worship will cover the earth. And so, this tremendous shout rounds out the promises of God foreshadowed all the way back at the time of the exodus.
With this realized, the verses from Exodus 6 looked at in a previous verse can be reviewed again –
“Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” Exodus 6:6, 7
This fourth “Alleluia” is the consummation of the thought “I will be your God.” It corresponds to the fourth cup of the Passover, the Hallel (meaning “praise”), and accompanies the thought “I will take.” Thus, it is the cup of adoption or consummation. This was prefigured by the joining of God to His people at Mt. Sinai. As He told them then –
“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” Exodus 19:5, 6
This is only truly realized in the final destruction of Babylon the great when God’s people will live free from her oppression and reign as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
Just as God dwelt among His people in a tabernacle of material, so He will forever dwell among His people in a tabernacle of flesh – in the Person of Jesus the Lord. The fourth cup prefigures the establishment of Christ’s eternal kingdom, and it is realized in the delivery of the people from the very presence of sin.
Hallelujah, for our Lord, our wonderful Lord Jesus, reigns!
Life application: Through Christ’s sacrifice, man has been freed from the penalty of sin. In the sanctification of His people, we are freed from the power of sin. Someday, the presence of sin will be removed from us forever. This is the hope of the redeemed. We will be returned to the state we were intended to be in from the beginning.
This marvelous place and state is only available because God intervened in the affairs of man by sending His Messiah to bring us back to Himself. Without Him, there would only be ever-increasing wickedness. But through the tender mercies of our God, He has sent our Lord to restore us to Himself. Let us thank God for this gift of love and grace. Let us thank God for JESUS.
O God, the beauty of Your word, and how it reveals what You are doing in human history, is beyond imagination. Stir up in us the desire to read it and peer into its mysteries all the days of our lives. Help us to understand the meaning of the symbolism given throughout it which reveals to us Your workings in and through Jesus our Lord. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 5, 2021 23:17:21 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 19:7
Monday, July 5th, 2021
Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7
The four Alleluias have been called out, and God has been exalted through the praise of His people over the judgment of Babylon. With that accomplished, the voice of the great multitude continues now by saying, “Let us be glad and rejoice.” Being glad and rejoicing is an often-repeated set of words from elsewhere in Scripture, where God’s people are glad and rejoice for His wondrous works.
In this, the victory of the Lord over the falsities of Babylon the great is accomplished. The truth of God in Christ has been vindicated, and the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the seas. It is a reason to be glad and rejoice, but that state only anticipates what lies ahead. But for these things, the people continue by saying, “and give Him glory.”
The idea here is that stated in Psalm 115 –
“Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth.” Psalm 115:1
God alone deserves the glory for what has occurred. His word was written long before, and it foretold what would come about, showing His transcendence over time. But more, His word tells of how sin entered the world, and it tells of all that God would do in the stream of human existence to make the redemption come about, including the sending of His Christ to accomplish all that was necessary for it to be so. This includes the thought of Christ’s sacrifice. As it said in Revelation 13:8 –
“…the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
God sent Christ to die. Hence, He is called “the Lamb slain.” Now, the rejoicing and giving of glory to God is shouted out with that specific thought in mind. As it next says, “for the marriage of the Lamb has come.”
It is the sacrificial death of Christ that is focused on, and it is that which has made what lies ahead possible. It is through His death that victory has been realized. It is through His death that life has been granted. And it is the Lamb slain, and who was raised again, to whom the marriage is to be made. And it is through the Lamb slain that “His wife has made herself ready.”
It is Christ who prepares His people for the marriage. This will actually be explained in the next verse. As far as the idea of the wedding in relation to the Lord, many passages in both the Old and New Testaments give insights into it, such as Isaiah 54:1-8; Ezekiel 16:7-14; Hosea 2:19, 20; Matthew 9:15; John 3:39; 2 Corinthians 11:2; and Ephesians 5:25-27.
There are even typological hints of what Christ would do for His people throughout the books of Moses such as in the story of Isaac and Rebekah, the story of Jacob and his wives, and even in such obscure passages as those found in Deuteronomy 22:13-29. These, and other such references, give us information concerning what is now being presented in Revelation.
However, the idea of a single betrothal/marriage is not all there is in the prophetic scenario. Believers are individually betrothed to Christ when we believe the gospel. The church will be presented as the Bride of Christ as stated in Ephesians 5. This will occur at the rapture of the church. Israel will be united to Christ as a bride as is indicated in various Old and New Testament passages. And then there is the general thought of being united as a bride to Christ in Revelation 21.
It is true that in Revelation 21, the “holy Jerusalem” is called “the bride, the Lamb’s wife,” but it has already been said in the epistles and earlier in Revelation that the temple is made up of believers (Ephesians 2:21, Hebrews 3:6, 1 Peter 2:5, Revelation 3:12, and etc.).
Life application: In stark contrast to the great whore of the preceding chapters comes the description which follows her destruction – a bride is made ready. A bride is normally dressed in white, a color that symbolizes her purity, and such is the case – as we will see in the coming verse – with the bride of the Lamb.
This is in contrast to the outward refinements of the whore. She was dressed extravagantly, but she was filled with impurity and wickedness. Such is the case with all false religion, but the world will see that there is One God, and He has chosen one avenue of restoration to Him – which is through Jesus Christ.
All souls who have followed false religion will realize the error of their ways when they see those who have given up on self and placed their trust in Jesus for their salvation being brought into the very presence of the Creator. The great multitude (verse 1) exclaims that this is a time of being glad and rejoicing. It is a time of giving God the glory for His wondrous works. The time of the marriage of the Lamb.
At the beginning of the Gospel of John, John the Baptist said – “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me’” (John 1:29, 30). The Greek word John used there which is translated as “Lamb” is amnos. It was used in the Greek version of the Old Testament to indicate a “sacrificial lamb.” However, the term used in Revelation is arion. The sacrificial and atoning element of Jesus’ work was completed at the cross.
The Lamb of Revelation is the one who has prevailed. The atonement is complete, and it is only through His work that salvation is possible. The only other time the word arion is used outside of the book of Revelation is at the end of the book of John, after the cross, when Jesus met with the apostles. At this time, Jesus called His followers His “lambs,” using this term. In other words, those who have called on Him are like Him – pure, spotless, and undefiled; they bear His image.
The bride of Christ “has made herself ready” through the blood of Christ. The imagery is both beautiful and astonishing. If you ever have doubts about God’s good plan for you, put them away. Christ really came, He really paid the sin-debt for His people, and He really will come again to take us to Himself. We will be in the presence of Christ forever and ever… a spotless bride with the perfect Husband – He is JESUS!
Heavenly Father, You sent Your only-begotten Son to pay our sin debt, and then You raised Him up to everlasting life and have called us to You through Him. And now, just as You presented Adam with an innocent and beautiful bride, so You have readied us to be a bride to Jesus, having purified us through His blood. Great and awesome are You, O God! Hallelujah to the Lamb! Amen
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 8, 2021 1:26:38 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 19:8
Tuesday, July 6th, 2021
And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Revelation 19:8
With the words of the final Alleluia of praise complete, a praise that ended with “and His wife has made herself ready,” John next says, “And to her it was granted.”
The meaning is that something is to be bestowed upon the bride. The bestowal is logically tied to the words, “His wife has made herself ready.” With this in mind, it says that she is “to be arrayed in fine linen.” The fine linen, as has been seen quite a few times in Scripture, is a symbol of purity. That is then defined by the next words “clean and bright.”
The words not only signify purity, but absolute purity. Clean and bright can then be contrasted to the thought expressed by both Paul and Peter of that which has a spot or blemish. With that stated, this is speaking of those who come before God as a bride to His Son who have been purified by Christ. It is the imputed righteousness of Christ that is being referred to. First from Paul –
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27
The purity of Christ’s sacrifice, having given Himself for His bride, is what is then endowed upon her. Peter continues the thought –
“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 2 Peter 2:17-19
Peter says that “the precious blood of Christ” is what redeems His people. The blood speaks of His sacrifice. When the blood is shed, it signifies His death because the life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11).
This fine linen is given to the bride as a symbol of her purity before God. With that in mind, John next explicitly states the meaning of it, saying, “for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” The Greek emphasizes the words. It more literally reads, “For the fine linen the righteousnesses of the saints is.”
There is a one to one comparison being made with the word “is.” Further, the noun translated by the NKJV as “righteous acts” is a plural noun. Of this word, there are two general translations to be derived. The first is the “righteous acts” of the saints. The other is the “righteousness” of the saints.
There is no small difference between the two. The word in Greek is dikaiōmata. As noted, it is plural – “righteousnesses.” The plural is therefore what causes different interpreters to come to different conclusions. As noted in the citations from Paul and Peter above, it is Christ who purifies believers. The fact is that, without Christ, we are marred and unclean in the presence of God. Because of this, Jesus’ own words in John 3:18 show our true state before salvation –
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Only when one comes to Christ is a person purified and acceptable before God. Only in this purified state are our deeds considered acceptable. Once it is so, our works can be termed “good.” As Paul says –
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
Because of this, Cambridge (and others as well) says –
“Rather, the righteous acts. Every good work done by every single saint goes to make up the perfect glory of the Church as it shall be when at last complete. The doctrine of the Communion of Saints is contained in, or follows from, that of the holy Catholic Church.”
The analysis is incorrect. As noted by Jesus (cited from John 3:18), all people are already condemned. Going to heaven is not the purpose of salvation; it is a benefit of it. “Salvation” implies “from,” not “for.” Therefore, there must be a covering of the true state of the individual. This covering is the atoning work of Jesus and the imputing of His righteousness to us. Jesus said in Revelation 3:5 –
“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”
To “overcome” means to pass from death to life, from unrighteousness to righteousness, from condemnation to salvation, from the devil to Jesus. This is what Paul again refers to in Philippians 3 –
“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.” Philippians 3:8, 9
This verse, therefore, is speaking of the “righteousnesses” of the saints, not in deeds done after salvation (as a cumulative effect, thus purifying us and adorning us in white), but the “righteousnesses” of all the saints cumulatively.
In other words, “This is Sergio’s righteousness, and this is also Rhoda’s righteousness, and this is Hideko’s righteousness, and this is Mfumbe’s righteousness.” It speaks of the righteousness of each saved soul individually which combined is many righteousnesses. In the end, each saved person’s righteousness is the same and came in the same way – it is granted to the believer by God because of faith, and faith alone, in the work of Jesus Christ.
This is why following a false gospel cannot bring righteousness. It is the warning of Paul that is often repeated in his epistles, such as to the Corinthians –
“For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” 2 Corinthians 11:2-4
Deeds are excluded in the imputation of righteousness. Even any deeds which are accepted by God, as James clearly explains in Chapter 2 of his epistle, are deeds of faith. There are no deeds accomplished, prior to or after salvation, which count towards the credit of the individual unless they are done in faith. And this, in turn, points right back to Jesus. Our faith in what Jesus has done is demonstrated in deeds that are based on that faith. Therefore, the proper and only reasonable translation of this verse in Revelation is one that refers to the righteousness of the saints, not of the righteous acts (or deeds) of the saints.
This may sound as if hairs have been split, but it is one of the Bible’s central tenets, and the difference in this ultimately leads to one of the greatest divisions in all of Christianity. This culminated in the decision rendered at the Council of Trent in 1546 whereby the Roman Catholic Church, in reaction to the Protestant Reformation, determined that Christ’s work was insufficient in and of itself to justify us before God, but rather our works are needed to further justify us.
Life application: In Revelation 17:4, it referred to the great harlot being “arrayed in purple and scarlet.” Those were garments she arrayed herself in, claiming royal status and the act of purification through sacrifice (certain deeds of righteousness that supposedly could make up for the supposed insufficiency of Christ’s work).
On the other hand, the bride is given her covering. It was not of her own effort, but it is granted by faith, and faith alone in the work of Christ.
Only one avenue to acceptability before God can be true. We are either justified by Jesus’ work alone, or by our own efforts apart from Christ, or by His work, plus. The Bible is clear – it is through the work of Jesus alone that we are saved, justified, sanctified, and glorified. The garments we receive will be all of Jesus, or they won’t sufficiently cover us in the presence of God.
Be aware of the subtleties of various translations and determine to research them and understand them. And then, once you have understood them, stand firmly on what is being conveyed. It is by faith in what God has done through Christ, and only that, by which we are given the beautiful garments of righteousness. Hallelujah to the Lamb of God. Hallelujah to JESUS!
Lord, help us to proclaim the gospel of our salvation rightly. We are saved by grace through faith and that it is not of works lest any man should boast. When we are granted the precious, white, and pure garments on that great day, we will faithfully acknowledge that all the glory belongs to Jesus alone! Let us never trust in our own goodness, but in what You have done through Him. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 8, 2021 1:28:24 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 19:9
Wednesday, July 7th, 2021
Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” Revelation 19:9
The previous verse spoke of the granting of the great multitude the fine linen, clean and bright. It then noted that the fine linen “is the righteous acts of the saints.” As explained, the words should read “righteousnesses of the saints.” With that stated, it now says, “Then he said to me.” Who it is that is being referred to here is not easily determined.
It could be the mighty angel of verse 18:21. If that is so, then that angel is not Christ, as will be seen in a moment. It could also be the angel of verse 17:1, or some other recorded voice that was not specified as to its source.
Whoever “he” is, it is certainly not the Lord Himself speaking. This will be understood from the next verse. For now, that same angel now says, “Write.” At times, a prophet is given the word of God and only later records it. At times, God uses the actions and living accounts of people (such as the book of Acts) as a part of His word. Sometimes, as here, there is to be a direct one-to-one, word-for-word account of what God wants written. This is such a verse.
He is giving specific instructions to John to carefully write down what he will next say. The direction to “write” is given twelve times in Revelation. This is the eleventh, and it is the only time that it is not the Lord who directly tells John to do so. The others are spoken by the Lord directly, or – as in verse 14:13 – it is implied when that verse noted, “Then I heard a voice from heaven.”
For now, what John is instructed to write is, “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” This is now the fourth of seven blessings stated in Revelation (see Revelation 1:3, 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7, and 22:14).
The marriage supper is a concept Jesus spoke of to Israel in Matthew 22:1-14 and in Matthew 25:1-13. It is also spoken of in Luke 14:15-24. A dining event is also alluded to in Revelation 3:20 where Christ speaks to the church.
As this is the “marriage supper of the Lamb,” it signifies that those who have been invited are those who have been cleansed by Christ in His sacrificial role as the Lamb of God. The call is referring to being made acceptable to God through His work. This sacrificial aspect of this supper is typified by the taking of the Lord’s Supper that Paul details in 1 Corinthians 11 –
“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown notes of the word “called” that it means “effectually, not merely externally. The ‘unto,’ or ‘into,’ seems to express this: not merely invited to (Greek, ‘epi’), but called INTO, so as to be partakers of (Greek, ‘eis’).” It is the same expression used by Paul in 1 Corinthians 1 –
“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:4-9
With these things understood, the verse continues, saying, “And he said to me, ‘These are the true sayings of God.’” The meaning is that what has been conveyed is absolute truth, based on the nature of God, who is True. They are reliable and will come to pass exactly as they have been relayed.
Life application: In the parable in Matthew 22:1-14 (referenced above), Jesus speaks of the kingdom of heaven and about a wedding ceremony. An invitation goes out and it is rejected by a host of people, and so the invitation is extended to more people, even “the bad” are invited. At the end of the parable, we see the results of rejecting the invitation where those who were initially called and didn’t come, and those who attempted to come in without proper garments, are cast into “outer darkness” where “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The parable ends with, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” In other words, just because everyone is given an invitation, the true “called” are only those who accept it.
For those who follow the concept of “universalism” where all will go to heaven, there will be a sad surprise. Jesus’ offer is made to everyone, but only those who accept it will be allowed entry into God’s paradise. Those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb are termed “blessed.” If one is in attendance, it is because they have accepted the work of Christ and shunned all other supposed avenues to God. The state of blessedness will be fully realized when we behold the Lord in all His glory. Because all things were created by Him, every hope and desire is fully realized in Him.
Further, the statements of the Lord are sure, because what the Lord conveys is a reflection of who He is. What is pronounced about the marriage supper is as sure as the ground under our feet. Nothing can change it, and nothing will hinder it. Have you received your wedding garments? If not, call on the Lord today. The banquet will be glorious, and it is available to any who call out to JESUS.
Oh God, how precious is the hope we possess! Thank you for Jesus, thank You for His cross, thank You for the resurrection. Through Him, we have the opportunity for complete restoration of all that was lost. And when we call on Him, that opportunity becomes the surety of a promise which cannot be thwarted. How we long for that day! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 9, 2021 2:03:12 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 19:10
Thursday, July 8th, 2021
And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10
The one speaking with John just stated that his words “are the true sayings of God.” Either misunderstanding what is being conveyed or misinterpreting what should be done with such a statement, John next says, “And I fell at his feet to worship him.”
It is unclear what John was thinking concerning the messenger. It could be that John thought he was deity and fell at his feet in order to worship him as such. This is seen at various times in Scripture, such as in Genesis 18:2 when Abraham bowed before the Lord and those with him. Or it could be that John assumed that a divine messenger, even if not God, was to be worshipped. Cornelius made this mistake in Acts 10:25 when Peter arrived with a divine message.
Whatever the case, John made an error in his thinking when he fell in worship. In response to John’s act, it next says, “But he said to me, “See that you do not do that!” The Greek is much simpler, saying, “See not.”
It is a direct expression that what John did is inappropriate. But equally important is that this certainly shows the authenticity of the account. John would not have written such words, putting himself into such an embarrassing situation if they were not true. With this in mind, the messenger continues by saying, “I am your fellow servant.”
In saying this, various meanings are possible. The first is that this is a heavenly angel, and yet he is placing himself in a comparable position to John, stating that angels are fellow servants in the service of God. Or it could be that this is a human who is conveying the message of Christ to John. The word translated as “angel” simply means a messenger.
The context determines the interpretation, and the interpretation here is actually not clear. In Revelation 22:16, it will say (probably speaking of this same messenger), “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches.” This is the same general thought as that given in the last book of the Old Testament –
“The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.” Malachi 1:1
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“Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming,”
Says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:1
In Malachi 1:1, the name Malachi means “My Messenger,” coming from the word malak, meaning an angel (and thus a messenger). That is clearly speaking of the human prophet. In Malachi 3:1, the words “My messenger” are translated from the same word, malaki, used in 1:1. This is speaking of the coming of John the Baptist. The same word, malak, is then used when speaking of Christ, the “Messenger” of the covenant.
Understanding this, we can see that it is not perfectly clear that the “angel” referred to by Jesus in Revelation 22 is an angelic being. In fact, it appears that in all three instances – the prophet Malachi, John the Baptist, and the messenger of Revelation –humans might have been chosen to convey the message of God. As such, this one now speaking to John – if indeed a human – next says, “and of your brethren.”
Without being dogmatic, this tends to lean the entire thought of this messenger into the category of humanity. A heavenly angel could say this, but it appears he is saying that his servanthood is based on his humanity. Either way, he next says that the brethren (whether he is including himself in the term or not) are those “who have the testimony of Jesus.”
Of these words, Vincent’s Word Studies provides two possible options, saying, “Some explain as the testimony which proceeds from Jesus. Jesus, by imparting this testimony to believers imparts to them the spirit of prophecy. Others, the witness which is born to Jesus. The way of bearing this witness, the substance and essence of this testimony is the Spirit of prophecy.”
These two options are then revealed in various ways in different translations –
who hold to the testimony of Jesus – NIV
who testify about their faith in Jesus – NLT
who rely on the testimony of Jesus – BSB
who tells about Jesus – CEV
who hold to the truth that Jesus revealed – GNT
who rely on what Jesus is saying – ISV
who have borne testimony to Jesus – WNT
Whichever of the two options is correct, the ultimate point of the messenger’s words is that the message conveyed is one that is Christ-centered. As he is only a messenger and not the Lord, he exclaims, “Worship God!”
The words here clearly indicate that only God is to be worshiped. Any other being is created and is not God. Therefore, to worship anyone other than God is to fall into error. With that clearly and unambiguously stated, this messenger then finishes the verse with, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
What is being said here is not that there is only one purpose of prophecy, but that all prophecy is given to bear witness to the work of God in Christ. Every prophetic utterance in Scripture has a purpose, be it to foretell the future, to call the people back to a right relationship with God, to explain the dimensions of the building of the temple, or for whatever reason God determines.
However, each such prophetic utterance ultimately bears witness to the redemptive narrative which is focused and centered on Jesus. This may be typological, chronological, symbolical (such as in metaphor), and so on. But nothing that issues from God in prophecy will be stated unless it refers to and helps explain what He is doing in Christ. As such, no messenger of prophecy is to be worshiped unless that Messenger is Christ Himself. This is the point and purpose of what is conveyed to John.
Life application: This verse is one of the clearest indications of Jesus’ deity in the Bible. And yet, in order to dismiss it, cults such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses need to misuse and mistranslate what the Bible clearly teaches (they have their own translation of the Bible compiled with a set agenda against the Person of Jesus and who He is).
John, overwhelmed with the sight and concept of the marriage supper of the Lamb, falls at the feet of the messenger of the vision in order to worship him. But, in a clear and precise manner, he refuses the worship and redirects it towards Jesus. In the process of doing so, he proclaims, “Worship God!” In the Greek, as in the English, the “testimony of Jesus” brackets the state that God alone is to be worshiped.
What is implicit then is that Jesus is God. The angel states that he is only a fellow servant and one who bears the testimony of Jesus. It is this testimony that we are to direct our attention to, because that testimony is Christ-centered. Every word uttered in the Bible is either pointing to the coming Messiah or explaining and revealing Him.
Through the Bible’s prophetic utterances, we learn that Jesus Christ is God’s revelation of Himself. The Creator that we can’t know – except for how He has revealed Himself through creation (general revelation) – becomes known and intimate through the Person of Jesus (specific revelation). Here is the logical progression of the idea –
1) We cannot specifically know God apart from the Person of Jesus Christ.
2) We cannot, at this time, know Jesus Christ apart from what is contained in Scripture.
3) Therefore, what is written in the Bible is intended to lead us to Jesus and thus to a proper knowledge of God.
Because the Bible’s last book is entitled “Revelation,” we can be certain that all we need to know for our life, doctrine, and practice has now been given. And because this book ends with the complete restoration of all that was lost at the beginning, then we have the full assurance that we have the whole counsel of God in its pages. Thus, there is no further prophecy necessary, and thus there are no more prophets who foretell the word of God.
This is vitally important to understand because heretics such as Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormons, Mohammed of Islam, as well as a host of others throughout the ages, have proclaimed that they are prophets with a message from God. But these always lead away from Jesus, not towards Him, even if they proclaim Jesus in some sense.
God’s word is sealed, the testimony of Jesus is given, and only this is to be considered in our knowledge of, and obedience to, God. Yes, the spirit of prophecy is – wholly and entirely – the testimony of JESUS!
Thank You, O God, for the beautiful revelation of Yourself through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and for the description of this revelation in the pages of Scripture. You have given us everything we need to pursue You, to know You, and to then turn to You in worship and praise. Great are You, O God! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 10, 2021 1:02:56 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 19:11
Friday, July 9th, 2021
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. Revelation 19:11
With the vision of the great multitude in heaven complete, a new vision is brought to John’s attention with the words, “Now I saw heaven opened.” It is not unlike verse 4:1, which said, “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven.”
This time, instead of being called up to heaven as in 4:1, John views One that will be coming from heaven. As he looks up, he says, “and behold, a white horse.” Many scholars attempt to tie the appearance of this horse in with the white horse found in Revelation 6:2. Other than the fact that both ride a white horse, there is nothing in common between the two.
The white horse is a symbol of military leadership. The rider, on the white horse in 6:2, represents a military leader during the tribulation period. The antichrist most likely. The white horse now is coming from heaven. It is Christ Jesus. This is then set as a contrast to Christ’s first advent when He was completing His ministry. At that time, He rode on a donkey, symbolizing humility and peace. Now, He is coming as the conquering King. As it next says, “And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True.”
These names are actually attributes ascribed to Him. Scripture is replete with references to the faithful nature of the Lord. For example, Psalm 89 says –
“O Lord God of hosts,
Who is mighty like You, O Lord?
Your faithfulness also surrounds You.” Psalm 89:8
The faithful nature of the Lord is one of His defining characteristics. Likewise, the truthfulness of the Lord is also on prominent display in Scripture –
“For the word of the Lord is right,
And all His work is done in truth.” Psalm 33:4
Because these attributes define His very nature, what has been spoken by Him will come to pass. As His word says that there will be a time of peace on the earth where Israel will be chief among the nations, it will come to pass. When the Lord promises that He will always defend His people, even in their unfaithfulness to Him, it will come to pass.
Every word that the Lord speaks will be fulfilled, and many promises to Israel have been spoken. Therefore, they will come to pass. It is for this reason that the Lord will return as a conquering King. As the verse next says, “and in righteousness He judges and makes war.” The next words of Psalm 33 (just cited) say –
“He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” Psalm 33:5
Not only does the Lord judge and make war in righteousness, but Scripture states unambiguously that there is no unrighteousness in Him (see Psalm 92:15 and John 7:18). Therefore, His judgments and His war-making are based upon His righteousness. In other words, it would be unrighteous for Him to not do these things at the point in history when they come about.
The Lord has promised to keep Israel forever. He has promised that they will endure and that they will never be uprooted from the land again (see Amos 9:15). But there will be a time when Israel is facing complete annihilation. At that time, if the Lord does not intervene, they will be utterly wiped out. In this, His word (an extension of who He is) will have failed. Such cannot be. Therefore, He must judge and make war. This is seen in Daniel 12 –
“Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.” Daniel 12:7
The deliverance of Judah and Jerusalem is prophesied in Zechariah 12 and 14 as well. Because these words have been spoken by the Lord, and because He is Faithful and True, He must intervene as He has proclaimed.
Life application: There are many words in Greek translated as “time” in the Bible, but there are two concepts of time that can be summed up by two specific words. The first is chronos, and it generally indicates the continuance of time; it is ongoing and indeterminate time. Think of a watch ticking (a chronometer counting time). We are living in this time, and it is moving ahead.
The second concept is kairos. It indicates a specific moment in recorded time which is set and identifiable. For you, the moment of your birth is a moment such as this. It is a memorable event because it only occurs once and records something special or historic. Americans would look at the attacks on Pearl Harbor or the Twin Towers as such moments. But such moments of universal importance permeate Scripture as well. A few are –
The creation of the world
The fall of man
The flood of Noah
The call of Abraham
The giving of the Law at Mount Sinai
The birth of Jesus Christ
The crucifixion of the Lord
The resurrection of Jesus Christ
The ascension of Jesus Christ
The coming of the Holy Spirit
And (as we wait patiently) –
The rapture of the church
The literal, physical return of Jesus Christ
These moments have such great significance because they are key points of the redemptive narrative outlined in Scripture. Revelation 19:11 is the realization of the most anticipated event on earth. In fact, the largest font used in the publication of newspapers is known as the “second coming” font. It is reserved for the greatest moments in history. People have been waiting, watching, and either loving or hating the thought of this moment for over 2000 years. But despite the interval, it is a real moment that will really occur.
John looked and saw heaven opened. Jesus said that in the same manner as which He left, so He would also return. It will be visible and in a manner that anyone with their eyes directed upwards will behold. At exactly the right moment, He will return. The King is coming.
It is this moment that John sees when he beholds the white horse! As noted above, when Jesus came the first time, it was with humility and tenderness. He came as the Prince of Peace and the One to offer to His people, and by extension the whole world, a time of peace and righteousness. In demonstration of this, He humbly rode a donkey into Jerusalem. But His offer was rejected, and He was nailed to a cross. On the third day, He rose again. In His death, a New Covenant was introduced, and through His work, a new dispensation would result – the age of grace.
At the rapture, this age will end and there will be the seven years of tribulation which have been analyzed in detail – from Revelation 4:2 until Revelation 19:10. With Revelation 19:11 stated, there begins a new era in human history. Although there are still matters to be cleaned up, Jesus Christ has returned!
The Prince of Peace is now the Conquering King! As noted above, the descriptions of Him as “Faithful and True” are found throughout Scripture. A key verse, of which Revelation 19:11 is the fulfillment, is found in Psalm 96 –
“For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth.
He shall judge the world with righteousness,
And the peoples with His truth.” Psalm 96:13
This verse was speaking of the Lord (Yehovah). And yet, it is understood that John is applying it to the return of Jesus. It is yet another in the many continuous reminders that Jesus Christ is God. One cannot accept Jesus as nothing more than a “created being” and be considered a Christian – the two are mutually exclusive. He is the God/Man, and He is coming again to rule and judge in righteousness.
We must shun all false pictures and depictions of Jesus. When it is time for Him to act, He will do so. The time for Him to do so is closer each day. At a moment when the world is completely unprepared for it, He will come for His church. After that, the tribulation period will come about. And just as Israel is about to be annihilated, He will again act, coming to defend them and bring them into the New Covenant that they missed in His first advent. These events will happen. He is coming! He is Faithful and He is True. Hallelujah! He is JESUS!
We bow our knees to you, O Lord. You are the King of kings and the One who is coming again to rule in righteousness. Lord, help us to be faithful servants who will proclaim that You are angry at sin and that You are coming in all Your glory to judge the world in truth and righteousness. Great are You and You are greatly to be feared. And more, greatly are You to be praised! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 10, 2021 23:38:04 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 19:12
Saturday, July 10th, 2021
His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. Revelation 19:12
The rider from heaven coming on a white horse, the Lord Jesus, is now described in more detail by John as he says, “His eyes were like a flame of fire.”
This takes the reader back to verse 1:14, which said, “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire.” The eyes were then mentioned again in the letter to the church at Thyatira. In short, the idea of fire in the Bible is that of judgment, purification, refinement, and so on.
The eyes of Christ will burn through those who stand before Him, exposing all sin. They will get to the very heart of the rebellion of the people of the world just as He looked into the corrupt hearts of those in Thyatira. He will pierce deeply into the souls of all people because nothing in creation can be concealed before His piercing gaze.
As for believers, they will come before the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ. That which is of no value shall be burned away. The eyes of the Lord will pierce through the days of our lives and the actions of our conduct, and they will purify us for our eternal state.
For those who are not found in Christ, they will be judged with those same burning eyes. In their judgment, they will find eternal destruction. The difference between being in Christ or not being in Christ is one that will continue for all eternity after the judgment has been rendered.
Next, it says, “and on His head were many crowns.” This is the third and last use of the word diadéma in Scripture. It was seen in Revelation 12:3 and in Revelation 13:1. Rather than a stephanos, or crown of victory, it is a royal crown. It is a kingly adornment for the head. The idea of many crowns comes with a title that will be stated in verse 19:16. He is the King of kings. All rule and authority ultimately belong to Him because every kingdom – in heaven and on earth – is under His authority.
This idea of wearing more than one crown goes back to Zechariah 6 where it says –
“Take the silver and gold, make an elaborate crown, and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, saying:
“Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH!
From His place He shall branch out,
And He shall build the temple of the Lord;
13 Yes, He shall build the temple of the Lord.
He shall bear the glory,
And shall sit and rule on His throne;
So He shall be a priest on His throne,
And the counsel of peace shall be between them both.’” Zechariah 6:11-13
The “elaborate crown” set on the head of Joshua is actually plural “crowns.” It is noting that he was symbolically filling two roles, that of both the king and the priest. These were offices that were not to be mixed under the law. The words thus prefigure the coming work of the Messiah where the offices would be united. In His return, there will not only be two crowns. Rather, there will be many crowns on His head. He is the King of kings, and the roles He fills are vast in number. On Him rests all rule, authority, and honor.
The verse finishes with, “He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.” In the Bible, a name is more than just a type of “who” identification. It can also carry the significance of “why,” “what,” “where,” “how,” and even “when.” It is an identification that provides a comprehensive understanding of the very nature of the being it represents.
Because Jesus has a name written on Himself that is known only to Him, it is identifying Him with I AM THAT I AM of Exodus 3:14. He is the self-existent One. He is the One prior to creation and the One who is upholding all creation by the power of His word. He is the eternal Word of God. No one knows the name except Himself because no one can know the name. It is beyond comprehension, it is beyond understanding, and it is marvelous in and of itself because it identifies that which is infinitely marvelous.
This is seen in an account found in Judges 13. The Angel of the Lord informed the parents of Samson that they would have a child. After the announcement, and prior to the Angel’s departure, the account then says –
“Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, ‘Please let us detain You, and we will prepare a young goat for You.’
16 And the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, ‘Though you detain Me, I will not eat your food. But if you offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to the Lord.’ (For Manoah did not know He was the Angel of the Lord.)
17 Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, ‘What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass we may honor You?’
18 And the Angel of the Lord said to him, ‘Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?’” Judges 13:15-18
The word translated as “wonderful” is the adjective peli. It signifies something secret, wonderful, and incomprehensible. Its only other use is found Psalm 139:6 –
“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.”
Just as David could not attain to the knowledge of the most high, mortal man cannot attain to the comprehension of the name of the Lord. These words of John clearly show that Jesus, the One being described in this vision, is the unsearchable God.
Life application: Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of every hope, every desire, and every need of the human soul because He is the Creator of man. Only in Him is found true peace and contentment. Those who have rejected Him as the avenue of reconciliation to God have not only brought condemnation upon themselves, but they have separated themselves from any hope of any contentment at all.
This is what we are to learn from the description of Him in this verse. The eyes like a flame of fire, the many crowns on His head, and the name written on Him that only He knows all shout out to us that Jesus Christ is God. Of His name, we will eternally move towards it, striving to know it without ever grasping its fullness. For those who reject Him, they will be eternally separated from that name and thus they will be eternally separated from the Source of the “who, what, when, where, why, and how” it represents. He is great. He is glorious. He is JESUS!
Lord Jesus, until Your return, You have blessed us with Your word. Its pages contain all that we need to know and understand in order to live our lives properly and grow in our knowledge of You. Fill us with Your Spirit, and open our eyes to its truths now in anticipation of the heavenly state when we will continue to learn about You for all eternity. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 12, 2021 0:54:54 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 19:13
Sunday, July 11th, 2021
He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. Revelation 19:13
The marvelous depiction of Christ at His second coming continues to be described by John. The verse begins with, “He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood.”
Of these words, there are two general thoughts on the meaning. The first is that it is referring to His crucifixion and the blood of that act. The second thought is that it is referring to the blood of His enemies. Based on the immediate context, that of judging and making war, it is probable that the second option is being referred to. In this, it fulfills the shocking Old Testament symbolism given by Isaiah –
“Who is this who comes from Edom,
With dyed garments from Bozrah,
This One who is glorious in His apparel,
Traveling in the greatness of His strength?—
‘I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.’
2 Why is Your apparel red,
And Your garments like one who treads in the winepress?
3 ‘I have trodden the winepress alone,
And from the peoples no one was with Me.
For I have trodden them in My anger,
And trampled them in My fury;
Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments,
And I have stained all My robes.
4 For the day of vengeance is in My heart,
And the year of My redeemed has come.
5 I looked, but there was no one to help,
And I wondered
That there was no one to uphold;
Therefore My own arm brought salvation for Me;
And My own fury, it sustained Me.
6 I have trodden down the peoples in My anger,
Made them drunk in My fury,
And brought down their strength to the earth.’” Isaiah 63:1-6
Isaiah’s prophecy refers to the Lord’s judgment in salvation. It is to be remembered that the focus of Revelation 4:2–19:10 has been the tribulation period, leading up to the Second Coming. It is during this time that the final seven years of Daniel’s prophecy of “seventy sevens” takes place. Thus, the focus of attention is on the nation of Israel.
Jesus is returning to them in order to set up His millennial kingdom. As such, Isaiah’s prophecy will be fulfilled. Israel has called on their Lord and He is responding – destroying her enemies and working salvation on their behalf. The symbolic nature of His garments being stained in the enemy’s blood demonstrates that He has acted in order to rescue them.
The second clause of the verse next says, “and His name is called The Word of God.” This is the only time that this full expression of His name is given. Hebrews 4:12 uses the same wording, but that is referring to Scripture rather than Christ the Person.
Elsewhere, He is simply called “the Word” (John 1:1-14), or “the Word of life” (1 John 1:1). The writings of John have developed a picture of the nature and characteristics of Christ. This name, the Word of God, is not the same as that referenced in the previous verse where it said, “He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.” Rather, this is an explanation of that, just as the name provided in verse 19:16 will be an explanation of it.
One can explain something in part without knowing the fullness of what is being explained, and this is the idea here. The Word of God reveals to us a partial view of who Christ Jesus is. We can know that through the Word God made all things (John 1:2, Colossians 1:16). We can know that by the power of the Word all things are held together (Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 1:3), and so on.
However, these explanations do not exhaust all of who He is because God is infinite. Because John has used the name “the Word of God” here, we are informed that everything about God is associated with who Christ Jesus is. The thing to be focused on is not so much the totality of what the name signifies, but why is the name stated here?
The answer is probably because God, who is revealed in the Old Testament Scriptures – and whose very nature states that He cannot lie – is expressing Himself through the Person of Jesus Christ to His people who had missed the significance of who He is in His first advent. The same Jesus who was crucified (and thus whose garments were at that time dipped in blood) is the same Jesus who is faithfully returning to defend those who rejected Him, once again dipping His garments in blood to demonstrate who He is – the fulfillment of the prophecies in their own Scriptures.
As He is the Word of God, He is their God because they were the stewards of the word of God, meaning Scripture. It is Scripture that presented Him. It is by Scripture that He is revealed. It is Scripture that prophesied of His coming. And it is Scripture which prophesies of His second coming. He is the Word of God.
Life application: The concept of Jesus returning to Israel permeates the Old Testament writings, and it is the fulfillment of Jesus’ own words, meaning that He will return when they call out to Him –
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! 35 See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Luke 13:34, 35
In having said this, He is Faithful and True to fulfill His promise. His robe will be dipped in the blood of His enemies when He comes to save His people because He is the Word of God.
The word which God speaks is revealed in and fulfilled by the Person of Jesus Christ. From the first sentence of the Bible, right to the last, Jesus Christ is the Word of God. He is the Creator, Redeemer, Savior, and Deliverer. He is our All in all.
As you read the Bible, the most relevant question you can ask is, “How does this point to Jesus?” Every book, every chapter, and every verse is written in order to show us God’s plan of redemption in human history, and all of it can only be properly understood when viewed through the lens of God in Christ. He is the Word of God. He is JESUS.
Oh, God! How precious it is to read Your word and to discover Jesus everywhere we look. You have presented Your great love for us by sending Him to show us who You are and what You are like. And then You have given us your word to reveal Him to us! What a wonderful, magnificent story of love and hope. Hallelujah and Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 13, 2021 0:07:10 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 19:14
Monday, July 12th, 2021
And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Revelation 19:14
The previous verse revealed the Lord returning in vengeance, symbolized by His robe being dipped in blood. The words now speak of those who will follow Him, saying, “And the armies in heaven.”
There is debate as to who these are, but the words of Scripture elsewhere reveal that they are the saints. In other words, they are those who have been redeemed by the Messiah. When Christ returns, His redeemed will return with Him. That they are His saints is seen in the next words, saying, “clothed in fine linen, white and clean.”
This speaks of the imputed righteousness of Christ. Those who have been cleansed and purified by Him are those who wear the white garments. This description has been seen several times in Revelation, such as in 3:4&5; 4:4; 6:11, 7:9; 7:13-17; & 19:8. The linen has been seen on others in Revelation, but the description here appears particularly suited to those who have been purified by Christ. It is these who “followed Him on white horses.”
The Greek is in the imperfect tense. It more specifically says, they “were following Him.” In this, it gives the sense of an advancing movement of the armies. The white horses speak of rule and authority. Paul, writing to Timothy said –
“If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.” 2 Timothy 2:12
This is the thought of the white horses. Thus, the white horses go beyond the idea of victory (something assured in Christ), but they extend to ruling with Christ.
In the previous verse, Isaiah 63 was quoted where it said –
“I have trodden the winepress alone,
And from the peoples no one was with Me.”
From this, it can be argued that Christ alone brings vengeance on the people and that those riding with Him have no part in the battle. But the symbolism of Isaiah and Revelation is just that. One cannot expect that Christ is literally stomping in a winepress. Rather, it is symbolism to speak of Him gaining the victory over His enemies.
Elsewhere, the Lord is said to gain the victory even though Israel participated in the battles where those claims are made (see Judges 20:25, for example). How the exact events will play out is unstated, and so only speculation can be given. Whether the Lord alone conducts the warfare, or whether His armies join in the battle is a matter that will be known at that time. For now, it is clear that the Lord ultimately is the Victor of what will occur.
Life application: The Bible is a book of progressive revelation. It doesn’t arbitrarily introduce random thoughts that are key to the redemptive narrative. Things may come out of order at times, but the key points of the narrative will follow a logical introduction, development, and progression to what is presented. Understanding this helps us to make right decisions about important concepts. A very good example is from Genesis 6 which speaks of the “sons of God.”
In Genesis 6:2, it says that “that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.” There are various opinions as to who these “sons of God” are – the sons of Adam through Seth who remained faithful to the Lord, angels, aliens, etc. A poor analysis will lead to the wrong conclusion. In other words, one must look at the progressive nature of God’s revelation to understand that it is, in fact, actual humans, not angels or other beings.
Nothing concerning angels had been introduced into the narrative, and specific points in the narrative that had already been provided were given as clues to who these “sons of God” were. Later passages in the Bible then confirm what is said in Genesis 6.
This is important to understand because it bears directly on this verse in Revelation. Who are the “armies in heaven” that are following Jesus? The answer is often given as “angels.” This is an incorrect analysis because the very context and progression of the book of Revelation (and of passages given earlier in Scripture) shows us who it is. It is the redeemed of the Lord already described in preceding verses. This is why this progression of thought has been given.
In Revelation 4:1, the rapture of the church occurred. From 4:2 until 19:13, the church has been out of the picture, except as they are noted with Jesus, in heaven, not on earth. The intervening verses where earthly visions have been revealed have referred to the tribulation, the final seven-year period of Daniel’s “seventy weeks” noted in Daniel 9. This seven-year period has now ended, and Christ is returning to set up His millennial kingdom. And it is the bride of the Lamb who is returning with Him.
Others have been noted as receiving white garments during the tribulation, and their state has been explained to some extent, and it will continue to be explained later as well (such as in Revelation 20:4).
This verse says these armies are clothed in fine linen, white and clean. Such are garments of righteousness mentioned in the preceding verses of Revelation. Another point concerning those coming with Christ is what was noted in chapter 17. The ten kings of the end-times empire are said to wage war with the Lamb. This isn’t possible until the Lamb actually returns which is now being stated in Chapter 19.
When they fight against the Lamb, it notes this in 17:14 – “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” Thus, it is clear that these are believers in, and followers of, Jesus – not angels.
And as added support, we read this from the hand of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 – “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” Although this doesn’t mean that all believers will be with the Lord at all times and forever, as if we are sitting in a room together. However, if we “shall always be with the Lord,” then it seems clear that this includes following Him to His glorious victory.
When we return with Him, we will also be riding on white horses. Thus, we are sharing in His victory as those who reign with Him. This in no way diminishes the victory as His alone, but rather glorifies it. As Paul writes in Romans 8:37 – “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
It brings both honor and glory to Jesus for His saints to return with Him in this capacity because it is noting that He is the One who stood in victory over our sinful state, cleansing us and bringing us near to God through the purifying power of His shed blood. This is the reward and honor of being a faithful follower of Jesus Christ – sharing in His victory and glory. Hallelujah to the Lamb! Hallelujah to JESUS!
Lord God, help us to properly look into your word and to evaluate it as it is presented. Help us to not come to unfounded conclusions because of what we want to believe, but rather lead us to make logical conclusions based on what You have presented. You are the God of order, and Your word reflects this. Thank You for the beautiful words of life it presents to us. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 14, 2021 2:27:24 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 19:15
Tuesday, July 13th, 2021
Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Revelation 19:15
The narrative now continues to describe the rider dressed in white mentioned in the previous verses. The description says, “Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword.” This is the same description given in verse 1:16 –
“He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.”
To get a fuller understanding of the symbolism, refer back to that commentary. In short, the sword proceeding from His mouth gives the sense that Christ will cut out all that is false and all that is contrary to the truth. Of the sword, it next says, “that with it He should strike the nations.” This was alluded to in Isaiah 11:4 –
“But with righteousness He shall judge the poor,
And decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,
And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.”
Such terminology is found elsewhere in the Old Testament and earlier in Revelation as well (for example, see Revelation 2:27). Continuing on, John prophesies about Christ’s coming rule, saying, “And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.”
The words are emphatic. It is Christ, and He alone, who will ultimately rule the nations. Though the millennium will be a time of great wonder in comparison to our current age, it does not mean that there will be only peace and harmony without any disobedience. This is understood from passages such as Zechariah 14 –
“And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the Lord strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.” Zechariah 14:16-19
Hence, there will be a need for the rod of iron spoken of. As such, the specific prophecy concerning this time was made in the second psalm –
“I will declare the decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’” Psalm 2:7-9
Continuing on, John next says, “He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”
The treading of the winepress was referred to in Revelation 14. That symbolism is brought in again here, and it is reflective of the words of Isaiah 63:3. It is Christ who pours out the anger of God on the disobedient. The fact that “the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” is mentioned shows how repulsive sin is to the Creator.
He has made His goodness and His perfect nature manifest to the people of the world, but that has been openly rejected and actively worked against in our wickedness. Christ is the One who will trample out this disobedience, and who will maintain harmony during the millennial reign.
Despite His rule and despite the ideal conditions of the world in which man lives, the wickedness of man’s heart will be shown to have been unchanged. From the fall, through the various dispensations, and into the millennium, the depravity of the human heart and man’s desperate need for Jesus Christ is on full display.
Life application: The right to rule the nations belongs to Jesus, the right to judge those nations belongs to Jesus, and therefore the right to destroy the ungodly nations belongs to Jesus as well. God is a God of mercy and longsuffering, but His patience has an end. It was true when He destroyed the world in the flood. It was true when He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. It was true when He used Israel to destroy the nations of Canaan. And it was also true when He turned His judgment on Israel after continuous disobedience.
The world of today has all but rejected Him and, in due time, He will come for His faithful at the rapture. After this, the events which have unfolded thus far in Revelation will come to pass. But instead of humble repentance, the world will only turn further away from Him. And so, He will come in His glory with His faithful believers to be glorified in them at His return. He will be glorified in the eyes of His followers in how He judges, and He will be glorified in those He judges through their destruction.
The word of God, the Holy Bible, is likened to a sharp two-edged sword in Hebrews 4:12. If this is the proper symbolism to be taken, then Jesus will merely speak and by the breath of His mouth He will strike the nations. Paul appears to indicate just this in 2 Thessalonians 2:8 –
“And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.”
The very Word which the nations have rejected will become the implement of their destruction.
The saying “to whom much is given, much will be expected” rings true. The Bible is the most published book in all of human history, and its pages fill the homes of the world, even the unbelieving world. With the internet today, any person can access, read, and study it. In it is sure proof of the infallible word of God. Therefore, to reject it is to reject the God who gave it.
This powerful word will be spoken by Jesus and the nations will fall. During and after His return, “He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.” The shepherd carries an iron rod to beat attacking animals and thus protect His sheep. And so, Christ will shepherd His people in safety. It is His world, and He is the Defender of His flock. No accusation of unfairness will hold when He judges, and the world will submit to His judgment and rule.
It is important to remember here that Jesus is returning to the land and the people of Israel. The world will have come against them, and it is this antagonistic world to which His rod is directed. Thus, in a sweeping display of judgment, we read the words of the subject verse.
The gentle, humble, and loving Creator and Savior has become the Executor of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. The world that now mocks Jesus, and finds Him either a joke or a cosmic pushover, will stand in horror as He personally destroys all wickedness and roots out everything that causes evil. This is the great, awesome, and splendid God who deserves all of our praise, honor, and respect.
We can give it to Him now, or we can stand condemned for rejecting His gracious offer of peace which came at the cross of Calvary. I choose life… I choose JESUS.
O God! How glorious You are and how splendid is Your message of peace to the people of the world. Surely, no one has any right to cry “Unfair” when You come to judge them for rejecting You. We can only avow that Your way is right and that in faithfulness and righteousness You make every decision. Hallelujah to You! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 15, 2021 1:47:00 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 19:16
Wednesday, July 14th, 2021
And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:16
The description of Christ Jesus in His glorious return at the second coming continues in this verse. John, beholding the apocalyptic scene, says of Him, “And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written.”
In verse 19:12, it said, “He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.” In verse 19:13, it then said, “and His name is called the Word of God.” Each of these thoughts is given to express a truth about Christ Jesus.
He has a name that no one knows, expressing that it is impossible to grasp its meaning. His name is called the Word of God to reveal that He is the One who conveys to us the meaning and expression of who God is. Now, a name will be provided that will express one of the many positions He fills. The name to be given is thus a title.
The name is written upon the robe to designate His position of authority in a manner that is evident for all to see. The words “and on His thigh” could mean one of various things:
1) It could mean that the name is written on the robe, and it is also written on the thigh. 2) It might mean it is written partly on the robe and partly on the thigh. Or, 3) what seems likely is that the word “and” is signifying “even.” In this, it would translate as “He has on His robe, even on His thigh.”
With the third option, the NLT states it more obviously as “On his robe at his thigh.” The ISV states it, saying, “On his robe that covers his thigh he has a name written.”
Until that time comes, we can only speculate, but the context of who Jesus is and what is being symbolized should be considered carefully. Jesus is a Jew. He was born a Jew, He lived as a Jew, and He has promised (in both testaments of the Bible) that He will return to His brothers, the Jewish people. From His own mouth –
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Matthew 23:37-39
It is when Israel as a nation calls on Jesus as Lord (Jerusalem – symbolizing the seat of power for the nation) that He will return. This is spoken of, as noted, throughout the prophetic books of the Old Testament as well. The Church Age has occurred during the time of His rejection by the nation of Israel (see Romans 11:25, 26). But when they call on Him, at that time “all Israel will be saved.”
At some point, the rapture of the church will occur. This will be followed by the seven years of tribulation on earth. At the end of this period, the nation of Israel will be facing annihilation and will come to their senses, calling out to Him. When they do, He will return, with the church following Him, to rescue His people (take time to read Zechariah 12-14).
Understanding this context, it can now be more easily perceived what His appearance will be like. He will be dressed in traditional Jewish garments, recognizable to His people. These garments include a tassel on their corner which is mandated in the Law of Moses –
“Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. 39 And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, 40 and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God. 41 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.” Numbers 15:38-41
The tassel is known as a tzitzit (also known as a gedil in Deuteronomy 22:12). It was mandated to be worn, as it says in Numbers 15, to “remember and do” all the commandments of the Lord. When Christ ministered to Israel, it is this part of the garment that the people reached for in order to be healed. For example –
“And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, ‘If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.’ 22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, ‘Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.’” Matthew 9:20-22
&
“When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, 36 and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.” Matthew 14:34-36
These and other references are certainly based on what was said in Malachi 4:2 –
“For behold, the day is coming,
Burning like an oven,
And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.
And the day which is coming shall burn them up,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“That will leave them neither root nor branch.
2 But to you who fear My name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings;
And you shall go out
And grow fat like stall-fed calves.” Malachi 4:1, 2
The words, “With healing in His wings,” are referring to the extremities of His garments (the wings) where the tassels are located. The tassel of the Messiah is an identification of who He is and the authority He possessed. This is why the people sought to touch this tassel. The tassel was given as an anticipatory picture of the coming Messiah who would fulfill the law and take the burdens of man from them.
When Christ Jesus returns, the name on His robe is symbolized by His tassels. Being on His robe, it will rest upon His thigh while He sits upon His horse. The tassel of the Messiah will reveal His name, meaning His title –
KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.
In Revelation 17:14, it reversed these words saying, “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings.” The inversion of the words here in Chapter 19 is probably given to highlight His kingship – the white horse, the many crowns, and so on. There are “kings,” but there is one “KING.” Thus, John places this designation first.
Life application: Understanding the symbolism of Revelation calls for a full knowledge of the symbolism of the Old Testament. The innumerable references from the Old Testament come alive when the connections are made. Importantly, the Jewish nature of who Christ is, and the interactions He has made (and that are yet ahead) with His people cannot be dismissed without having a faulty view of the redemptive narrative.
In Jeremiah 31, it is clear that the New Covenant was made with Israel and Judah –
“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” Jeremiah 31:31
As such, Gentiles are brought into what has been established already. They do not replace Israel and Judah. Rather, Israel and Judah are the entities with whom the covenant is made, and in whom it will someday be fully realized (see citation from Matthew 23:37-39 above). Paul deals with this in His epistles, clearly demonstrating that the people of Israel will someday be brought into the covenant after the time of the Gentiles is complete.
At that time, they will recognize Him as Melekh melekhim, Adonai adoniim or “King of kings and Lord of lords.” The tassel on His robe, which will be draped over His thigh as He sits on His horse, will be the identifying mark of this exalted name. This is the symbolism we are to infer from what John presents.
Jesus, the King of the Jews, is also King of all kings and Lord of all lords. He will reign in the midst of His people Israel and His law will go forth from Jerusalem. The church has often missed this fact, but it doesn’t change the truth of what lies ahead.
The Gentile-led church age will end and then the events of Revelation will come to pass. For now, this dispensation is a steppingstone that has come about during the time of punishment for disobedience upon the nation of Israel. That time is almost over. They are back in the land, and they will soon be brought through the fire of tribulation in preparation for the glorious return of their rightful King – JESUS!
Glorious Lord Jesus – You are ever-faithful to us, even when we turn from You. Your promises to Israel are from everlasting to everlasting and You will never forsake Your covenant with them! Thank You for being so faithful to them and to Your church. We fail You, but You forgive. We turn from You, but You remain faithful! Praises to You! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 16, 2021 2:26:44 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 19:17
Thursday, July 15th, 2021
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, Revelation 19:17
With the vision of Christ returning on the horse to wage war against the multitudes gathered together, John next says, “Then I saw an angel standing in the sun.”
The Greek reads “one angel.” The Amplified Bible gives a notable translation, highlighting the fact – “Then I saw a single angel standing in the sun.” Young’s literally translates it as, “And I saw one messenger standing in the sun.”
There is much conjecture, but no definitive answer, as to who this messenger is. It appears, however, that it is another revelation of the Lord Jesus. When Paul was called to his commission, it says –
“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.” Acts 26:12, 13
In other words, the messenger (angel) here in Revelation is standing in the sun, and yet he can be beheld despite the brightness of the sun, meaning He is brighter than the sun itself. This is the same thought that is given in Acts. Right at the point when the sun is the brightest (midday), Paul beheld an even brighter light. The radiance of the Lord outshines this brightest orb of creation. In this dazzling manner, it next says, “and he cried with a loud voice.”
In this, the 19th Chapter of Revelation corresponds to the 19th letter of the Hebrew Aleph-beth. The 19th letter is qoph. It is pictured as a sun on the horizon and carries the meaning of “condense,” “circle,” and “time.” Qoph is the first letter of qara – to cry out. Verse 19:17 speaks of the angel standing in the sun and crying out with a loud voice. In this loud voice, the Creator – our Lord Jesus – prepares His creatures for what lies ahead, “saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven…”
It is the Lord who directs creation (Psalm 104, for example). He calls out, fixing their appointed times, and He directs their movements with His wisdom. Now, because of the great battle that lies ahead, He alerts them to what is about to happen, saying, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God.”
This doesn’t mean that the Lord is literally gathering birds together in advance of the warfare to come. Rather, it means that when the warfare to be described comes, the birds will be found at the scene which will occur. Exactly what lies ahead will be described in the coming verses.
Life application: The cry of this angel goes right back to Genesis 1 and shows that God is the Creator of these things and that they are at His direction even after creation –
“Then God said, ‘Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.’ 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:20, 21
The Creator sets all things in place to accomplish His will, even what birds are needed to clean up the refuse that lays exposed upon the ground. What is to be described are gruesome details that are set in stark contrast to the marriage supper of the Lamb – where the redeemed will dine in purity, holiness, and in the presence of the God of redemption. On the other hand, the people involved in this supper will be the supper – it will be a feast of death and horror.
The terminology for the call to this meal is similar to one given in Ezekiel 39 at the battle of Gog and Magog and surely builds upon that symbolism. A time of death and corruption lays ahead for all those armies who are to come against God’s chosen people. It is better by far to realize now what God is doing in human history and stand aligned with Him and His purposes. To take an alternate course is tantamount to signing up to be an unfortunate participant in a banquet of death.
Come to God through His provision. Be reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, and you will never face the horror of being eternally separated from Him. He has made the offer, and He will see you through to a blessed state where we will forever live in His glorious presence. Call out to Him today. Call upon the name of the Lord – JESUS!
O God, You have shown us what is right. You have given us advanced warning as to the consequences for not following that path. We pray for the people of the world. May Your word go out and touch many lives. May their hearts be receptive to its message and convert them now, before the terrible time of tribulation and suffering comes. We pray this so that You will be glorified in them. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 16, 2021 23:05:54 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 19:18
Friday, July 16th, 2021
that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.” Revelation 19:18
The words here are part of one long thought. Taken with the previous verse, they read –
“Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, ‘Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.’”
With the context given, this verse begins with, “that you may eat the flesh of kings.” These would be the kings previously mentioned in Revelation 16:14 –
“For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”
These kings will now become the main course of a banquet for the vultures to dine on. Next is mentioned, “the flesh of captains.”
The Greek word, chiliarchos, is now used for the twenty-second and last time in the Bible. It signifies one who commands a thousand men. In modern terms, it might be equal to someone around the rank of full bird colonel. For the continued feast of the ravenous birds, these will add supplemental nutrition. But there is more to come. It next mentions “the flesh of mighty men.”
The ischuros, or “mighty,” are mentioned now for the last of twenty-nine times. It signifies those who have combative strength. Their flesh will be lean and delicious to the birds gathered for a meal. Along with them would be “the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them.”
These are the cavalry. Though modern cavalries have tanks and the like, it can be expected that there will be real animals brought to the battle as well. The horses will be fit and fighting ready, and their riders will be strong men of war. They will fall in battle though, and they will be another part of the great banquet set forth for the ever-increasing number of birds that join the feast. Finally, it mentions “the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”
This includes all others who were caught up in the battle – the free and slaves, the nurses and corpsmen, civilian contractors and civilian bystanders, and so on. The numbers will be immense and the bounty for the birds will seem endless. The small and great alike will become a feast exposed to the open skies of the Middle East. The words are not unlike those of Ezekiel 39 and the great battle of Gog and Magog –
“And as for you, son of man, thus says the Lord God, ‘Speak to every sort of bird and to every beast of the field:
‘Assemble yourselves and come;
Gather together from all sides to My sacrificial meal
Which I am sacrificing for you,
A great sacrificial meal on the mountains of Israel,
That you may eat flesh and drink blood.
18 You shall eat the flesh of the mighty,
Drink the blood of the princes of the earth,
Of rams and lambs,
Of goats and bulls,
All of them fatlings of Bashan.
19 You shall eat fat till you are full,
And drink blood till you are drunk,
At My sacrificial meal
Which I am sacrificing for you.
20 You shall be filled at My table
With horses and riders,
With mighty men
And with all the men of war,’ says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 39:17-20
Life application: Unlike the marriage supper of the Lamb where people will dine with the Lord, in this coming supper the people will be the main course.
Battles are times of death and corruption. They are a time when the hungry pit fills with the slain. And they are a time when the beasts of the earth dine on what is left of those who died in the encounter. As horrific as these end-times prophecies are, they are a self-inflicted event upon the masses who are destroyed. God has given us His word in the pages of the Bible, and He has shown us the choices we can make – life or death, Jesus or the devil, to participate in the marriage supper with the Lamb or to be the “supper of the great God.”
Because the word is already written, anyone can simply open the book and decide what they will do with Jesus Christ – enjoy Him as their Savior now and their Lord for all eternity, or live apart from Him now and be separated from His goodness forever. And the list is comprehensive. God is no respecter of persons. Status and position will mean nothing when He comes to judge in righteousness. All are alike to Him, be it captains, mighty men, horses and those who sit on them, and all other people – free and slave, and small and great.
Because this is true, the opposite is also true. No matter how lowly you are in this world, you are on an equal footing with all others in Christ. He is pleased to look upon you apart from your worldly status and call you His own. Make the right choice – choose JESUS!
Lord, when we feel down and lowly, all we need to do is to consider that You went to the cross for us. Because this is true, we can certainly know that nothing can separate us from Your love. And nothing in all the world is more important than our relationship with You. You, Jesus, are our All in all, and You are our great desire. Glory, majesty, and praises belong to You alone. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 17, 2021 22:55:29 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 19:19
Saturday, July 17th, 2021
And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Revelation 19:19
The “supper of the great God,” meaning the great banquet of the birds proclaimed in the previous two verses, has been prophesied. Now the battle that precedes that supper begins to be described. John says, “And I saw the beast.”
This is most probably referring to the beast out of the sea that started to be described in verse 13:1. John next refers to “the kings of the earth, and their armies.” This is referring to those just mentioned in the previous verse, noted as “the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”
This great coalition of people, united in battle array, has come into the Valley of Armageddon. It is “the battle of that great day of God Almighty” mentioned in verse 16:14. Of this vast hoard, John says they are “gathered together.”
Something has brought all the nations of this great coalition together into the land of Israel. It could be a vast amount of oil or other natural resources, a desire to simply exterminate the Jews once and for all, or for whatever reason. They have been brought into this tiny sliver of land to make war there. Because this is so, and because the Lord has covenanted with Israel to defend them, they are not only threatening Israel, but their actions are implicitly an attack against the Lord. Thus, they have come “to make war against Him who sat on the horse.”
Though not included in translations, there is an article before “war.” It is “to make the war against Him who sat on the horse.” Of this, the Pulpit Commentary says, “viz. that war which is perpetually waged between the powers of light and darkness, and which will not be terminated until the great judgment.” This appears to be a sound analysis. There is a war coming that will be the culmination of a war that has been waged since the beginning.
It is an ongoing battle that has been conducted while God has allowed the various dispensations to run their course. As Israel is a central part of the redemptive narrative, and as they are now threatened with total annihilation, the Lord will personally intervene in order to keep His covenant promises. The Messiah is returning to set things right. The armies arrayed against Israel are actually arrayed against Him, “and against His army.”
These are the saints, “the armies in heaven,” mentioned in verse 19:14. They will accompany the Lord as He returns to earth to bring His judgment upon this great force arrayed in the land of Israel.
Life application: This is one of those surprising verses that pops up and can be read over quickly, but if one thinks it through, it is rather hard to fathom. Jesus Christ promised to return two thousand years ago, and this has been the proclamation and call of faithful Christians since then.
The Lord’s Supper taken by the faithful is a proclamation of this fact. Paul says that in taking it, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). The words, “till He comes,” are to be a constant reminder that He is coming again.
It is understood by anyone who has heard about Christianity that they believe Christ is returning. Further, although less known and often misunderstood, is the concept of the rapture of the church. It will happen. When it does, it will take a “strong delusion” to keep people from realizing the significance of it. But, at the end of the tribulation period, Jesus will come – openly and visibly. And with Him will be the armies in heaven.
The premise of secular humanism, false religions, and many Christian denominations, is that the world is moving forward toward peace and stability. A wrongly held view by many Christians is that the church is going to continue to grow and overcome the evil in the world until we have “ushered in” the kingdom age. It is supposed that when we have done this, Christ will then return, and all will be a state of happiness that permeates the world. But the Bible clearly teaches that this is wrong.
The world will continue to get more divided and aggressive against moral goodness, not the opposite. In the end, it will be a place of such desperate wickedness that very little will be left except destruction, disease, famine, and war. At this point, after seven horrifying years of upheaval, Jesus will return at the time of the great battle spoken of here in Revelation.
Little does the world know that the Lord isn’t just a tame Lamb, but He is also a great Warrior. He will return to slay the enemies and usher in a time of wonder and delight on the earth. He is great. He is glorious. He is JESUS.
Lord God, we only delude ourselves if we think that anything good can come of our fallen state. Without You and Your Spirit upon us, we are at war with goodness, and we are headed for destruction. Help us to understand that only through You comes true peace and harmony. Help us to share the message of restoration found in Jesus! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 19, 2021 0:39:19 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 19:20
Sunday, July 18th, 2021
Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. Revelation 19:20
In the battle where the armies are gathered together to make war against Christ and His army, it now says, “Then the beast was captured.” The beast is the beast out of the sea of Revelation 13:1. As this beast is an entity headed by the antichrist which had heads of governmental authority and leaders of those governments, it could be that “the beast” is only speaking of the antichrist who heads the entity, or it could be referring to him and all the leaders with him. Translations vary because of this. Some say, “with him,” while some say, “with this,” or “with it.”
If this is only referring to the antichrist, a hint of his demise may be found in Isaiah 14 –
“All the kings of the nations,
All of them, sleep in glory,
Everyone in his own house;
19 But you are cast out of your grave
Like an abominable branch,
Like the garment of those who are slain,
Thrust through with a sword,
Who go down to the stones of the pit,
Like a corpse trodden underfoot.
20 You will not be joined with them in burial,
Because you have destroyed your land
And slain your people.” Isaiah 14:18-20
To be “cast out of your grave” is explained by the words, “You will not be joined with them in burial.” In other words, rather than dying and going to the grave, a different fate awaits him. This is mere speculation, but it is still worthy of note.
Whatever is being referred to will be understood when the time comes. For now, it continues by saying, “and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence.” This is now the beast out of the sea first mentioned in Revelation 13:11. To see the connection, the relevant verses can be placed side by side –
“He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.” Revelation 13:13, 14
“Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.” Revelation 19:20
As noted in Chapter 13, this false prophet is said to have performed “great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.” It is with these signs “by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast.” Those who followed them willingly gave their full allegiance to them, acknowledging them as their supreme authority, and thus rejecting the Lord Jesus. In receiving the mark, they have rejected any chance of salvation, as is implied in Revelation 20:4. Of those taking the mark, it next says, “and those who worshiped his image.”
The verb is a present participle. It more rightly reads, “and those worshiping his image.” This is not a separate category, but the same group. They received the mark of the beast (a single event), and they actively and continually gave their devotion after that (an ongoing process of worship). This tells us that those who received the mark did so willingly. There was nothing forced about it, and it could be rejected. If some are to be given the mark involuntarily (of which the Bible says nothing), it could not be held against them because it is not followed up with the act of worship.
As far as the beast and the false prophet, the verse finishes with, “These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.” Whether these words speak of only two people (the leaders of the entities) or of many, the beast and the false prophet will be chucked directly into limnēn tou pyros, or “lake the fire,” where they will have an eternal swim. The consequences of their actions will be regretted forever and ever. Such is the nature of exalting oneself above the offer of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who come humbly before Him, acknowledging themselves as sinners in need of a Savior, will receive the grace and mercy of a tender and loving Creator. Those who fail to do so will receive their just due, even as the beast and the false prophet.
Life application: The false power, signs, and lying wonders mentioned by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2 and here in Revelation will lead many to take the mark of the beast and to worship the image of the beast. These words are not just a fairy tale, but they rather convey the truth of God’s word. The world is really heading in this direction, and when that day comes the people will rather believe a lie than the truth.
When a person takes the mark of the beast, his eternal fate will be secured. He will go to the same terrifying and everlasting doom which is the Lake of Fire. For now, in Revelation 19, it is the beast and the false prophet who are heading there. Their judgment will be immediate, and their punishment won’t be delayed.
The world will see the power and awesome display of righteous judgment when the Lord comes to accomplish His work by weeding out these miscreants and robbers of souls. Terrible times are ahead. However, after the time of terror, the Lord will reign in righteousness. Thank God for seeing things through to their completion. And thank God for sending His Son to make it possible. Praise God for JESUS!
Heavenly Father, we look to You now and thank You for sending us Your Son. The book of Revelation shows that many will be cast into the Lake of Fire, but the Bible implies that this terrifying place is what we all rightfully deserve. And yet, because of Your great love and mercy, You have given us Jesus to lead us back to You. Thank You for Jesus! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 20, 2021 0:43:27 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 19:21
Monday, July 19th, 2021
And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh. Revelation 19:21
The armies were said to be gathered together in verse 19. In verse 20, the description of how the beast and the false prophet were dealt with was provided. Only now are the details of how the armies are to be dealt provided. John describes what he sees, saying, “And the rest.”
This is stated in order to set the armies off from the beast and the false prophet. It does not negate their guilt (they obviously bore the mark of the beast), but their judgment will come later when the great white throne judgment of Revelation 20:11 takes place. Of these, John says they “were killed with the sword.”
This seems like a general term, meaning they were killed in battle and the sword was the implement used to kill each person. Such is seen countless times in Scripture. Ezekiel 32 is loaded with such descriptions, such as –
“Assyria is there, and all her company,
With their graves all around her,
All of them slain, fallen by the sword.
23 Her graves are set in the recesses of the Pit,
And her company is all around her grave,
All of them slain, fallen by the sword,
Who caused terror in the land of the living.” Ezekiel 32:22, 23
Proceeding on with John’s words, however, “the sword” takes on a different meaning, as he says, “which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse.”
The meaning here is probably as simple as saying, “the armies were destroyed by the Lord merely speaking the word.” The command goes forth and it happens. This would be comparable to Jesus speaking the words, “Lazarus, come forth.” When He spoke, the event occurred.
Or it could be that the Lord gives a command, and His armies complete the task according to that command. Commentaries that dogmatically state that the armies with Christ have no part in the battle, even going so far as stating that nothing is said about them bearing swords, are useless. Such is an argument from silence. What is certain is that the armies will be defeated.
Of this, the Pulpit Commentary says, “Spiritual death is inflicted upon those who have proved themselves hostile to God.” This is incorrect and must be corrected. Spiritual death is the default state of all humans from conception. This is because of inherited sin. All people are born in sin, all people are spiritually disconnected from God, and all who die without being born again will be condemned. This is stated by Jesus, explicitly, in John 3:18 –
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
What occurs in this passage with these armies is the ending of their physical life. As they were never born again, their condemnation remains, and they will be sentenced to the Lake of Fire at the final judgment. As for their dead physical bodies, John finishes the verse and the chapter saying, “And all the birds were filled with their flesh.”
It is the banquet anticipated in verse 19:17. The indignity of being openly exposed and then consumed by the birds is the final lot for the hordes of soldiers that joined with the beast and the false prophet. It is a revolting end to their existence that will be followed by a horrifying judgment when that time comes.
Life application: These armies had joined with the kings of the earth to form the forces who have threatened to annihilate the people of the nation of Israel. We know this from the writings of the prophets, such as Zechariah chapters 12-14. Other Old Testament references reveal various details. It can also be discerned from Jesus’ own words in Matthew 24:27-31 –
‘For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:27-31
He is returning to Israel after their time of refinement through the fire of the tribulation. Of the armies arrayed against Him, they have already heard and rejected the gospel which was proclaimed “to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” as is recorded in Revelation 14:6, and therefore there will be no mercy for these unrepentant people.
The sword of Jesus’ mouth is the very word which spoke the universe into existence, which proclaimed peace through the plan of redemption of man, and which cried out in agony on the cross. God has done all these things and they have been rejected. The sentence will be completely just, and it will be carried out swiftly and with finality. And thus, all the birds that have been called together for the supper of the great God will be filled with the flesh of these people.
The offer of peace has been made to the world. Be sure to receive it before it is too late. No person knows the moment of his death. So, call out to God now for restoration. Call out to God for salvation through JESUS.
Glorious God – You are righteous, and You are just. We know that You will come to judge the world, and it will be completely fair when the sentences are pronounced. No one will be able to say that they weren’t deserving of what comes upon them. And so, we ask now for You to use us to spread Your message of peace before that time of condemnation comes. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 21, 2021 1:22:06 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 20:1
Tuesday, July 20th, 2021
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. Revelation 20:1
With the introduction of Chapter 20, a new vision is also introduced. John begins it by saying, “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven.” There is no reason to assume that this is not the Lord. He is coming down from heaven with a set purpose. As such, it is another aspect of the many roles of what Christ has come to do. Just as heaven opened and He came riding on a white horse in verse 19:11 in order to fulfill His role as the returning Lord and the conquering King, here, (assuming it is the Lord) He is coming down from heaven “having the key to the bottomless pit.”
The Lord is the One who has final authority over the bottomless pit. In Revelation 9:1, it said John saw “a star fallen from heaven to earth.” He then noted that “to him was given the key to the bottomless pit.” Being given a key means another gave him the key. Nothing is said about that now. Thus, the key is already in the possession of this angel. Along with the key, it says, “and a great chain in his hand.”
The Greek reads “upon his hand.” It signifies that in His hand rests the authority of binding with this chain. What will be done with it demonstrates that this is most probably Christ Jesus who bears it. Without taking the symbolism too far, one can almost imagine it is as if the chain is held upon His hand and, without words, hinting, “Here is the implement of your confinement, and it is I who have the authority to use it to bind you.”
Life application: So far, the bottomless pit has been mentioned in Chapter 9 in connection with locusts which were sent to harm men and who had over them the destroyer – Abaddon (Apollyon). It was also noted in Chapter 11 when speaking of the beast that would come from it and kill the two witnesses. Finally, the bottomless pit was mentioned in 17:8, again referring to the beast that would come out of it.
This pit, or abyss, then is not the place of final destruction, but a place which is under God’s control to which, or from which, these evil beings are directed to meet God’s sovereign plans for humanity. As He directs, these beings follow that direction. This is a good lesson for readers of the Bible to understand, and it is one that is also understood from the book of Job.
There is no wickedness, evil, or producer of evil that can thwart God’s plan. Anything which occurs does so to meet God’s overall good purposes and He is in control of all things. If we can truly grasp this and believe it, then no matter what happens, we know that it is being worked out for our good and for God’s glory. This should be an immensely comforting thought for us as we walk in a world that often contains difficulties, trials, and sadness. God is in control, and He has His great hand upon you – even when it doesn’t seem so.
Be of good cheer, God has your back. He has proved it through the redemptive narrative, and it is summed up in the incarnation. Everything ultimately points to what God is doing through His Son, JESUS!
What a great comfort it is to know that You truly are in control. Despite the evil that surrounds us, the troubles that come our way, the terrible choices our leaders make, and also in the forces of evil that constantly try to mislead us, You are still there taking care of us and tending to us. You are working it all out for our good. You are great, O God! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 22, 2021 1:43:34 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 20:2
Wednesday, July 21st, 2021
He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; Revelation 20:2
The angel who came out of heaven who has the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain upon his hand now takes specific action against the ancient foe of man. John says, “He laid hold of the dragon.” This is the dragon introduced with this name in Revelation 12:3. This is the last time this epitaph will be used in the Bible. Vincent’s Word Studies notes, “The word is commonly derived from ἔδρακον, the second aorist tense of δέρκομαι to see clearly, in allusion to the sharp sight of the fabled dragon.”
The dragon, this sharp-sighted creature, is now seized. Though he may have great vision, it appears he didn’t see this coming. As far as the act of seizing him, the idea here is of one stronger grabbing and overpowering the weaker. It is comparable in thought to the parable of Jesus from Matthew 12:29 –
“Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.”
It then follows in thought from Paul’s words of Colossians 2:15 concerning Christ Jesus –
“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
It is with this thought in mind that it appears most likely that this angel is none other than the Lord. It is He who gained victory over the dragon who Johns next says is “that serpent of old.” It is an obvious reference to the serpent introduced in the Garden of Eden where it says in Genesis 3:1, “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.” Again, this is the last time that the epitaph “serpent” is used in the Bible. Things are coming to a close for him, even if he is not completely eliminated at this point.
To ensure who is being referred to, without any doubt at all, John next says, “who is the Devil and Satan.” The epitaph of “devil” was introduced in Matthew 4:1 during the temptation of the Lord Jesus –
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”
This title will be used just one more time, in verse 20:10. Along with being called the devil, John’s fourth designating name is provided, Satan. That was first used in Matthew 4:10 by Jesus, showing that the devil and Satan are the same entity –
“Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”
The name “Satan” is derived from the Old Testament. Care must be taken when considering the word used there. The Hebrew word satan, is used 27 times. However, it simply means “an adversary.” It can be speaking of anyone who opposes another. The word is first used to describe the Angel of the Lord in Numbers 22:22 –
“Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.”
Also, it is incorrectly translated by most translations as the proper name of Satan in 1 Chronicles 21:1 –
“Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.”
The reason this is incorrect is twofold. First, it is clearly explained in 2 Samuel 24:1 –
“Again the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, ‘Go, number Israel and Judah.’”
These words show that it is the Lord who moved David. The second reason is that the word satan in 1 Chronicles 21:1 does not include an article before it as “the accuser,” ha’satan. Only when the article is used does it refer to Satan as a proper noun. This name, ha’satan, is first found in Job 1:6 –
“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.”
This may seem like an unnecessary diversion from the contents of Revelation, but it is not. Understanding who Satan is, and understanding his role in warring against the people of the world at particular times, is an important precept that must be carefully evaluated in order to properly understand the Lord’s victory over him. This proper noun, the name “Satan,” will be used just one more time in the Bible, in verse 20:7.
Of these words so far, they are a close repeat of what has already been said in Revelation 12:9 –
“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
For now, and of this angel (probably the Lord Jesus) who has seized Satan, it says, “and bound him for a thousand years.” The statement is simple and direct. But no reason is yet given why he is only bound for a thousand years. In verse 20:7, it will state that he is to be released, but even then, only an inference as to why this occurs can be made. For now, it is shown that this wicked entity will be bound for a thousand years.
Life application: One main principle of Bible interpretation is that if something can be taken as literal it should be taken as literal unless there are compelling reasons why it shouldn’t be. The Bible says all the way back at the beginning that Adam and Eve “…heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8). There is no reason to disbelieve this, especially at this early point in Scripture. In fact, if this didn’t occur, then it sets the entire Bible up as a document that is convoluted, must be interpreted symbolically, and cannot be trusted in its literal sense.
This truth is the same with the 6 days of creation. The Bible proclaims that all things were created in 6 days. This has been, and it still is, based on the premise that a day is a day. Only with the time of the Enlightenment and the modern development of the theory of evolution has this been called into question. These are not trifling issues, but items of the greatest importance.
Understanding these things leads us to contemplate the subject verse. This dragon, who is the serpent and who is also known as the devil and Satan, is said to be bound by the angel from heaven “for a thousand years.” The dragon of the book of Revelation is understood to be the same foe that tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden. This identification with “that serpent of old” now calls out to us to revisit Genesis 3 and to believe that the account written there is, in fact, literal. There literally was a Garden of Eden, there literally was a command given by God, there literally was a temptation, there literally was a fall, and the Lord God literally did walk in the garden. These things are all to be taken a literal, factual accounts of what happened.
The veracity of the rest of the Bible stands or falls on the Genesis account. One cannot, without causing irreparable harm to proper doctrine and theology, dismiss or allegorize what is stated there. In the final three chapters of the Bible, we will see – time and again – references to the Genesis account and how what was lost will be restored. God is telling us to trust that His word is true and that there is a plan that we can hold fast to.
As noted above, the final name which is given in this verse, Satan, is the Hebrew ha’satan – the accuser. As noted, he is not the one who moved David to take the census in 1 Chronicles 21:1. Rather, there was a reason the Lord moved as an adversary in this manner. It was to complete the most important real estate contract in history. This purchase, recorded in both 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21, still bears on the events of humanity today, and it allows us to know who the rightful owner of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is.
We can know with all certainty that Jesus owns the land. Both the title deed and the genealogical proof of that deed passing to Him are recorded in the Bible. He will return and claim His right to it at the end of the tribulation period and from that spot, he will reign for “a thousand years” of uninterrupted peace. Satan is mentioned in the books of Job and Zechariah in the Old Testament in key passages that help us understand his role in what is going on.
We are asked to believe that there really is a tempter who presented himself as a serpent in Eden and who is the devil, known as Satan. He is a real foe, and he has really come against God’s people throughout the ages. And yet, his wicked actions have been used by God – time and time again, to work out His plan of redemption for the people of the world. The devil is a finite being with limited power. God is infinitely wiser than him, and He is also infinitely more powerful than him. The devil is a defeated foe when we call on Jesus Christ. As such, we are to have no fear of the devil.
One final point concerning this verse, which must be taken as literal, is that the devil is bound for “a thousand years.” In fact, the term “a thousand years” is going to be mentioned six times in the next few verses. It is the epitome of hypocrisy for scholars and theologians to “symbolize” or “spiritualize” this into anything other than a literal timeframe. And yet, in order to justify faulty theology, reformed theology – as well as other sects and cults – will claim that this thousand-year period is only “symbolic.”
They must do this in order to deny dispensationalism and the notion that God’s plan for the land and the people of Israel has not yet been fulfilled. But the premise of the tribulation period of Revelation is to show us that Israel is again in focus, and that Jesus is returning to rule from there and among them for “a thousand years.”
This thousand-year rule completes the picture started in the six days of creation. God isn’t doing something arbitrary. He is working out a plan based on this six-day creation pattern. Man’s time on earth is a six-thousand-year period until Christ comes to rule during the millennium. This thousand-year rule is symbolic of the final Day of Genesis – the seventh day of rest. In fact, in Isaiah, it says that when the Lord rules during this period, His “resting place will be glorious.” (Isaiah 11:10).
Everything must be tied together in order to understand the fullness of what God is doing for His creatures and how He is doing it through Jesus. Yes, the thousand-year reign of the Lord from Israel is to be taken literally. To claim that it is “spiritual” or “symbolic” is to diminish the truth of God’s word based on one’s personal presuppositions, likes, or dislikes.
Stand firm on what God is doing and understand that He is in absolute control of all things! Great is God and great is His plan. And it is all centered on what He has done, is doing, and will do through JESUS!
Lord, we can search Your word forever and still find new treasures in it. Help us to believe what may seem incredible when it is spoken by You. Let us not trust in our own thoughts, but rather to rely on what You have so carefully and graciously revealed to us. Help us to stand fast on Your sure word. To Your glory, we pray, Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 23, 2021 0:59:41 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 20:3
Thursday, July 22nd, 2021
and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. Revelation 20:3
John just noted in the previous verse that the devil was to be bound for a thousand years. With that thought in mind, the narrative continues, saying, “and he cast him into the bottomless pit.”
The bottomless pit is not the final place of punishment, meaning the Lake of Fire. Rather, it is a holding place where the demons are sent as they await judgment. When Jesus encountered the demon-possessed man in the Gaderenes (also known as the Gerasenes), the demon begged to not be sent to this place –
“Jesus asked him, saying, ‘What is your name?’
And he said, ‘Legion,’ because many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.” Luke 8:30, 31
Satan is currently the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). He has the ability to affect humanity as he prowls through this realm. However, this will not be the case during the thousand years (the millennium) referred to now in Revelation. Instead, he will be bound and cast into this place where he cannot deceive man as he now does. John continues by showing that this will be without possibility of escape, saying, “and shut him up.”
Not only will he be cast into the Abyss, but he will be shut up in there. Whatever manner of containment this is, it is something prepared by God, and it will be inescapable. And further, it then says, “and set a seal on him.” The Greek reads, “and sealed over him.”
The seal isn’t on the devil. This is evident because the previous clause says he is shut up. After he is shut up, a seal has been placed on whatever has shut him in. The authority of the seal is evident and is not to be disturbed. This is “so that he should deceive the nations no more.”
The holding of the devil has a specific purpose. He will not be allowed to exercise his authority as the prince of the power of the air. The reason, when thought through, seems obvious. Man has rebelled against God from the beginning. He was deceived in the Garden of Eden by the serpent.
Since then, he has been influenced by the devil throughout each dispensation and wickedness has abounded. In sealing him, there will be a thousand-year reign without his influence, granting man such ideal conditions that it would be incredible to think that he would be willing to turn away from the Lord. At least, this is what one might think. Will such be the case? The Bible indicates otherwise. Satan will be bound “till the thousand years were finished.”
This is now the second of six times that the thousand years are mentioned. By repeating the thought, it is telling us that this is not merely a symbolic timeframe, but a literal timeframe.
To deny the millennial reign of Christ is to deny a literal reading of the Bible. From that, anyone can make the Bible say anything. But we are being shown, in advance, that this reign is coming, and we are to accept it at face value.
After this period, and with the unbinding of the devil, he will be allowed to work his evil once again. This is evidenced by the final words of the verse, “But after these things he must be released for a little while.” This is a necessity for man to see and understand his complete need for God’s provision in Christ. Man did not have the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. As such, maybe he just couldn’t process what it meant to reject the word of the Lord.
However, man will be on earth in ideal conditions and while possessing the knowledge of good and evil. What will be the outcome of his temptations when the devil is set free to work his evil once again? Scripture will reveal the answer as we continue.
Life application: As already noted, the term “thousand years” is mentioned for the second of six times in this verse. Only the poorest interpretation possible can come to any other conclusion than that this is a literal thousand years.
The term “millennium” comes from two Latin words mille meaning “thousand” and ennium meaning “years.” This in turn comes from the Greek, which the New Testament is written in, and which says the same thing – chilias means “thousand” and ete means “years.” The reason for citing this is to make clear that what is stated is to be taken literally, especially when the term is used not just once or twice, but six times.
As has been noted, and as we will see again, this thousand-year period is given based on the pattern of creation – of which the menorah of the temple is a symbol. Each branch of the menorah represents a thousand-year period. Christ came at the year 4000. The middle candle of the menorah, which represents the time of His coming, is known as the Shamash, which means “servant.” Christ, coming at this central point of human history, lights up the ages, just as the Shamash is the first candle lit and then which is used to light the other six. At His first advent, He fulfilled the role as the servant. The pattern has been given and it points directly to His work.
The final 1000-year period, the millennium, is being described in these verses of chapter 20. The entire cycle of man on earth, centering on the Person of Jesus Christ, was prefigured based on this seven-day pattern. Jesus Christ will rule on earth in a period of peace and restoration which is spoken of in great detail in the books of the prophets in the Old Testament, particularly Isaiah. It is during this period that the devil will be shut up and the pit will be sealed.
The devil won’t be able to deceive, and the people will live in a state of wonder and beauty. Man failed in Eden at a time when he didn’t have the knowledge of good and evil. He failed when there was no law, and he could live for hundreds of years. In fact, he failed so badly that the world was filled with wickedness and needed to be completely swept clean by a flood.
Man continued to fail after the flood and prior to the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses was introduced and man…. yes, he continued to fail. Then came Christ to fulfill the law on our behalf and His people nailed Him to a tree. He gave His Holy Spirit and filled His people with wisdom and knowledge and the complete revelation of Himself now recorded in Scripture. And yes… the world at large continues to fail and reject Him.
The world will be destroyed again by fire and tribulation and then Christ will rule, physically, from Jerusalem. But even when this occurs, when men live hundreds of years under ideal conditions and in the presence of God incarnate, man will be tested and will …. he will… he will fail again as we will see in the coming verses.
These different dispensations have been given to us to show us our fallen and depraved state, but also to show us the immense grace and mercy of God as is displayed in Jesus Christ. Under every possible condition and in every way possible, man desperately needs Him. To demonstrate this, the devil will be released for a little while. In understanding what is going on, each of us should gladly call out, “THANK GOD FOR JESUS!”
How desperately we need you Lord Jesus! Throughout the ages, You have been with Your people, calling us to Yourself and revealing Yourself to us. And yet, we turn our backs to You and say we want to do it our own way. Such is our fallen state, but such is Your wondrous grace and mercy. Great are you, O God. Thank you for our wonderful Savior! Hallelujah and Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 24, 2021 0:31:06 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 20:4
Friday, July 23rd, 2021
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Revelation 20:4
The last verse saw Satan cast into the bottomless pit (prior to the millennium) for a thousand years. What is now stated occurs after that, as the thousand years are ready to begin. Before the millennium, there will be a judgment. As it says, “And I saw thrones.”
The setting of thrones signifies both rule and judgment. No number of thrones is given, and no names are stated, but it is apparent from other parts of Scripture that judgment will be given to the Lord’s disciples. For example, it says in Matthew (and as is repeated in Luke) –
“So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’” Matthew 19:28
Similarly, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:2, “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world.” As this is so, it is possible that people from the various nations or ethnic groups will be set on thrones to judge those groups, just as the Jewish apostles of Jesus will judge the twelve tribes. That these are thrones of judgment is confirmed by the words, “and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.”
The Lord will determine who is given the right to rule and judge according to His wisdom, and those chosen will have the authority to decide the cases that are brought before them accordingly. Albert Barnes is correct when he says –
“This was not in relation to the whole race of mankind, but to the martyrs, and to those who, amidst many temptations and trials, had kept themselves pure. The sentence which is to be passed would seem to be that in consequence of which they are to be permitted to ‘live and reign with Christ a thousand years.’”
The judgment now being relayed is a pre-millennial judgment. The final judgment will be a post-millennial judgment conducted by the Lord as is recorded in Revelation 21:11-15. With this in mind, John next says, “Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded.”
Here is a word found only this once in Scripture, pelekizó. It signifies to cut off with an ax, especially in the sense of beheading. As Islam is famous for execution by beheading, it may be assumed that it will play a major role in the end times in this capacity.
Or it may be that beheading will be the preferred method of execution by a coming world court. France was once famous for their beheadings by the guillotine. It may be that this will be picked up again during the tribulation. As the mark of the beast is to be set on the right hand or the forehead, it may be that beheading will be a means of intimidating those who refuse it. “Because you will not take the mark on your forehead, you will now lose your head.”
Among some scholars, the statement, “Then I saw the souls,” is taken to a ridiculous extreme saying that because the “souls” and not the “bodies” are seen, it cannot be a literal resurrection. This is then an attempt to deny a literal millennial reign of Christ. The rest of the verse, along with the next verse, clearly indicates that these souls will be reunited with bodies in a literal resurrection. Paul speaks of the soul without a body being “naked.” Thus, to live and reign with Christ means to have a new body –
“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.” 2 Corinthians 5:1-4
The word next continues by noting those who were beheaded “for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God.” This is the basis for their judgment. For those who were willing to witness to the truth of God in Christ and to the truth of the word of God, even to the point of being beheaded, they will receive a favorable judgment, being raised again in this resurrection. Their souls, naked and bodiless, will be brought to a state of restoration.
In testifying to the truth of Jesus and the surety of the word of God, they were confident that their lives would not be lost permanently. Therefore, they are those “who had not worshiped the beast or his image.”
This is the dividing line. There will be countless souls killed during the tribulation period, but many of them will have worshiped the beast or his image. In this, they will reject the word of God which tells of Jesus. As such, they will receive condemnation. But for those who will not bow the knee in this unholy manner, their souls will be spared. They “had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands.”
Receiving the mark is the identification that an allegiance to the beast and the image has been made. Thus, worship of them is implied in the taking of the mark. Both are voluntary acts, and there is no hint of coercion in one area or the other. The mark will not be forced upon someone who has not first voluntarily given his allegiance and worship to the beast or his image. These tribulation saints will be ratted out and pursued. Jesus, speaking to Israel showed that those during the tribulation will face just this –
“You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 19 By your patience possess your souls.” Luke 21:16-18
If some will be put to death, and yet not a hair of their heads will be lost, then this is – without any doubt – referring to a literal resurrection. As such, John finishes with, “And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”
These martyred saints will be brought back to physical life with physical bodies, and they will reign with Christ during the millennium. This is the reward for their allegiance to Christ, even when it is to the point of death. They shall be granted life eternal (as will be seen in verse 6). This is now the third of six times that the “thousand years” has been mentioned. Again, it is incredulous to think that supposed scholars of the Bible would ignore the literal nature of what is being conveyed. There will be a thousand-year reign of Christ, and His people will reign with Him.
Life application: There will be an established order at “the regeneration” and there will be those who are given authority to conduct the affairs of the people in positions subservient to Jesus. When Jesus speaks of this regeneration, it is clearly meant as a fulfillment of hundreds of Old Testament prophecies directed specifically toward the nation of Israel. The world as a whole will be renewed, but this in no way discounts the promises of God to Abraham and his subsequent generations.
Rule and authority will come from Israel at the command of Jesus and with Israel as the head of the nations. And this time of glorious government and peace will be for a thousand years.
There are only a few possible reasons for symbolizing or spiritualizing this amount of time. One is a misunderstanding of the contents of the Bible due to a lack of study. A second is a misunderstanding of these promises because of faulty training – such as “replacement theology” which teaches that the church has “replaced” Israel. The third is an inability to comprehend the contents of the Bible; a failure to take God at his word. And a fourth is anti-Semitism.
The fourth option is becoming more and more prevalent within the church, and it has led to real trouble for Israel now, which – of course – is setting up the very events that will take place in the book of Revelation. God promised this land to Abraham and his physical descendants, and it will remain theirs in this millennial reign.
Another point to consider is that the raising of those who are beheaded because they refuse to worship the beast and his image and who refuse to take the mark is that it belies the notion of a universal application to the concept of the “strong delusion” referred to by Paul in 2 Thessalonians. The vast majority of the people of the world will follow after the antichrist, but there will be a “great multitude” who will overcome this by placing their trust in Christ – even to the point of death.
The teaching that anyone who has heard the gospel before the tribulation begins cannot later be saved during the tribulation is false. There is nothing to hint at this in Scripture, and it diminishes the efficacy of the work of Christ for anyone who believes. As such, this teaching is to be ignored. The love of God in Christ for those who are willing to accept it is available to any and all who will receive it, by faith, before their final breath. None will be turned away who place their trust in JESUS.
Lord, it is so wonderful to read passages in Your word that tell us that every soul who calls on You will be given the life You have promised, even if they have to suffer before it comes. We know that we will indeed have eternal life in Your presence in a restored and perfect setting. As such, we know that the faith we possess is not in vain. For now, give us the courage to stand fast during our trials as we await that glorious day! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 25, 2021 2:11:56 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 20:5
Saturday, July 24th, 2021
But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Revelation 20:5
The previous verse referred to those who “lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” because they were willing to die rather than take the mark or to worship the beast or his image. After having noted them, this verse now says, “But the rest of the dead.”
This is speaking of all who have died apart from Christ, including those who died during the tribulation period. There is a time when all humanity will be brought before God for judgment as is recorded in Revelation 20:11-15. But this will not be until after the millennium. As it says, they “did not live again until the thousand years were finished.”
This is now the fourth of six times, within just a few verses, that the “thousand years” is mentioned. By this time, even the dullest of scholars who deny a literal millennial reign should stop and say, “I think I should reevaluate my presuppositions.”
Those who were martyred during the tribulation, trusting in Christ for their salvation, will be raised and they will reign with Christ for a thousand years. The others will not be raised until the thousand-year period is over. It is almost inconceivable that anyone who claims he believes the Bible would deny a literal reading of what is being stated. As for those who are raised, John finishes the verse with, “This is the first resurrection.”
Like a literal millennium, scholars of the past (and even today) have gone out of their way to deny that this is a literal, bodily resurrection. However, other than Luke 2:34 that speaks of the “rising up” of many, the word translated as “resurrection” always means exactly that. Despite that, some say this “resurrection” is simply referring to the conversion of the Jews in the end times. But what would be the point of verse 4 and of verse 6, both of which are referring to issues that are specifically dealing with the dead being raised to life and physically reigning with Christ?
Rather, this is referring to exactly what is presented in the text, meaning a literal resurrection of the dead, and then their ruling with Christ for a thousand years. To say that this isn’t a literal resurrection then calls into question the resurrection of Christ, a subject Paul deals with in detail in 1 Corinthians 15.
As far as the words of this verse, the twentieth letter of the Hebrew aleph-bet corresponds to this twentieth chapter of Revelation. The twentieth letter is Resh, meaning “head,” “first,” “top,” or “beginning.” It is pictured by the head of a man. Here we see the “first” resurrection corresponding to Resh.
Life application: By the constant repetition of the words “thousand years,” God is ensuring that we understand this to be a literal period. And because of what occurred in verse 4, and then what is mentioned today, no other option is within the realm of reason.
In John 5, Jesus gave these words to us –
“Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” John 5:28, 29
Jesus speaks of one resurrection here, but this in no way limits there being two resurrections. This is the same as the Old Testament prophets who openly spoke of the coming of the Messiah and yet there are two advents. What is concealed is later revealed at a time of God’s choosing. The rapture was concealed until Paul first spoke of it in 1 Corinthians 15. After that, it was mentioned again on several occasions. However, both the rapture and the two advents of the Messiah are both shadowed or prefigured in the Old Testament even if they weren’t explicitly stated.
These hints are given so that after they come about, it is realized that what was being noted wasn’t an aberration, but something God had already presented in veiled terms. In other words, when the shadows come to pass, we have no excuse for not realizing them. Paul explains this concept when speaking of the Old Testament feast days of Israel in Colossians 2:16, 17.
What is concealed in the Old Testament is revealed in the New Testament. But the same is also true within the New. There are hints of things said by Jesus and/or the apostles elsewhere which are clearly stated in Revelation. Such is the case with there being two resurrections. The first one was noted in the previous verse while this verse notes who will not be a part of it. It thus refers to anyone who had not received God’s forgiveness through Christ prior to the rapture, or anyone who had not been martyred for Christ during the tribulation.
That leaves two categories: 1) Those who survived the tribulation and will enter the millennial reign of Christ, either a believer or not and, 2) Anyone who died during the tribulation who had not received Christ. The former (assuming they did not take the mark of the beast) will, presumably, be given the opportunity to call on Christ during the millennium and the latter will be a part of the second resurrection. As we will see, the first resurrection is a resurrection of life; the second resurrection is a resurrection of judgment.
It is rather difficult to see how some scholars will purposely ignore what is explicit because it doesn’t fit their view of eschatology (last things). The Bible makes it clear that Israel was not replaced by the church and that dispensationalism is the correct view of how God is working in and through His creation for the redemption of man. Each step is revealing to us the wondrous workings of our Lord in redemptive history. Each step reveals JESUS.
Lord, I choose Jesus now! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 26, 2021 1:12:17 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 20:6
Sunday, July 25th, 2021
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 20:6
The words now reveal the fifth of seven blessings promised in Revelation. So far, they have been –
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” (Rev 1:3)
“Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,” says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.’” (Rev 14:13)
“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” (Rev 16:15)
“Then he said to me, ‘Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true sayings of God.’” (Rev 19:9)
“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” (Rev 20:6)
With this in mind, John begins the verse with, “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.” The idea of this blessed state is that of being enviable or fortunate because of receiving the provision of God. A benefit has been extended to the person and a state of true happiness is the result. Those who have received the first resurrection stand in this blessed state.
Being “holy” means being set apart. There is an intimate union that has been established between them and God. They are set apart to Him because their faith in Christ has set them apart. From there, John explains why this is with the words, “Over such the second death has no power.”
The “second death” was introduced into Scripture in Revelation 2:11 –
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”
It is now mentioned for the second time. It will be mentioned two more times before Revelation closes out –
“Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:14, 15
“And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.’” Revelation 21:6-8
The “second death” is the Lake of Fire. It is the final state for all humanity apart from God. Jesus is the only way to avoid this fate. To believe in Him is to overcome. To overcome means that they have been spared from this second death. They have moved from spiritual death to spiritual life. It is the reconnection to God that was lost at the very beginning when Adam sinned.
Through faith in Christ, one is born again. The reconnection is made, and its effects are eternal. As it says, of those who are raised in the first resurrection, the “second death has no power.” Their eternal state is secure in Christ. Of them, it next says, “but they shall be priests of God and of Christ.”
After being literally raised from the dead, they will serve at a literal, physical temple on earth. The temple will be in Jerusalem, and it is likely that it is what is described in the final chapters of Ezekiel. In this capacity, they will serve in a priestly capacity. Along with that, John next says, “and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
This is now the fifth of six times (in just five verses) that the term “thousand years” is used. It is as if the Lord is trying to clue us into the fact that He really means “a thousand years” and that this isn’t just some symbolic timeframe that is being referred to.
Those who are raised in the first resurrection are literally raised. Those so raised will never be separated from God again. Those who are raised will serve God and His Christ at a literal temple in Jerusalem. Those who are raised will serve there for a thousand years. These points are to be taken literally. The Old Testament clearly indicates that these things will occur, and now the book of Revelation confirms that it is so.
As a point of theology, there is a debate concerning the temple sacrifices that are detailed in Ezekiel 45, 46. Are these actually effectual or not.
First, this makes the assumption that Ezekiel is referring to the millennial temple. This can be and is debated. It doesn’t affect one’s salvation to come down on either side of the debate, so there is no need to address that now. But assuming it describes the millennial temple. Why then would they have sacrifices if Christ is the end of the law, including the sacrifices of the law, which He is (Hebrews 7:18, 8:13, 10:9, etc.)?
The answer is that those sacrifices are not effectual, but commemorative. None of the Old Testament sacrifices under the Law of Moses were effectual? This is clearly stated in Hebrews 10:4. And so, what purpose did they serve under the Mosaic covenant? They were anticipatory of the coming Christ. To understand this, you can watch the Superior Word Leviticus sermons. In them, it is seen that every detail points to Christ.
As those sacrifices under the law were not effectual, then why would it be wrong to have them after the time of Christ even if they are still not effectual? Anticipatory and commemorative both accomplish the same thing – they point to Christ. There is no problem at all with there being a real temple (which points to Christ), a real sacrificial system (which points to Christ), and etc.
The only truly effectual sacrifice for sin is Jesus Christ. Looking forward in anticipation of Him, or receiving what He has done now, it is Christ Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No person will come to the Father apart from Him.
Life application: The term “blessed” is given as a complete contrast to what it would be like without the resurrection. We can find a hint of this in 1 Corinthians 15:18, 19 – “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul speaks about the uselessness of living as a Christian if Christ didn’t really rise. Here we are living lives as believers and striving for holiness in order to please God whom we believe has saved us and whom we also believe will grant us eternal life. But without Christ’s resurrection, this is nothing more than a pipe dream. It would also lead to a complete waste of life. Instead of being pious, nice, giving and forgiving, and honoring of God, it would be a lot more fun to live in passion, excess, and walking over others… if this is all there is, then what difference does it make?
But the fact is that Christ did come, Christ did die on the cross to pay our sin-debt, and Christ did rise again. Because of this, we have every hope that this life is not the true life, and this world is not our true home. Those who entered the tribulation period and came to realize this were then willing to give up this life in hopes of a better eternal state. Their perseverance, even to the point of death, is rewarded with the resurrection of the righteous that Jesus speaks about in Luke 14:14.
In addition to being “blessed” they are also noted as holy. They are sanctified, purified, and set apart to God for His glory – forever. Daniel speaks about the contrast between those who receive the resurrection of the righteous and those who will be resurrected to condemnation –
“At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
And there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation,
Even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered,
Every one who is found written in the book.
2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
Some to everlasting life,
Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 Those who are wise shall shine
Like the brightness of the firmament,
And those who turn many to righteousness
Like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 12:1-3
Daniel is not saying that these resurrections will occur at the same time, he is merely noting that they will both occur. God doesn’t reveal everything all at once, but He has slowly revealed His plan over many centuries, through many prophets, and in a progressive manner. The first resurrection is separate from the rapture and is also separate from another resurrection which will be noted later.
Those who participate in the first resurrection receive a wonderful promise and a great reward. As the second death is the Lake of Fire, and because it is eternal in nature, then if the second death has no power over them, this must be a resurrection to eternal life. Those so raised can never die again.
Concerning the literal nature of the events as noted above, don’t be a doubter. Rather, stand firm on what God is telling us. All of the promises of the Old Testament that God made to His people Israel will be fulfilled, literally, completely, and faithfully. God is ever faithful to keep His promises, even to His rebellious people. The refining fire of the tribulation will bring them back to their senses and God will be pleased to dwell among them again. The word is sure and reliable. It is the word of God in Christ, our Lord JESUS!
Lord God, it is simply wonderful to know that You are ever faithful. Your faithfulness doesn’t depend on our faithfulness at all. And thank goodness for that. If it did, we would all perish. But You are longsuffering and full of mercy, and You will never fail to keep every promise. What a glorious and perfect God You are! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 27, 2021 0:33:42 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 20:7
Monday, July 26th, 2021
Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison Revelation 20:7
John has, since the beginning of the chapter, been dealing with events just as the tribulation period ends, and then the events that follow in a time known as the millennial reign of Christ. As it says, “Now when the thousand years have expired.”
This verse now marks the sixth time in just six verses that the “thousand years” have been mentioned. This is again notably stated because, as has been seen in the previous five occasions, God expects us to accept that this is referring to a literal timeframe. We are not to gloss over it with merely “symbolic” connotations. As such, this thousand-year timeframe is at its close.
Of note, is that in Revelation 20:3, 20:5, and 20:7 the same form of the verb teleó has been used. It is in the aorist subjunctive verb form, telesthē. Young’s Literal Translation correctly translates all three instances as “may be finished.” It is indicating that the event will come at a set time. When this set time arrives, only then will the thing which is to take place actually occur.
The verb form telesthē is only used elsewhere in Luke 12:50 and gives the sense of the anticipation of a coming event –
“but I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I pressed till it may be completed!” YLT
An actual event lies ahead, and it is anticipated by the close of a set time. This is the sense of the coming end of the thousand years in Revelation. It is thus a certainty that this timeframe is not a symbolic representation, but rather a definite timeframe with an anticipated concluding event, which is that “Satan will be released from his prison.”
The fact that Satan was bound means that he was completely subdued. The fact that Satan is released shows that this is a part of a set plan and is accomplished for a set purpose. The Lord is completely in control of the events, and what occurs is then to be instructional. The result of the release of Satan will be seen in the coming verses, but the reason for allowing it is not given. Thus, the reader is being asked to come to a conclusion as to why this will come to pass. That reason has been alluded to already and will continue to be considered as the coming verses are presented.
Life application: The thousand-year period, mentioned six times in six verses, is to be taken as a literal timeframe. The constant repetition of this leaves no other reasonable explanation. However, and despite this, it may lead the student of the Bible to ask, “If this is a literal thousand-year period, then why are no specific details given about it? Why such little detail about the millennium?” There are at least three good answers for this:
First and foremost – very, very specific details have been given. They just haven’t been given here. Rather, the millennial period is described in the Old Testament, particularly in Isaiah, but elsewhere as well. They are also in the four Gospels. Why in these areas? Because the promises were made to Israel and not to the church!
The inclusion of Gentiles in the church age was a previously unknown mystery (Ephesians 3:4-6). A certain number of Gentiles would be brought into what God is doing (Romans 11:25), and then Israel would be reinstated as God’s main focus and in fulfillment of those Old Testament promises (and which are inferred in Jesus’ words as well, such as in Matthew 19:28).
The Gentile-led church age is thus a timeframe prior to the Millennial Reign of Christ. The “throne of David” (see Isaiah 9:7) implies the physical people of Israel with their Messiah reigning and ruling in their midst. Unless one is willing to accept this premise, the rest of the Bible becomes a book of “spiritualized” truths being incorrectly interpreted by trial and error and a lack of proper analysis concerning future events. There is no true surety except in the words of the epistles. This should clue the reader into the fact that God has a plan working that such scholars have thus misinterpreted.
The second reason why no specific details are given in Revelation is because they are not necessary for faith in worship. From creation to the Flood of Noah is a 1656-year period and yet very little is included there, despite the fact that there could have been as many as billions of people on the earth by then. In all, only a few are mentioned by name. The reason for this is that only they were relevant to the narrative. The same is true with the coming millennial period. Any further details than those previously stated are not necessary for us to understand what God is doing and why.
The third reason for the minimal detail takes the opposite view. What does occur and what is relevant to the people who live during that time is specifically not noted because it may interfere with the people’s faith in worship if known in advance. As such, God has not revealed it.
This would be similar to the church knowing the day of the rapture. Having this information would actually work against our conduct on numerous levels and for several very distinct and obvious reasons. And, therefore, God has not given us that (and so very much more) information. The millennial reign is no different. God has determined to reserve any information outside of the Old Testament and the Gospels for Himself.
The exception, however, is those verses we have looked at so far in this chapter and which continue through verse 10. This is all that God has added for our understanding of this thousand-year period.
As noted in a previous commentary, the releasing of Satan is a necessary occurrence to show us the utter depravity of man and his tendency to accept deception over the truth. Even in ideal conditions, with the Lord ruling on earth, man can be led astray from what is true. This then highlights the great grace and mercy of the Lord, and it shows how desperately we need to cling to Him.
There is no time or situation where man can stand alone without the grace of Jesus Christ, even under the most ideal of conditions. Our very nature and tendency is towards wickedness and away from the things of God. When we see this, especially when noted during a time of such wonderful beauty and harmony on earth such as the Old Testament prophets reveal concerning this thousand-year period, we should marvel at the majesty and glory of the cross. Without it, we stand completely and utterly exposed before our infinitely holy Creator.
Take time to reflect on this today. Reflect on the beauty of the Lord, our Lord JESUS.
O Jesus, how could You do what You did for beings such as us? We have turned away from You, mocked You, ridiculed You, and blasphemed You. And yet, knowing this would occur, You came and fulfilled the law that condemns us and then took our punishment upon Yourself. And now, You offer us Your righteousness in exchange for our unrighteousness. My God, how great Thou art. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 28, 2021 0:01:16 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Revelation 20:8
Tuesday, July 27th, 2021
and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. Revelation 20:8
With the release of Satan after the thousand years, we now read, “and will go out.” Here, some translations say, “and will come out.” The verb can mean either. It depends on the perspective of what is being conveyed. If the earth is given in relation to the bottomless pit, then “come out” is appropriate. If this is in relation to a point after his release, then “go out” makes more sense. Thus, there is nothing wrong with either translation. Either way, his intent in going forth will be “to deceive the nations.”
It is a test for humanity, just as has occurred in every dispensation. Satan deceived Adam and his wife in the Garden of Eden and they failed. Such was the case with Israel under the law. Today, in the Dispensation of Grace, we are given the offer of eternal life through simply believing that God has done all the work and believing that gospel message – Christ died for our sins, Christ was buried, and Christ rose again. And yet, the world has, for the most part, rejected this.
Now, at the end of the millennium, Satan is released in order to see how man will respond under the ideal conditions they live in, and with Christ ruling from Jerusalem. Each dispensation shows us the depravity of the human heart and man’s inability to respond to God in an appropriate manner.
Regardless of the situation, man’s tendency is to reject God’s rule and authority. Such is the case with Satan’s release as he goes to “deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth.”
One can see a worldwide rebellion brewing by the term. Many will believe the lie and turn away from the truth they have been told. Just as any person on earth could have gone up to Adam during his 930-year life and asked if the story about him was true, so any person on earth could easily verify if the story of Christ is true.
But man’s proclivity is to believe nonsense. Ten thousand conspiracies a day are published on the internet, and there is always someone there to believe them and pass them on. Satan will again deceive the nations like this. In this, John specifically mentions “Gog and Magog.”
In Ezekiel 38 and 39, there is a battle described which has come to be known as the coming “Battle of Gog and Magog.” It details a battle that is expected to occur either just before or just after the time of the rapture (after appears to be most likely).
This is not the Battle of Armageddon nor is it the same as the battle described in this verse. This is evident based on Ezekiel 38:8 –
“After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.”
As this speaks of a land “brought back from the sword” and “which had long been desolate,” it is not referring to the end of the millennium, but before the millennium begins. The land had been laid bare for two thousand years, but is made productive once again. This description, clearly showing that it is not the same battle now described in Revelation, continues on with such clues in Ezekiel 38:12 and 39:25-29.
With that understood, the use of the names Gog and Magog shows that the same spirit which stirred up these forces will again be stirred up a thousand years later. The same people from the same area of the world will try to come against Israel just as they did a thousand years earlier. In fact, that may be the way Satan deceives the nations, using this great defeat as an excuse to go and take what supposedly should “rightly” belong to these people groups.
Whatever way he deceives them, it will be in order “to gather them together to battle.” War implies conquest and taking plunder. The envy of the nations will spur them on, leading them forward in order to take what they believe is within their grasp. And it will be no small army. Rather, it will be a force “whose number is as the sand of the sea.”
This is a term used throughout Scripture to denote an immense number. It is used in Genesis several times, Joshua, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, and so on. The deception will be great, and the number of people induced to come against Israel and Jerusalem will be seemingly immeasurable.
Life application: Islam has supposed complaints against Christianity today. They look back on the crusades and claim that what happened was an offense against Islam that needs to be righted. Any land once held by Muslims is, supposedly, always land that is to belong to them. It is this attitude that has brought about constant wars and killing in order to regain what they have lost.
Likewise, it is common for people today to look at slavery of the past and demand reparations for what occurred. However, only the details that suit the narrative are focused on. The fact that people in Africa sold their own people to the slave traders is ignored. The fact that there were white slaves is ignored. The fact that blacks were also slave owners is ignored. And the fact that white people gave up their fortunes and even their lives to free the slaves is ignored. Only that which suits a set narrative is focused on.
It could be this same type of thinking that Satan may use to deceive the nations. Whatever it is, it reveals that the world will overlook the majority of the details of what occurred in the past and will simply focus on parts that suit their liking in order to justify their rising up against Israel.
Just as people today reject the fact that Jesus is the God/Man, people in the millennium will do the same. The same spirit of disbelief and wickedness that exists in the human heart today will exist in the people of the world at that time. The world will be repopulated and living under ideal conditions and yet there will be dissatisfaction at having to live in proper and holy conduct as God requires.
Once again, man will reject the good and the world will spin into temporary chaos and rebellion. What a mess we are when we live apart from God’s will. What a mess man is when he fails to acknowledge what God has done through our great Lord JESUS.
How can it be that we simply can’t get it right! O God, You have given us Your word and everything that is going to happen is noted there. And yet we refuse to open the book, learn from it, and live by it. What a mess we are. Despite this, You continue to stretch out Your arms and lovingly call us back to You. What a great and wonderful Lord You are! Amen.
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